Integrated rocker arm return spring and valve stem shield

Claim 2

In an internal combustion engine valve system comprising engine valve means including valve rod means; first spring means, cooperating with said valve rod means, and biasing said engine valve means to a closed condition; rocker arm means operable to move from a valve closing condition to a valve opening condition and in so doing move said engine valve means to an open condition; cam means operable to actuate said rocker arm means to move from said valve closing condition to said valve opening condition; and second spring means, independent of said first spring means, and operable to bias said rocker arm means away from said valve opening condition to said valve closing condition; the Improvement comprising: shroud means in said system and including top shield means extending over the top of said valve rod means, and said second spring means being characterized by precompressed coil spring means, said precompressed coil spring means engaging said shroud means and causing said shroud means to continuously engage said rocker arm means and continuously urge said rocker arm means away from said valve opening condition towards said valve closing condition, while said valve means is in each of said closed and open conditions; coil spring action isolating means operable to maintain the biasing action of said coil spring means on said shroud means continuously effective and continuously independent of the position of said valve rod means relative to said coil spring means while said valve means is in both said closed and open conditions; means operable to prevent laterally directed rigid, force transmitting, cooperation between said rocker arm means and said valve stem means; means operable in both said closed and open conditions of said valve means to continuously provide and maintain lateral force absorbing, resilient connection means between said rocker arm means and said valve rod means.

Claim 3

In an internal combustion engine valve system comprising engine valve means including valve rod means; first spring means, cooperating with said valve rod means, and biasing said engine valve means to a closed condition; rocker arm means operable to move from a valve closing condition to a valve opening condition and in so doing move said engine valve means to an open condition; cam means operable to actuate said rocker arm means to move from said valve closing condition to said valve opening condition; and second spring means, independent of said first spring means, and operable to bias said rocker arm means away from said valve opening condition to said valve closing condition; the improvement comprising: shroud means in said system and including top shield means extending over the top of said valve rod means and said first and said second spring means, and side shield means laterally surrounding at least part of said valve rod means; said second spring means being characterized by precompressed coil spring means surrounding, at least in part, said first spring means, said precompressed coil spring means engaging said shroud means and causing said shroud means to continuously engage said rocker arm means and continuously urge said rocker arm means away from said valve opening condition towards said valve closing condition, while said valve means is in each of said closed and open conditions; coil spring action isolating means operable to maintain the biasing action of said coil spring means on said shroud means continuously effective and continuously independent of the position of said valve rod means relative to said coil spring means while said valve means is in both said closed and open conditions; means operable to prevent laterally directed rigid, force transmitting, cooperation between said rocker arm means and said valve stem means; means operable in both said closed and open conditions of said valve means to continuously provide and maintain lateral force absorbing, resilient connection means between said rocker arm means and said valve rod means.

Claim 4

In an internal combustion engine valve system comprising engine valve means including valve rod means; first spring means, cooperating with said valve rod means, and biasing said engine valve means to a closed condition; rocker arm means operable to move from a valve closing condition to a valve opening condition and in so doing move said engine valve means to an open condition; cam means operable to actuate said rocker arm means to move from said valve closing condition to said valve opening condition; and second spring means, independent of said first spring means, and operable to bias said rocker arm means away from said valve opening condition to said valve closing condition; the improvement comprising: shroud means in said system and including top shield means extending over the top of said valve rod means and said first and said second spring means, and side shield means laterally surrounding at least part of said valve rod means; said second spring means being characterized by precompressed coil spring means surrounding, at least in part, said first spring means, said precompressed coil spring means engaging said shroud means and causing said shroud means to continuously engage said rocker arm means and continuously urge said rocker arm means away from said valve opening condition towards said valve closing condition, while said valve means is in each of said closed and open conditions; coil spring action isolating means operable to maintain the biasing action of said coil spring means on said shroud means continuously effective and continuously independent of the position of said valve rod means relative to said coil spring means while said valve means is in both said closed and open conditions; means operable to prevent laterally directed rigid, force transmitting, cooperation between said rocker arm means and said valve stem means; means operable in both said closed and open conditions of said valve means to continuously provide and maintain lateral force absorbing, resilient connection means between said rocker arm means and said valve rod means.

Claim 5

An internal combustion engine valve system as described in claim 2; wherein said side shield means includes mutually telescoping first and second wall means entirely circumferentially surrounding each of said first and second spring means; said telescoping first and second wall means being operable to mutually converge as said valve means moves from said closed condition to said open condition.

Claim 6

An internal combustion engine valve system as described in claim 2 wherein said top shield means includes: passage means affording access to an area between a top portion of saiD valve rod means and an under portion of said top shield means; said passage means being operable to permit gauge means to be inserted between said top portion of said valve rod means and said under portion of said top shield means to determine an appropriate clearance there between.

Claim 7

In a method of operating an internal combustion engine valve system comprising engine valve means including valve rod means; first spring means, cooperating with said valve rod means, and biasing said engine valve means to a closed condition; rocker arm means operable to move from a valve closing condition to a valve opening condition and in so doing move said engine valve means to an open condition; cam means operable to actuate said rocker arm means to move from said valve closing condition to said valve opening condition; and second spring means independent of said first spring means, and operable to bias said rocker arm means away from said valve opening condition to said valve closing condition; the improvement comprising: shielding the top of said valve rod means with shroud means; providing, through said second spring means, coil spring means; maintaining said coil spring means precompressed and in biasing engagement with said shroud means; causing said shroud means to continuously engage said rocker arm means and continuously urge said rocker arm means away from said valve opening condition towards said valve closing condition, while said valve means is in each of said closed and open conditions; maintaining the biasing action of said coil spring means on said shroud means continuously effective and continuously independent of the position of said valve rod means relative to said coil spring means while said valve means is in both said closed and open conditions; preventing laterally directed rigid, force transmitting, cooperation between said rocker arm means and said valve stem means; in both said closed and open conditions of said valve means, continuously providing and maintaining a lateral force absorbing, resilient connection between said rocker arm means and said valve rod means.

Claim 8

In a method of operating an internal combustion engine valve system comprising engine valve means including valve rod means; first spring means, cooperating with said valve rod means, and biasing said engine valve means to a closed condition; rocker arm means operable to move from a valve closing condition to a valve opening condition and in so doing move said engine valve means to an open condition; cam means operable to actuate said rocker arm means to move from said valve closing condition to said valve opening condition; and second spring means independent of said first spring means, and operable to bias said rocker arm means away from said valve opening condition to said valve closing condition; the improvement comprising: shielding the top of said valve rod means with shroud means; providing, through said second spring means, coil spring means; maintaining said coil spring means precompressed and in biasing engagement with said shroud means; causing said shroud means to continuously engage said rocker arm means and continuously urge said rocker arm means away from said valve opening condition towards said valve closing condition, while said valve means is in each of said closed and open conditions; maintaining the biasing action of said coil spring means on said shroud means continuously effective and continuously independent of the position of said valve rod means relative to said coil spring means while said valve means is in both said closed and open conditions; preventing laterally directed rigid, force transmitting, cooperation between said rocker arm means and said valve stem means; in both said closed and open conditions of said valve means, continuously providing and maintaining a lateral force absorbing, resilient connection between said rocker arm means and said valve rod means.