The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 28, 1995
Filed:
Mar. 02, 1994
William K Engel, Peoria, IL (US);
James C Goade, Morris, IL (US);
Michael H Haselkorn, Peoria, IL (US);
Donald H Sherman, Morton, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
Piston assemblies for use in fluid translating devices normally are made of hardened metal alloy materials which require very smooth surface and are always subject to varying degrees of thermal expansion when being operated at high operating temperatures. In the subject arrangement, a piston assembly is provided and is constructed of most, if not all, ceramic components. The piston assembly includes a ceramic piston having a spherical head portion at one end thereof which rests in a spherical cavity of a ceramic slipper and held therein by a cylindrical ring. The cylindrical ring can be of a one-piece or a two-piece design which is in contact with the spherical head portion and bonded to the ceramic slipper, thus, retaining the spherical head portion. The cylindrical ring could also be made of a metallic material. The metallic ring is bonded to the ceramic slipper and subsequently swaged to hold the spherical head portion within the spherical cavity. The subject ceramic piston assembly provides a very smooth surface which reduces sliding friction and likewise the effects of thermal expansion and inertia are minimized by the use of a ceramic material. Consequently, the subject piston assembly is very efficient when operating at high temperatures and, likewise, is easy to manufacture and assemble.