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US 12,404,785 B2Granted
Switching rocker arm having stamped inner arm configuration
AssigneeEaton Intelligent Power Limited
InventorsAlessio Lorenzon, Egidio Canzoniere
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switching roller finger follower (SRFF) assembly for valve actuation includes an outer arm and an inner arm pivotally coupled to the outer arm via a pivot axle and at least partially disposed within the outer arm. The inner arm is unitarily formed and has a first inner side arm and a second inner side arm having respective laterally spaced apart longitudinal bends that each define pin apertures. A spring engagement pin extends through the pin apertures, a pair of lost motion springs are supported by the pivot axle, an inner roller is rotatably coupled to the inner arm, and a pair of outer rollers are disposed on respective axles supported by the outer arm.
Claims20
A switching roller finger follower (SRFF) assembly for valve actuation, the SRFF assembly comprising:
- an outer arm;
- an inner arm pivotally coupled to the outer arm via a pivot axle and at least partially disposed within the outer arm, the inner arm being unitarily formed and having a first inner side arm and a second inner side arm, the first inner side arm and the second inner side arm proximate to a first end of the inner arm being bent toward each other such that a first spacing between the first and second inner side arms proximate to the first end is less than a second spacing between the first and second inner side arms proximate to a second end of the inner arm;
- a spring engagement pin extending through pin apertures formed in the first and second inner side arms proximate to the first end of the inner arm;
- a pair of lost motion springs supported by the pivot axle;
- an inner roller rotatably coupled to the inner arm;
- a pair of outer rollers disposed on respective axles supported by the outer arm;
- a latch assembly configured to selectively latch the inner arm to the outer arm to prevent relative movement therebetween, wherein the latch assembly comprises a latch pin slidingly received within a latch bore formed in the outer arm, wherein the outer arm includes a hydraulic port fluidly coupled to the latch bore, and
- wherein said first spacing is defined by respective inner surfaces of the first and second inner side arms being offset from each other by a predetermined distance such that said respective inner surfaces do not contact each other.
5 more elements
A switching roller finger follower (SRFF) assembly for valve actuation, the SRFF assembly comprising:
- an outer arm;
- an inner arm pivotally coupled to the outer arm via a pivot axle and at least partially disposed within the outer arm, the inner arm being unitarily formed and having a first inner side arm and a second inner side arm, the first inner side arm and the second inner side arm proximate to a first end of the inner arm being bent toward each other such that a first spacing between the first and second inner side arms proximate to the first end is less than a second spacing between the first and second inner side arms proximate to a second end of the inner arm;
- a spring engagement pin extending through pin apertures formed in the first and second inner side arms proximate to the first end of the inner arm and defining crimped regions thereon;
- a pair of lost motion springs supported by the pivot axle and having ends that engage the respective crimped regions of the spring engagement pin, the crimped regions reducing contact stress on the respective lost motion springs;
- an inner roller coupled to the inner arm by a bushing;
- and
- a pair of outer rollers disposed on respective axles supported by the outer arm;
- a latch assembly configured to selectively latch the inner arm to the outer arm to prevent relative movement therebetween, the latch assembly comprising:
- a latch pin slidingly received within a latch bore formed in the outer arm, the latch pin defining an internal latch cage chamber and a flat;
- a latch cage having a finger configured to be at least partially received within the latch cage chamber, the finger including a shelf region, wherein the flat is configured to engage the shelf region of the latch cage and inhibit rotation of the latch pin;
- and
- a spring configured to bias the latch pin away from the latch cage,
- wherein said first spacing is defined by respective inner surfaces of the first and second inner side arms being offset from each other by a predetermined distance such that said respective inner surfaces do not contact each other.
10 more elements
A switching roller finger follower (SRFF) assembly for valve actuation, the SRFF assembly comprising:
- an outer arm;
- a unitarily formed inner arm including
- a first inner side arm defining
- a first roller portion,
- a first inner roller aperture formed in the first roller portion,
- a first arm portion,
- a first pin aperture formed in the first arm portion, and
- a first pivot axle aperture formed in the first arm portion between the first pin aperture and the first inner roller aperture, and
- a second inner side arm defining
- a second roller portion,
- a second inner roller aperture formed in the second roller portion,
- a second arm portion,
- a second pin aperture formed in the second arm portion, and
- a second pivot axle aperture formed in the second arm portion between the second pin aperture and the second inner roller aperture,
- wherein a first distance is defined between the first arm portion and the second arm portion,
- wherein a second distance, greater than the first distance, is defined between the first roller portion and the second roller portion, and
- wherein the first arm portion does not contact the second arm portion;
- a pivot axle extending through the first pivot axle aperture and the second pivot axle aperture and coupled to the outer arm to pivotably mount the inner arm to the outer arm;
- a spring engagement pin extending through the first pin aperture and the second pin aperture;
- a pair of lost motion springs supported by the pivot axle and engaged between the outer arm and the spring engagement pin;
- an inner roller rotatably coupled to the first inner roller aperture and the second inner roller aperture;
- and
- a pair of outer rollers disposed on respective axles supported by the outer arm.
20 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.