Inner arm stop for a switchable rocker arm
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMark J. Spath, Nick J. Hendriksma, Michael E. McCarroll
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A roller finger follower assembly for variably activating a valve in an internal combustion engine includes at least one vertical recessed channel formed inside an outer arm and a shaft. The channel includes a machined upper surface closing the channel. The shaft engages with the recessed channel, the shaft reciprocates within the recessed channel, and the upper surface stops an upward movement of the shaft.
Claims18
A switchable rocker arm assembly for variably activating a valve in an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- an outer arm;
- at least one recessed channel formed inside said outer arm, wherein said at least one recessed channel includes an end surface closing said channel;
- and
- a shaft associated with a contact surface of an inner arm wherein at least one end of said shaft is disposed within said at least one recessed channel wherein said at least one end of the shaft reciprocates within said at least one recessed channel, and wherein said end surface stops movement of said at least one end of said shaft.
An inner arm stop for a switchable rocker arm assembly, comprising:
- at least one recessed channel formed inside an outer arm of the switchable rocker assembly;
- and
- a transverse through hole at an upper end of said at least one recessed channel, said through hole forming an end surface closing an end of said at said at least one recessed channel;
- wherein a shaft included in an inner arm reciprocates within said at least one recessed channel, and wherein reciprocating movement of said shaft is limited when said shaft contacts said end surface.
A method for limiting upward travel of an inner arm of a switchable rocker arm, comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one recessed channel in an inside wall of an outer arm of the switchable rocker arm,
- forming a transverse through hole into said outer arm within said at least one channel wherein an end surface of said at least one channel is formed by said through hole;
- and
- stopping movement of said inner arm by said end surface.
A method of assembling a switchable rocker arm assembly having an outer arm and an inner arm wherein said inner arm is pivotably supported by the outer arm, said outer arm including a bottom end, a top end and recessed channels formed in inside walls of the outer arm, each of said recessed channels having a first end open to the bottom end of said outer arm and a second end that is closed end proximate the top end of the outer arm, comprising the steps of:
- fixing a shaft transversely to said inner arm,
- positioning the inner arm proximate the bottom end of the outer arm,
- inserting opposing ends of the shaft into the first end open ends of each of said recessed channels, and
- moving the inner arm into the outer arm to a position to be pivotably supported by the outer arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.