Abstract: A finger follower for use in an internal combustion engine valvetrain having a valve, a lash adjuster, and a camshaft having a lobe. The finger follower includes a shaft, a bearing rotatably supported by the shaft for engaging the lobe. A body is provided with a pad for engaging the valve, a socket spaced from the pad for engaging the lash adjuster, and walls disposed between the pad and the socket. A slot is formed in each wall for supporting the shaft, and each has a respective pair of eccentric arc-shaped bearing surfaces arranged to allow the shaft to rotate within the slots and to move along the slots to facilitate alignment of the bearing with respect to engagement with the lobe independent of alignment of the pad with respect to engagement with the valve and of alignment of the socket with respect to engagement with the lash adjuster.

Abstract: An assembly for a valvetrain having a valve, a lash adjuster, and a lobe. The assembly includes a shaft, a bearing supported by the shaft for engaging the lobe, and a rocker having a pad for the valve and a socket for the lash adjuster. Walls are disposed between the pad and socket, have inner and outer wall surfaces, and define a valley for the shaft. Upwardly-opening arc-shaped bearing surfaces are disposed longitudinally between the pad and socket spaced laterally from each other and support the shaft when the bearing engages the lobe. A retention element formed in each wall with a depressed portion spaced from the outer wall surface and a lip portion arranged under the depressed portion extends into the valley above the bearing surfaces such that the shaft is prevented from moving out of the valley in absence of engagement between the bearing and the lobe.

Abstract: A rocker arm assembly for a valvetrain having a valve, a lash adjuster, and a camshaft lobe. The rocker arm assembly includes a shaft, a bearing rotatably supported by the shaft for engaging the lobe, and a rocker arm. The rocker arm has a pad for engaging the valve, and a socket for engaging the lash adjuster. A pair of walls are disposed between the pad and socket and define a valley for accommodating the shaft. A pair of upwardly-opening arc-shaped bearing surfaces are disposed longitudinally between the pad and the socket and are spaced laterally from each other. The bearing surfaces rotatably support the shaft when the bearing engages the lobe. A pair of retention elements extend from the walls into the valley above the bearing surfaces such that the shaft is prevented from moving out of the valley in absence of engagement between the bearing and the lobe.

Abstract: A finger follower for use in an internal combustion engine valvetrain having a valve, a lash adjuster, and a camshaft having a lobe. The finger follower includes a shaft, a bearing rotatably supported by the shaft for engaging the lobe. A body is provided with a pad for engaging the valve, a socket spaced from the pad for engaging the lash adjuster, and walls disposed between the pad and the socket. A slot is formed in each wall for supporting the shaft, and each has a respective pair of eccentric arc-shaped bearing surfaces arranged to allow the shaft to rotate within the slots and to move along the slots to facilitate alignment of the bearing with respect to engagement with the lobe independent of alignment of the pad with respect to engagement with the valve and of alignment of the socket with respect to engagement with the lash adjuster.

Abstract: A rocker arm assembly for translating force between an intermediate member in communication with a camshaft of an internal combustion engine and a valve supported in a cylinder head of the engine. The rocker arm assembly includes a tube member and an arm. The tube member has first and second ends, a substantially cylindrical inner surface, and a tapered outer surface. The arm has a body extending between a pad for engaging the valve of the engine, and a socket for engaging the intermediate member of the engine. The body also has a tapered bore disposed between the pad and the socket. The tapered bore of the body of the arm cooperates with the tapered outer surface of the tube member so as to define a lock for constraining the arm to the tube member at a predetermined position between the first end and the second end.

Abstract: A valvetrain for translating force and oil between a valve and intermediate member of an engine, including a rocker, a shaft, and a recess. The rocker has an inner surface, a pad for engaging the valve, a socket for engaging the intermediate member, a socket port defined in the surface, and a socket channel extending from the socket port to the socket. The shaft has a bearing surface for supporting the rocker, a channel spaced from the bearing surface, a feed port in the bearing surface, and a feed channel extending from the feed port to the channel. The rocker rotates between: closed, with the socket port and feed port aligned; and open, with the socket port spaced from the feed port. A recess is disposed in the bearing surface adjacent to the feed port and extends to a base aligned with the socket port when the rocker is open.

Abstract: An assembly for a valvetrain having a valve, a lash adjuster, and a lobe. The assembly includes a shaft, a bearing supported by the shaft for engaging the lobe, and a rocker having a pad for the valve and a socket for the lash adjuster. Walls are disposed between the pad and socket, have inner and outer wall surfaces, and define a valley for the shaft. Upwardly-opening arc-shaped bearing surfaces are disposed longitudinally between the pad and socket spaced laterally from each other and support the shaft when the bearing engages the lobe. A retention element formed in each wall with a depressed portion spaced from the outer wall surface and a lip portion arranged under the depressed portion extends into the valley above the bearing surfaces such that the shaft is prevented from moving out of the valley in absence of engagement between the bearing and the lobe.

