CERAMIC VALVE ARRANGEMENT

Abstract: A ceramic valve supporting structure comprising in use for internal combustion engine; a ceramic valve (1) having an integral stem (1b), the upper portion of which is provided with a circular groove (2); a cotter (3) the outer surface of which is taperd, and formed by butting a pair of semi-cylindrical pieces, and having a lock projection (3a) placed into the groove when secured concentrically to the outer surface of the stem, a cylindrical retainer (4) concentrically secured to the outer surface of the cotter (3) so as to support the valve (1) through the cotter (3); the retainer (4) being provided with the inner surface tapered in a direction so as to make the cotter (3) tightly engage with the outer surface of the stem (1b) by means of wedge effect against the tapered cotter (3) due to the urging force of a coil spring member (6) axially exerted to the retainer (4); and a stress relief means (50) provided so as to avoid the predetermined portion of the cotter (3) from locally engaging against the outer surface of the stem. As a way of example, the stress relief means (50) is made from heat-resistant elastic layer which positions between the inner surface of the cotter and the outer surface of the stem in order to make the cotter engage with the stem (1b) therethrough.

Description: This invention relates to a ceramic valve arrangement, having an axially movable ceramic valve useful, for instance, to open and close an intake or exhaust port of an engine cylinder, such as is known from, for example, US-A-4 359 022. In recent years, high rotation speed with high power has been required from internal combustion engines in automobiles. Valves to open and close intake or exhaust ports of the engine cylinders are exposed to severe mechanical and thermal stresses. Light weight and heat-resistant ceramics have been considered for such valves as they can endure the severe conditions. In this situation, a valve (b) having a stem (s) supports a retainer (r) through a cotter (c) as seen in Figure 14. The outer surface of the cotter (c) and the inner surface of the retainer (r) are both tapered to tightly engage each other by wedge action. Upon valve action, the cotter (c) acts to engage with the stem (s) more tightly due to the wedge effect, the maximum intensity of the engagement being at the lowest end (n) of the retainer (r). The retainer (r) makes its end (n) act tightly on the stem (s) through the lowest end (m) of the cotter (c), leading to stress concentrations in the stem (s) leading to cracks or breakage as seen at (k) in Figure 14. Another problem can arise where the cotter (c) has a semi-circular lock projection (p) to fit in an annular groove (g) provided on the outer surface of the stem (s) as shown in Figure 7c. In association with the action of the valve (b), the projection (p) acts to tightly engage with the open ended portion of the groove (g), leading to stress concentration which create cracks or breakage as seen at (k) in Figure 7c. In addition, with the axial displacement of the valve (b), the cotter (c) comes to engage with the stem (s) more tightly under the influence of the wedge. The sharp edge (e) of each piece tightly engages with the outer surface of the stem (s) so as to cause stress concentrations, resulting in cracks or breakage as seen at X in Figure 7b. According to the present invention there is provided an axially reciprocable valve arrangement including a ceramic valve with a head and a stem, a groove in the stem remote from the valve head, a two-part cotter surrounding the stem and having a lock member extending into the groove and connecting the cotter to the stem, an annular retainer surrounding the cotter, the cotter having a tapered outer surface, and the retainer having a tapered inner surface such that axial forces urging the retainer along the stem tighten the cotter on the stem, characterised by a heat resistant stress relief layer of nickel, copper or silver provided between the inner surface of the cotter and the outer surface of the stem. US-A-3 265 053 shows a cotter arrangement having a lead layer, however this layer is only intended to provide an oil seal, rather than stress relief. With the invention, incidence of stress concentrations and breakage can be reduced, leading to improved service life at low cost. In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, the following description is given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figs. 1 through 4 show a first embodiment of the invention in which; Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of main components of a valve supporting structure; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a cotter; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a