Rocker arm for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, and method for the non-cutting production of an arm from steel sheet

A method for forming a rocker arm body from steel sheet for a valve train of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

• punching a plate from a steel sheet,
• punching at least two openings from the plate, the at least one openings:
• i) defining a bone-shaped outer contour with a longitudinal extent and a transverse extent, ii) forming a roller pocket configured to receive a cam roller, and iii) defining at least one connecting web configured to separate the at least two openings, the at least one connecting web extending in the transverse extent of the bone-shaped outer contour,
• forming the plate to a U-shape, the U-shape defining two side walls and two webs, the two webs extending transversely to the side walls,
• detaching the at least one connecting web to form at least one protrusion, the at least one protrusion configured to engage the cam roller.

A rocker arm for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, the rocker arm comprising:

• an arm body produced by forming a steel sheet and having a U-shaped cross-section configured to open toward a valve stem, the arm body having:
• two side walls connected together at end portions of the arm body via webs running transversely to the side walls,
• a valve stem support formed on one of the webs,
• a pivot formed on another of the webs, and
• a roller pocket delimited by the webs and the two side walls, the roller pocket configured to receive a cam roller rotatably mounted on a roller axle fixed on the two side walls, the roller pocket having at least one protrusion extending from a longitudinal side of the roller pocket, the at least one protrusion forming a guide face configured to engage the cam roller.