VALVE GUIDE INSERT WITH FRICTIONAL PRE-BROACH RETENTION FEATURE
A valve guide insert for lining and relining a valve guide bore in an internal combustion engine includes a one-piece, thin-walled, cylindrically-shaped metallic tube made from reformable bearing material having first and second ends and an intermediate portion. An inwardly tapered portion is disposed at the first end, wherein an end diameter of the inwardly tapered portion is less than an outer diameter of a valve guide bore, and wherein the outer diameter of the intermediate section is greater than an inner diameter of a valve guide bore. A longitudinal slit is included having a stepped portion along a length of the longitudinal slit. An interference portion is disposed proximate the second end, wherein the interference portion is configured to substantially secure the valve guide insert within a valve guide bore.
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This application claims priority to and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/831,794 filed on Jun. 6, 2013, entitled “VALVE GUIDE INSERT WITH FRICTIONAL PRE-BROACH RETENTION FEATURE,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a valve guide insert for use in internal combustion engines and the like, and in particular to a thin-walled valve guide insert.
Valve guide inserts are commonly used in the construction and rebuilding of cylinder heads in internal combustion engines. More particularly, valve guide inserts are used to provide a wear resistant bearing surface between cylinder heads and the associated valves. Through extended use, valve guides within internal combustion engines can become worn, thereby allowing the associated valve to become sloppy within an associated cylinder. This sloppiness may result in improper seating of the valve or even the failure of the engine.
Cylinder heads associated with internal combustion engines are typically cast from iron or other non-durable metals. Valve guide inserts have become useful within the vehicle engine manufacturing industry by providing a hardened bearing surface between the valve guides and the associated valves, thereby increasing the useful life of the valve guides. Valve guide inserts have also become useful in the engine refurbishing industry by allowing for a worn guide to be broached and a valve guide insert to be inserted within the resurfaces and/or resized valve guide bore, thereby allowing for the continued use of the engine.
Heretofore, valve guide inserts were tubular shaped members formed of a hardened wear resistant metal. Typically, the valve guide inserts were press-fit into a valve guide bore of a cylinder head by way of a mechanical device that forcibly inserted the valve guide inserts within the valve guide bores. A broaching tool was then forced through the valve guide insert to form an interior bore for guiding the associated valve, as well as to create a tight fit of the valve guide insert within the valve guide floor. Hand-inserted valve guide inserts are also used and eliminate the need for mechanical inserting devises, thereby making the process more efficient and less costly.
A problem associated with the use of conventional hand-inserted valve guide inserts is the retention of the valve guide inserts within the valve guide bore before using the broaching tool. Depending upon the application, the valve guide insert may be inserted into the valve guide bore, either from above or below, to best take advantage of the various geometries and configurations of internal combustion engines. As a result, a valve guide insert that is inserted from below can have a tendency of falling out of the valve guide bore before the broaching tool can be used. Also, where several valve guide inserts are inserted into several respective valve guide bores, the use of the broaching tool in one of the valve guide bores may cause one or more of the remaining unbroached valve guide inserts to slide through and/or fall out of the valve guide bore due to vibrations caused by the broaching tool.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment, a valve guide insert for lining and relining a valve guide bore in an internal combustion engine includes a one-piece, thin-walled, cylindrically-shaped metallic tube made from reformable bearing material having first and second ends and an intermediate section that extends between the first and second ends. An inwardly-tapered portion is disposed at the first end, wherein an end diameter of the valve guide insert at the inwardly tapered portion is less than an inner diameter of a valve guide bore, and wherein the outer diameter of the intermediate section is greater than an inner diameter of a valve guide bore. A longitudinal slit is disposed along the length of the valve guide insert. An interference portion is disposed proximate the second end, wherein the interference portion is configured to substantially secure the valve guide insert within a valve guide bore.
In another embodiment, a valve guide insert for lining and relining a valve guide bore in an internal combustion engine includes a one-piece, thin-walled, cylindrically-shaped metallic tube made from reformable bearing material having first and second ends and an intermediate portion. An inwardly tapered portion is disposed at the first end, wherein an end diameter of the valve guide insert at the inwardly-tapered portion is less than an inner diameter of a valve guide bore, and wherein the outer diameter of the intermediate section is greater than an inner diameter of a valve guide bore. A longitudinal slit is disposed along the length of the valve guide insert, wherein the longitudinal slit includes a stepped portion, and an interference portion is disposed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the valve guide insert, the interference portion having a roughness parameter of greater than about 32 Ra.
