# US 2014/0360448 A1 · Camshaft guide member > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0360448 A1 - Document ID: US20140360448A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/913,570 - Filed: 2013-06-10 - Published: 2014-12-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-10 - Assignees: Caterpillar Inc. - Applicants: Caterpillar Inc. - Inventors: Jonathan R. Chittenden - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360448A1 ## CPC - F01L 1/047: Camshafts - F01L 2001/0476: {Camshaft bearings} - F01L 2001/054: {Camshafts in cylinder block} - F01L 2250/06: the camshaft being driven by gear wheels - F01L 2303/00: Manufacturing of components used in valve arrangements - F01L 2303/01: Tools for producing, mounting or adjusting, e.g. some part of the distribution - Y10T 29/49293: Camshaft making - F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A camshaft guide member is provided for guiding a camshaft through a plurality of axially aligned camshaft bearings in an engine along a camshaft rotation axis. The camshaft guide member includes a first end, a second end and a contact surface extending between the first end and the second end. The camshaft guide member further includes a connecting portion configured to attach the contact surface to the engine between at least a pair of camshaft bearings. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A camshaft guide member for guiding a camshaft through a plurality of axially aligned camshaft bearings in an engine along a camshaft rotation axis, the camshaft guide member comprising: a first end; a second end; a contact surface extending between the first end and the second end; and a connecting portion configured to attach the contact surface to the engine between at least a pair of camshaft bearings. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The camshaft guide member of claim 1, wherein the contact surface has a radius of curvature substantially equal to a radius of the camshaft bearing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The camshaft guide member of claim 1, wherein the contact surface has at least one opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The camshaft guide member of claim 3, wherein the at least one opening is disposed at substantially about 45 degrees with respect to the camshaft rotation axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The camshaft guide member of claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is a flange laterally extending from the contact surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The camshaft guide member of claim 1, wherein the connecting portion includes at least one fastener receptacle configured to receive a fastener to attach the camshaft guide member within the engine. ### Claim 7 An engine comprising: a plurality of axially aligned camshaft bearings; a camshaft rotatably supported on at least two axially aligned camshaft bearings and configured to rotate about a camshaft rotation axis; and a camshaft guide member configured to guide the camshaft through the camshaft bearings, the camshaft guide member including: a first end; a second end; and a contact surface extending between the first end and the second end and disposed between the at least two camshaft bearings. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The engine of claim 7, wherein the camshaft guide member further includes a connecting portion laterally extending from the contact surface and including a first fastener receptacle, the connecting portion attaching the camshaft guide member to the engine between the at least two camshaft bearings. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The engine of claim 8, wherein the camshaft bearings are supported on transverse walls extending within the engine, and wherein the connecting portion is attached to the transverse wall. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The engine of claim 9 further including an attachment plate having a second fastener receptacle, wherein the attachment plate is attached to the transverse wall. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The engine of claim 8, wherein the first fastener receptacle is aligned with a second fastener receptacle provided on an attachment plate, a fastener is received within the first and the second fastener receptacles. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The engine of claim 10, wherein the attachment plate supports a piston cooling jet within the engine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The engine of claim 7, wherein the contact surface is disposed at a pre-determined distance from the camshaft bearings, and wherein the pre-determined distance is less than a thickness of the camshaft journal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The engine of claim 7, wherein the contact surface has a radius of curvature substantially equal to a radius of the camshaft bearing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The engine of claim 7, wherein the contact surface has at least one opening. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The engine of claim 15, wherein the at least one opening is disposed at substantially about 45 degrees with respect to the camshaft rotation axis. ### Claim 17 A method of guiding a camshaft through a plurality of axially aligned camshaft bearings in an engine, the method comprising: providing at least one camshaft guide member between at least two camshaft bearings; and moving the camshaft while continuously supporting a camshaft journal on at least one of the camshaft guide member and the camshaft bearing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein moving the camshaft comprises at least one of installing and removing the camshaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein installing the camshaft comprises partially supporting the camshaft journal by the camshaft bearing before disengaging the camshaft journal from the camshaft guide member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein removing the camshaft comprises partially supporting the camshaft journal by the camshaft guide member before disengaging the camshaft journal from the camshaft bearing.