Valvetrain for an engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9638073-B2
Application number	US-201514752037-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2015
Priority date	Jun 26, 2015
Publication date	May 2, 2017
Grant date	May 2, 2017

Abstract

Valvetrain of an internal combustion engine, including a rocker support, a fulcrum, and a rocker. The rocker support is mounted to a cylinder head and fixed relative thereto. The rocker is positioned about the rocker support and partially in an axial aligning groove of the rocker support. The fulcrum is sandwiched between the rocker support and the rocker. The rocker oscillates about the fulcrum as forces are received and applied to a first and a second end of the rocker.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A valvetrain of an internal combustion engine, the valvetrain comprising:
a rocker support configured to be mounted to a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine and fixed relative thereto, the rocker support comprising an axial aligning groove;
a fulcrum; and
a rocker positioned about the rocker support and partially in the axial aligning groove, the fulcrum being positioned between the rocker support and the rocker, a first end of the rocker configured to receive forces from and apply forces to a push rod, a second end of the rocker configured to receive forces from and apply forces to a valve, the rocker being configured to oscillate about the fulcrum; and
a banjo mount comprising an installation end and the fulcrum on an opposite end, the rocker support comprising a retaining aperture, the banjo mount being positioned partially in the retaining aperture, the fulcrum protruding out of a side of the rocker support, and the installation end being accessible and positioned on an opposite side of the rocker support.

2. The valvetrain of claim 1 , wherein the rocker comprises:
a first cylindrical portion that defines a first axis;
a second cylindrical portion that defines a second axis, the second axis is substantially in alignment with the first axis and is spaced apart therefrom, the fulcrum is positioned between the first axis and the second axis; and
a rocking plate positioned between the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion, the rocking plate defines an actuation plane that is in alignment with the first axis and the second axis, and the rocking plate has a substantially consistent thickness as measured in perpendicular relative to the actuation plane.

3. The valvetrain of claim 2 , wherein an inner diameter of the first cylindrical portion and an inner diameter of the second cylindrical portion are larger than the thickness of the rocking plate.

4. The valvetrain of claim 2 , wherein:
a maximum outer dimension of the rocking plate, as measured along the actuation plane and parallel to the first axis, is greater than a length of the first cylindrical portion as measured along the first axis; and
the maximum outer dimension of the rocking plate is greater than a length of the second cylindrical portion as measured along the second axis.

5. The valvetrain of claim 2 , wherein a minimum outer dimension of the rocking plate, as measured along the actuation plane and parallel to the second axis, is substantially equal to a length of the second cylindrical portion as measured along the second axis.

6. The valvetrain of claim 2 , further comprising an adjustment cylinder positioned in the first cylindrical portion and an adjuster positioned in the adjustment cylinder, the adjustment cylinder and the adjuster are in threaded engagement with one another, the adjuster is configured to turn within the adjustment cylinder, so as to rotate the rocker about the fulcrum and reposition the rocker relative to the push rod.

7. The valvetrain of claim 2 , wherein the rocker comprises a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being in contact with the second layer, the first layer mirrors the second layer with respect to the actuation plane, the first layer and the second layer are formed by a single piece of material, and the first layer and the second layer define a bend that defines one of the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion.

8. The valvetrain of claim 2 , wherein the rocker comprises a tip pad and a pad retaining shaft extending therefrom, the pad retaining shaft is positioned in the second cylindrical portion, and the tip pad is positioned in contact with the valve.

9. The valvetrain of claim 2 , wherein the rocker comprises a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being in contact with the second layer, and the first layer mirrors the second layer with respect to the actuation plane.

10. The valvetrain of claim 2 , wherein the rocking plate comprises an opening aligned with the actuation plane, and the fulcrum and the rocker support are positioned in the opening.

11. The valvetrain of claim 10 , wherein:
the rocking plate comprises a third cylindrical portion that defines a third axis, the third axis is substantially in alignment with the first axis and the second axis but spaced apart therefrom, the third axis intersects the actuation plane and the fulcrum; and
the rocker comprises a rocker pivot cup and a cup retaining shaft extending therefrom, the cup retaining shaft is positioned in the third cylindrical portion, and the rocker pivot cup is positioned in contact with the fulcrum.

12. The valvetrain of claim 11 , wherein the rocker support comprises:
a rocker bar defining the axial aligning groove;
a mounting foot comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is sandwiched between the rocker bar and the cylinder head, the second portion extends laterally outward from the first portion and the rocker bar, the rocker bar is fastened to the first portion, and the second portion is fastened to the cylinder head.

13. The valvetrain of claim 12 , wherein the rocker bar is mounted to the mounting foot with a first fastener along a first mounting axis, and the mounting foot is mounted to the cylinder head along a second mounting axis that is aligned with, but offset from, the first axis.

14. The valvetrain of claim 12 , wherein:
the rocker bar comprises a bar retaining aperture, the banjo mount is positioned in the bar retaining aperture, the fulcrum protrudes out of a side of the rocker bar, and the installation end is accessible and positioned on an opposite side of the rocker bar and away from a cylinder of an engine; and
the rocking plate comprises an installation opening that defines a fourth axis, the installation opening is on an opposite side of the opening as the third cylindrical portion, the fourth axis is substantially in alignment with the first axis and the second axis but spaced apart therefrom, and the fourth axis intersects the actuation plane, and the installation opening is aligned with the installation end of the banjo mount.

15. The valvetrain of claim 12 , wherein the rocker bar comprises:
a longitudinal lubrication supply passage; and
a lateral lubrication supply passage positioned downstream of the longitudinal lubrication supply passage, the lateral lubrication supply passage opens into the axial aligning groove for supplying lubrication thereto.

16. The valvetrain of claim 12 , wherein the rocker bar comprises:
a longitudinal lubrication supply passage; and
a bar retaining aperture that defines a part of a retaining lubrication passage positioned downstream from the longitudinal lubrication supply passage, the banjo mount is positioned in the bar retaining aperture, the fulcrum protrudes out of a side of the rocker bar, and the installation end is accessible and positioned on an opposite side of the rocker bar and away from a cylinder of the engine.

17. The valvetrain of claim 16 , wherein the banjo mount comprises:
a first large outer diameter portion that is positioned in contact with the retaining aperture;
a second large outer diameter portion that is positioned in contact with the retaining aperture; and
a small outer diameter portion that is positioned inwards from the retaining aperture and positioned between the first large outer diameter portion and the second large outer diameter portion, the small outer diameter portion defines the part of the retaining lubrication passage, the second large outer diameter por

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Erickson Neil S
• Bradshaw Christopher L
• Hurban Richard T
• Reich Steven A
• Langner Micheal A

Classifications

• F01L1/2422

  by means or a hydraulic adjusting device located between the push rod and rocker arm · CPC title

• F01L1/182 Primary

  the rocking arm being pivoted about an individual fulcrum, i.e. not about a common shaft · CPC title

• F01M9/105

  using distribution conduits · CPC title

• F01L1/2411

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

• F01L1/20

  Adjusting or compensating clearance · CPC title