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US 4,721,007 AGranted
Variable ratio lever arm mechanism
OwnerWilliam W. Entzmingerinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerWilliam W. Entzmingerinventor
Estimating the term…
A variable ratio rocker arm is provided for use in combination with the valve stem and push rod of an internal combustion engine. The rocker arm has an elongated slot defined between a rod seat and a toothed rack. A fulcrum rod is provided with a toothed sector and a curved sector, with the toothed sector being engaged with the toothed rack portion of the rocker arm. A roller bearing assembly is movably disposed between the rod curved sector and the rod seat, with the roller bearing assembly being rollable along the rod seat. An actuator arm is coupled to the fulcrum rod for simultaneously rotating and translating the fulcrum rod through the rocker arm slot. The operating arm causes the fulcrum rod to rotate and translate along the mating toothing from one point of pivotal engagement, corresponding to a first engine operating condition, to another point of pivotal engagement, corresponding to a second engine operating condition.
Rocker arm apparatus for use in combination with a valve stem and push rod of an internal combustion engine comprising an elongated body member having a first end portion for engaging the valve stem and having a second end portion for engaging the push rod, said body member having an elongated slot located intermediate said first and second end portions;
An adjustable length rocker arm assembly comprising a base with a support rigidly mounted thereon, said support having a rod seat and a toothed rack separated by a slot, a fulcrum rod received in said slot and movable relative to the support and having curved sector and a toothed sector, said toothed rod sector engaging said toothed rack, a rocker arm pivotally supported on the fulcrum rod, an actuator arm coupled to said rod for simultaneously rotating and translating said rod relative to said rack, characterized in that, in order to increase the accuracy of adjustment, a roller bearing assembly is disposed between the rod curved sector and the rod seat, wherein the toothed rod sector is rollable along the toothed rack, and the roller bearing assembly is rollable along the rod seat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.