Method and apparatus for installing a prepackaged piston assembly in an engine

Abstract

This invention relates generally to a piston assembly and more specifically to a piston assembly in a prepackaged configuration. The prepackaged piston assembly is ready for immediate installation into an engine or compressor. The piston assembly has a plurality of rings preinstalled on a piston member and a sleeve position about the piston member and the plurality of rings maintaining the rings in a compressed position ready for installation into an engine. The piston assembly is lowered into a cylinder bore, the sleeve contacts the top surface of a block and the piston assembly can be easily installed into the cylinder bore without the need for the mechanic to compress the plurality of rings. Thus the present invention reduces time and expense required for rebuilding and engine and increases the quality of the rebuild.

1 - 19  (cancelled).  
     
     
         20 . A piston assembly, comprising: 
 a piston member having a plurality of ring grooves therein;    a plurality of rings positioned within the ring grooves, the plurality of rings having an expanded position and a compressed position; and,    a sleeve being positioned about the piston member and the plurality of rings and having a strap and a latching member, the strap and the latching member being integrally formed, the strap having a mating portion and a sleeve portion, the latching member being located on the sleeve portion for receiving and maintaining the mating portion at and between first and second positions and at least one intermediate position located between the first and second positions, the sleeve having an interior surface and a width, the interior surface of the sleeve being in contact with the plurality of rings when in the second position, the width being greater or equal a distance defined by a distance between a top edge of a first piston ring and a bottom edge of a second piston edge.    
     
     
         21 . A piston assembly, as set forth in  claim 20 , the sleeve forming an inside diameter, the inside diameter being variable.  
     
     
         22 . A piston assembly, as set forth in  claim 20 , the latching member including a body portion having a slot, the mating portion being slidably coupled to the slot and including a friction portion, the slot forming at least one catch, the friction portion being movable into and out of engagement with the at least one catch.  
     
     
         23 . A piston assembly, as set forth in  claim 21 , the friction portion including a plurality of ribs disposed on along a surface of the mating portion.  
     
     
         24 . A piston assembly, as set forth in  claim 20 , latching member being composed of a plurality of a openings located in the sleeve portion, the mating portion including at least one protrusion extending from a surface of the mating portion.  
     
     
         25 . A piston assembly, as set forth in  claim 24 , the plurality of openings being a predetermined distance apart.  
     
     
         26 . A piston assembly, as set forth in  claim 24 , the at least one protrusion having a body portion and a head portion.  
     
     
         27 . A piston assembly, as set forth in  claim 26 , the body portion having a smaller diameter than the head portion.  
     
     
         28 . A piston assembly, as set forth in  claim 24 , the at least one protrusion being received within one of the plurality of openings.  
     
     
         29 . A piston assembly, as set forth in  claim 20 , the latching member including a body portion having a slot, the mating portion being slidably coupled to the slot, further comprising a rotatable cam disposed within the body portion and being pivotal between a first position and second position, the mating portion being movable within the slot when the cam is in the first position and being fixed with respect to the slot when the cam is in the second position.  
     
     
         30 . A piston assembly, as set forth in  claim 29 , the mating portion being fixedly interposed between the cam and the slot when the cam is in the second position.  
     
     
         31 . A piston assembly, as a set forth in  claim 29 , wherein the cam including a lever portion.  
     
     
         32 . A piston assembly, as set forth in  claim 20 , the latching member including a body portion having a slot and a wedge member disposed within the slot, the wedge member being movable between a first position and a second position, the mating portion being movable within the slot when the wedge is in the first position and being fixed with respect to the slot when the wedge is in the second position.  
     
     
         33 . A piston assembly, as set forth in  claim 32 , the mating portion being fixedly interposed between the wedge and the slot when the wedge is in the second position.  
     
     
         34 . A piston assembly, comprising: 
 a piston member having a plurality of ring grooves therein;    a plurality of rings positioned within the ring grooves, the plurality of rings having an expanded position and a compressed position; and,    a sleeve being positioned about the piston member and the plurality of rings and having a first end and a second end, the sleeve including a friction portion on the first end and a latching member located on the second end for receiving and maintaining the friction portion at first and second positions.    
     
     
         35 . A piston assembly, comprising: 
 a piston member having a plurality of ring grooves therein;    a plurality of rings positioned within the ring grooves, the plurality of rings having an expanded position and a compressed position; and,    a sleeve being positioned about the piston member and the plurality of rings and having a first end and a second end, the sleeve including at least one protrusion on the first end and a plurality of openings located on the second end for receiving and maintaining the at least one protrusion.    
     
     
         36 . A piston assembly, comprising: 
 a piston member having a plurality of ring grooves therein;    a plurality of rings positioned within the ring grooves, the plurality of rings having an expanded position and a compressed position;    a sleeve being positioned about the piston member and the plurality of rings and having a first end and a second end, the sleeve including a latching member having a slot located on the first end for receiving the second end; and    a rotatable cam rotatably coupled to the latching member and being pivotal between a locked position and an unlocked position, the second end being adjustable with respect to the first end when the rotatable cam is in the unlocked position and being fixed with respect to the first end when the rotatable cam is in the locked position.    
     
     
         37 . A piston assembly, comprising: 
 a piston member having a plurality of ring grooves therein;    a plurality of rings positioned within the ring grooves, the plurality of rings having an expanded position and a compressed position;    a sleeve being positioned about the piston member and the plurality of rings and having a first end and a second end, the sleeve including a latching member having a slot located on the first end for receiving the second end; and    a wedge member disposed within the slot and being movable between a first position and a second position, the mating portion being movable within the slot when the wedge is in the first position and being fixed with respect to the slot when the wedge is in the second position.    
     
     
         38 . A piston assembly, comprising: 
 a piston member having a plurality of ring grooves therein;    a plurality of rings positioned within the ring grooves, the plurality of rings having an expanded position and a compressed position; and,    a sleeve being positioned about the piston member and the plurality of rings and having a top surface, a bottom surface and an outer wall, the sleeve having a sleeve bore formed by the top surface and the bottom surface, the sleeve bore having a straight portion extending from the bottom surface toward the top surface and a tapered portion extending from a top end of the straight portion to the top surface.