US4922867A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Valve stop mechanism for internal combustion engines
Assignee: Cummins Engine IP Inc
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Filing: 1989-08-30
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Granted: 1990-05-08
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Expires: 2009-08-30
Abstract
Abstract A valve actuating mechanism for an internal combustion engine is provided including an integrally formed stop element to limit the axial travel of the valves toward the piston to a predetermined maximum extent in the event an adjacent associated valve becomes stuck and unmovable. The present invention further provides a valve actuating mechanism including a guideless valve bridge with specifically configured contact faces which prevents both the excess axial movement of the valve stem and the transfer of undesired loads to the valve stem or adjacent structures.
Inventors
- 👤 Will W. Mathews
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:24
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01L; F01L1/00; F01L1/26; F01L1/12; F01L1/18; F01L1/181; F02; F02B; F02B2275/00; F02B2275/18; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; F02F; F02F1/00; F02F1/24; F02F1/42; F02F1/4214; F02F2001/244; F02F2001/247
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A valve stop mechanism for an internal combustion engine of the type having a cylinder head, at least one piston, and at least one pair of spaced apart valves, each valve having a valve stem slidably received in the cylinder head and extending outwardly therefrom for movement from a fully closed position to a predetermined maximum open position, a valve actuating means mounted in spaced relation from the stems of the valves for moving the valves between said open and closed position, and a guideless multi-valve actuating valve bridge operatively positioned between the valve actuating means and the free ends of the valve stems for simultaneously moving said valves between their fully closed and predetermined maximum open positions, wherein said valve stop mechanism comprises valve bridge movement arresting means associated with each valve for preventing opening movement of each valve beyond said predetermined maximum open position, wherein said multi-valve actuating valve bridge is unrestrained to permit floating reorientation thereof in response to uneven valve movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A valve stop mechanism for an internal combustion engine of the type having a cylinder head, at least one piston, and at least one pair of spaced apart valves, each valve having a valve stem slidably received in the cylinder head and extending outwardly therefrom for movement from a fully closed position to a predetermined maximum open position, a valve actuating means mounted in spaced relation from the stems of the valves for moving the valves between said open and closed position, and a guideless multi-valve actuating valve bridge operatively positioned between the valve actuating means and the free ends of the valve stems for simultaneously moving said valves between their fully closed and predetermined maximum open positions, wherein said valve stop mechanism comprises valve bridge movement arresting means associated with each valve for preventing opening movement of each valve beyond said predetermined maximum open position, wherein said multi-valve actuating valve bridge is unrestrained to permit floating reorientation thereof in response to uneven valve movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A valve stop mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said valve bridge movement arresting means is positioned to limit the degree of floating reorientation of said multi-valve actuating valve bridge should one of said valves become immovable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A valve stop mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said valve bridge movement arresting means comprises a valve sleeve associated with each one of said pair of valves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A valve stop mechanism according to claim 3, wherein each said valve sleeve has a length selected to arrest movement of said multi-valve actuating valve bridge at a predetermined location should one of said pair of valves become immovable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A valve stop mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said valve sleeve includes shoulder means for preventing movement of the valve sleeve axially toward said piston.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A valve stop mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said shoulder means contacts said cylinder head to fix said valve sleeve in a longitudinally axial position relative to said piston.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
A valve stop mechanism according to claim 6, further including spring retainer means secured to each said valve stem for retaining spring means for biasing said valve stem in said closed position, wherein said multi-valve actuating valve bridge is positioned to abut against said spring retainer means in the event that one of said pair of valves sticks in the fully closed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A valve stop mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said multi-valve actuating valve bridge includes at least one contact face, wherein said contact face forcibly contacts said spring retainer means should an adjacent valve stick in the fully closed position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A valve stop mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the abutment of said contact face against said spring retainer provides a minimum clearance between said multi-valve actuating valve bridge and the stem of the non-sticking valve, thereby preventing said multi-valve actuating valve bridge from contacting said non-sticking valve stem and moving said valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A valve stop mechanism for an internal combustion engine including valve stop means for limiting the axial movement toward the piston of one of a pair of valves in said engine to a predetermined maximum length of travel when the other of said pair of valves is rendered unmovable during engine operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A valve stop mechanism for an internal combustion engine including valve stop means for limiting the axial movement toward the piston of one of a pair of valves in said engine to a predetermined maximum length of travel when the other of said pair of valves is rendered unmovable during engine operation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
A valve stop mechanism as described in claim 10, wherein each of said valves moves reciprocably within a valve sleeve and said valve stop means comprises stepped shoulder means formed integrally with said valve sleeve for contacting the outer surface of said engine to fix said valve sleeve in an axial position relative to the piston.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
A valve stop mechanism as described in claim 11, further including contact means mounted on the stem of each of said valves for contacting a valve sleeve of one of said valves in response to forces exerted on said valve stem in the event the other of said valves is rendered unmovable during engine operation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
108 words
A valve stop mechanism for an internal combustion engine with valve actuation structure including guideless valve bridge means for reciprocably moving a pair of valves between closed and open positions, said valve stop mechanism including valve stop means for limiting the movement of said valves to a predetermined maximum distance in said open position, wherein said valve stop means is located circumferentially about a stem of each of said valves and includes force diverting means for absorbing forces generated by said valve bridge means when one of said valves is rendered immovable during engine operation and diverting said forces from said valve stem to said valve stop means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
108 words
A valve stop mechanism for an internal combustion engine with valve actuation structure including guideless valve bridge means for reciprocably moving a pair of valves between closed and open positions, said valve stop mechanism including valve stop means for limiting the movement of said valves to a predetermined maximum distance in said open position, wherein said valve stop means is located circumferentially about a stem of each of said valves and includes force diverting means for absorbing forces generated by said valve bridge means when one of said valves is rendered immovable during engine operation and diverting said forces from said valve stem to said valve stop means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A valve stop mechanism as described in claim 13, wherein said valve stop means includes a valve sleeve configured to engage the surface of the head of said engine and cap means secured to said valve stem for contacting said valve sleeve when the valve has been moved said predetermined maximum distance.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
A valve stop mechanism as described in claim 13, wherein said force diverting means includes valve stop contact means on said valve bridge configured to contact said valve stop means and to avoid contact with the stem and structures immediately adjacent to the stem of one of said valves in the event the other of said valves is rendered immovable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-05-07 | 1993-11-06 | 1994-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-05-07 | 1997-11-06 | 1998-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-05-07 | 2001-11-06 | 2002-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |