Method and apparatus for aligning a valve head

Apparatus for aligning the head of an engine valve relative to the valve stem, said apparatus comprising:

• a. support means;
• b. drum means rotatably mounted on said support means including straightening means adapted to contact the valve stem;
• c. presser means mounted on said support means, said presser means being operable to urge the valve stem into driving contact with said drum means and to straighten said stem during rotation of said drum means;
• d. straightening means freely rotatable with respect to said support means, said straightening means including cam means adapted to contact the head of the valve during rotation thereof;
• and,
• e. means operable to urge said cam means into rotary driving contact with said valve head and operable to align the valve head normal with respect to its stem during rotation thereof.

A method of aligning the head of an engine poppet valve relative to the stem of the valve, comprising:

• a. rotating the valve about its longitudinal axis;
• b. straightening the stem of the valve while the valve is rotating;
• c. simultaneously with steps (a) and (b), transporting the valve in a direction generally perpendicular to its longitudinal axis such that the longitudinal axis of the valve defines a generally arcuate path;
• d. providing a generally arcuate freely moving straightening surface oriented to engage the valve head and define a line of contact therebetween;
• e. during a portion of step (c), moving said straightening surface relative to the valve head to cause said straightening surface to engage the valve head;
• and
• f. permitting said straightening surface to move at a surface speed approximately the same as the surface speed of the valve head.

A method of aligning the head of an engine poppet valve relative to the stem of the valve, comprising:

• a. rolling the valve stem along a rigid surface;
• b. pressing the valve stem against the rigid surface while rolling to straighten the stem;
• c. providing a freely moving rotary member having an aligning surface thereon adapted for contacting the head portion of the valve;
• and
• d. pressing said aligning surface of said rotary member into rolling contact with the head of said valve while the stem of the valve is rolling along said rigid surface.