VALVES HAVING CORROSION RESISTANT CERAMIC COATING AND METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANUFACTURING SAME

摘要

An inlet valve is partially coated with a protective coating to resist corrosion and gas impingement when used in an internal combustion engine. The inlet valve has a hard cladding that is shaped to function as a valve seat. The hard cladding forms an interface with the valve head body, which is typically made of a softer metallic material than the hard cladding. The protective coating is bonded to the inlet valve and covers the cladding-body interface. The protective coating is resistant to corrosion, wear from gas impingement, and can withstand the high temperatures reached in internal combustion engines. A method for making the inlet valves generally includes masking a portion of the valve stem and the valve seat, applying a protective coating to cladding-body interface, and curing the protective coating or otherwise bonding the protective coating to the inlet valve. An apparatus for coating the valves includes a movable track, a plurality of attachment apparatus for holding a plurality of valves on the track, a spraying device for applying the coating, and an infrared lamp for curing the coating.