In yet another embodiment, a valve guide insert for lining and relining a valve guide bore in an internal combustion engine includes a formed cylindrically-shaped tube having a substantially consistent wall thickness. The cylindrical tube can have first and second ends, first and second edges that extend between the first and second ends, and an intermediate portion defined within the first and second ends and first and second edges. The cylindrical tube is shaped such that the first and second edges define a longitudinal slit along the length of the cylindrical tube. An outwardly flared portion of the cylindrical tube is disposed proximate one of the first and second ends.
In other various embodiments, the apparatus described herein can be incorporated into a method for broaching a valve guide insert to shape the interior surface of a valve guide insert within a valve guide bore of a cylinder head of a combustion engine.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
For purposes of description herein the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the device as oriented in
As shown in
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In the various embodiments, the valve guide insert 10 is generally made of a substantially malleable metallic material that can include bronze, copper, alloys thereof, or other substantially malleable metallic material that can be formed through the use of the broaching tool.
As illustrated in
According to the various embodiments, the valve guide insert 10 is made from a metallic sheet that is rolled into a cylindrical form. In this manner, the valve guide insert 10 is configured to substantially retain and tends to retain its originally rolled cylindrical shape. Accordingly, as the flared portion 90 of the valve guide insert 10 is compressed inward by one of the ends of the valve guide bore 12, the valve guide insert 10 biases against the valve guide bore 12 at least at the flared portion 90 to create a compression and/or frictional fit such that the valve guide insert 10 substantially remains within the valve guide bore 12. In this way, additional valve guide inserts 10 can be inserted into the remaining valve guide bores 12 of the combustion engine and the broaching tool can be used on the various valve guide inserts 10, while the valve guide inserts 10 substantially retain their position within each of their respective valve guide bores 12. This compression or frictional fit can make the entire process of inserting the valve guide inserts 10 and using the broaching tool a more efficient process where all of the valve guide inserts 10 can be positioned in one step 36 and all of the valve guide inserts 10 can be broached in a single subsequent step 36.
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In alternate embodiments, the configurations of the valve guide insert 10 having the tabbed portions 100 or tapered portions 110 of the slit 34 can also include the flared portion 90, as discussed above. When the flared portion 90 of the valve guide insert 10 is formed in conjunction with the valve guide insert 10 having either the tapered portion 110 or the tabbed portion 100, the flared portion 90 can be formed with minimal loss of material as a result of expanding the diameter of the valve guide insert 10 to form the flared portion 90. Typically, when the flared portion 90 of the valve guide insert 10 is created and the slit 34 has a substantially consistent width, as the flared portion 90 is formed, the thickness of the material at the flared portion 90 can become thinner than the cross-sectional thickness of the remaining portions of the valve guide insert 10. The inclusion of the tabbed portion 100 or the tapered portion 110 tends to minimize the thinning of the valve guide insert 10 at the flared portion 90 such that the material of the flared portion 90 can have a substantially consistent thickness.
Referring now to
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As with previous embodiments discussed herein, the increased frictional fit between the valve guide insert 10 and the valve guide bore 12 allows the user to insert valve guide inserts 10 within all of the valve guide bores 12 to be refurbished as a first step. The broaching tool can then be used in a second step to broach each of the valve guide inserts 10 within the respective valve guide bores 12 without substantial interruption to secure the valve guide inserts 10. Such a two-step process can generally be more efficient and cost effective than repeatedly inserting a single valve guide insert 10 and then broaching that single valve guide insert 10 within the valve guide bore 12 before inserting and broaching the next valve guide insert 10.
In alternate embodiments, other materials can be applied to the other surface of the valve guide insert 10 to increase the frictional coefficient of a portion of the outer surface 122 of the valve guide insert 10. These alternate materials can include, but are not limited to, various adhesives, various particulate matter, or other such materials that can increase the frictional coefficient of at least a portion of the outer surface 122 of the valve guide insert 10.
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It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described invention and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the invention disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the invention as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown in multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of the wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of the wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.
It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present invention. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.
