Valve guide insert

• US 5,249,555 A
• Filed: 04/14/1992
• Issued: 10/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: K-Line Industries, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: K-Line Industries, Incorporated
• Inventors: Kamphuis, Dwain L., Kammeraad, James A., Ritt, Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cross, E. Rollins
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOLIS, ERICK R
• Application Number:
  US07/869,418
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 123/188.5, 123/188.9, 123/188.6
• US Class Current: 123/188.9
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 3/08 Valves guides; Sealing of valve stem, e.g. sealing by lubricant
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/493 Valve guide making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49314 with assembly or composite article making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49416 with material shaping or cutting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49945 by driven force fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53552 Valve applying or removing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53557 Engine valve unit puller or applier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53843 Tube, sleeve, or ferrule inserting or removing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5393 Means comprising impact receiving tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53952 Tube sleeve or ferrule applying or removing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53987 Tube, sleeve or ferrule
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53991 Work gripper, anvil, or element

Abstract

A thin-walled valve guide insert for lining and relining a valve guide of an internal combustion engine includes opposing ends each having a tapered insertion section thereon. The tapered insertion section defines a reduced outer diameter to facilitate installing the insert into a valve guide bore have a nonchamfered opening, and further defines a reduced inner diameter so that the insert has a substantially continuous wall thickness throughout its length and thus maintains the structural integrity of the insert from end to end. In the preferred embodiment, the valve guide insert is made of a phosphor bronze material of about 0.018 inch thickness or less, and includes a lengthwise slit therein. The insert is sprung open longitudinally along the slit and must be radially compressed so that the insert defines a sufficiently small outer diameter so that it can be axially installed in a press-fit condition into the valve guide bore of the engine. Both ends of the insert are formed with the tapered insertion section so that the insert can be positioned without regard to which end is directed toward the valve guide. Also disclosed is a tool for inserting the insert into the guide valve, the tool including an outwardly tapered junction adapted to spread one of the tapered insertion sections of the insert into longitudinal alignment with the insert to reduce the tendency to crush same from end forces exerted on the insert while installing the insert into the valve guide. Still further a process is disclosed for forming the guide valve insert with ends having tapered insertion sections thereon.

Claims

1. A valve guide insert for lining and relining a valve guide of an internal combustion engine, the engine including a valve having a valve stem which is to reciprocate in the bore of the valve guide, comprising:

a thin-walled, generally cylindrically shaped, metallic tube having ends and a section intermediate the ends, said intermediate section having an outer diameter substantially equal to or slightly greater than the inner diameter of the valve guide bore within which said insert is to be installed so that said insert, when positioned within said bore, will be retained by a press fit, said intermediate section of the insert having an inner diameter about equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the valve stem which is to reciprocate therein, the inner and outer diameters of said intermediate section defining the approximate desired wall thickness of said insert when installation is complete; and

at least one of said ends having a reduced inner diameter and a reduced outer diameter relative to said intermediate section, said at least one end providing a tapered insertion section adapted to lead said insert into the valve guide bore, said tapered insertion section having a wall thickness substantially equal to or slightly greater than the wall thickness of said intermediate section such that said tapered insertion section will not be prone to crush during installation of said insert into the bore, whereby said insert can be installed in a valve guide bore having a nonchamfered opening.

2. A valve guide insert as defined in claim 1 wherein the wall thickness of said tapered insertion section is such that when said tapered insertion section is reworked after installation of said insert into the valve guide bore to the inner diameter thereof substantially equal to the inner diameter of said intermediate section, the outer diameter of said tapered insertion section will be substantially equal to the outer diameter of said intermediate section.

3. A valve guide insert as defined in claim 2 further including a slit extending the length of said thin-walled tube, said tube being sprung open slightly but compressible to close said slit and form the outside diameter of said intermediate section to be press-fit into the valve guide bore.

4. A valve guide insert as defined in claim 3 wherein both of said ends include a tapered insertion section.

5. A valve guide insert as defined in claim 4 wherein said tube includes an inner surface that is grooved to retain oil therealong.

6. A valve guide insert as defined in claim 5 wherein said tube is formed from a sheet, and said tapered insertion section is formed by crowning one of said opposing ends during the process of forming said valve guide insert.

