Rocker arm with a cost push rod seat

• US 4,961,407 A
• Filed: 04/24/1989
• Issued: 10/09/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Competition Cams Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Competition Cams Incorporated
• Inventors: McWhirter, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Okonsky, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Application Number:
  US07/342,543
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 123/90.39, 123/90.41, 123/90.47, 123/90.63
• US Class Current: 123/90.41
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/181 Centre pivot rocking arms
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/183 of the boat type
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2305/00 Valve arrangements comprising rollers

Abstract

A rocker arm for a rocker arm assembly of an internal combustion engine. The rocker arm includes a pushrod portion for engaging the distal end of the pushrod and for movement between a raised position and a lowered position, the pushrod portion having a pushrod seat cast thereinto for receiving the distal end of the pushrod; a valve stem portion for engaging the distal end of the valve stem for movement between a raised position and a lowered position; and an intermediate portion fixedly connecting the pushrod portion and the valve stem portion to one another, the rocker arm attachment the pivotally attaching the intermediate portion of the rocker arm to the rocker arm support structure to allow the pushrod portion and the valve stem portion to pivot between the raised and lowered positions.

Claims

1. A rocker arm for a rocker arm assembly of an internal combustion engine;

said engine including a rocker arm support structure, a pushrod having a distal end movable between a raised position and a lowered position, and a valve stem movable between a raised position and a lowered position;

said rocker arm assembly including rocker arm attachment means for pivotally attaching said rocker arm to said rocker arm support structure;

said rocker arm comprising;

(a) a pushrod portion for engaging said distal end of said pushrod and for movement between a raised position and a lowered position, said pushrod portion having a pushrod seat cast thereinto for receiving said distal end of said pushrod;

(b) a valve stem portion for engaging said distal end of said valve stem for movement between a raised position and a lowered position; and

(c) an intermediate portion fixedly connecting said pushrod portion and said valve stem portion to one another for being pivotally attached to said rocker arm support structure to allow said pushrod portion and said valve stem portion to pivot between said raised and lowered positions.

2. A rocker arm for a rocker arm assembly of an internal combustion engine;

said engine including a rocker arm support structure, a pushrod having a distal end movable between a raised position and a lowered position, said pushrod having a longitudinal bore through which oil is pumped to said rocker arm; and

a valve stem movable between a raised position and a lowered position;

said rocker arm assembly including rocker arm attachment means for pivotally attaching said rocker arm to said rocker arm support structure;

said rocker arm comprising;

(a) a pushrod portion for engaging said distal end of said pushrod and for movement between a raised position and a lowered position, said pushrod portion having a pushrod seat cast thereinto for receiving said distal end of said pushrod;

said pushrod portion having an orifice for communicating with said pushrod seat and for allowing oil from said longitudinal bore of said pushrod to pass therethrough;

said pushrod portion having an oil directional channel for communicating with one side of said orifice for causing a portion of the oil passing through said orifice to flow toward the bearing member while the remainder of the oil passing through the orifice will squirt generally upward above said rocker arm, said oil directional channel including a groove on the upper side of said pushrod portion extending from said orifice toward said intermediate portion to allow oil to flow from said orifice toward said rocker arm attachment means;

(b) a valve stem portion for engaging said distal end of said valve stem for movement between a raised position and a lowered position; and

(c) an intermediate portion fixedly connecting said pushrod portion and said valve stem portion to one another for being pivotally attached to said rocker arm support structure to allow said pushrod portion and said valve stem portion to pivot between said raised and lowered positions.

3. A rocker arm for a rocker arm assembly of an internal combustion engine;

said engine including a rocker arm support structure, a pushrod having a distal end movable between a raised position and a lowered position, and a valve stem movable between a raised position and a lowered position;

said rocker arm assembly including rocker arm attachment means for pivotally attaching said rocker arm to said rocker arm support structure, said pushrod having a longitudinal bore through which oil is pumped to said rocker arm;

said rocker arm comprising;

(a) a pushrod portion for engaging said distal end of said pushrod and for movement between a raised position and a lowered position, said pushrod portion having a pushrod seat for receiving said distal end of said pushrod and having an orifice for communicating with said pushrod seat and for allowing oil from said longitudinal bore of said pushrod to pass therethrough;

said pushrod portion having an oil directional channel for communicating with one side of said orifice for causing a portion of the oil passing through said orifice to flow toward the bearing member while the remainder of the oil passing through the orifice will squirt generally upward above said rocker arm, said oil directional channel including a groove on the upper side of said pushrod portion extending from said orifice toward said intermediate portion to allow oil to flow from said orifice toward said rocker arm attachment means;

(b) a valve stem portion for engaging said distal end of said valve stem for movement between a raised position and a lowered position; and

(c) an intermediate portion fixedly connecting said pushrod portion and said valve stem portion to one another for being pivotally attached to said rocker arm support structure to allow said pushrod portion and said valve stem portion to pivot between said raised and lowered positions.

4. The rocker arm of claim 3 in which said pushrod seat is cast into said pushrod portion.

5. The rocker arm of claim 4 in which said pushrod portion, said valve stem portion and said intermediate portion are cast out of metal as a one-piece, integral unit.

6. In an internal combustion racing engine having a rocker arm support structure, a pushrod having a distal end movable between a raised position and a lowered position, and a valve stem movable between a raised position and a lowered position;

a rocker arm assembly comprising;

(a) a rocker arm;

said rocker arm including;

(i) a pushrod portion for engaging said distal end of said pushrod and for movement between a raised postion and a lowered position, said pushrod portion having a pushrod seat cast thereinto for receiving said distal end of said pushrod;

(ii) a valve stem portion for engaging said distal end of said valve stem for movement between a raised position and a lowered position; and

(iii) an intermediate portion fixedly connecting said pushrod portion and said valve stem portion to one another for being pivotally attached to said rocker arm support structure to allow said pushrod portion and said valve stem portion to pivot between said raised and lowered positions; and

(b) rocker arm attachment means for pivotally attaching said rocker arm to said rocker arm support structure.

7. The rocker arm assembly of claim 6 in which said pushrod portion, said valve stem portion and said intermediate portion are cast out of metal as a one-piece, integral unit.