SHAFT-MOUNTED ROCKER ARM ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

The present invention is a shaft-mounted rocker arm arrangement for an internal combustion engine which provides simplified assembly and disassembly by allowing individual rocker arms to be added or removed separately and without removing the rocker shaft. The present invention utilizes a rocker shaft and a rocker arm rotatably coupled to the rocker shaft. The rocker shaft includes a flat portion arranged to receive the rocker arm. The rocker arm includes a body portion and a curved arm portion arranged to match a curvature of the rocker shaft, and arranged to engage more than 180 degrees of the rocker shaft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers denote like system components, respectively, and which:

FIGS. 1 a through 1d illustrate sectional and front views of a first exemplary embodiment of a rocker arm arrangement;

FIGS. 2 a through 2c illustrate perspective views of the first exemplary embodiment of the rocker arm arrangement;

FIGS. 3 a through 3d illustrate sectional, top, and front views of a second exemplary embodiment of a rocker arm arrangement in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 4 a through 4b illustrate perspective views of the second exemplary embodiment of the rocker arm arrangement with the rocker arm not engaged to the rocker shaft; and

FIGS. 5 a through 5b illustrate perspective views of the second exemplary embodiment of the rocker arm arrangement with the rocker arm connected to the rocker shaft, and illustrating a first and a second operating position.

Claims

1. A shaft-mounted rocker arm arrangement comprising: a rocker arm comprising a body portion and a curved arm portion; anda rocker shaft comprising a flat portion arranged to receive the curved arm portion of the rocker arm, wherein the curved arm position is arranged to match a curvature of the rocker shaft;wherein the rocker arm is rotatably coupled to the rocker shaft.

2. The shaft-mounted rocker arm arrangement of claim 1, wherein the curved arm portion is arranged to engage more than 180 degrees of the rocker shaft.

3. The shaft-mounted rocker arm arrangement of claim 1, wherein the rocker arm is arranged to be placed over the flat portion of the rocker shaft, and then translated axially along the rocker shaft to an operating position whereby the rocker arm is captured by the rocker shaft.

4. The shaft-mounted rocker arm of claim 1, wherein the flat portion is machined flat or formed flat.

5. A shaft-mounted rocker arm arrangement comprising: a rocker shaft comprising a flat portion and a groove; anda rocker arm comprising a body portion and a curved arm portion, wherein the curved arm portion comprises a formation and a curvature arranged to match a curvature of the rocker shaft;wherein the formation engages the groove thereby axially locating the rocker arm.

6. The shaft-mounted rocker arm arrangement of claim 5, wherein the curved arm portion engages more than 180 degrees of the rocker shaft.

7. The shaft-mounted rocker arm arrangement of claim 5, wherein the rocker shaft rotates in the plane established by the groove.

8. The shaft-mounted rocker arm arrangement of claim 5, wherein the rocker arm is arranged to be placed over the flat portion of the rocker shaft, and then rotated about the rocker shaft to engage the formation on the groove.

9. The shaft-mounted rocker arm arrangement of claim 5, wherein the flat portion is machined flat or formed flat.

10. A method of mounting a rocker arm on a rocker shaft, the method comprising the steps of: placing the rocker arm over a flat portion on the rocker shaft; andcapturing a curved arm portion of the rocker arm with the rocker shaft, wherein the curved arm portion comprises a curvature matching a curvature of the rocker shaft, and wherein the curved arm portion engages more than 180 degrees of the rocker shaft.

11. The method of claim 11, wherein the capturing step comprises translating the rocker arm axially along the rocker shaft to an operating position.

12. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of attaching spacers on the rocker shaft to locate the rocker arm axially on the rocker shaft.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the capturing step comprises rotating the rocker arm about the rocker shaft to engage a formation in the curved arm portion in a groove on the rocker shaft.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the flat portion is machined flat or formed flat, and sized accordingly to allow the curved arm portion to be placed over the rocker shaft.