Cummins Engine Company, Inc.

Yuji Fujimoto

Thomas M Yonushonis

Joseph C Bentz

James W Patten

A ceramic-metallic interfacing joint assembly is disclosed. The joint assembly includes a pair of interfaced components in a highly loaded, sliding contact in which the contact stresses can be as high as 250,000 psi. Preferably, the pair of interfaced components includes a ball member and a complementarily shaped, mating socket member and is used in a diesel type internal combustion engine. One of the components is formed of a ceramic material having a density of at least 3.18 g/cm.sup.3 and the other component is formed of a metallic material. Preferably, the density of the ceramic material ranges from 3.18 g/cm.sup.3 to 3.25 g/cm.sup.3. This arrangement reduces the wear of the joint assembly in conjunction with the use of a lubricant which lubricates the components. Specifically, the metallic material is an iron based material while the ceramic material is a sintered silicon nitride. The ceramic material may be sintered with rare-earth metal oxides such as yttrium oxide. Alternately, the ceramic material may be sintered using aluminum oxides.

Growing community of inventors

Yokohama, Japan

Yuji Fujimoto