Abstract: A rocker arm assembly for a valvetrain having a valve, a lash adjuster, and a camshaft lobe. The rocker arm assembly includes a shaft, a bearing rotatably supported by the shaft for engaging the lobe, and a rocker arm. The rocker arm has a pad for engaging the valve, and a socket for engaging the lash adjuster. A pair of walls are disposed between the pad and socket and define a valley for accommodating the shaft. A pair of upwardly-opening arc-shaped bearing surfaces are disposed longitudinally between the pad and the socket and are spaced laterally from each other. The bearing surfaces rotatably support the shaft when the bearing engages the lobe. A pair of retention elements extend from the walls into the valley above the bearing surfaces such that the shaft is prevented from moving out of the valley in absence of engagement between the bearing and the lobe.

Abstract: A rocker arm assembly for translating force between an intermediate member in communication with a camshaft of an internal combustion engine and a valve supported in a cylinder head of the engine. The rocker arm assembly includes a tube member and an arm. The tube member has first and second ends, a substantially cylindrical inner surface, and a tapered outer surface. The arm has a body extending between a pad for engaging the valve of the engine, and a socket for engaging the intermediate member of the engine. The body also has a tapered bore disposed between the pad and the socket. The tapered bore of the body of the arm cooperates with the tapered outer surface of the tube member so as to define a lock for constraining the arm to the tube member at a predetermined position between the first end and the second end.

Abstract: A valvetrain for translating force and oil between a valve and intermediate member of an engine, including a rocker, a shaft, and a recess. The rocker has an inner surface, a pad for engaging the valve, a socket for engaging the intermediate member, a socket port defined in the surface, and a socket channel extending from the socket port to the socket. The shaft has a bearing surface for supporting the rocker, a channel spaced from the bearing surface, a feed port in the bearing surface, and a feed channel extending from the feed port to the channel. The rocker rotates between: closed, with the socket port and feed port aligned; and open, with the socket port spaced from the feed port. A recess is disposed in the bearing surface adjacent to the feed port and extends to a base aligned with the socket port when the rocker is open.

Abstract: A retention device to secure a finger follower and lash adjuster of a valve actuating mechanism together includes a ring member disposed in a groove of a movable piston of the lash adjuster. The retention device also includes a plurality of connecting members formed from the finger follower and extending axially below the ring member and about a portion of the lash adjuster to engage the ring member in all operating positions of the valve actuating mechanism as a result of the pivoting motion of the finger follower.

Abstract: A method of making a lubrication spray orifice for a valve actuating mechanism includes the steps of forming a dome socket for a finger follower of a valve actuating mechanism of an engine, forming a pocket in the dome socket and thinning out material of the pocket, and forming an elongated slit opening by expanding the pocket in a single lancing operation to lance a surface of the pocket to create a lubrication spray metering orifice.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an oil system for supplying and controlling oil flow in an internal combustion engine having a variable camshaft timing (VCT) device, comprising a pressurized oil supply providing lubricating oil to the engine and the variable cam timing device and an oil circuit connecting the oil pump with the VCT and a main oil gallery of the engine via a valve apparatus. The valve apparatus responds to oil pressure near the outlet of the oil pump so that oil flows to the main oil gallery when oil pressure is above a predetermined pressure. When the VCT requests oil flow, oil pressure in the system drops. If the pressure drops below the predetermined pressure, the valve apparatus causes a reduction in flow to the main gallery.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an oil system for supplying and controlling oil flow in an internal combustion engine having a variable camshaft timing (VCT) device, comprising a pressurized oil supply providing lubricating oil to the engine and the variable cam timing device and an oil circuit connecting the oil pump with the VCT and a main oil gallery of the engine via a valve apparatus. The valve apparatus responds to oil pressure near the outlet of the oil pump so that oil flows to the main oil gallery when oil pressure is above a predetermined pressure. When the VCT requests oil flow, oil pressure in the system drops. If the pressure drops below the predetermined pressure, the valve apparatus causes a reduction in flow to the main gallery.

Abstract: A variable lift cylinder valve system for an internal combustion engine includes a poppet valve operated by a rocker arm which is articulated about a translational pivot having its placement determined by a control shaft which operates a control arm in contact with the translational pivot such that rotation of the control shaft produces translational motion of the pivot so as to control the lift ratio of the rocker arm.

Abstract: A variable lift cylinder valve system for an internal combustion engine includes a poppet valve operated by a rocker arm which is articulated about a translational pivot having its placement determined by a control shaft which operates a control arm in contact with the translational pivot such that rotation of the control shaft produces translational motion of the pivot so as to control the lift ratio of the rocker arm.