Roller crosshead analysis

An analysis of the frictional behavior of a roller crosshead configuration is given. This configuration consists of a piston which carries at the wristpin position a roller of large diameter which can roll on the cylinder liner surfaces. A preliminary assessment is given of whether the roller can roll on the cylinder liner without skidding, and what, if any, are the tribological implications of this approach to a dry lubricated design. The rotational speed of the roller must change during the stroke if it is not to slip on the cylinder liner. The maximum value of angular acceleration occurs at top dead center and bottom dead center. If the traction force on the rim of the roller, which is the product of the normal force due to piston side load and the coefficient of friction, is not sufficient to drive the roller through the necessary angular acceleration, sliding will occur. At 1,000 rpm, it appears that there will be a definite area of slip near each end of the stroke. The length of the area of slip may be of the order of 1/8 inch at each of these points.