Abstract: A rocker arm assembly including a rocker body having an upper wall arranged above a pivot axis, two ears extending from opposing sides of the upper wall and defining a pivot bore coaxial with the pivot axis, and a pad end wall and a socket end wall each extending from the upper wall and the ears. A pad having a convex pad surface is formed on the pad end wall for engaging a valve and a socket having a concave socket surface is formed on the socket end wall for engaging a pushrod. The rocker arm assembly further includes a trunnion body and a bearing, each disposed in the pivot bores and for facilitating pivoting movement between the rocker body and the trunnion body.

Abstract: A rocker arm assembly including a rocker body having an upper wall arranged above a pivot axis, two ears extending from opposing sides of the upper wall and defining a pivot bore coaxial with the pivot axis, and a pad end wall and a socket end wall each extending from the upper wall and the ears. A pad having a convex pad surface is formed on the pad end wall for engaging a valve and a socket having a concave socket surface is formed on the socket end wall for engaging a pushrod. The rocker arm assembly further includes a trunnion body and a bearing, each disposed in the pivot bores and for facilitating pivoting movement between the rocker body and the trunnion body.

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 tappet assembly for use in translating force between a camshaft lobe and a fuel pump assembly via reciprocal movement within a tappet cylinder having a guide slot. The tappet assembly includes a bearing assembly having a shaft and a bearing rotatably supported by the shaft for engaging the lobe. An intermediate element has a shelf for engaging the fuel pump assembly, and a pair of arc-shaped bearing surfaces rotatably engaging the shaft when the bearing engages the lobe and the shelf engages the fuel pump assembly. The intermediate element includes a pair of lock apertures. The bearing assembly further includes a pair of shields supported on the shaft of the bearing assembly with the bearing interposed between the shields.

Abstract: A tappet assembly for use in translating force between a camshaft lobe and a fuel pump assembly via reciprocal movement within a tappet cylinder having a guide slot. The tappet assembly includes a bearing assembly having a shaft and a bearing rotatably supported by the shaft for engaging the lobe. An intermediate element has a shelf for engaging the fuel pump assembly, and a pair of arc-shaped bearing surfaces rotatably engaging the shaft when the bearing engages the lobe and the shelf engages the fuel pump assembly. The intermediate element includes a pair of lock apertures. The bearing assembly further includes a pair of shields supported on the shaft of the bearing assembly with the bearing interposed between the shields.

Abstract: A tappet assembly for use in translating force between a camshaft lobe and a fuel pump assembly via reciprocal movement within a tappet cylinder having a guide slot. The tappet assembly includes a bearing assembly having a shaft and a bearing rotatably supported by the shaft for engaging the lobe. An intermediate element has a first aperture, a shelf for engaging the fuel pump assembly, and a pair of arc-shaped bearing surfaces rotatably engaging the shaft when the bearing engages the lobe and the shelf engages the fuel pump assembly. An annular body has a second aperture and at least one stop member abutting the intermediate element to align the first aperture with the second aperture. An anti-rotation clip is disposed so as to extend through the apertures and cooperates with the stop member to substantially prevent rotational and axial movement of the intermediate element with respect to the body.

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 tappet assembly for use in translating force between a camshaft lobe and a fuel pump assembly via reciprocal movement within a tappet cylinder having a guide slot. The tappet assembly includes a bearing assembly having a shaft and a bearing rotatably supported by the shaft for engaging the lobe. An intermediate element has a first aperture, a shelf for engaging the fuel pump assembly, and a pair of arc-shaped bearing surfaces rotatably engaging the shaft when the bearing engages the lobe and the shelf engages the fuel pump assembly. An annular body has a second aperture and at least one stop member abutting the intermediate element to align the first aperture with the second aperture. An anti-rotation clip is disposed so as to extend through the apertures and cooperates with the stop member to substantially prevent rotational and axial movement of the intermediate element with respect to the body.

