Valve actuating system for reciprocating machine

Abstract

A number of cylinder head arrangements that provide low cost and easy assembly of their various components with minimum labor and reduced necessity for line boring to reduce both manufacturing and assembly operation without adversely affecting performance.

1 . A valve actuating mechanism for a reciprocating machine having a cylinder head adapted to be affixed in closing relation to at least one cylinder bore formed in a cylinder block, a cam shaft carrier affixed to said cylinder head and defining a cam shaft bore for journaling a bearing surface of a cam shaft, a rocker arm journal formed by said cam shaft carrier in parallel relation to said cam shaft bore and extending on at least one side of said cam shaft bore, and a rocker arm journalled by said rocker arm journal and having a follower surface engaged by a cam lobe of said cam shaft.  
   
   
       2 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 1  wherein a pair of rocker arm journals are formed by said cam shaft carrier, each of which journals a respective rocker arm.  
   
   
       3 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the pair of rocker arm journals formed by the cam shaft carrier are coaxial.  
   
   
       4 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the coaxial pair of rocker arm journals formed by said cam shaft carrier are disposed on opposite axial sides of the cam shaft bore.  
   
   
       5 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the pair of rocker arm journals formed by the cam shaft carrier are disposed on opposite sides of the cam shaft bore.  
   
   
       6 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 5  further including a second pair of rocker arm journals formed by the cam shaft carrier on opposite axial sides of the cam shaft bore to receive and journal a total of four rocker arms.  
   
   
       7 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the cylinder head closes a plurality of parallel, axially spaced cylinder bores of an associated cylinder block and respective cam shaft carriers are associated with the cylinder bores.  
   
   
       8 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 7  wherein a pair of rocker arm journals are formed by each of the cam shaft carriers, each of said journals journaling a respective rocker arm.  
   
   
       9 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the respective rocker arms operate valves associated with the same cylinder closed by the cylinder head.  
   
   
       10 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the valves operated by the rocker arms are both intake or exhaust valves.  
   
   
       11 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 9  wherein one of the valves operated by one of the rocker arms is an intake valve and the other rocker arm operates an exhaust valves.  
   
   
       12 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the pair of rocker arm journals formed by the cam shaft carrier are parallel.  
   
   
       13 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the parallel pair of rocker arm journals formed by said the shaft carrier are disposed on opposite axial sides of the cam shaft bore.  
   
   
       14 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the pair of rocker arm journals formed by the cam shaft carrier are disposed on opposite sides of the cam shaft bore.  
   
   
       15 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 5  further including a second pair of rocker arm journals formed by the cam shaft carrier on opposite axial sides of the cam shaft bore to receive and journal a total of four rocker arms.  
   
   
       16 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 15  further including slots formed in the cam shaft carrier for retaining respective of the journalled rocker arms.  
   
   
       17 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 16  further including pivot shafts for pivotally supporting pairs of said rocker arms on the respective opposite axial sides.  
   
   
       18 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 9  wherein there are spark plug receiving openings formed by the cylinder head each generally aligned with the axis of the respective cylinder bore and further including a plurality of spark plug receiving collars affixed to the cylinder head for receiving respective ones of said spark plugs.  
   
   
       19 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the collars each cooperate with a respective one of the cam carriers for fixing their positions relative to the cylinder head.  
   
   
       20 . A valve actuating mechanism as set forth in  claim 19  wherein the coefficients of thermal expansion of the collars and cam carriers are different to effect interlocking therebetween under operating conditions.