Internal combustion engine and vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10851680-B2
Application number	US-201816627138-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2018
Priority date	Jun 30, 2017
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

An internal combustion engine allows easy installment of a support that pivotally supports a rocker arm while preventing fretting wear due to rising of the support. The internal combustion engine includes the support, at least a portion of which is located in a hole of a cylinder head, a rocker arm that is pivotally supported on the support, and a ball plunger that secures the support inside the hole. The ball plunger includes a spring seat that contacts with the support, a ball that contacts with the cylinder head, and a spring interposed between the spring seat and the ball.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An internal combustion engine comprising:
a cylinder head including a hole;
a port in the cylinder head;
a valve in the cylinder head configured to open/close the port;
a cam shaft rotatably supported on the cylinder head;
a cam provided on the cam shaft;
a columnar support at least partially located in the hole;
a rocker arm including a supported portion pivotally supported on the columnar support, a pressed portion pressed by the cam, and an abutting portion that abuts on the valve;
a retainer that includes a first contact portion that contacts with the columnar support, a second contact portion that contacts with the cylinder head, and an elastic portion interposed between the first contact portion and the second contact portion; and
a groove provided on an inner surface of the hole and that engages with the retainer; wherein
the retainer secures the columnar support inside the hole;
the retainer further includes a plunger including a spring located inside the columnar support, and a presser at least partially located outside the columnar support and that is connected to the spring; and
in a cross section that passes through the groove and a center line of the hole, the groove includes a sloped surface that is inclined relative to the center line and extends upward toward the rocker arm.

2. The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein the groove is cone-shaped or cylinder-shaped and has an axis that is inclined relative to the center line of the hole.

3. The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein
the hole and the columnar support each have a cylindrical shape; and
the groove is a circumferential groove.

4. The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein
the rocker arm further includes a first arm that includes the supported portion and the abutting portion, and a second arm that includes the pressed portion and is pivotally connected to the first arm;
the internal combustion engine further includes a connector that removably connects the first arm to the second arm; and
the columnar support is not able to expand/contract in an axial direction of the columnar support.

5. A vehicle comprising the internal combustion engine according to claim 1 .

6. An internal combustion engine comprising:
a cylinder head including a hole;
a port in the cylinder head;
a valve in the cylinder head configured to open/close the port;
a cam shaft rotatably supported on the cylinder head;
a cam provided on the cam shaft;
a columnar support at least partially located in the hole;
a rocker arm including a supported portion pivotally supported on the columnar support, a pressed portion pressed by the cam, and an abutting portion that abuts on the valve; and
a retainer that includes a first contact portion that contacts with the columnar support, a second contact portion that contacts with the cylinder head, and an elastic portion interposed between the first contact portion and the second contact portion;

wherein
the retainer secures the columnar support inside the hole; and
the retainer further includes a ring-shaped coil spring that is wound around the columnar support.

7. An internal combustion engine comprising:
a cylinder head including a hole;
a port in the cylinder head;
a valve in the cylinder head configured to open/close the port;
a cam shaft rotatably supported on the cylinder head;
a cam provided on the cam shaft;
a columnar support at least partially located in the hole;
a rocker arm including a supported portion pivotally supported on the columnar support, a pressed portion pressed by the cam, and an abutting portion that abuts on the valve; and
a retainer that includes a first contact portion that contacts with the columnar support, a second contact portion that contacts with the cylinder head, and an elastic portion interposed between the first contact portion and the second contact portion;

wherein
the retainer secures the columnar support inside the hole; and
the retainer further includes a plunger including a spring located inside the cylinder head, and a presser at least partially located inside the hole and that is connected to the spring.

8. An internal combustion engine comprising:
a cylinder head including a hole;
a port in the cylinder head;
a valve in the cylinder head configured to open/close the port;
a cam shaft rotatably supported on the cylinder head;
a cam provided on the cam shaft;
a columnar support at least partially located in the hole;
a rocker arm including a supported portion pivotally supported on the columnar support, a pressed portion pressed by the cam, and an abutting portion that abuts on the valve; and
a retainer that includes a first contact portion that contacts with the columnar support, a second contact portion that contacts with the cylinder head, and an elastic portion interposed between the first contact portion and the second contact portion;

wherein
the retainer secures the columnar support inside the hole; and
the retainer further includes a ring-shaped coil spring that is fitted to an inner surface of the hole.

9. An internal combustion engine comprising:
a cylinder head including a hole;
a port in the cylinder head;
a valve in the cylinder head configured to open/close the port;
a cam shaft rotatably supported on the cylinder head;
a cam provided on the cam shaft;
a columnar support at least partially located in the hole;
a rocker arm including a supported portion pivotally supported on the columnar support, a pressed portion pressed by the cam, and an abutting portion that abuts on the valve; and
a retainer that includes a first contact portion that contacts with the columnar support, a second contact portion that contacts with the cylinder head, and an elastic portion interposed between the first contact portion and the second contact portion;

wherein
the retainer secures the columnar support inside the hole; and
the retainer further includes a leaf spring that is secured to an edge of the hole.

Assignees

• Yamaha Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Okamoto Yasuo

Classifications

• F01L1/185 Primary

  Overhead end-pivot rocking arms · CPC title

• F01L1/46

  Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups · CPC title

• F01L2001/186

  Split rocking arms, e.g. rocker arms having two articulated parts and means for varying the relative position of these parts or for selectively connecting the parts to move in unison · CPC title

• F01L2001/187

  Clips, e.g. for retaining rocker arm on pivot · CPC title

• F01L1/20

  Adjusting or compensating clearance · CPC title