# US 2020/0400041 A1 · Valvetrain service tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0400041 A1 - Document ID: US20200400041A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/447,127 - Filed: 2019-06-20 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-20 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Gianfranco Badellino; Fabrizio Binello; Antonino Barresi; Francesco Zangallo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200400041A1 ## CPC - F01L 1/022: {Chain drive} - F01L 1/14: Tappets {(hydraulic tappets for automatically adjusting or compensating clearance F01L1/24)}; Push rods - B25B 27/0035: {for motor-vehicles (wrenches for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/003)} - B25B 27/24: mounting or demounting valves (for tyre valves B60C25/18) - F01L 1/024: {Belt drive} - F01L 2001/0537: {Double overhead camshafts [DOHC]} - F01L 2303/01: Tools for producing, mounting or adjusting, e.g. some part of the distribution - F01L 2800/00: Methods of operation using a variable valve timing mechanism - F01N 2450/00: Methods or apparatus for fitting, inserting or repairing different elements - F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES - B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) ## Abstract A valvetrain service tool for an automobile engine comprises a bracket adapted to be removably mounted onto a structural member of an engine, and a pin slidably supported within the bracket, wherein, the pin is slidable between a first position and a second position, further wherein, when the pin is moved from the first position to the second position, the pin engages a cam sprocket of the engine to support the cam sprocket and allow service to be performed to the valvetrain of the engine without removing the cam sprocket. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valvetrain service tool for an automobile engine, comprising: a bracket adapted to be removably mounted onto a structural member of an engine; and a pin slidably supported within the bracket; wherein the pin is slidable between a first position and a second position and when the pin is moved from the first position to the second position, the pin engages a cam sprocket of the engine to support the cam sprocket to allow service to be performed to the valvetrain of the engine without removing the cam sprocket. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valvetrain service tool of claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a hub having a cylindrical bore formed therein, the pin supported within the cylindrical bore and slidable longitudinally within the cylindrical bore. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The valvetrain service tool of claim 2, wherein the bracket includes a slot formed therein, the slot extending longitudinally along the cylindrical bore, and the pin includes a stop extending radially from an outer diameter of the pin, the stop extending through the slot formed within the bracket, wherein the stop secures the pin within the cylindrical bore of the bracket and when the pin is in the first position the stop is adjacent a first end of the slot and when the pin is in the second position the stop is adjacent a second end of the slot. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The valvetrain service tool of claim 3, wherein the stop is a set screw and the pin includes a threaded bore formed therein, the set screw being removably threaded within the threaded bore formed within the pin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The valvetrain service tool of claim 4, wherein the set screw further includes a textured head adapted to allow the set screw to be manually threaded into the threaded bore formed within the pin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The valvetrain service tool of claim 5, wherein the textured head of the set screw is further adapted to allow the set screw to be manually removed from the threaded bore formed within the pin to allow removal of the pin from the bracket. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The valvetrain service tool of claim 2, wherein the pin includes a first distal end adapted to engage the cam sprocket of the engine and a second distal end, opposite the first distal end, wherein the pin includes a knob attached to the second distal end adapted to allow the pin to be manually moved within the cylindrical bore of the bracket. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The valvetrain service tool of claim 7, wherein the second distal end of the pin includes a threaded nipple and the knob includes a threaded bore, further wherein the knob is held onto the pin by a threaded engagement of the threaded nipple within the threaded bore of the knob. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The valvetrain service tool of claim 1, wherein the bracket includes at least one flange extending from the hub, the flange including a bore adapted to receive a fastener extending therethrough to secure the bracket to the structural member of the engine. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The valvetrain service tool of claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a pair of flanges extending from opposite sides of the hub, each flange including a bore adapted to receive a fastener extending therethrough to secure the bracket to the structural member of the engine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The valvetrain service tool of claim 1, wherein the bracket is adapted to be mounted onto a surface of an engine block of the engine. ### Claim 12 A method of using a valvetrain service tool comprising: mounting a valvetrain service tool onto a structural member of an engine; sliding a pin of the valvetrain service tool from a first position to a second position, wherein a first distal end of the pin engages a cam sprocket of the engine; sliding the pin, along with the cam sprocket supported thereon, from the second position to the first position; servicing a valvetrain component of the engine while the cam sprocket is supported on the first distal end of the pin; sliding the pin, along with the cam sprocket supported thereon, from the first position to the second position; sliding the pin of the valvetrain service tool from the second position to the first position and dis-engaging the first distal end of the pin from the cam sprocket of the engine; and removing the valvetrain service tool from the structural member of the engine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of using a valvetrain service tool of claim 12, further including: dis-engaging a valvetrain component from the cam sprocket prior to sliding the pin, along with the cam sprocket supported thereon, from the second position to the first position; and engaging the valvetrain component with the cam sprocket after sliding the pin, along with the cam sprocket supported thereon, from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of using a valvetrain service tool of claim 12, further including locking a flywheel of the engine in position prior to servicing a valvetrain component of the engine. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of using a valvetrain service tool of claim 14, further including locking a flywheel of the engine in position with a dedicated locking tool adapted to keep the flywheel stationary. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of using a valvetrain service tool of claim 12, further including locking camshafts of the engine in position prior to servicing a valvetrain component of the engine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of using a valvetrain service tool of claim 16, further including locking camshafts of the engine in position with a dedicated cam locking tool adapted to keep the camshafts stationary and maintain proper phasing. ### Claim 18 A valvetrain service tool for an automobile engine, comprising: a bracket adapted to be removably mounted onto a surface of an engine block of an engine, the bracket including a hub having a cylindrical bore formed therein, a slot formed within the hub extending longitudinally along the cylindrical bore, and a pair of flanges extending from opposite sides of the hub, each flange including a bore adapted to receive a fastener extending therethrough to secure the bracket to the engine block; a pin slidably supported within the cylindrical bore and slidable longitudinally within the cylindrical bore between a first position and a second position, the pin including a stop extending radially from an outer diameter of the pin and through the slot formed within the bracket, wherein the stop secures the pin within the cylindrical bore of the bracket and when the pin is in the first position the stop is adjacent a first end of the slot and when the pin is in the second position the stop is adjacent a second end of the slot; and wherein, when the pin is moved from the first position to the second position, a first distal end of the pin engages a cam sprocket of the engine to support the cam sprocket and allow service to be performed to the valvetrain of the engine without removing the cam sprocket. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The valvetrain service tool of claim 18, wherein the stop is a set screw having a textured head and the pin includes a threaded bore formed therein, the set screw being removably threaded within the threaded bore formed within the pin and the textured head adapted to allow the set screw to be manually threaded into the threaded bore formed within the pin or removed from the threaded bore formed within the pin to allow removal of the pin from the bracket. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The valvetrain service tool of claim 19, wherein the pin includes a knob attached to a second distal end adapted to allow the pin to be manually moved within the cylindrical bore of the bracket.