Rocker arm with cam-contacting roller

In combination, a lifter post, a valve stem spaced from said lifter post, an overhead cam above and between said valve stem and said lifter post, and a cold-formed rocker arm of the cam-follower type comprising a one-piece metal body of generally inverted U-shaped cross section throughout most of its length, said body having a top wall and two side walls extending downwardly therefrom and structurally integral therewith, said metal body having a rounded recess in a first end portion thereof receiving an end of said lifter post on which said rocker arm can pivot, said body having an additional recess at a second end portion thereof receiving an end of said valve stem, said body having an intermediate generally convex portion facing away from said recesses, said top wall having a rectangular opening therein at the convex portion, said rectangular opening extending substantially the width of the top wall between the side walls and having a length which is less than the longitudinal extent of the convex portion, said side walls of said body having axially-aligned round openings therein below said rectangular opening, an axle extending through said round openings and affixed to said side walls to prevent longitudinal movement of said axle, a roller located around said axle and extending between the side walls of said body, bearing means around said axle and within a bore of said roller to be rotatably mounted on said axle, and a portion of a circumferential surface of said roller projecting outwardly from said rectangular opening and engaging said cam.

In combination, a lifter post, a valve stem spaced from said lifter post, an overhead cam, and a cold-formed rocker arm of the cam-follower type comprising a one-piece metal body of generally inverted U-shaped cross section throughout most of its length, said body having a top wall and two side walls extending downwardly therefrom and structurally integral therewith, said top wall having a rectangular opening at an intermediate portion thereof, said rectangular opening extending substantially the width of said top wall between the side walls and having a length which is less than the length of said top wall, said metal body having means at a first end portion thereof receiving an end of said lifter post on which said rocker arm can pivot, said body having additional means at a second end portion thereof receiving an end of said valve stem, said side walls of said body having axially-aligned round openings therein below said rectangular opening, outer portions of said round openings where they meet the outer surfaces of said side walls being flared outwardly, an axle extending through said round openings and having flared outer ends cooperating with the flared portions of said round openings to prevent longitudinal movement of said axle relative to said rocker arm body, a roller located around said axle and extending between the side walls of said body, said roller having a width slightly less than the width of said rectangular opening and having a diameter slightly less than the length of said rectangular opening, said roller engaging said overhead cam, and a multiplicity of needle bearings around said axle between ends thereof and within said roller to rotatably mount said roller on said axle.