Camshaft retainers with as-pressed windage relief holes and a method of making the same

Abstract

A high-performance camshaft retainer having a plurality of windage relief holes embodying an as-pressed configuration and a method of manufacturing the same, wherein the windage relief holes are molded from a powdered metal matrix and provided in an as-molded detail.

1 . A valve spring retainer, comprising a powered metal and a plurality of relief holes in an as-pressed condition and configured to reduce wind resistance. 
     
     
         2 . The valve spring retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of relief holes is molded from a powdered metal matrix. 
     
     
         3 . The valve spring retainer of  claim 2 , wherein each relief hole of the plurality of relief holes are spaced apart in a radial manner inward of an outer periphery of the valve spring retainer and outward of an inner periphery of the valve spring retainer. 
     
     
         4 . The valve spring retainer of  claim 3 , wherein the inner periphery defines a central tapered opening. 
     
     
         5 . A method of reducing valve spring pressures and manufacturing cost compared to a fully machined counterpart, the method comprising:
 molding a valve spring retainer as a powdered metal blank with a plurality of relief holes in an as-pressed condition.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising sintering and machining a bottom portion of the valve spring retainer for defining one or more spring locating contours. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising heat treating the valve spring retainer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising replacing a pre-existing valve spring retainer and installing the valve spring retainer, wherein the one or more spring locating contours are configured to be operatively associated with a spring package configuration of the pre-existing valve spring retainer.