Oil distribution system for an internal combustion engine valvetrain

Abstract

An oil distribution system for an internal combustion engine valvetrain includes a rocker arm base member and a base plate. The rocker arm base member includes a distribution slot disposed into a base lower surface, a plurality of receiving holes extending from a sidewall and/or from the base upper surface of the rocker arm base member into the distribution slot, and a plurality of oil distribution holes passing from the distribution slot through the base upper surface. The base plate being configured to cover at least a portion of the base lower surface including at least a portion of the distribution slot. In operation, the distribution slot receives oil from the plurality of oil receiving holes, passes at least a first portion of the oil to the plurality of oil distribution holes, and the plurality of oil distribution holes discharge at least a second portion of the oil past a base upper surface to provide lubrication to a portion of a rocker arm or other valvetrain components.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oil distribution system ( 10 ) for an internal combustion engine valvetrain, said oil distribution system comprising:
 a rocker arm base member ( 100 ) having a base upper surface ( 102 ), a base lower surface ( 104 ), a plurality of sidewalls ( 106 ) spanning a distance between the base upper surface and the base lower surface, and a plurality of base mounting holes ( 108 ) extending from the base upper surface through the base lower surface, said rocker arm base member comprising:
 a distribution slot ( 110 ) disposed in the base lower surface; 
 a plurality of oil receiving holes ( 120 ) extending from at least one sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls and/or from the base upper surface into the distribution slot; and 
 a plurality of oil distribution holes ( 130 ) passing from the distribution slot through the base upper surface; and 
   a base plate ( 200 ) configured to cover at least a portion of the base lower surface including at least a portion of the distribution slot; and   
       wherein the distribution slot is configured to receive oil from the plurality of oil receiving holes and pass at least a first portion of the oil to the plurality of oil distribution holes, and wherein said oil distribution holes are configured to discharge at least a second portion of the oil past the base upper surface. 
     
     
         2 . The oil distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the rocker arm base member includes at least a first rocker arm mounting structure ( 150 ) extending from the base upper surface and at least a first oil distribution hole ( 131 ) of the plurality of oil distribution holes is aligned with the first rocker arm mounting structure. 
     
     
         3 . The oil distribution system of  claim 2 , wherein the rocker arm base member includes at least a second rocker arm mounting structure ( 160 ) extending from the base upper surface and at least a second oil distribution hole ( 132 ) of the plurality of oil distribution holes is aligned with the second rocker arm mounting structure. 
     
     
         4 . The oil distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate includes a plate upper surface ( 210 ), a plate lower surface ( 220 ), and a plurality of plate mounting holes ( 230 ) extending from the plate upper surface through the plate lower surface. 
     
     
         5 . The oil distribution system of  claim 4 , wherein at least one plate mounting hole of the plurality of plate mounting holes is aligned with at least one base mounting hole of the plurality of base mounting holes when the base plate is covering at least a portion of the base lower surface. 
     
     
         6 . The oil distribution system of  claim 4 , wherein each plate mounting hole of the plurality of plate mounting holes is aligned with a base mounting hole of the plurality of base mounting holes when the base plate is covering at least a portion of the base lower surface. 
     
     
         7 . The oil distribution system of  claim 2 , wherein the base plate includes a plate upper surface ( 210 ), a plate lower surface ( 220 ), and a plurality of plate mounting holes ( 230 ) extending from the plate upper surface through the plate lower surface. 
     
     
         8 . The oil distribution system of  claim 3 , wherein the base plate includes a plate upper surface ( 210 ), a plate lower surface ( 220 ), and a plurality of plate mounting holes ( 230 ) extending from the plate upper surface through the plate lower surface. 
     
     
         9 . The oil distribution system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one plate mounting hole of the plurality of plate mounting holes is aligned with at least one base mounting hole of the plurality of base mounting holes when the base plate is covering at least a portion of the base lower surface. 
     
     
         10 . The oil distribution system of  claim 7 , wherein each plate mounting hole of the plurality of plate mounting holes is aligned with a base mounting hole of the plurality of base mounting holes when the base plate is covering at least a portion of the base lower surface. 
     
     
         11 . The oil distribution system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one plate mounting hole of the plurality of plate mounting holes is aligned with at least one base mounting hole of the plurality of base mounting holes when the base plate is covering at least a portion of the base lower surface. 
     
     
         12 . The oil distribution system of  claim 8 , wherein each plate mounting hole of the plurality of plate mounting holes is aligned with a base mounting hole of the plurality of base mounting holes when the base plate is covering at least a portion of the base lower surface.