Valve seal assembly with multiple leg retainer

Abstract

A radially compliant valve stem seal assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a metallic retainer having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially depending legs. Each of the legs includes at least one radially inwardly depending protuberance adapted to engage a valve guide surface. The legs are arranged and disposed on the retainer to be radially flexible, yet axially stiff, to balance forces of installation against those of securement of valve stem seal assembly over a wide valve guide diameter tolerance range. In one disclosed embodiment, the retainer has three separate circumferentially spaced legs, each including a single dimple in its structure. The dimples are adapted to provide the only direct contact of the legs with the valve guide circumference. The retainer legs are adapted to flex radially outwardly, and produce a spring tension between the dimples and the guide for maintaining the dimples in engagement with the valve guide.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.