It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure and methods without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
Claims
1. A valve guide insert for lining and relining a valve guide bore in an internal combustion engine having a valve with a valve stem, the valve guide bore being configured to support the valve stem for reciprocal motion, the valve guide insert comprising:
- a one-piece, cylindrically-shaped metallic tube made from reformable bearing material having first and second ends and an intermediate portion extending between the first and second ends;
- a longitudinal slit disposed along the length of the valve guide insert;
- an inwardly tapered portion disposed at the first end, wherein a first outer diameter of the inwardly tapered portion is less than an inner diameter of a valve guide bore, and wherein a second diameter of the intermediate section is greater than an inner diameter of a valve guide bore; and
- an interference portion disposed proximate the second end, wherein the interference portion is configured to substantially secure the valve guide insert within a valve guide bore.
2. The valve guide insert of claim 1, wherein the interference portion includes a narrowed portion of the longitudinal slit, and wherein the width of the slit at the narrowed portion is less than the width of the slit distal to the narrowed portion, and wherein the longitudinal slit includes a stepped portion.
3. The valve guide insert of claim 2, wherein the narrowed portion has a substantially consistent width across the longitudinal slit.
4. The valve guide insert of claim 2, wherein the width of the narrowed portion decreases from a first width proximate the intermediate portion to a second width distal from the intermediate portion.
5. The valve guide insert of claim 1, wherein the interference portion includes an outwardly flared portion.
6. The valve guide insert of claim 5, wherein the outwardly flared portion has a consistent thickness.
7. The valve guide insert of claim 1, wherein the inwardly tapered portion has a consistent thickness.
8. The valve guide insert of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the valve guide insert includes a substantially spiral groove defined therein.
9. A valve guide insert for lining and relining a valve guide bore in an internal combustion engine having a valve with a valve stem, and the valve guide bore being configured to support the valve stem for reciprocal motion, the valve guide insert comprising:
- a one-piece, cylindrically-shaped metallic tube made from reformable bearing material having first and second ends and an intermediate portion extending between the first and second ends;
- an inwardly tapered portion disposed at the first end, wherein a first outer diameter of the inwardly tapered portion is less than an inner diameter of the valve guide bore, and wherein a second outer diameter of the intermediate portion is greater than an inner diameter of the valve guide bore;
- a longitudinal slit disposed along the length of the valve guide insert, wherein the longitudinal slit includes a stepped portion; and
- an interference portion disposed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the valve guide insert.
10. The valve guide insert of claim 9, wherein the interference portion includes an integral surface condition having a roughness parameter of greater than about 32 Ra.
11. The valve guide insert of claim 10, wherein the interference portion includes an applied grit material.
12. The valve guide insert of claim 9, wherein the interference portion includes an adhesive compound.
13. The valve guide insert of claim 12, wherein the adhesive compound is an anaerobic adhesive retaining compound.
14. The valve guide insert of claim 1, wherein the interference portion includes a narrowed portion of the longitudinal slit, and wherein the width of the slit at the narrowed portion is less than the width of the slit distal to the narrowed portion.
15. The valve guide insert of claim 14, wherein the narrowed portion has a substantially consistent width across the longitudinal slit.
16. The valve guide insert of claim 14, wherein the width of the narrowed portion decreases from a first width proximate the intermediate portion to a second width distal from the intermediate portion.
17. The valve guide insert of claim 9, wherein the valve guide insert includes an outwardly flared portion proximate the second end.
18. The valve guide insert of claim 9, wherein an inner surface of the valve guide insert includes a substantially spiral groove defined therein.
19. A valve guide insert for lining and relining a valve guide bore in an internal combustion engine having a valve with a valve stem, and the valve guide bore being configured to support the valve stem for reciprocal motion, the valve guide insert comprising:
- a formed cylindrical tube having a substantially consistent wall thickness, first and second ends, first and second edges that extend between the first and second ends and an intermediate portion defined within the first and second ends and the first and second edges, wherein the cylindrical tube is shaped such that the first and second edges define a longitudinal slit along a length of the cylindrical tube; and
- an outwardly flared portion of the cylindrical tube is disposed proximate one of the first and second ends.
20. The valve guide insert of claim 19, further comprising:
- an interference portion disposed proximate the intermediate portion, wherein the interference portion includes at least one of an integral surface condition and an applied adhesive compound.
Type: Application
Filed: May 15, 2014
Publication Date: Dec 11, 2014
Applicant: K-Line Industries, Inc. (Holland, MI)
Inventors: Thomas Knowles, II (Holland, MI), Dwain Kamphuis (West Olive, MI)
Application Number: 14/278,618
International Classification: F01L 3/08 (20060101);