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:
Oct. 03, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 10, 1998
Michael H Haselkorn, Dunlap, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
Ceramic valve guides capable of withstanding high temperature ranges are typically used in high efficiency internal combustion engines. In very large engines these ceramic valve guides can be quite long and forming the required through bore in the ceramic valve guide to accommodate a stem of a valve can be extremely time consuming. A ceramic valve guide assembly is disclosed that provides a simple and economical means for creating a ceramic valve guide assembly. In one embodiment, the valve guide assembly comprises a first valve guide sleeve that is identical to a second valve guide sleeve. Each valve guide sleeve includes a guide bore having a first diameter and a secondary bore having a second diameter. The second diameter is larger than the first diameter. The secondary bore of the first valve guide sleeve is placed adjacent the secondary bore of the second valve guide sleeve and the first valve guide sleeve is secured to the second valve guide sleeve, preferably by an outer sleeve. The first diameter of the guide bore is chosen to be in close fitting engagement with a stem of a valve while the second diameter is not in close fitting engagement. In a second embodiment, the valve guide sleeves are formed as a single unit to produce a one piece valve guide assembly.