Three roller rocker arm with cantilevered rollers and lost motion spring over valve or over rocker arm pivot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10876436-B2
Application number	US-201716340176-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2017
Priority date	Oct 7, 2016
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

A rocker arm, comprises a first outer arm comprising a first inner side and a first outer side, the first outer side comprising a first cantilevered post. A first outer roller is mounted to the first cantilevered post. A second outer arm comprises a second inner side and a second outer side, the second inner side facing the first inner side, the second outer side comprising a second cantilevered post. A second outer roller is mounted to the second cantilevered post. A pivot body joins the first inner side to the second inner side. An actuatable latch mechanism is within the pivot body. An inner arm assembly comprises a latch arm, the latch arm pivotable adjacent the pivot body. A pivot axle joins the inner arm assembly to pivot between the first outer arm and the second outer arm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rocker arm for a valve train, comprising:
a main body comprising a pivot end, a valve end, a first side, and a second side, the first side comprising a first outer surface and a first inner surface opposite to the first outer surface, the second side comprising a second outer surface and a second inner surface opposite to the second outer surface;
a first post connected to the first side and extending away from the first outer surface of the first side;
a second post connected to the second side and extending away from the second outer surface of the second side oppositely from the first post;
a latch mechanism within the pivot end of the main body, the latch mechanism comprising a latch finger configured to selectively move between a latched position, wherein the latch finger extends towards the valve end, and an unlatched position, wherein the latch finger withdraws away from the valve end, the latch finger comprising a latch surface;
an inner arm assembly pivoting from the valve end between the first side and the second side, the inner arm assembly comprising a latch arm pivotable from a position above the latch surface to a position below the latch surface, the inner arm assembly comprising a bearing axle and an inner roller rotatable on the bearing axle;
a first roller connected to rotate on the first post;
a second roller connected to rotate on the second post;
a bearing axle disposed in the inner arm assembly for rotatably supporting an inner roller between the first roller and the second roller, the bearing axle terminating in the inner arm assembly without extending into the first inner surface of the first side or the second inner surface of the second side; and
at least one biasing mechanism biasing the latch arm towards the position above the latch surface.

2. The rocker arm of claim 1 , wherein the inner arm assembly comprises a pair of inner arms joined by the latch arm, wherein the bearing axle extends through the pair of inner arms to support the inner roller, wherein the at least one biasing mechanism comprises a first spring mounted on the first side and a second spring mounted on the second side, wherein the first side further comprises a first ledge, wherein the second side further comprises a second ledge, wherein the first spring is biased between the first ledge and the bearing axle, and wherein the second spring is biased between the second ledge and the bearing axle.

3. The rocker arm of claim 1 , further comprising a pivot axle joining the inner arm assembly to the main body at the valve end, wherein the at least one biasing mechanism is coiled around the pivot axle.

4. The rocker arm of claim 3 , further comprising a spring prop on the inner arm assembly between the pivot axle and the latch arm, wherein the at least one biasing mechanism is biased against the spring prop.

5. The rocker arm of claim 4 , further comprising a valve seat for a valve assembly on the valve end, the valve seat positioned between the first side and the second side, wherein the at least one biasing mechanism is biased against the valve seat.

6. The rocker arm of claim 5 , wherein the valve seat restricts the pivoting of the inner arm assembly.

7. The rocker arm of claim 5 , wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve stem seated against the valve seat.

8. The rocker arm of claim 1 , further comprising a hydraulic lash adjuster mounted to the pivot end.

9. The rocker arm of claim 1 , wherein the latch arm is configured to latch against the latch surface when the latch finger is in the latched position and the latch arm is configured to rotate past the latch surface when the latch finger is in the unlatched position.

10. The rocker arm of claim 1 , wherein the first post is integrally formed in a unitary construction with the first side, and the second post is integrally formed in a unitary construction with the second side.

11. The rocker arm of claim 1 , wherein the bearing axle and either the first or second post lacks a locking pin mechanism for selectively engaging one another so as to selectively lock the inner arm assembly to the main body.

12. The rocker arm of claim 1 , further comprising a pivot axle connecting the inner arm assembly to the main body.

13. The rocker arm of claim 12 , wherein the latch mechanism is in-line with the pivot axle and bearing axle.

14. The rocker arm of claim 12 , wherein the pivot axle and the bearing axle are in-line in a first plane, and wherein the latch mechanism is in a second plane angled away from the first plane.

15. A valvetrain, comprising:
a rocker arm for a valve train, comprising:
a main body comprising a pivot end, a valve end, a first side, and a second side, the first side comprising a first outer surface and a first inner surface opposite to the first outer surface, the second side comprising a second outer surface and a second inner surface opposite to the second outer surface;
a first post connected to the first side and extending away from the first outer surface of the first side;
a second post connected to the second side and extending away from the second outer surface of the second side oppositely from the first post;
a latch mechanism within the pivot end of the main body, the latch mechanism comprising a latch finger configured to selectively move between a latched position, wherein the latch finger extends towards the valve end, and an unlatched position, wherein the latch finger withdraws away from the valve end, the latch finger comprising a latch surface;
an inner arm assembly pivoting from the valve end between the first side and the second side, the inner arm assembly comprising a latch arm pivotable from a position above the latch surface to a position below the latch surface, the inner arm assembly comprising a bearing axle and an inner roller rotatable on the bearing axle;
a first roller connected to rotate on the first post;
a second roller connected to rotate on the second post; and
at least one biasing mechanism biasing the latch arm towards the position above the latch surface; and

a set of three rotating cam lobes respectively configured to press upon each of the first roller, the second roller, and the inner roller,
wherein the bearing axle terminates in the inner arm assembly without extending into the first inner surface of the first side or the second inner surface of the second side, and
wherein the at least one biasing mechanism biases the inner roller towards the set of rotating cam lobes.

16. A valvetrain, comprising:
a rocker arm for a valve train, comprising:
a main body comprising a pivot end, a valve end, a first side, and a second side, the first side comprising a first outer surface and a first inner surface opposite to the first outer surface, the second side comprising a second outer surface and a second inner surface opposite to the second outer surface;
a first post connected to the first side and extending away from the first outer surface of the first side;
a second post connected to the second side and extending away from the second outer surface of the second side oppositely from the first post;
a latch mechanism within the pivot end of the main body, the latch mechanism comprising a latch finger configured to selectively move between a latched position, wherein the latch finger extends towards the valve end, and an unlatched position, wherein the latch finger withdraws away from the valve end, the latch finger comprising a latch surface;
an inner arm assembly pivoting from the valve end between the first side and the second side, the inner arm assem

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Vance Matthew A

Classifications

• F01L2013/001

  Deactivating cylinders · 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

• F01L1/2405

  by means of a hydraulic adjusting device located between the cylinder head and rocker arm · CPC title

• F01L1/185 Primary

  Overhead end-pivot rocking arms · CPC title

• F01L2001/467

  Lost motion springs · CPC title