Cover body for valve rotating device, corresponding valve rotating device and method for producing the cover body

A valve rotating device for internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a ring-shaped base body including a plurality of pockets formed as inclined raceways and arrayed circumferentially, each pocket including a tangential spring biasing a ball towards a first end of the pocket;
• and
• a cover body comprising a single sheet of sheet metal formed into a ring-shaped upper part, a ring-shaped lower part, and at least one integral connecting piece bridging the upper and lower parts,
• wherein the upper part is coaxially aligned and spaced from the lower part so as to define an axial space configured to accommodate a ring-shaped axial spring element,
• wherein a first axial end of the axial spring element is supported on a ring-shaped stop surface of the base body, and a second axial end of the axial spring element is supported on an axial end surface of the upper part,
• wherein an axial end surface of the lower part facing away from the axial spring element rests against the balls such that the balls axially overlap the axial spring element, and
• wherein the at least one integral connecting piece is disposed laterally outside of respective outer perimeter edges of the upper and lower parts.

A method for producing a cover body for a valve rotating device, the method comprising:

• punching a single metal sheet so as to produce a first ring-shaped portion and a second ring-shaped portion connected to each other via at least one integral connecting portion configured to bridge respective outer perimeter edges of the first and second ring-shaped portions;
• and
• bending the at least one integral connecting portion so as to fold the first ring-shaped portion over the second ring-shaped portion such that the first and second ring-shaped portions are coaxially aligned and spaced from each other thereby defining an axial space configured to accommodate an axial spring element,
• wherein, after the bending, the at least one integral connection portion is disposed laterally outside of the respective outer perimeter edges of the first and second ring-shaped portions.