US3855981A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rocker arm
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
•
Filing: 1973-05-15
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Granted: 1974-12-24
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Expires: 1993-05-15
Abstract
Abstract A rocker arm for an internal combustion engine having overhead camshaft. The rocker arm includes an internal lubrication passage connecting the fulcrum socket and the cam pad. During engine operation oil is provided under pressure to the rocker arm from the fulcrum member and is discharged at the cam pad directly beneath the cam surface. The passage may include an oil reservoir beneath the cam pad which retains a predetermined quantity of oil when the engine is not in operation and which provides essentially instantaneous lubrication to the cam pad and cam surface upon start-up of the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 F Loon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:24
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01M; F01M9/00; F01M9/10; F01M9/106; F01L; F01L1/00; F01L1/12; F01L1/18; F01L1/185; F01M9/101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder head, a poppet valve assembly having a stem reciprocably mounted in said cylinder head, a camshaft rotatably mounted to said cylinder head, and a fulcrum member mounted to said cylinder head, a rocker arm having a first end portion connected to said fulcrum member and a second end portion engageable with the end of said valve assembly, said camshaft slidingly engaging said rocker arm at an area intermediate said end portions, a passage formed in said rocker arm, said passage having inlet means at said first end portion of said rocker arm, said passage having outlet means formed in and located at the camshaft engaging area of said rocker arm, said rocker arm receiving oil from said fulcrum member for discharge from said outlet directly against said camshaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder head, a poppet valve assembly having a stem reciprocably mounted in said cylinder head, a camshaft rotatably mounted to said cylinder head, and a fulcrum member mounted to said cylinder head, a rocker arm having a first end portion connected to said fulcrum member and a second end portion engageable with the end of said valve assembly, said camshaft slidingly engaging said rocker arm at an area intermediate said end portions, a passage formed in said rocker arm, said passage having inlet means at said first end portion of said rocker arm, said passage having outlet means formed in and located at the camshaft engaging area of said rocker arm, said rocker arm receiving oil from said fulcrum member for discharge from said outlet directly against said camshaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
In an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, said passage including an enlarged reservoir within said rocker arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
In an internal combustion engine according to claim 2, said reservoir being positioned immediately upstream of said outlet means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
227 words
In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder head, a camshaft rotatably mounted above said cylinder head, a poppet valve assembly reciprocably mounted within the cylinder head, said valve assembly having an end portion protruding from said cylinder head, a fulcrum member having a portion received within said cylinder head and a portion protruding therefrom having a convex spherical end, a rocker arm extending from the end said fulcrum member to said valve assembly, said rocker arm having a spherical socket at one end positionable over and corresponding to the convex spherical end of said fulcrum member, an outlet port formed in said convex spherical end of said fulcurm member, an inlet port formed in said spherical socket of said rocker arm, said inlet port being in communication with said outlet port, said rocker arm having a first pad at its other end engageable with the end portion of said valve assembly, a second pad formed on a surface of said rocker arm facing oppositely of said first pad, said second pad being intermediate said first pad and said spherical socket, said camshaft including a cam surface slidably contacting a portion of said second pad, a discharge port formed in said portion of said second pad contacting said cam surface, passage means formed within said rocker arm interconnecting said inlet and discharge ports of said rocker arm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
227 words
In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder head, a camshaft rotatably mounted above said cylinder head, a poppet valve assembly reciprocably mounted within the cylinder head, said valve assembly having an end portion protruding from said cylinder head, a fulcrum member having a portion received within said cylinder head and a portion protruding therefrom having a convex spherical end, a rocker arm extending from the end said fulcrum member to said valve assembly, said rocker arm having a spherical socket at one end positionable over and corresponding to the convex spherical end of said fulcrum member, an outlet port formed in said convex spherical end of said fulcurm member, an inlet port formed in said spherical socket of said rocker arm, said inlet port being in communication with said outlet port, said rocker arm having a first pad at its other end engageable with the end portion of said valve assembly, a second pad formed on a surface of said rocker arm facing oppositely of said first pad, said second pad being intermediate said first pad and said spherical socket, said camshaft including a cam surface slidably contacting a portion of said second pad, a discharge port formed in said portion of said second pad contacting said cam surface, passage means formed within said rocker arm interconnecting said inlet and discharge ports of said rocker arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
In an internal combustion engine according to claim 4, said passage including a reservoir immediately beneath the discharge port of the rocker arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
In an internal combustion engine according to claim 5, said passage including said reservoir having a configuration which precludes said reservoir from complete draining through said inlet port of the rocker arm when the engine is not in operation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
In an internAl combustion engine according to claim 5, a portion of said reservoir being located below a horizontal line through the inlet port of the rocker arm to prevent drainage from said reservoir portion when the engine is not in operation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-23 | 1978-06-24 | 1978-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-23 | 1982-06-24 | 1982-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-23 | 1986-06-24 | 1986-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |