Combustion face insert

摘要

A combustion face insert is provided for connection to a bottom wall of an aluminum cylinder head adjacent a combustion chamber in an internal combustion engine which includes an insert body formed of a material having a predetermined hardness. The insert body includes a lower surface facing the combustion chamber and extending radially outwardly to form an outer peripheral extent having a predetermined size necessary to cause the lower surface to be positioned for engagement with an annular combustion seal to effectively seal the combustion chamber. This design allows a greater power density to be achieved in a heavy duty diesel engine utilizing an aluminum cylinder head, increases the thermal fatigue resistance of the valve bridge area and increases the resistance of an aluminum cylinder head to indentation by the combustion seal of the head gasket during deflection of the aluminum cylinder head. Hardened valve seats, which include either a hardened portion of the insert body or a hardened valve seat insert connected to the insert body, are positioned around intake and exhaust openings formed in the insert body for sealing abutment by respective intake and exhaust valves.