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 dual feed hydraulic lash adjuster includes a plunger assembly slidingly disposed in a lash adjuster body and having an end adapted to cooperate with a valve actuating mechanism, the plunger assembly forming a low-pressure first chamber and a high-pressure second chamber with the body, the plunger assembly having a first aperture fluidly communicating with the first chamber, a passageway fluidly communicating with the first chamber, and a second aperture fluidly communicating with the passageway, and a separate fluid pressure separator disposed in the plunger assembly between the first aperture and the second aperture to prevent passage of hydraulic fluid between the first chamber and the passageway, wherein a passage is provided through the fluid pressure separator to provide for evacuation of air from the lash adjuster.

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 dual feed hydraulic lash adjuster includes a plunger assembly slidingly disposed in a lash adjuster body and having an end adapted to cooperate with a valve actuating mechanism, the plunger assembly forming a low-pressure first chamber and a high-pressure second chamber with the body, the plunger assembly having a first aperture fluidly communicating with the first chamber, a passageway fluidly communicating with the first chamber, and a second aperture fluidly communicating with the passageway, and a separate fluid pressure separator disposed in the plunger assembly between the first aperture and the second aperture to prevent passage of hydraulic fluid between the first chamber and the passageway, wherein a passage is provided through the fluid pressure separator to provide for evacuation of air from the lash adjuster.

Abstract: The invention allows for a larger bronze axle outer diameter for increased contact area to carry system loads in tappet body assemblies of engine valve trains; thereby, improving wear and improving the life of the tappet. Relatively small diameter steel pins are used to secure the bronze axle and because the pins are within the bronze axle they do not need to be specifically processed for stress contact or retention. The bronze axle requires the cam roller follower inside diameter to increase as well to reduce the cross section of the cam roller follower. This thinner cross section improves the rotational inertia reducing the risk of skidding at the cam-to-roller interface. Skidding at this interface significantly reduces the life of the cam roller follower and/or the cam lobe. The smaller pin diameter provides addition clearance when packaged next to an adjacent cam lobe.

Abstract: A cam-follower rocker arm is provided comprising a flat single plate body containing an axle that extends perpendicular from the vertical wall area for making contact with a valve and a second pivot point axle. The pivot point for the cam-follower rocker arm may be located centrally or at the end of the cam-follower rocker arm that is opposite the cam-follower rocker arm valve arm. An external cam-follower bearing is mounted on the axle and extends on each side of the flat plate wall. The cam-follower rocker arm of the invention is characterized by a relatively reduced mass and has a stiffness that exceeds limits achieved by known prior art designs for an overhead cam and cam-follower valve train; the gain in stiffness being attributed to the body's flat plate cross-section relative to conventional prior art cam-follower rocker arms that have a U-shape or a dual wall cross-section.

Abstract: A rocker arm is provided that includes a body which is comprised of a single vertical wall having an I-shape cross section and an axle that extends perpendicular from the vertical wall area for making contact with a valve and a pivot point. The pivot point for the rocker arm may be located centrally or at the end of the rocker arm that is opposite the rocker arm valve arm. An external cam follower bearing is mounted on the axle on each side of a single vertical wall. The rocker arm of the invention is characterized by a relatively reduced mass and has a stiffness that exceeds limits achieved by known prior art designs for an overhead cam and cam follower valve train; the gain in stiffness being attributed to the body's I-shape cross-section relative to conventional prior art rocker arms having a U-shape or dual vertical wall cross-section.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rocker arm having a pivoting clevis mounted to a second end of the rocker arm that engages a valve stem or a bridge that activates dual valves. The clevis has a substantially flat contacting surface and an internal recess created by two upwardly extending walls and an upwardly facing cam surface or receiving the second end of the rocker arm. The clevis is attached to the second end of the rocker arm by an attachment pin that extends through the upwardly extending walls of the clevis and through the second end of the rocker arm. The second end of the rocker arm has a downwardly extending portion that mates with the upwardly facing cam surface of the clevis to allow the clevis to pivot about the attachment pin.