Roller bearing retaining clip

Claim 2

An internal combustion engine comprising a cam shaft, including at least one cam lobe, rotatably mounted in said engine, a plunger assembly, including a member reciprocally mounted in said engine and a separate plunger capable of independent movement relative to said member engaging a top end of said member to reciprocate therewith, a bearing mounted on an end of said member and operatively engaging said cam lobe, and spring clip means solely mounted on said member and engaging opposite axial ends of said bearing for restraining axial displacement thereof, relative to said member.

Claim 3

The internal combustion engine of claim 1 wherein said plunger assembly is included in a fuel injection pump.

Claim 4

The internal combustion engine of claim 2 further comprising fuel injection means, including a fuel passage formed in said plunger, for communicating pressurized fuel from said fuel injection pump.

Claim 5

The internal combustion engine of claim 2 wherein the top end of said member has an annular boss formed thereon and wherein an end of said plunger is seated against said boss.

Claim 6

The internal combustion engine of claim 4 wherein said spring clip means comprises a ring portion encirclingly mounted on said annular boss.

Claim 7

The internal combustion engine of claim 1 wherein said member has a pair of diametrically opposed and longitudinally extending slots formed thereon and wherein said spring clip means comprises a pair of leg portions each disposed in a respective one of said slots, each of said leg portions terminating at its lower end at a foot portion positioned closely adjacent to a respective end of said bearing.

Claim 8

The internal combustion engine of claIm 6 wherein said bearing constitutes a roller bearing mounted in a semicylindrical bore formed on an end of said member and wherein said slots intersect said bore, each of said foot portions comprising upper edges generally conforming to the contour of said bore.

Claim 9

The internal combustion engine of claim 6 wherein said spring clip means further comprises a ring portion seated on an upper end of said member, said leg portions extending downwardly from said ring portion.

Claim 10

The internal combustion engine of claim 8 wherein said ring portion is slightly concave when received in longitudinal cross section.

Claim 11

The internal combustion engine of claim 6 wherein said member is reciprocally mounted in a bore formed in a housing and wherein a generally V-shaped tab is punched out of each of said leg portions to position the apexes thereof substantially coincident with the outside diameter of said member.

Claim 12

The internal combustion engine of claim 10 further comprising slot and key means disposed between said housing and said member to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

Claim 13

An internal combustion engine comprising a cam shaft, including at least one cam lobe, rotatably mounted in said engine, a plunger assembly, including a member reciprocally mounted in said engine and having an annular boss formed thereon, a bearing mounted on an end of said member and operatively engaging said cam lobe, and spring clip means comprising a ring portion encirclingly mounted on the annular boss of said member and a pair of leg portions positioned to engage opposite ends of said bearing for restraining axial displacement thereof, relative to said member.

Claim 14

An internal combustion engine comprising a cam shaft, including at least one cam lobe, rotatably mounted in said engine, a plunger assembly, including a member reciprocally mounted in said engine and having an annular boss formed thereon, a bearing mounted on an end of said member and operatively engaging said cam lobe, and spring clip means comprising a ring portion encirclingly mounted on the annular boss of said member and a pair of leg portions positioned to engage opposite ends of said bearing for restraining axial displacement thereof, relative to said member.

Claim 15

An internal combustion engine comprising a cam shaft, including at least one cam lobe, rotatably mounted in said engine, a plunger assembly, including a member reciprocally mounted in said engine and having a pair of longitudinally extending slots formed thereon, a roller bearing mounted in a semi-circular bore formed on an end of said member to intersect said bore, said roller bearing operatively engaging said cam lobe, and spring clip means mounted on said member and having a pair of leg portions each disposed in a respective one of said slots, each of said leg portions terminating at its lower end at a foot portion, comprising upper edges generally conforming to the contour of said bore, positioned adjacent to opposite ends of said bearing for restraining axial displacement thereof, relative to said member.

Claim 16

An internal combustion engine comprising a cam shaft, including at least one cam lobe, rotatably mounted in said engine, a plunger assembly, including a member reciprocally mounted in said engine and having a pair of longitudinally extending slots formed thereon, a roller bearing mounted in a semi-circular bore formed on an end of said member to intersect said bore, said roller bearing operatively engaging said cam lobe, and spring clip means mounted on said member and having a pair of leg portions each disposed in a respective one of said slots, each of said leg portions terminating at its lower end at a foot portion, comprising upper edges generally conforming to the contour of said bore, positioned adjacent to opposite ends of said bearing for restraining axial displacement thereof, relative to said member.

Claim 17

An internal combustion engine comprising a cam shaft, including at least one cam lobe, rotatably mounted in said engine, a plunger assembly, including a member reciprocally mounted in said engine and having a pair of longitudinally extending slots formed thereon, a bearing mounted on an end of said member and operatively engaging said cam lobe, and spring clip means having a ring portion seated on an upper end of said member and a downwardly extending pair of leg portions each disposed in a respective one of said slots, each of said leg portions terminating at its lower end at a foot portion positioned closely adjacent to a respective end of said bearing for restraining axial displacement thereof, relative to said member.

Claim 18

An internal combustion engine comprising a cam shaft, including at least one cam lobe, rotatably mounted in said engine, a plunger assembly, including a member reciprocally mounted in said engine and having a pair of longitudinally extending slots formed thereon, a bearing mounted on an end of said member and operatively engaging said cam lobe, and spring clip means having a ring portion seated on an upper end of said member and a downwardly extending pair of leg portions each disposed in a respective one of said slots, each of said leg portions terminating at its lower end at a foot portion positioned closely adjacent to a respective end of said bearing for restraining axial displacement thereof, relative to said member.

Claim 19

An internal combustion engine comprising a cam shaft, including at least one cam lobe, rotatably mounted in said engine, a plunger assembly, including a member reciprocally mounted in a bore formed in said engine and having a pair of longitudinally extending slots formed thereon, a bearing mounted on an end of said member and operatively engaging said cam lobe, and spring clip means mounted on said member and having a pair of leg portions each disposed in a respective one of said slots, each of said leg portions having a generally V-shaped tab punched out of it to position apexes of said tabs substantially coincident with the outside diameter of said member and each leg portion terminating at its loWer end at a foot portion positioned adjacent to a respective end of said bearing for restraining axial displacement thereof, relative to said member.

Claim 20

An internal combustion engine comprising a cam shaft, including at least one cam lobe, rotatably mounted in said engine, a plunger assembly, including a member reciprocally mounted in a bore formed in said engine and having a pair of longitudinally extending slots formed thereon, a bearing mounted on an end of said member and operatively engaging said cam lobe, and spring clip means mounted on said member and having a pair of leg portions each disposed in a respective one of said slots, each of said leg portions having a generally V-shaped tab punched out of it to position apexes of said tabs substantially coincident with the outside diameter of said member and each leg portion terminating at its loWer end at a foot portion positioned adjacent to a respective end of said bearing for restraining axial displacement thereof, relative to said member.