Rocker arm bearing assembly

Abstract

The rocker arm bearing assembly has a rocker arm which oscillates on a bearing support member and an associated pair of bearings. The bearings are self-contained units with an outer race, an inner race, and multiple rollers positioned between the two races. Full-complement radial bearings are preferably utilized. The bearings are supported on the bearing support member to form an integral unit which can be dropped into the rocker arm. This allows for speedy assembly of the rocker arm with the bearing and support member unit.

We claim: 
     
       1. A rocker arm bearing assembly comprising: an immovable support stud;   a bearing support member .[.immovably affixed to.]. .Iadd.around .Iaddend.said stud, said member being configured so as to support and retain two coaxial bearings;   a rocker arm having a generally cup-shaped configuration, said arm having a lower portion with an arcuate shape, said arm also having at least two side walls upwardly-extending from said lower portion, and said lower portion having an elongate aperture formed therethrough so as to accommodate said stud and said support member; and   means for supporting said support member within said rocker arm so as to provide for oscillating movement of said rocker arm on said two bearings, wherein said means comprises two horizontally-extending arms integrally attached to said support member, each of said arms having an end surface; and a convex protuberance projecting outwardly from each of said end surfaces of said support member arms.   
     
     
       2. A rocker arm bearing assembly comprising: an immovable support stud;   a bearing support member .[.immovably affixed to.]. .Iadd.around .Iaddend.said stud, said member being configured so as to support and retain two coaxial bearings;   a rocker arm having a generally cup-shaped configuration, said arm having a lower portion with an arcuate shape, said arm also having at least two side walls upwardly-extending from said lower portion, and said lower portion having an elongate aperture formed therethrough so as to accommodate said stud and said support member; and   means for supporting said bearing support member within said rocker arm so as to provide for oscillating movement of said rocker arm on said two bearings, wherein said means comprises two horizontally-extending arms integrally attached to said support member, each of said arms having an end surface; and an indent formed in each of said two rocker arm side walls so as to form convex surfaces inside each of said side walls, said two convex surfaces being positioned so as to mate with said support member arm end surfaces and thereby allow said rocker arm to oscillate on said two convex surfaces and said two bearings.   
     
     
       3. A rocker arm bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein said means for supporting said bearing support member within said rocker arm further comprises an indent formed in each of said two rocker arm side walls so as to form convex surfaces inside each of said side walls, said two convex areas being positioned so as to mate with said protuberances and thereby allow said rocker arm to oscillate on said two protuberances and said two bearings. .Iadd. 
     
     
       4.  A rocker arm and bearing assembly comprising: a rocker arm having a bottom surface, the bottom surface having an aperture;   a bearing assembly in the rocker arm, the bearing assembly having a bearing support member with two noncylindrical arms extending in opposite directions, and a bearing mounted on each arm, each bearing having an outer race, an inner race, and rolling members therebetween, the bottom portion of each bearing outer race being in contact with the rocker arm bottom surface, said bearing support member having a bore aligned with the rocker arm bottom surface aperture; and   a stud extending through the bearing support member bore and the rocker arm bottom surface aperture so that the rocker arm and each bearing outer race are free to oscillate in the same direction. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       5.  A rocker arm and bearing assembly comprising: a rocker arm having a bottom surface, the bottom surface having an aperture;   a bearing assembly in the rocker arm, the bearing assembly having a bearing support member with two arms extending in opposite directions and a bearing mounted on each arm, each bearing having an outer race, an inner race, and rolling members therebetween, the bottom portion of each bearing outer race being in contact with the rocker arm bottom surface, said bearing support member having a bore aligned with the rocker arm bottom surface aperture, the inner race and the outer race are each provided with means to prevent the rolling members from falling out of the bearing in a direction away from the stud means or in a direction toward the stud means; and   a stud means extending through the bearing support member bore and the rocker arm bottom surface aperture so that the rocker arm and each bearing outer race are free to oscillate in the same direction. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6. A rocker arm and bearing assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein:   the inner race of each bearing has a shoulder, the rolling members being located between said shoulder and the stud means, and the outer race has a shoulder located between the rolling members and the stud means. .Iaddend.