retainer; Fig. 4 is a partial view of an internal combustion engine associated with the invention; Figs. 5, 6, 7a and 8 are views of main part of supporting structure according to second through fifth embodiments of the invention; Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 5 through 8 according to sixth embodiment of the invention; Fig. 10 is a view similar to Figs. 5 through 8 according to seventh embodiment of the invention; Fig. 11 is a view similar to Figs. 5 through 8 according to eighth embodiment of the invention; Fig. 12 is a view similar to Figs. 5 through 8 according to ninth embodiment of the invention; Fig. 13 is a view similar to Figs. 5 through 8 according to tenth embodiment of the invention; Fig. 14, Fig. 7c and Fig. 7b are each cross-sectional view and plan views of a prior art valve supporting structure. Each embodiment of the invention is described hereinafter in reference with the drawings, in which in many cases like numerals indicate like parts. In the first embodiment of the invention, an exhaust valve 1, which is employed in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine described hereafter, is made of ceramic such as silicon nitride material, and has a column-shape stem 1b formed integral with a valve head 1a as shown in Fig. 1. The valve 1 has a circumferential groove 2, semi-circular in section, in the upper portion of the stem 1b. A metallic cotter 3 comprising a pair of split pieces, substantially forms a cylinder when combined as seen in Fig. 2. The stem 1b of the valve 1 has the cotter 3 around it, the inner surface of which has an integral lock projection 3a, semi-circular in section, received in the groove 2. A retainer 4 which comprises a cylindrical portion 4a and a flange 4b formed integral with the top of the portion 4a, fits onto the outer surface of the cotter 3. In this instance, the retainer 4 has a tapered inner surface in the cylindrical portion 4a to make face-to-face contact with an oppositely tapered outer surface of the cotter 3. Now, attention is drawn to a heat-resistant portion designated at 50 which serves as a stress-relief layer coated to the inner surface of the cotter 3. The stress relief layer 50 is preferably not less than 5 microns in thickness and can be formed by means of electrical plating of metal such as nickel, copper, silver or the like. Instead of the plating, means such as fluorine-based plastic coating or sputtering may be employed to form a layer 50. With this structure, the cotter 3 engages with the stem 1b through the stress-relief layer 50. The valve 1 thus far described, is incorporated into a cylinder head 5 of an internal combustion engine as shown in Fig. 4. Between the valve 1 and the cylinder head 5, is a compression coil spring 6 provided to urge the valve 1 upward in the axial direction so as air-tightly to close an exhaust passage 8 by the engagement of the valve head 1a against a valve seat 7. With the engine running, the valve 1 repeatedly displaces upward and downward alternately to close and open the exhaust passage 8. In compliance with the up-and downward displacement of the valve 1, the retainer 4 tightly engages with the cotter 3 through the tapered surfaces by mean of the wedging. This causes the cotter 3 to engage tightly against the outer surface of the stem 1b through the stress-relief layer 50. In this situation, the layer 50 appropriately deforms itself according to the stress from the cotter 3, so that the cotter 3 uniformly engages against the overall outer surface of the stem 1b through the layer 50. This avoids the upper end of the cotter 3 from locally engaging against the stem 1b, and avoids stress concentration, leading to long service life, in contrast to the known supporting structure in which stress concentration applied on the stem may result in crack or breakage. In addition, one needs, to avoid the stress concentration upon the stem 1b, only the stress relief layer 50, so as to allow a simple and cost-saving structure. To take an example of a layer, it is found that a copper plating 15 micron thick reduces cracks or breakage even at an excessively high revolution speed of the engine. With further reference to the drawing of Fig. 4, numeral 9 designates a tubular guide to receive the stem 1b of the valve 1, numeral 10 designates a cam connected to a shaft 11, numeral 12 being a swing arm, one end of which engages against the upper end of the stem 1b, and the other end of which is supported by a spherical support 13. The rotation of the cam 10 oscillates the swing arm 12 so as to displace the stem 1b axially. Numeral 14 designates an intake valve which acts alternately to open and close an air-intake passage 15 through a valve seat 16. Numeral 