Pivot Ball Rocker Arm Lubricating Access

Abstract

A lubricating, enhancing access is provided for a rocker arm for an internal combustion engine. The rocker arm has a cold-formed, one-piece metal body with a narrow width and a substantial depth. The body has a semispherical socket at both ends for engaging respectively the end of a valve stem and the upper end of a push rod. An intermediate portion of the body has a large generally trapezoidal opening with a lower edge longer than an upper edge and a middle portion having a structurally-integral, outwardly-flared portion defining an upwardly-facing socket for engaging a pivot ball wherein the rocker arm pivots during operation. The lubricating passage is formed transversely through and from the top of the narrow width of the rocker arm in at the push rod end of the rocker arm to access and open into the socket recess.

1 . A rocker arm for an internal combustion engine and adapted for operation by a push rod to operate a valve, said rocker arm comprising a cold-formed, one-piece metal body having a narrow width and a substantial depth, said body having a semispherical push rod socket at one end of said rocker arm for engaging a push rod, a longitudinal lubricating opening formed through the depth of said rocker arm accessing and opening into the push rod socket, said rocker arm having a semispherical socket at the other end for engaging a valve stem of the valve, an intermediate portion of said body having a large opening defined, in part, by side edges and a lower edge, and an intermediate portion of said lower edge having structurally integral, outwardly flared portions defining an upwardly facing socket for engaging a pivot ball.  
   
   
       2 . The rocker arm of  claim 1  wherein the lubricating opening is counter bored at the top of the push rod end of the rocker arm.  
   
   
       3 . The rocker arm of  claim 1  wherein the lubricating opening is counter bored at the socket access at the push rod end of the rocker arm.  
   
   
       4 . In a rocker arm for an internal combustion engine and adapted for operation by a push rod to operate a valve and comprising a cold-formed, one-piece metal body having a narrow width and a substantial depth, a semispherical socket means at one end for engaging a push rod and a semispherical socket at the other end for engaging the end of a valve stem, an intermediate portion of said body having a large opening defined, in part, by side edges and a lower edge, and an intermediate portion of said lower edge having structurally integral, outwardly flared portions defining an upwardly facing socket for engaging a pivot ball, the improvement comprising providing a lubricating passage formed through the depth of the rocker arm accessing and opening into the push rod socket.  
   
   
       5 . The rocker arm of  claim 4  additionally provided with a lubricating passage through the depth of the rocker arm at the valve stem end and accessing and opening into the valve stem socket.