Carbon--carbon composite valve for high performance internal combustion engines

US6085714A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Hitco Carbon Composites, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Doug Wilson · Allen, US
• Sam Lee · Kalispell, US
• Raj Mathur · Goodview, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 11, 1998
• Grant date: Jul 11, 2000
• Expiry date: Dec 11, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49426
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention provides a carbon--carbon (C/C) composite valve structure useful for high temperature internal combustion engines comprising (a) a carbon--carbon (C/C) composite valve stem having a flared end and a non-flared end opposite the flared end; and (b) a carbon--carbon (C/C) composite valve head applied onto the flared end of the valve stem, wherein at least one of the carbon--carbon (C/C) composite valve stem and head is coated with a high temperature resistant coating. A method is further provided to fabricate the carbon--carbon (C/C) composite valve comprising machining a carbon--carbon (C/C) composite valve stem having a flared end and a non-flared end from a cured and densified carbon--carbon (C/C) plate having a sufficient thickness; applying a plurality of circular fabric plies, made from a balanced carbon--carbon (C/C) prepreg and having a slit in the center of said ply, coaxially onto the non-flared end of said carbon--carbon (C/C) valve stem and advancing said plurality of plies to intimately contact the flared end of said carbon--carbon (C/C) valve stem; placing said carbon--carbon (C/C) valve stem contacted with said plurality of circular fabric plies in…