Switching rocker arm
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsAustin Zurface, Andrei Dan Radulescu, Majo Cecur, Philip M. Kline, Tony Gordon, James R. Sheren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rocker arm for engaging a cam is disclosed. An outer arm and inner arm are configured to transfer motion to a valve of an internal combustion engine. A latching mechanism includes a latch, sleeve and orientation member. The sleeve engages the latch and a bore in the inner arm, and also provides an opening for an orientation member used in providing the correct orientation for the latch with respect to the sleeve and the inner arm. The sleeve, latch and inner arm have reference marks used to determine the optimal orientation for the latch.
Claims18
A rocker arm for engaging a cam, comprising:
- an outer arm having a first end, a second end, a first and second outer side arm;
- an inner arm disposed between the first and second outer side arms, having a first end, a second end and a cam contacting surface disposed between the first and second end;
- the inner arm pivotably secured adjacent its first end to the outer arm adjacent the first end of the outer arm, the inner arm having a latch bore adjacent its second end having a generally cylindrical wall and a bore wall;
- a latch having a head with a first generally cylindrical diameter, a body with a second generally cylindrical diameter smaller than the first generally cylindrical diameter and an orientation pin receiving recess;
- a sleeve having a generally cylindrical inner and outer surfaces, the outer surface a least partially engaging the generally cylindrical wall of the latch bore, the inner surface at least partially engaging the body of the latch, the sleeve having an orientation plug aperture extending between generally cylindrical inner and outer surfaces;
- an orientation plug extending through the sleeve into an orientation pin receiving recess, the orientation pin configured to restrict rotation of the latch about the axial direction.
A method for orienting a latch in a switching rocker arm having a first arm and a second arm having a latch bore, the method comprising:
- providing a latch having a first arm contacting surface configured to engage the first arm and further having a latch orientation reference;
- providing a sleeve having an opening configured for insertion of a latch and further having a sleeve orientation reference;
- inserting the latch into the opening of the sleeve to form a latch subassembly;
- rotating the latch with respect to the sleeve until the latch orientation reference has a predetermined orientation with the sleeve orientation reference;
- inserting the latch subassembly into the latch bore of the second arm.
A method for orienting a latch in a switching rocker arm, the method comprising:
- providing an orientation plug and a sleeve having generally cylindrical inner and outer surfaces and an orientation plug opening extending from the generally cylindrical inner surface to the generally cylindrical outer surfaces;
- inserting the orientation plug into the orientation plug opening and applying sufficient pressure to press fit the orientation plug within the opening, thereby securing the orientation plug to the sleeve;
- providing a latch having a generally cylindrical head at a first end and a generally cylindrical body extending from the head toward a second end of the latch in an axial direction, and an orientation plug receiving recess adjacent its second end;
- inserting t latch into the sleeve such that at least a portion of the body is in contact with the inner surface of the sleeve and the orientation plug is received in the orientation plug receiving recess.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.