Lever-type cam follower made of sheet metal

Abstract

What is proposed is a lever-type cam follower (1) made of sheet metal, typically for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said cam follower (1) comprising two parallel side walls (3a, 3b) connected by a crossbeam (2), an underside (4) of the crossbeam (2) having a support (6) for at least one gas exchange valve on one end (5), said support (6) being limited by guide walls (7a, 7b) extending parallel to the side walls (3a, 3b), wherein the one end (5) of the cam follower (1) is narrower than the rest of the length of the cam follower (1), and at least in the region of said one end (5), the side walls (3a, 3b) have a smaller mean wall thickness (DSM) than over the rest of said length, which wall thickness (DSM) increases at least in said region continuously from ends (8a, 8b) of the side walls (3a, 3b) in the direction of the crossbeam (2), and the thickness (DF) of the guide walls (7a 7b) is smaller than the mean wall thickness (DSM) in the region of the narrow one end (5). Such a cam follower (1) requires only a small design space in the region of the one end (5) and has a particularly favorable mass moment of inertia.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.