Dual beam valve spring

Claim 2

In a valve gear including a valve and means for opening the valve, the improvement of a valve spring comprising an elongated beam spring having an anchored end with limited flexibility, and a thinner flexible valve-engaging end, said beam spring being of constant width and having a tapering thickness to both ends from a midregion of maximum thickness, means securing the anchor end in cantilevered relationship relative to the valve and attachment means coupling the valve engaging end of sad beam spring to said valve, to force the valve toward a closed position.

Claim 3

A spring in a valve gear including a valve and a cam as part of the valve gear, for opening the valve, said spring comprising a tapered, single-leaf elongated beam having a base end fastened to a support in cantilevered relationship the other end being engaged with the valve to be moved, so as to cause spring flexure, said elongated beam having uniform width throughout the active length thereof, and being of uniformly changing thickness in the active length between the ends with the greater thickness being located at the anchored end, said beam having a vibration frequency of sufficient magnitude that in its application, it will only be excited by cam harmonics above the 15th order of magnitude.

Claim 4

A spring in a valve gear including a valve and a cam as part of the valve gear, for opening the valve, said spring comprising a tapered, single-leaf elongated beam having a base end fastened to a support in cantilevered relationship the other end being engaged with the valve to be moved, so as to cause spring flexure, said elongated beam having uniform width throughout the active length thereof, and being of uniformly changing thickness in the active length between the ends with the greater thickness being located at the anchored end, said beam having a vibration frequency of sufficient magnitude that in its application, it will only be excited by cam harmonics above the 15th order of magnitude.

Claim 5

In a valve gear for an engine including a valve and means for opening the valve, the improvement of a valve spring for closing the valve, comprising an elongated beam having a thick base end and a thinner valve-engaging end, said beam being of a constant width and having a tapering thickness over a greater portion of its length to comprise the active segment, said elongated beam having a cross-sectional configuration of general rectangular shape and including upper and lower major surfaces, the upper major surface being in tension In the installed configuration of the spring, and at least said major surface in tension having transverse convex curvature and corner radii, means securing the base end to said engine in cantilevered relationship to the valve, and contact means at the valve-engaging end of said beam spring engaging said valve to force the valve toward a closed position.

Claim 6

In a valve gear for an engine including a valve and means for opening the valve, the improvement of a valve spring for closing the valve, comprising an elongated beam having a thick base end and a thinner valve-engaging end, said beam being of a constant width and having a tapering thickness over a greater portion of its length to comprise the active segment, said elongated beam having a cross-sectional configuration of general rectangular shape and including upper and lower major surfaces, the upper major surface being in tension In the installed configuration of the spring, and at least said major surface in tension having transverse convex curvature and corner radii, means securing the base end to said engine in cantilevered relationship to the valve, and contact means at the valve-engaging end of said beam spring engaging said valve to force the valve toward a closed position.

Claim 7

In a valve gear for an engine including a valve and means for opening the valve, the improvement of the valve spring for closing the valve, comprising an elongated beam having a thick base end and a thinner valve-engaging end, said beam being of constant width and having a tapering thickness over a greater portion of its length to comprise the active segment, said active segment of said elongated beams having a longitudinal profile generally tapered uniformly from the thick base end to the thinner valve-engaging end and every cross section of this tapered segment is of generally rectangular shape, the upper surface being under tensile stress in use, the tensile stress surface having transverse convex curvature and corner radii, means securing the base end to said engine in cantilever relationship to the valve, and contact means at the valve-engaging end of said beam spring engaging said valve to force the valve toward a closed position.

Claim 8

In a valve gear for an engine including a valve and means for opening the valve, the improvement of the valve spring for closing the valve, comprising an elongated beam having a thick base end and a thinner valve-engaging end, said beam being of constant width and having a tapering thickness over a greater portion of its length to comprise the active segment, said active segment of said elongated beams having a longitudinal profile generally tapered uniformly from the thick base end to the thinner valve-engaging end and every cross section of this tapered segment is of generally rectangular shape, the upper surface being under tensile stress in use, the tensile stress surface having transverse convex curvature and corner radii, means securing the base end to said engine in cantilever relationship to the valve, and contact means at the valve-engaging end of said beam spring engaging said valve to force the valve toward a closed position.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 4 wherein the longitudinal profile of said active element of said elongated beam spring is generally tapered uniformly from the thick base end to the thinner valve engaging end to the degree that the thick end is 2 to 8 percent thicker than an equivalent constant stress beam having the same rate and the thin end thickness at the valve engaging end is 30 to 42 percent of the thick end theoretical thickness and every cross section of this tapered element is generally of rectangular shape, the tensile stressed surface having a transverse convex curvature with a height of at least about 0.010 inch and a corner radius of at least about 0.020 inch.

