Rocker arm

Claim 1

A rocker arm of the cam-follower type comprising a one-piece, cold-formed, elongate metal body having an intermediate portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion, said intermediate portion having two substantially parallel side walls, a large, elongate upper opening, and two top walls extending sharply downwardly from ends of said elongate opening, upper edge portions of said parallel side walls near said elongate opening being thinner than lower edge portions thereof and edge portions of said two top walls near said elongate opening being thinner than lower portions thereof, said first end portion having a top wall which is structurally integral with one of said two top walls and two short side walls of arcuate configuration as viewed from below said body, said first end portion top wall having a downwardly-facing recess therein with an opening extending through said first end portion top wall, said arcuate side walls being spaced apart farther than said parallel side walls, said second end portion of said body having a top wall and two side walls with the lower surface of said second end portion top wall being engagable with an upper end of a valve stem, said parallel side walls having aligned holes therein, an axle extending through said holes, and a roller rotatably mounted on said axle and being exposed at said elongate opening for engaging on overhead cam.

Claim 7

A method of making a cold-formed rocker arm of the cam-follower type having a one-piece metal body of generally inverted U-shaped cross section throughout most of its length, with the body having a top wall and two side walls extending downwardly therefrom and structurally-integral therewith, the body having means at one end portion to receive an end of a lifter post on which the rocker arm can pivot and the body having means at a second end portion for receiving an end of a valve stem, said method comprising forming a metal plate of generally U-shaped configuration in transverse cross section with an intermediate convex portion having a rounded upper wall and two side walls, forming an elongate slot in the intermediate convex portion of the upper wall, and extruding outwardly the intermediate portion to extend the portion, whereby a generally rectangular opening is formed which extends substantially between the side walls and has a length which is less than the longitudinal extent of the convex portion, and sharply angled top walls are formed at the ends of the generally rectangular opening.

Claim 8

A method of making a cold-formed rocker arm of the cam-follower type having a one-piece metal body of generally inverted U-shaped cross section throughout most of its length, with the body having a top wall and two side walls extending downwardly therefrom and structurally-integral therewith, the body having means at one end portion to receive an end of a lifter post on which the rocker arm can pivot and the body having means at a second end portion for receiving an end of a valve stem, said method comprising forming a metal plate of generally U-shaped configuration in transverse cross section with an intermediate convex portion having a rounded upper wall and two side walls, forming an elongate slot in the intermediate convex portion of the upper wall, and extruding outwardly the intermediate portion to extend the portion, whereby a generally rectangular opening is formed which extends substantially between the side walls and has a length which is less than the longitudinal extent of the convex portion, and sharply angled top walls are formed at the ends of the generally rectangular opening.