Valve train with overload features
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsFrederick J. Rozario, James B. Hicks, William C. Albertson, Gary J. Patterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve train for use in an engine is provided. The valve train includes a rocker arm assembly having a valve side arm and a cam side arm. A valve is coupled to the engine and is in contact with the valve side arm. A pushrod is reciprocatable by a camshaft and is in contact with the cam side arm. An overload feature is located on at least one of the rocker arm assembly or the pushrod. The overload feature has a reduced cross-sectional area calibrated to activate at a predefined load.
Claims18
A valve train for use in an engine comprising:
- a pushrod having a first end in contact with a camshaft and a second end, wherein the pushrod has a pushrod cross-sectional area;
- a rocker arm assembly having a first arm in contact with the second end of the pushrod and a second arm, wherein the rocker arm has a rocker arm cross-sectional area;
- a valve actuatable by the second arm of the rocker arm assembly;
- and
- an overload feature located on at least one of the rocker arm assembly and the pushrod, wherein the overload feature includes reducing one of the pushrod cross-sectional area and the rocker arm cross-sectional area such that the overload feature is calibrated to activate at a predefined load.
A rocker arm assembly for use in a valve train having a pushrod and a valve, the rocker arm assembly comprising:
- a rocker body;
- a first arm extending from the rocker body and in contact with the valve;
- a second arm extending from the rocker body opposite the first arm, the second arm in contact with the pushrod;
- and
- a slot located in the second arm having a size calibrated such that the second arm will separate at a predefined load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.