Piston sealing ring assemblies
The present disclosure provides a sealing ring assembly having a first ring and a second ring, configured to seal a high-pressure region from a lower pressure region of a piston and cylinder device. Accordingly, the sealing ring assembly includes a high-pressure boundary and a low-pressure boundary. Each ring may be segmented, and the first and second rings interface along a surface. Along the surface at the interface, a groove open to the lower pressure region aids in pressure locking the sealing ring assembly. A pocket in the second ring allows for high pressure gas to aid in balancing radial forces on the sealing ring assembly. As the sealing ring wears, the first and second rings remain engaged with one another.
1. A sealing ring assembly for sealing between a piston and a bore of a cylinder, wherein during translation of the piston in the bore, the sealing ring assembly comprises:
a first surface exposed to a first pressure;
a second surface exposed to a second pressure less than the first pressure; and
a through feature between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the through feature communicates pressure from a first region to a second region.
2. The sealing ring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second region is radially outward of the sealing ring assembly.
3. The sealing ring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second surface is a radially outward surface of the sealing ring assembly.
4. The sealing ring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first region comprises a high pressure region.
5. The sealing ring assembly of claim 4 , wherein the high pressure region comprises a reaction section of the cylinder.
6. The sealing ring assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an orifice on the first surface.
7. The sealing ring assembly of claim 6 , wherein the through feature provides fluid communication between the orifice and a groove.
8. The sealing ring assembly of claim 7 , wherein the second surface comprises the groove.
9. The sealing ring assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a flow path between the first surface and the second surface.
10. The sealing ring assembly of claim 9 , wherein the flow path comprises:
an orifice on the first surface, wherein the first surface is exposed to the first region;
a groove on the second surface; and
a through feature providing fluid communication between the orifice and the groove.
11. The sealing ring assembly of claim 10 , wherein the fluid communication is between the first region and the second region.
12. The sealing ring assembly of claim 10 , wherein the groove balances radial forces along the second surface.
13. A sealing ring assembly for sealing between a piston and a bore of a cylinder, the sealing ring assembly comprises:
a first surface configured to be exposed to a first pressure during translation of the piston;
a second surface configured to be exposed to a second pressure less than the first pressure during the translation of the piston; and
a through feature between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the through feature is configured to communicate pressure from a first region to a second region during the translation of the piston.
14. The sealing ring assembly of claim 13 , wherein the second surface is configured to contact a cylinder bore.
15. The sealing ring assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first region comprises a high pressure region.
16. The sealing ring assembly of claim 15 , wherein the high pressure region comprises a reaction section of the cylinder.
17. The sealing ring assembly of claim 13 , further comprising an orifice on the first surface.
18. The sealing ring assembly of claim 17 , wherein the through feature provides fluid communication between the orifice and a groove.
19. The sealing ring assembly of claim 18 , wherein the second surface comprises the groove.
20. The sealing ring assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a flow path between the first surface and the second surface.
21. The sealing ring assembly of claim 20 , wherein the flow path comprises:
an orifice on the first surface, wherein the first surface is exposed to the first region;
a groove on the second surface; and
a through feature providing fluid communication between the orifice and the groove.
22. The sealing ring assembly of claim 21 , wherein the fluid communication is between the first region and the second region.
23. The sealing ring assembly of claim 21 , wherein the groove balances radial forces along the second surface.
24. A device comprising:
a cylinder comprising:
a bore,
a first region configured to be at a first pressure as a piston translates in the bore, and
a second region configured to be at a second pressure less than the first pressure as the piston translates in the bore; and
a sealing ring assembly arranged in the piston, the sealing ring assembly comprising a flow path that comprises:
an orifice on a first surface, wherein the first surface is exposed to the first region,
a groove on a second surface, and
a through feature providing fluid communication between the orifice and the groove.
25. The device of claim 24 , wherein the second region is radially outward of the sealing ring assembly.
26. The device of claim 24 , wherein the second region is exposed to the second surface of the sealing ring assembly.
27. The device of claim 24 , wherein the first region comprises a high pressure region.
28. The device of claim 27 , wherein the high pressure region comprises a reaction section of the cylinder.
29. The device of claim 24 , further comprising an orifice on the first surface.
30. The device of claim 24 , wherein the through feature provides fluid communication between the orifice and the groove.
31. The device of claim 24 , wherein the groove balances radial forces along the second surface.