Rocker arm cover

#The present invention relates to automobile engine components, and more particularly, to a cover for rocker arms on an internal combustion engine.

#Conventional after-market rocker arm covers comprise a cover having a single cavity that encloses the rocker arms. In later model engines, the rocker arms also have mounted thereon a plurality of ignition coils that correspond to each cylinder in the engine. For the typical V8 engine, two rocker arm covers are employed for each bank of cylinders. Each of these rocker arm covers carries four ignition coils for each of the four cylinders in each cylinder bank.

#The need for a cleaner, tidier rocker arm and coil arrangement has been extant for some time. However, the solutions therefor have been less than satisfactory.

#The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the rocker arm cover with the coil cavity lid in place;

#FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the rocker arm cover rotated 90 degrees about its vertical axis and 180 degrees about its horizontal axis from FIG. 1.

#Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1-12, the rocker arm cover 10 includes a shell having upright side walls and end walls. An inner side wall 12 has its ends joined to end walls 14 and 16. The end walls are semi-circular and wrap around and are joined to a generally planar outside wall 18. A dividing wall 20 joins the interior surfaces of the side walls 12 and 18 and end walls 14 and 16 to form a lower cavity 22 and an upper cavity 24 (FIG. 12). The side walls and end walls are generally upright while the dividing wall 20 is generally horizontal. The dividing wall in its preferred embodiment lies in a plane perpendicular to the side and end walls. The bottom edges of the side walls and end walls are spaced equidistantly from the dividing wall 20. Similarly, the upper edges of the end walls and side walls are spaced equidistantly from the upper surface of the dividing wall 20. A lid 28 is positioned over the upper cavity 24 and mates with the upper edge of the side walls and end walls to enclose the upper cavity 24.

#As shown in FIG. 12, an internal groove 30 is provided adjacent the upper peripheral edge of the end walls and side walls. A downwardly extending flange 32 mates with a groove to seat the lid in the upper cavity. The lid forms a cover for the upper cavity, thus providing a complete enclosure for the ignition coils.

#Four spaced mounting apertures 36 are located in the dividing wall 20. These apertures are aligned with the mounting holes on an engine cylinder head for a conventional rocker arm cover. Conventional bolts (not shown) can be employed to secure the rocker arm cover 10 to the engine cylinder head.