Hydrodynamic Lubrication of a Deformable Slotted Piston Ring.

A simultaneous solution of the equations of elastic deformation of a slotted piston ring and the hydrodynamics equations under real engine conditions is presented. As a result, analytic dependences are obtained for estimating the thickness of the oil layer between the rubbing surfaces not only with respect to the angle of rotation of the crankshaft - along the generatrix of the cylinder, but also with respect to the angular coordinate - along the length of the ring. Examples presented show that the conditions of formation of the oil layer in the zone of contact of the free ends of the ring, the so-called lock, and far from it differ significantly. In particular, it is shown that the ″lock effect″ spreads from the free ends of of the ring over a distance of 50 to 55 degree in each direction.