Dual camshaft retaining plate

Abstract

The engine has a pair of camshafts for actuating valves of the cylinders. Push rods extend from the camshafts to the valves in order to operate the engine. The ends of the camshafts are supported in the crankcase molding by bearings and a retaining plate supports and retains the camshafts in spaced relationship. The retaining plate has a pair of notches and each camshaft has a groove. The groove fits within the edge of the notch to insure that the camshafts are in proper alignment.

1 . An engine comprising: 
 an engine block having at least one cylinder, a crankcase and a cam chest, the crankcase separated from the cam chest by a divider wall,    at least one camshaft extending from the divider wall into the cam chest, and    a retaining plate secured to said divider wall and retaining said at least one camshaft to maintain the at least one camshaft in position.    
     
     
         2 . The engine of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining plate has a notch, said notch having an edge, and said at least one camshaft having a groove, wherein said edge of said notch fits into said groove to support said at least one camshaft.  
     
     
         3 . The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the end of the at least one camshaft in supported in said engine block by a bearing.  
     
     
         4 . The engine of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 two camshafts, each having a groove, and    a pair of notches, each having an edge, wherein said edges of said notches fit into said grooves to support said camshafts.    
     
     
         5 . An engine comprising: 
 an engine block having a first and second cylinder and a cam chest,    a front camshaft and rear camshaft extending through the cam chest for actuating cylinder valves, and    a retaining plate in said cam chest, said retaining plate having a pair of notches, said notches formed in the edge of the retaining plate and engaging said camshafts.    
     
     
         6 . The engine of  claim 5 , wherein said front and rear camshaft each having a groove extending about its entire circumference, wherein said edge of said notch fits into said groove in said front and rear camshaft to retain said camshaft.  
     
     
         7 . An engine comprising: 
 an engine block having at least one cylinder, a crankcase and a cam chest, the crankcase separated from the cam chest by a divider wall,    at least one camshaft extending through the divider wall into the cam chest, the at least one camshaft having a first end and a second end, and    a retaining plate having at least one notch, said at least one notch engaging the at least one camshaft between the first and second ends.    
     
     
         8 . The engine of  claim 7 , wherein 
 said at least one camshaft is a first and second camshaft and said at least one notch in a first and second notch.    
     
     
         9 . The engine of  claim 7 , further comprising 
 a groove in said at least one camshaft, said groove extending about the entire circumference of said at least one camshaft, said at least one notch engaging said at least one groove to retain the camshaft in position.    
     
     
         10 . The engine of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one notch in formed in an edge of the retaining plate.