Lubricating oil dosing arrangement

Abstract

In a lubricant dosing arrangement for the lubrication of valve shafts on the cylinder heads of piston engine wherein the valve shafts are axially movably supported in housing bores formed in the cylinder heads and the housing bores include spaced lubricant seals so as to form between the seals around the valve shaft lubricant reservoirs, means are provided for supplying lubricant to the lubricant reservoirs and the valves shafts include means for permitting passage of lubricant out of the reservoir at a rate depending on the lift movement of the valve shafts so as to dose the lubricant volume permitted to flow out of the lubricant reservoir for the lubrication of the valve shaft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are cross-sectional views of a lubricant dosing arrangement showing the arrangement with a shaft in different positions,

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an alternative arrangement wherein the shaft is also shown in two different positions,

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a lubricant dosing arrangement including a pumping function, and

FIG. 6 shows another lubricant dosing arrangement with a pumping function.

Claims

1. A lubricant dosing arrangement for the lubrication of valve shafts in the cylinder heads of piston engines, each valve including a valve shaft (1) longitudinally movably supported in bores (2, 3) of the cylinder heads, and sealing means (4, 5a) disposed in the bores (3, 3) around said valve shaft (1) said sealing means (4, 5a) including axially spaced annular seals so as to form a lubricant reservoir (s, H1, H2) and means for moving lubricant through the lubricant reservoir (S, H, H2) in a dosed manner depending on the lift movement of the valve shaft (1).

2. A lubricant dosing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a housing with a housing bore (3) is provided and disposed in alignment with a valve guide bore (2) and the valve shaft (1) extends through a housing bore (3) in the cylinder head and through the valve guide bore (2).

3. A lubricant dosing arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the spaced first and second seals are supported in the housing bore (3), the valve shaft (1) includes at least one groove (S) which has an axial extension in the valve shaft (1) of less than the distance between the first and second seals (4, 4a) and is arranged so that, with the valve closed, the groove (S) is fully disposed between the first and second seals (4, 4a) and, with the valve opened, the groove extends beyond the second seal (4a) so as to permit lubricant to flow out of the lubricant reservoir (H).

4. A lubricant dosing arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the first and second seals (4, 4a) are supported in the housing bore (3) and a through bore (B) extends through the valve shaft (1) at an inclined angle relative to the axis of the valve shaft (1) such that, with the valve closed, the through-bore (B) is fully disposed between the first and second seals (4, 4a) but, with the valve in an open position, the through-bore B by-passes the second seal (4a) such that lubricant can flow out of the lubricant reservoir (S).

5. A lubricant dosing arrangement according to claim 2, wherein a lubricant supply line (8) extends to the lubricant reservoir (S) and lubricant supplied via the supply line (8) is subjected to pressure so that the lubricant supplied to the lubricant reservoir (S) is under pressure.

6. A lubricant dosing arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the first seal (4) is supported by the wall of the housing bore (3) and the second seal (5) is supported by the valve shaft (1), the second seal (5) being designed to permit passage of lubricant in one direction of movement of the valve shaft.

7. A lubricant dosing arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the second seal (5) is provided with a seal lip abutting the wall of the housing bore (3).

8. A lubricant dosing arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the second seal (5) is supported in a groove formed in the valve shaft (1).

9. A lubricant dosing arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the diameter of the housing bore (3) is radially widened at its upper end around the valve shaft (1) so as to form a lubricant storage chamber (6), said first and second seals (5a, 5b) being upper and lower seal rings, and wherein a lubricant supply passage (8) extends from the lubricant storage chamber (6) to the lubricant reservoir formed around the valve shaft between the first and second seals (5a, 5b).

10. A lubricant dosing arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the first seal ring (5a) includes a seal lip in contact with the valve shaft for permitting lubricant to flow from the storage chamber (6) along the valve shaft into the reservoir (H2) but preventing backflow out of the reservoir (H2).