An upper member of a steel piston has a chemical composition which consists of, in mass %, C: 0.15 to 0.30%, Si: 0.02 to 1.00%, Mn: 0.20 to 0.80%, P: 0.020% or less, S: 0.028% or less, Cr: 0.80 to 1.50%, Mo: 0.08 to 0.40%, V: 0.10 to 0.40%, Al: 0.005 to 0.060%, N: 0.0150% or less, O: 0.0030% or less, and the balance: Fe and impurities, and satisfies Formula (1) and Formula (2), in which, at a cross section parallel to the axial direction of the upper member, the number of Mn sulfides is 100.0 per mm.sup.2 or less, the number of coarse Mn sulfides having an equivalent circular diameter of 3.0 μm or more is within a range of 1.0 to 10.0 per mm.sup.2, and the number of oxides is 15.0 per mm.sup.2 or less.
0.42≤Mo+3V≤1.50  (1)
V/Mo≥0.50  (2)

Methods for forging a piston blank are disclosed such that the forged piston blank is in a near-net shape and size of a final piston. Bending a flange to form a cooling channel can be done with reduced or no preliminary machining away of core material relative prior to bending the flange.

An improved piston forging for use in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The piston forging comprises a crown, a pair of pin towers extending generally axially away from the crown, and a skirt extending generally axially away from the crown. The improved piston forging further comprises a plurality of grains flowing across the piston forging. The plurality of grains are reoriented during the forging operation into a configuration that follows the surfaces and features of the piston forging. More specifically, the plurality of grains are reoriented in a manner that is most beneficial to resist combustion and inertial forces that are enacted upon a machined piston during operation.

An improved piston forging for use in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The piston forging comprises a crown, a pair of pin towers extending generally axially away from the crown, and a skirt extending generally axially away from the crown. The improved piston forging further comprises a plurality of grains flowing across the piston forging. The plurality of grains are reoriented during the forging operation into a configuration that follows the surfaces and features of the piston forging. More specifically, the plurality of grains are reoriented in a manner that is most beneficial to resist combustion and inertial forces that are enacted upon a machined piston during operation.

An upper member of a steel piston has a chemical composition which consists of, in mass %, C: 0.15 to 0.30%, Si: 0.02 to 1.00%, Mn: 0.20 to 0.80%, P: 0.020% or less, S: 0.028% or less, Cr: 0.80 to 1.50%, Mo: 0.08 to 0.40%, V: 0.10 to 0.40%, Al: 0.005 to 0.060%, N: 0.0150% or less, O: 0.0030% or less, and the balance: Fe and impurities, and satisfies Formula (1) and Formula (2), in which, at a cross section parallel to the axial direction of the upper member, the number of Mn sulfides is 100.0 per mm.sup.2 or less, the number of coarse Mn sulfides having an equivalent circular diameter of 3.0 μm or more is within a range of 1.0 to 10.0 per mm.sup.2, and the number of oxides is 15.0 per mm.sup.2 or less.

0.42≤Mo+3V≤1.50  (1)

V/Mo≥0.50  (2)

A piston for an internal combustion engine includes a piston upper part and a piston lower part having a cooling channel including at least one inlet opening. A dam-type elevation is formed in the region of the at least one inlet opening through forging of the dam elevation in the cooling channel portion in the piston lower part. In one example, a funnel-shaped inlet contour is formed in the inlet opening by pre-forging. In one example, a V-shaped element is formed in the piston upper part cooling chamber portion in alignment with the inlet opening and used as a coolant jet splitter.

A piston, particularly a piston for use in a diesel engine, particularly a heavy duty diesel engine, is formed from a billet of metal, such that the finished piston has a mass that is at least 50%, and, more preferably, up to about 62%, of the mass of the billet. Other than finishing steps, the piston is formed with a closed gallery, without loss of mass through machining processes.

A method for manufacturing a piston of an internal combustion engine from a piston upper part and a piston lower part may include producing at least the piston lower part as a forged steel part. A partial cross section of a cooling duct may be provided in the piston lower part. A closed supply inlet funnel may be forged within the piston lower part. The closed supply inlet funnel may be bored into the piston lower part from the cooling duct. A borehole may be introduced into the piston lower part obliquely to a piston axis. The piston lower part and the piston upper part may be welded to one another.

A method of producing a piston blank, comprising producing an intermediate blank of a piston for an axial piston machine by extrusion wherein the intermediate blank includes a shaft portion, a ball head portion, and a sealing portion, wherein the shaft portion connects the ball head portion to the sealing portion. The method also includes producing a piston blank of the piston from the intermediate blank and machining a through-opening in the intermediate blank, wherein the through-opening extends within the piston blank in the longitudinal direction.

A method of producing a piston blank, comprising producing an intermediate blank of a piston for an axial piston machine by extrusion wherein the intermediate blank includes a shaft portion, a ball head portion, and a sealing portion, wherein the shaft portion connects the ball head portion to the sealing portion. The method also includes producing a piston blank of the piston from the intermediate blank and machining a through-opening in the intermediate blank, wherein the through-opening extends within the piston blank in the longitudinal direction.