17 designates a valve guide, numeral 18 a compression coil spring, numeral 19 a swing arm, one end of which engages against the upper end of a valve 14, while the other end of which is supported by a spherical support 20. Numeral 21 designates a cam connected to a shaft 22, and rotation of the cam 21 causes to oscillate the swing arm 19 so as to displace displace the valve 14 axially. Numeral 23 designates a cylinder block, numeral 24 being a piston which lengthwisely reciprocates within the cylinder block 23 in a conventional manner. Now, the second through fifth embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings of Figs. 5 through 8. In the second embodiment of Fig. 5, the stress relief layer 50 is provided over all the outer surface of the cotter 3. In the third embodiment of Fig. 6, the stress relief layer 50 is provided on the outer surface of the stem 1b instead of on the cotter 3. In the fourth embodiment at Fig. 7a, the stress relief layer 50 is provided on the stem 1b as in Fig. 6 in addition to on the cotter 3 as in the first embodiment. In the fifth embodiment at Fig. 8, the stress relief layer 50 is provided on the cotter 3 in a manner similar to the second embodiment, in addition to on the stem 1b as in the third embodiment. Now, the sixth through tenth embodiments of the invention respectively are shown in Figs. 9 through 13. In the sixth through tenth embodiments, the cotter 3 has the lock projection 3a positioned somewhat spaced from the upper end toward the centre of the stem, and each is thus modified to correspond otherwise to the first through fifth embodiments. That is to say, the sixth embodiment of Fig. 9 has the stress relief layer 50 provided on the inner surface of the cotter 3. The seventh embodiment of Fig. 10 has the same layer 50 provided on the inner and outer surfaces of the cotter 3. The eighth embodiment of Fig. 11 shows the layer 50 provided on the stem 1. The ninth embodiment of Fig. 12 shows the layer 50 provided on the inner surface of the cotter 3 in addition to on the stem 1. The tenth embodiment of Fig. 13 shows the layer 50 provided on the inner and outer surfaces of the cotter 3 in addition to on the stem 1. In the second through tenth embodiments, the reference numerals corresponding to components are identical to those in the first embodiment, and only the structural parts different from those in the first embodiment have been described. It is noted that the case in which the layer 50 is provided on the overall surface of the cotter 3 is preferable in eliminating the need of coating or partially masking. Further, it is noted that the lock projection 3a of the cotter 3 may be rectangular in section instead of semi-circular. In that case, the groove 2 of the stem 1 corresponds to the shape of the lock projection 3a. In addition, the stress relief layer 50 is not limited only to metals such as nickel, copper, silver or the like. Instead of those materials, the layer 50 may be made of such materials as can be elastically expansible and developable, and at the same time, heat-resistant.

Claims: An axially reciprocable valve arrangement including a ceramic valve (1) with a head (1a) and a stem (1b), a groove (2) in the stem remote from the valve head, a two-part cotter (3) surrounding the stem and having a lock member (3a) extending into the groove and connecting the cotter to the stem, an annular retainer (4) surrounding the cotter, the cotter having a tapered outer surface, and the retainer having a tapered inner surface such that axial forces urging the retainer along the stem tighten the cotter on the stem, characterised by a heat resistant stress relief layer (50) of nickel, copper or silver provided between the inner surface of the cotter and the outer surface of the stem. A valve arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the lock member (3a) is in the form of projection, on the middle of the cotter (3), at the end thereof remote from the valve head or spaced inwardly from said end. A valve arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the layer (50) is provided on the interior surface of the cotter (3) or all over the cotter. A valve arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the layer (5) is provided on the surface of the stem. A valve arrangement according to any preceding claim in which said layer has a thickness not less than of the order of at least 5 microns. A valve arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein the stress relief layer is of copper 15 microns thick.

Inventors: KAGAWA, JUNICHI, KAWAMURA, MITSUYOSHI, NAGASAKI, SHIGERU, SATA, YASUSHI, TANIGUCHI, MASATO
Applicants: NGK SPARK PLUG CO. LTD.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: F01L3
IPC codes: F01L3