Ceramic valve arrangement

Abstract: A ceramic valve (1) is supported by a cotter (3) mounted within a retainer (4). Stress relief is provided by arranging for the internal taper of the retainer (4) to be slightly greater than the external taper of the cotter (3).

Description: This invention is a divisional application divided from EPC Publication No. 0387922, and 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. In recent years, high rotation speed with high power has been required from internal combustion engines in automobiles. Valves used to open and close an intake or exhaust port of 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 Fig. 4. 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 action, the maximum intensity of the engagement falls on 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), thus leading to stress concentrations in the stem (s) which results in cracks or breakage as seen at (k) in Fig. 4. Another problem can arise where cotter (c) has a semi-circular lock projection (p) to be fit in an annular groove (g) which is provided on the outer surface of the stem (s) as shown in Fig. 5. 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 concentrations which create cracks or breakage as seen at (k) in Fig. 5. 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 effect. A sharp edge (e) of each piece tightly engages with the outer surface of the stem (s) so as to cause stress concentrations, thus resulting in cracks or breakage as seen at (x) in Fig. 6. 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 cotter surrounding the stem, a lock member extending into the groove and connecting the cotter to the stem, a cylindrical retainer surrounding the cotter, the retainer having a tapered inner surface facing an oppositely tapered outer surface of the cotter such that axial forces urging the retainer along the stem tighten the cotter on the stem, characterised by means for relieving stress concentrations in the stem adjacent the cotter, said means comprising the internal taper angle of the retainer being slightly greater than the external taper angle of the cotter. With the invention, the incidence of stress concentrations and breakage can be reduced, leading to improved service life at low cost. The invention will be further understood from the following description, when take together with the attached drawings, which are given by way of example only and in which: Fig. 1 is a partial view of an internal combustion engine in which the invention may be used. Fig. 2 is an exploded cross sectional view of a valve supporting structure according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a valve supporting structure according to the invention. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are each cross sectional view and plan view of prior art valve supporting structure. The invention is shown in Fig. 1 in use with an exhaust valve 1, which is employed in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine described hereinafter, is made of ceramic material such as silicon nitride, and has a column-shape stem 1b formed integral with a valve head 1a. The valve 1 has a circumferential groove 2, semi-circular in cross section, in the upper portion of the stem 1b. A metallic cotter 3 comprises a pair of split pieces (two parts), substantially forms a cylinder when assembled. 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 cross 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, fit onto the outer surface of the cotter 3. In this instance, the retainer 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. The valve 1, thus far described, is incorporated into a cylinder head 5 of an internal combustion engine as shown in Fig. 1. 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 to tightly 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 to alternately close and open the exhaust passage 8. In compliance with the up and downward displacement of the valve 1, the retainer 4 comes to tightly engage with the cotter 3 through the tapered surfaces by means of wedge action. With further reference with the drawing of Fig. 1, 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 causes to oscillate the swing arm 12 so as to axially displace the stem 1b. Numeral 14 designates an intake valve which acts to alternately 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 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 axially displace the valve 14. Numeral 23 designates a cylinder block, numeral 24 being a piston which is axially reciprocated within the cylinder block 23 in the conventional manner. Figs 2 and 3 show an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the arrangement between the cotter 3 and the retainer 4 is such that the cotter 3 has a taper (Y) slightly smaller than the that (x) of the retainer 4 by an angle of such as, for example, 0.5 degrees. Such arrangement allows lessening of the engagement force of the projection 3a into the open-ended portion of the groove 2, so that the inner surface of the cotter 3 uniformly engages with the outer surface of the stem 1b, thus preventing the projection 3a from locally engaging against the open-ended portion of the groove 2 in a way to cause stress concentrations. It is noted that the angular difference in taper of the cotter 3 and the retainer 4 should be 0.7 degrees at most, taking the wedge effect into consideration.

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 cotter (3) surrounding the stem, a lock member (3a) extending into the groove and connecting the cotter (3) to the stem (1b), a cylindrical retainer (4) surrounding the cotter (3), the retainer having a tapered inner surface facing an oppositely tapered outer surface of the cotter (3) such that axial forces urging the retainer (4) along the stem (1b) tighten the cotter (3) on the stem (1b), characterised by means for relieving stress concentrations in the stem adjacent the cotter, said means comprising the internal taper angle (x) of the retainer (4) being slightly greater than the external taper angle (y) of the cotter (3). A valve arrangement according to claim 1, in which said internal taper angle of the retainer (4) is greater than the external taper angle of the cotter (3) by 0.7 degrees at most. An internal combustion engine comprising a valve arrangement according to claim 1 or 2.

Inventors: KAGAWA JUNICHI, KAWAMURA MITSUYOSHI, NAGASAKI SHIGERU, SATO YASUSHI, TANIGUCHI MASATO, KAGAWA, JUNICHI, KAWAMURA, MITSUYOSHI, NAGASAKI, SHIGERU, SATO, YASUSHI, TANIGUCHI, MASATO
Applicants: NGK SPARK PLUG CO, NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD
Application year: 1993
Main classification: F01L3
IPC codes: F01L3