7. A valve guide insert as defined in claim 6 wherein said tube has a wall thickness of about 0.018 inches or less.

8. A valve guide insert as defined in claim 7 wherein said tube is made from phosphor bronze material.

9. A valve guide insert as defined in claim 1 wherein said tapered insertion section extends about a sixteenth of an inch from said one end.

10. A valve guide insert as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve guide insert includes an inner surface that is grooved to retain oil therealong.

11. A valve guide insert as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said ends includes a tapered insertion section.

12. A valve guide insert as defined in claim 1 wherein said tube has a wall thickness of about 0.018 inches or less.

13. A valve guide insert as defined in claim 1 wherein said tapered insertion section has an outer surface having an arcuate shape.

14. A valve guide insert as defined in claim 1 wherein said tapered insertion section has an outer surface having a frusto-conical shape.

15. A valve guide insert as defined in claim 1 wherein said tapered insertion section has an outer surface having a first portion of frusto-conical shape and a second portion of cylindrical shape, said second portion being located adjacent said one end.

16. A valve guide insert as defined in claim 1 wherein the reduced outer diameter on the end of the tapered insertion section is about equal to or less than the inner diameter of the intermediate section.

17. A valve guide insert for lining and relining a valve guide of an internal combustion engine, the engine including a valve having a valve stem which is to reciprocate in the bore of the valve guide, comprising:

a thin-walled, generally cylindrically shaped, metallic tube having ends and a section intermediate the ends, said intermediate section having an outer diameter substantially equal to or slightly greater than the inner diameter of the valve guide bore within which said insert is to be installed so that said insert, when positioned within said bore, will be retained by a press fit, said intermediate section of the insert having an inner diameter about equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the valve stem which is to reciprocate therein, the inner and outer diameters of said intermediate section defining the approximate desired wall thickness of said insert when installation is complete;

at least one of said ends having a reduced inner diameter and a reduced outer diameter relative to said intermediate section, said at least one end providing a tapered insertion section adapted to lead said insert into the valve guide bore, said tapered insertion section having a wall thickness substantially equal to or slightly greater than the wall thickness of said intermediate section such that said tapered insertion section will not be prone to crush during installation of said insert into the bore, whereby said insert can be installed in a valve guide bore having a nonchamfered opening; and

said tube further including a slit extending the length of said thin-walled tube, said tube being sprung open slightly but compressible to close said slit and form the outside diameter of said intermediate section to be press-fit into the valve guide bore.

18. A valve guide insert for lining and relining a valve guide of an internal combustion engine, the engine including a valve having a valve stem which is to reciprocate in the bore of the valve guide, comprising:

a thin-walled, generally cylindrically shaped, metallic tube having a wall thickness of about 0.018 inches or less and having ends and a section intermediate the ends, said intermediate section having an outer diameter substantially equal to or slightly greater than the inner diameter of the valve guide bore within which said insert is to be installed so that said insert, when positioned within said bore, will be retained by a press fit, said intermediate section of the insert having an inner diameter about equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the valve stem which is to reciprocate therein, the inner and outer diameters of said intermediate section defining the approximate desired wall thickness of said insert when installation is complete;

at least one of said ends having a reduced inner diameter and a reduced outer diameter relative to said intermediate section, said at least one end providing a tapered insertion section adapted to lead said insert into the valve guide bore, said tapered insertion section having a wall thickness substantially equal to or slightly greater than the wall thickness of said intermediate section such that said tapered insertion section will not be prone to crush during installation of said insert into the bore, said wall thickness of said tapered insertion section providing material permitting said insert to be resized to a constant wall thickness along its entire length, whereby said insert can be installed in a valve guide bore having a nonchamfered opening and then resized after insertion to a constant wall thickness along its entire length; and

said tube including a slit extending the length of said thin-walled tube, said tube being sprung open slightly but compressible to close said slit and form the outside diameter of said intermediate section to be press-fit into the valve guide bore.

19. A valve guide insert as defined in claim 18 wherein the reduced outer diameter on the end of the tapered insertion section is about equal to or less than the inner diameter of the intermediate section.