Ceramic-to-metal shaft assembly

Abstract

A shaft assembly includes a metallic portion and a ceramic portion. In a disclosed example, a ceramic shaft has a generally conical end that is at least partially received within a generally conical recess in one end of a metallic shaft. The recess has a first portion that has an inner surface that is received directly against a corresponding outer surface on a section of the ceramic shaft conical portion. A second portion of the recess is radially spaced from the ceramic shaft and provides a controlled gap within which a braze alloy is maintained. In one example, the second portion has an axial length that is more than twice a radial depth of the second portion. In another example, a transition surface between the first and second portions of the recess has a linear profile.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.