Measurement of axial motions of piston rings in a two-stroke engine by using back light of LED

In two-stroke engines of the crankcase-compression type, the piston rings slide over not only the cylinder wall but also the cylinder ports. It is important for piston ring designers to understand how piston rings behave over cylinder ports. In order to clarify the axial motion of piston rings in two-stroke engines, we established a measurement method using light-emitting diodes (LEDs). We attached LEDs inside the piston, and leaked the backlight of LEDs through the side clearance between the piston ring side face and the piston ring groove side face. From the position of the leaked backlight in the piston ring groove, we determined the axial ring position in the ring groove. Our experiments set this piston with LEDs in an experimental two-stroke engine with a transparent cylinder, and investigated the effects of intake and exhaust ports on axial ring motion under motoring operations. Results indicated that the rings moved in the axial direction by the ring projection and catching in the intake and exhaust ports.