US 4,538,558 AGranted

Valve rotating device

AssigneeTRW Inc.

InventorsStanley H. Updike, William A. Michaels, Frederick L. Kuonen

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Abstract

The valve rotator comprises a body to be attached to and rotatable with the valve. The body has at least one groove therein extending partially around said valve stem. Shiftable means is disposed within the groove. A collar receives the valve spring biasing force and encircles the valve stem adjacent the body. The body and the collar are movable in axial and rotational directions relative to each other. A pair of spring washers encircles the valve stem and is interposed between the collar and the shiftable means. One of the spring washers has a portion bearing on the shiftable means and another portion bearing on the body when the valve is closed. The other of the spring washers acts between the collar and the another portion of the one spring washer and has a first portion which overlies the another portion of the one spring washer when the valve is closed and a second portion spaced at least in part from the one spring washer when the valve is closed. Each of said spring washers has an inner circumference and an outer circumference. The overlying portions of the one and the other of the spring washers cooperate with each other adjacent the inner circumferences thereof to transmit surges of the valve spring from the collar through the overlying portions of the one and the other of the spring washers to the body to thereby isolate surges of the valve spring from the shiftable means.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A valve rotator for rotating a valve in an internal combustion engine, the valve having a valve stem with a longitudinal axis and being rotatable about its longitudinal axis during a valve opening stroke, the valve being biased closed by a valve spring, said valve rotator comprising:

(a) a body to be attached to and rotatable with the valve stem, said body having at least one groove therein extending at least partially around said valve stem;
(b) shiftable means disposed within said groove;
(c) a collar for receiving the valve spring biasing force and encircling said valve stem adjacent said body, said body and said collar being movable in axial and rotational directions relative to each other;
(d) a pair of spring washers encircling said valve stem and interposed between said collar and said shiftable means,
(1) one of said spring washers having a portion bearing on said shiftable means and another portion bearing on said body when the valve is closed,
(2) the other of said spring washers acting between said collar and said another portion of said one spring washer bearing on said body and having a first portion which overlies said another portion of said one spring washer bearing on said body when the valve is closed and a second portion spaced at least in part from said one spring washer when the valve is closed,
(3) each of said spring washers having an inner circumference and an outer circumference, said overlying portions of said one and said other spring washers cooperating with each other adjacent the inner circumferences thereof to transmit surges of the valve spring from said collar through said overlying portions of said one and said other spring washers to said body to thereby isolate surges of the valve spring from said shiftable means, said second portion of said other spring washer engaging said one spring washer adjacent their outer circumferences when the valve spring biasing force exceeds a predetermined amount to transmit the valve spring biasing force to said shiftable means to thereby effect rotation of said body and the valve stem.

4 more elements

In an internal combustion engine, a valve reciprocable between an open position and a closed position, a valve seat in a cylinder head, a valve spring, said valve having a valve body for seating against said valve seat in the valve closed position and a longitudinal valve stem, said valve spring acting to bias said valve to a valve closed position, and a valve rotator for rotating said valve about the axis of said valve stem during a valve opening stroke, said valve rotator comprising:

(a) a body to be attached to and rotatable with the valve stem, said body having at least one groove therein extending at least partially around said valve stem;
(b) shiftable means disposed within said groove;
(c) a collar for receiving the valve spring biasing force and encircling said valve stem adjacent said body, said body and said collar being movable in axial and rotational directions relative to each other;
(d) a pair of spring washers encircling said valve stem and interposed between said collar and said shiftable means;
(1) one of said spring washers having a portion bearing on said shiftable means when the valve is closed and having another portion bearing on said body when the valve is closed,
(2) the other of said spring washers acting between said collar and said another portion of said one spring washer and having a first portion which overlies said another portion of said one spring washer bearing on said body when the valve is closed and a second portion spaced from said one spring washer when the valve is closed,
(3) each of said spring washers having an inner circumference and an outer circumference, said overlying portions of said one and said other spring washers cooperating with each other adjacent the inner circumferences thereof to transmit surges of the valve spring from said collar through said overlying portions of said one and said other spring washers to said body to thereby isolate surges of the valve spring from said shiftable means, said second portion of said other spring washer engaging said one spring washer adjacent their outer circumferences when the valve spring biasing force exceeds a predetermined amount to transmit the valve spring biasing force to said shiftable to thereby cause said shiftable means to effect rotation of said body and the valve stem.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/559,931Filed 9 Dec 1983 · continuation in part
Priority: 10 Dec 1980
Granted: 3 Sep 1985
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

F01L 1/32
Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear: characterised by the provision of means for rotating lift valves, e.g. to diminish wear
F01L 3/10
Lift-valve, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the…:…
F01L
Cyclically operating valves for machines or engines