Claims
- 1. A rocker assembly pivotable about a pivot axis for following a valve-opening cam lobe and a valve-closing cam lobe of a variable valve mechanism in an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a) a first arm; b) a first follower on said first arm for following said valve-opening cam lobe; c) a second arm disposed at an included angle from said first arm; and d) a second follower on said second arm for following said valve-closing cam lobe, said second arm having adjustment means whereby said second follower is adjustable toward and away from said valve-closing cam lobe to control mechanical is lash in said variable valve mechanism.
- 2. A rocker assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first follower is a roller.
- 3. A rocker assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second follower is a slider.
- 4. A rocker assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said adjustment means includes a tapered slot in said second arm defined by inner and outer jaws, said slider being disposed on said inner jaw, and a wedge slidably disposed in said slot to urge said inner jaw toward or away from said valve-closing cam lobe responsive to movement of said wedge in said slot.
- 5. A rocker assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second arm is pivotable about said pivot axis with respect to said first arm and wherein said first arm has an extension adjacent to said second arm and has adjustment means extending between said extension and said second arm to adjust said included angle.
- 6. A rocker assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second arm includes an overload subassembly including a well in said arm receivable of spring means resiliently supportive of said slider.
- 7. A rocker assembly in accordance with claim 6 wherein said overload subassembly comprises a spring-biased piston disposed in said well.
- 8. A rocker assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said spring is a belleville washer, and wherein said subassembly is axially preloaded to a predetermined level.
- 9. A variable valve mechanism for an internal combustion engine, comprising a rocker assembly pivotable about a pivot axis for following a valve-opening cam lobe and a valve-closing cam lobe of said variable valve mechanism, said rocker assembly including
i) a first arm; ii) a first follower on said first arm for following said valve-opening cam lobe; iii) a second arm disposed at an included angle from said first arm; and iv) a second follower on said second arm for following said valve-closing cam lobe, said second arm having adjustment means whereby said second follower is adjustable toward and away from said valve-closing cam lobe to control mechanical lash in said variable valve mechanism.
- 10. An internal combustion engine, comprising a variable valve mechanism including a rocker assembly pivotable about a pivot axis for following a valve-opening cam lobe and a valve-closing cam lobe of said variable valve mechanism, said rocker assembly including
i) a first arm; ii) a first follower on said first arm for following said valve-opening cam lobe; iii) a second arm disposed at an included angle from said first arm; and iv) a second follower on said second arm for following said valve-closing cam lobe, said second arm having adjustment means whereby said second follower is adjustable toward and away from said valve-closing cam lobe to control mechanical lash in said variable valve mechanism.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part of a pending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 09/755,345 filed Jan. 5, 2001.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09755345 |
Jan 2001 |
US |
Child |
09874625 |
Jun 2001 |
US |