Claim 10

In a valve gear including a valve and valve means for opening the valve, the improvement of a valve spring for closing the valve, comprising: two elongated beam springs positioned in spaced relationship each having a thick base end and a thinner valve-engaging end, each of said elongated beam springs having a cross-sectional configuration of generally rectangular shape and including upper and lower major surfaces, the upper major surfaces being in tension in the installed configuration of the spring, and at least said major surfaces in tension having transverse convex curvature and corner radii, means securing the base ends in cantilevered relationship relative to the valve, and attachment means coupling the valve-engaging end of said beam springs to said valve to force the valve toward the closed position, and each of said beam springs being of constant stress.

Claim 11

In a valve gear including a valve and valve means for opening the valve, the improvement of a valve spring for closing the valve, comprising: two elongated beam springs positioned in spaced relationship each having a thick base end and a thinner valve-engaging end, each of said elongated beam springs having a cross-sectional configuration of generally rectangular shape and including upper and lower major surfaces, the upper major surfaces being in tension in the installed configuration of the spring, and at least said major surfaces in tension having transverse convex curvature and corner radii, means securing the base ends in cantilevered relationship relative to the valve, and attachment means coupling the valve-engaging end of said beam springs to said valve to force the valve toward the closed position, and each of said beam springs being of constant stress.

Claim 12

In a valve gear including a valve and means for opening the valve, the improvement of a valve spring for closing the valve, comprising: two elongated beam springs positioned in spaced relationship, each having a thick base end and a thinner valve-engaging end, said elongated beam springs having a constant width and uniformly changing thickness in the active portion between the ends with the greater thickness at the base ends, each of said beam springs having a cross-sectional configuration of generally rectangular shape and including upper and lower major surfaces, the upper major surfaces being in tension in the installed configuration of the spring, and at least said major surfaces in tension having transverse convex curvature and corner radii, means securing the base ends in cantilevered relationship relative to the valve, and attachment means coupling the valve-engaging end of said beam springs to said valve to force the valve toward a closed position, and each of said beam springs being of constant stress.

Claim 13

In a valve gear including a valve and means for opening the valve, the improvement of a valve spring for closing the valve, comprising: two elongated beam springs positioned in spaced relationship, each having a thick base end and a thinner valve-engaging end, said elongated beam springs having a constant width and uniformly changing thickness in the active portion between the ends with the greater thickness at the base ends, each of said beam springs having a cross-sectional configuration of generally rectangular shape and including upper and lower major surfaces, the upper major surfaces being in tension in the installed configuration of the spring, and at least said major surfaces in tension having transverse convex curvature and corner radii, means securing the base ends in cantilevered relationship relative to the valve, and attachment means coupling the valve-engaging end of said beam springs to said valve to force the valve toward a closed position, and each of said beam springs being of constant stress.

Claim 14

In a valve gear including a valve and means for opening the valve, the improvement of a valvE spring comprising an elongated beam spring having an anchored end with limited flexibility, and a thinner flexible valve-engaging end, said beam spring being of constant width and having a tapering thickness to both ends from a midregion of maximum thickness, both end segments of said beam spring charging uniformly in thickness between each end and the thick midregion and said spring having a cross-sectional configuration of each segment thereof of generally rectangular shape and the upper surface being in tension, said tension surface having transverse convex curvature and corner radii, means securing the anchor end in cantilevered relationship relative to the valve and attachment means coupling the valve-engaging end of said beam spring to said valve, to force the valve toward a closed position.

Claim 15

In a valve gear including a valve and means for opening the valve, the improvement of a valvE spring comprising an elongated beam spring having an anchored end with limited flexibility, and a thinner flexible valve-engaging end, said beam spring being of constant width and having a tapering thickness to both ends from a midregion of maximum thickness, both end segments of said beam spring charging uniformly in thickness between each end and the thick midregion and said spring having a cross-sectional configuration of each segment thereof of generally rectangular shape and the upper surface being in tension, said tension surface having transverse convex curvature and corner radii, means securing the anchor end in cantilevered relationship relative to the valve and attachment means coupling the valve-engaging end of said beam spring to said valve, to force the valve toward a closed position.