Abstract: A compact roller follower has a one-piece, cold-formed elongate metal body. The body has an intermediate portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion. The intermediate portion has two substantially parallel side walls and a large, elongate upper opening. The first end portion has a top wall and two side walls extending downwardly therefrom and spaced closer together than the parallel side walls of the intermediate portion. The first end portion forms a generally inverted U-shaped recess to receive an end of a valve stem. The second end portion has a second top wall and side walls extending downwardly therefrom. The end of the second top wall has a tongue which is doubled back underneath the second top wall. An upper surface of the tongue is in contiguous relationship with a lower surface of the second top wall and forms a recess to receive an upper end of a lifter post above a lifter post body.

Abstract: A rocker arm of the cam-follower type simultaneously operates two valves of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The rocker arm includes an intermediate portion and two end portions. The intermediate portion has upwardly extending side walls and end walls forming a large generally rectangular opening at the top edges thereof. The side walls have aligned holes carrying an axle on which is rotatably mounted a roller which contacts an overhead cam. One end portion of the rocker arm has a downwardly-facing recess to engage an upper end of a lifter post. The other end portion of the rocker arm has a long, narrow web with downwardly-facing pads near the ends thereof and in predetermined, spaced relationship. The pads engage upper ends of two valve stems for simultaneously operating valves to which the stems are connected.

Abstract: A one-piece, cold-formed rocker arm is of the boat-type. It includes a one-piece metal body which is cold formed from a metal blank and is of generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration throughout most of its length. The rocker arm body has two generally parallel side walls and a connecting bottom wall therebetween. The body also has inwardly-extending side walls extending from the parallel ones toward both ends of the body. The bottom wall extends between the side walls and has an opening for receiving a pivotal support, a recess for receiving a push rod at one end, and a pad for engaging an end of a valve stem at the other end. An elongate stiffening member extends between upper edges of side walls and specifically between the inwardly-extending side walls extending toward the push rod end of the body. The stiffening member preferably is a rod received in notches in the upper ends of the edges of the side walls and affixed thereto by resistance welding.

Abstract: A rocker arm has a cold-formed, one-piece metal body of generally U-shaped cross section throughout most of its length. The body has a bottom wall and two generally parallel side walls which extend upwardly therefrom and are structurally integral therewith. The rocker arm body has a recess at one end to engage an end of a push rod and a surface at the other end to engage an end of a valve stem. The side walls of the body have aligned circular openings therein through which a cylindrial bushing extends and is affixed to the side walls by brazing or the like. For a pedestal mount, the bushing has an elongate opening facing downwardly to receive a pedestal and has a large upper opening for clearance around a portion of the pedestal. Small oil reservoirs are formed between the bottom wall of the rocker arm body and edge portions of the bushing adjacent the large upper opening.

Abstract: A cold-formed rocker arm with unique lubrication provisions is disclosed. The rocker arm includes a one-piece metal body of generally inverted U-shaped cross section having a top wall and two side walls. One end of the body has a recess to engage an end of a push rod and the other end has a large, upwardly-facing recess to retain oil so as to provide lubrication substantially immediately when the engine is started. The bottom surface of the reservoir forms a pad to engage an end of a valve stem. A mounting bolt of the rocker arm has a splash ring on the head thereof to disperse oil when intercepting a stream thereof.

Abstract: A rocker arm has a one-piece metal body made by cold-forming operations, including staming, extruding, coining, and back-packing. The rocker arm includes an intermediate portion and two end portions. The intermediate portion has substantially parallel side walls with a large, generally rectangular opening at the top and with two end top walls extending sharply downwardly therefrom. The parallel side walls are deep and both the side walls and top walls are thinner at upper portions than at lower portions. A first end portion of the body has a wide top wall with arcuate side walls. A method of making the rocker arm includes forming a metal blank with a U-shaped cross section having a convex central portion. A slot is formed in the central portion and that portion is then pushed out or extruded to form the large, generally rectangular opening.

Abstract: A rocker arm for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The rocker arm has a cold-formed, one-piece metal body with a narrow width and a substantial depth. The body has a pad at one end for engaging an end of a valve stem and has a socket at the other end for engaging the upper end of a push rod. An intermediate portion of the body has a large opening of generally trapezoidal configuration with a lower edge longer than an upper edge. A middle portion of the lower edge has a structurally-integral, outwardly-flared portion defining an upwardly-facing socket for engaging a pivot ball about which the rocker arm can pivot during operation.

Abstract: A one-piece, cold-formed rocker arm of the cam-follower type includes a one-piece metal body which is cold-formed from a metal blank and is of U-shaped cross section at first and second end portions. The first end of said body has a bottom wall and two upwardly-extending side walls with a rounded recess in the bottom wall having a concave side facing downwardly for receiving an end of a lifter post on which the rocker arm can pivot. The second end of the body has a groove formed by a bottom wall with two downwardly-extending side walls and two doubled-back, upwardly-extending side walls which are structurally integral at lower edges with lower edges of the downwardly-extending side walls. The groove of the second end portion faces downwardly to receive an upper end of a valve stem. An intermediate portion of the body has two substantially parallel side walls which are structurally integral with the upwardly-extending side walls of the first and second end portions.

Abstract: A cold-formed rocker arm of the cam-follower type is specifically designed for variable-lift engines. The rocker arm comprises a one-piece metal body preferably of generally inverted U-shaped cross section throughout most of its length. The body has a top wall and two side walls extending downwardly therefrom and carrying an axle on which a cam-contacting roller is rotatably mounted and exposed through a central opening in the top wall above the roller to be engaged by a tapered cam of a cam shaft. The rocker arm has a substantially semi-spherical recess at one end to receive an end of a lifter post on which the rocker arm can pivot. The other end of the body has an open-ended channel extending longitudinally of the body to receive a rounded upper end of a valve stem. A lubrication port in the top wall of the rocker arm communicates with an inner end and with a clearance in a central portion of the channel. The clearance provides a lubrication path for the flow of oil along the channel.

Abstract: A cold-formed, specifically stamped, rocker arm is disclosed. The rocker arm has a one-piece metal body of generally inverted U-shaped cross section throughout most of its length. The body has a top wall and two generally parallel side walls which extend downwardly therefrom and are structurally integral therewith. The side walls have annular extruded flanges extnding outwardly therefrom and forming aligned bores to receive bearings. The rocker arm body has a recess at one end to engage an end of a push rod and a surface at the other end to engage an end of a valve stem. The top wall of the rocker arm body has a splash plate extending upwardly therefrom and the wall also has a port communicating with the recess to direct oil at the splash plate which is then dispersed and more widely distributed by the plate.

Abstract: A one-piece, cold-formed rocker arm is disclosed. The rocker arm is of the boat type and includes a one-piece metal body which is cold-formed from a metal blank and is of U-shaped cross-sectional configuration throughout most of its length. The body has a bottom wall with structurally-integral side walls extending upwardly therefrom in generally parallel relationship. An intermediate, concave portion of the bottom wall has an opening therethrough which receives a fulcrum of a pivot post. One end portion of the rocker arm body has a recess to receive an end of a push rod which imparts pivotal motion to the rocker arm about the fulcrum. The other end of the rocker arm body has a pad for engaging an end of a valve stem to impart motion to the valve stem when the rocker arm is pivoted about the fulcrum. Outwardly-extending stiffening flanges are formed at upper edge portions of intermediate portions of the side walls, which provides strength and stiffness to the side walls.