# US 10,119,428 B2 · Roller type rocker arm > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,428 B2 - Document ID: US10119428B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/306,053 - Filed: 2015-04-14 - Published: 2017-02-16 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-24 - Assignees: Riken - Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Riken - Inventors: Mitsuhiro Maehara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119428B2 ## CPC - F01L 1/185: {Overhead end-pivot rocking arms} - F01L 1/053: overhead type - F01L 1/18: Rocking arms or levers - F16C 33/103: {retained in or near the bearing} - F01L 1/20: Adjusting or compensating clearance - F01L 2001/0535: {Single overhead camshafts [SOHC]} - F01L 2301/00: Using particular materials - F01L 2305/00: Valve arrangements comprising rollers - F01L 2305/02: Mounting of rollers - F01L 2800/18: Testing or simulation - F01L 2810/02: Lubrication - F01L 2820/01: Absolute values - F16C 17/02: for radial load only - F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract A roller-type rocker arm includes a roller shaft. A sliding surface of an outer circumference surface of the roller shaft includes a number of dimples. An inner ring roller is slidably attached to the outer circumference surface of the roller shaft. An inner circumference surface and an outer circumference surface of the inner ring roller include a number of dimples. An outer ring roller is slidably attached to the outer circumference surface of the inner ring roller. An inner circumference surface of the outer ring roller includes a number of dimples. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A roller-type rocker arm comprising: a roller shaft, wherein a sliding surface of an outer circumference surface of the roller shaft includes a plurality of dimples; an inner ring roller slidably attached to the outer circumference surface of the roller shaft, wherein an inner circumference surface and an outer circumference surface of the inner ring roller include a plurality of dimples; and an outer ring roller slidably attached to the outer circumference surface of the inner ring roller, wherein an inner circumference surface of the outer ring roller includes a plurality of dimples; wherein each dimple is anisotropic-shaped having a major axis and a minor axis, the plurality of dimples on each surface being separated in a sliding direction and in a directional orthogonal to the sliding direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The roller-type rocker arm according to claim 1, wherein the dimples are formed one side of the outer circumference surface of the roller shaft and the inner circumference surface of the inner ring roller, and wherein the dimples are formed on one side of the outer circumference surface of the inner ring roller and the inner circumference surface of the outer ring roller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The roller-type rocker arm according to claim 1, wherein the dimples are formed two sides of the outer circumference surface of the roller shaft and the inner circumference surface of the inner ring roller, and wherein the dimples are formed on two sides of the outer circumference surface of the inner ring roller and the inner circumference surface of the outer ring roller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The roller-type rocker arm according to claim 1, wherein the dimples are formed one side of the outer circumference surface of the roller shaft and the inner circumference surface of the inner ring roller, and wherein the dimples are formed on two sides of the outer circumference surface of the inner ring roller and the inner circumference surface of the outer ring roller. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The roller-type rocker arm according to claim 1, wherein the dimples are formed two sides of the outer circumference surface of the roller shaft and the inner circumference surface of the inner ring roller, and wherein the dimples are formed on one side of the outer circumference surface of the inner ring roller and the inner circumference surface of the outer ring roller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The roller-type rocker arm according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of dimples are uniformly located on the outer circumference surface of the roller shaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The roller-type rocker arm according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of dimples are uniformly located on the inner circumference surface of the inner ring roller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The roller-type rocker arm according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of dimples are uniformly located on the outer circumference surface of the inner ring roller. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The roller-type rocker arm according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of dimples are uniformly located on the inner circumference surface of the outer ring roller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The roller-type rocker arm according to claim 1, a direction of the major axis of the dimple being parallel to a sliding direction of the sliding surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The roller-type rocker arm according to claim 10, wherein the dimple is less than 5 mm in length in the direction of the major axis, less than 1 mm in width in a direction of the minor axis, and less than 1 mm in depth. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The roller-type rocker arm according to claim 1, a direction of the major axis of the dimple being vertical to a sliding direction of the sliding surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The roller-type rocker arm according to claim 12, wherein each dimple is less than 5 mm in length in the direction of the major axis, less than 1 mm in width in a direction of the minor axis, and less than 1 mm in depth. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The roller-type rocker arm according to claim 1, wherein the roller-type rocker arm is configured to transmit a rotational motion of a cam to an intake and exhaust valve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The roller-type rocker arm according to claim 1, wherein the dimple is less than 5 mm in length in the direction of the major axis, less than 1 mm in width in a direction of the minor axis, and less than 1 mm in depth. ### Claim 16 An apparatus comprising: a cam of a camshaft; a valve stem of an intake and exhaust valve; and a rolling-type rocker arm between the cam and the valve stem, wherein the rolling-type rocker arm comprises: a roller shaft, wherein a sliding surface of an outer circumference surface of the roller shaft includes a plurality of dimples; an inner ring roller slidably attached to the outer circumference surface of the roller shaft, wherein an inner circumference surface and an outer circumference surface of the inner ring roller include a plurality of dimples; and an outer ring roller slidably attached to the outer circumference surface of the inner ring roller, wherein an inner circumference surface of the outer ring roller includes a plurality of dimples; wherein each dimple is anisotropic-shaped having a major axis and a minor axis, the plurality of dimples on each surface being separated in a sliding direction and in a directional orthogonal to the sliding direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the rocker arm includes a body, a first end of the body being supported by a pivot portion and a second end of the body being abutted to a cap of the valve stem of the intake and exhaust valve. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the outer ring roller is abutted to the cam. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the rocker arm includes a body, a first end of the body being supported by a pivot portion and a second end of the body being abutted to a cap of the valve stem of the intake and exhaust valve; and wherein the outer ring roller is abutted to the cam so that a rotary motion of the cam is transmitted to the body and, according to a rotation of the cam, the second end of the body moves the intake and exhaust valve vertically. ### Claim 20 A roller-type rocker arm comprising: a roller shaft, wherein a sliding surface of an outer circumference surface of the roller shaft includes a plurality of dimples; an inner ring roller slidably attached to the outer circumference surface of the roller shaft, wherein an inner circumference surface and an outer circumference surface of the inner ring roller include a plurality of dimples; and an outer ring roller slidably attached to the outer circumference surface of the inner ring roller, wherein an inner circumference surface of the outer ring roller includes a plurality of dimples; wherein the roller-type rocker arm is configured to transmit a rotational motion of a cam to an intake and exhaust valve; wherein each dimple is anisotropic-shaped having a major axis and a minor axis, the plurality of dimples on each surface being separated in a sliding direction and in a directional orthogonal to the sliding direction; and wherein the dimple is less than 5 mm in length in the direction of the major axis, less than 1 mm in width in a direction of the minor axis, and less than 1 mm in depth.