Rocker arm assembly
AssigneeThe Torrington Company
InventorRichard F. Murphy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Two support arms of a bearing support member extend in opposite directions, each support arm having an overlying bearing cup engageable with the rocker arm. Rolling members within an annulus formed between the bearing support member and the bearing cups provide free rotary oscillation of the rocker arm with respect to the bearing support member. At least one support arm has a crowned surface such that radial load is distributed along the length of the rolling members when misalignment of elements of the rocker arm assembly occurs. A bearing assembly for mounting within a rocker arm is also disclosed.
Claims18
A rocker arm assembly for mounting about a stud means, the rocker arm assembly comprising:
- a rocker arm;
- a bearing support member having two support arms extending in opposite directions along an axis, the bearing support member being adapted for mounting about the stud means;
- two bearing cups, one bearing cup extending over each support arm and engageable with the rocker arm;
- and
- rolling members within an annulus formed between the bearing support member and the bearing cups such that the rocker arm is free to oscillate rotatably with respect to the bearing support member;
- at least one support arm having a curved surface wherein a distance between the curved surface and said axis increases and then decreases along a direction of said axis such that a radial load is distributed along the length of the rolling members when misalignment of elements of the rocker arm assembly occurs.
A bearing assembly for mounting about a stud means and within a rocker arm, the bearing assembly comprising:
- a bearing support member having two support arms extending in opposite directions along an axis, the bearing support member being adapted for mounting about the stud means;
- two bearing cups, one bearing cup extending over each support arm and engageable with the rocker arm;
- and
- rolling members within an annulus formed between the bearing support member and the bearing cups such that the rocker arm is free to oscillate rotatably with respect to the bearing support member;
- at least one support arm having a curved surface wherein a distance between the curved surface and said axis increases and then decreases along a direction of said axis such that a radial load is distributed along the length of the rolling members when misalignment of elements of the rocker arm assembly occurs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.