Rocker arm assembly and method of lubricating a valve train

Abstract

A method of lubricating one or more valve train ( 100 ) components includes delivering a lubricating fluid to the inner cavity ( 156 ) of a fluid collecting member ( 152 ) through a radially extending discharge portion ( 182 ) of a fluid passage ( 176 ) in a rocker arm insert. The insert fluid passage ( 176 ) is in fluid communication with a lubricating fluid source to dispense a controlled amount of lubricating fluid to one or more valve train components during operation of an engine. The radially extending discharge portion of the fluid passage in the insert may be positioned adjacent to a spherical end cap that is received in the inner cavity of the fluid collecting member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rocker arm assembly comprising:
 a rocker arm including a first fluid passage therein; and   an insert including a first end carried by the rocker arm, a second end opposite the first end, and a second fluid passage,   wherein the second fluid passage in the insert is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage in the rocker arm and the second fluid passage includes a discharge portion extending radially to an outer surface of the insert.   
     
     
         2 . The rocker arm assembly of  claim 1 , the second fluid passage in the insert including an axial portion extending between the first end and the discharge portion. 
     
     
         3 . The rocker arm assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a radially extending inlet passage extending from the outer surface of the insert to the second passage adjacent to the first end of the insert. 
     
     
         4 . The rocker arm assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising a recess in the outer surface in axial alignment with the radially extending inlet passage. 
     
     
         5 . The rocker arm assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said second fluid passage, including the discharge portion, has a diameter of between approximately 1.4 and 1.8 mm. 
     
     
         6 . A method of lubricating one or more valve train components comprising the steps of:
 (a) supplying a lubricating fluid to a fluid passage in an insert in a rocker arm, the insert having a first end carried by the rocker arm and a second end movably secured to a fluid collecting member; and   (b) dispensing the lubricating fluid onto the fluid connecting member through a radially extending discharge portion of the fluid passage in the insert.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of supplying a lubricating fluid includes delivering the lubricating fluid to the rocker arm through a rocker arm shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of supplying a lubricating fluid further includes conveying the lubricating fluid from the rocker arm shaft through a fluid passage in the rocker arm to the rocker arm insert. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of conveying the lubricating fluid through an axial portion of the passage in the rocker arm insert and then into the radially extending discharge portion of the fluid passage in the insert. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid collecting member is a rocker arm button having a recess that receives the second end of the insert, and wherein the lubricating fluid is dispensed into the recess in the rocker arm button. 
     
     
         11 . A rocker arm assembly comprising:
 a rocker arm including a first fluid passage therein;   a fluid collecting member including an inner cavity; and   an insert having a first end carried by the rocker arm, a second end received in the inner cavity of the fluid collecting member and movable relative to the fluid collecting member, and a second fluid passage,   wherein the second fluid passage in the insert is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage in the rocker arm and the second fluid passage includes an axial portion extending longitudinally along the insert and a discharge portion extending radially to an outer surface of the insert and terminating in an exit orifice, the discharge portion positioned to deliver lubricating fluid to the inner cavity of the fluid collecting member.   
     
     
         12 . The rocker arm assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a radially extending inlet passage extending from the outer surface of the insert to the axial portion of the second passage adjacent to the first end of the insert. 
     
     
         13 . The rocker arm assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a recess in the outer surface in axial alignment with the radially extending inlet passage. 
     
     
         14 . The rocker arm insert assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the inner cavity has a height H 1  and the exit orifice is spaced from the second end of the insert by a distance H 2 , the distance H 2  being less than the height of the inner cavity H 1 . 
     
     
         15 . The rocker arm assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the insert is generally cylindrical in shape and the axial portion of the second fluid passage is positioned substantially concentrically within the insert.