Low tension piston rings and method for manufacturing the same

1. A dykes-type piston ring comprising;

an annular ring body presenting a generally L-shaped cross-section with a lip section that extends longitudinally relative to said ring body and a tail section with a pair of sides that extends radially inwardly from said lip section,

said annular ring body having a pair of lateral faces defining a final gap therebetween, and

said annular ring body having a measurable tangential tension ranging from zero to 25 Newtons in a free and uncompressed state.

2. A dykes type piston ring as set forth in claim 1 wherein said final gap has a gap width measurable between said lateral faces ranging from zero to 0.4 millimeters when said annular ring body is in said free and uncompressed state.

3. A dykes type piston ring as set forth in claim 2 wherein said gap width ranges from zero to 0.1 millimeters when said annular ring body is in said free and uncompressed state.

4. A dykes type piston ring as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pair of sides of said tail section each tapper inwardly to define a keystone shaped cross-section.

5. A dykes type piston ring as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said pair of sides of said tail section tappers inwardly to define a semi-keystone shaped cross-section.

6. A dykes type piston ring as set forth in claim 1 wherein said annular ring body includes an outer circumferential surface having a predetermined profile of arcuate shape.