US1761925A - Valve-spring retainer - Google Patents

Description

June 3, 1930. ca. w. LAMPMAN VALVE SPRING RETAINER Filed March 26, 1928 Gm: an

' Patented June 3, 1930 I nm'rllo STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE w. LAMPMAN, E PONTIAC, MICHIGAN, nssieivon 'ro GENERAL MOTORS COR- rom'rron, 0E DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE VALVE-SPRING RETAINER Application filed March 26,1928. Serial No. 264,868.

This-invention relates to internal combustion engines and more particularly to a connection between a poppet valve and the tension spring that normally maintains the valve on its seat.

It is an Object of the invention to providean improved connection which may be readily and quickly detached fromthe valve stem to allow removal of the valve from the engine by the use of a suitable tool manipulated entirely from outside the engine in order that the operator will not be called upon to insert his hands or fingers in the in aunitary assembly so as to prevent displacement or a loss of the parts during such times whenthe valve is removed.

, A further object of'the invention is to i provide a detachable spring retainer in which the parts are rockable into and out of engagement with the stem and in which there is present a wedging action on the parts under the influence of the tension of the valve spring whereby there will be no likelihood of accidental disengagement from the stem.

A further object is to provide a collar 7 against which the spring bears and which is movable axially of the rockable parts for .contact with inclined surfaces thereof to swing such parts into and out of engagement with the valve stem.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification taken inconnection with the accompanying draw- Fig. .1 is an end elevation of an internal combustion engine, with parts broken away and shown in section, illustrating the application of the present invention thereto.

Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view of the connection between the lower end of the valve stem and spring;

Fig. fligasectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 2 in position to permit removal of the valve.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of one of the retainer elements.

Referring to the drawing wherein a preferred, but not necessarily the only embodiment of the invention is illustrated, the numeral 1 indicates a cylinder block havin a head 2 removably secured thereon and WlllCll provides a combustion chamber 3. Explosions occurring in the combustion chamber are received by the reciprocatory piston 4 to inpart a rotational movement to the engine crankshaft. Driven from and rotated in timed relation with the crankshaft is a cam shaft 5, carrying a series of cams for operating a number of suitable valves controlling the intake and exhaust of gases to and from the combustion chamber 3. Only one of the valves and its operative mechanism is shown in the drawing andthis consists of a cam 6, acting on a rocker arm 7, loosely pivoted on the shaft 8 for engagement with the bottom of the valve stem 9,.which has a bearing in the bushing or guide 10 and is provided with a head 11 controlling communication between the port 12 and combustion chamber 8. A coiled tension spring 13 bears against a retainer. collar or washer 14 carried on the lower end of. the valve stem for maintaining the valve head on its seat as will be readily understood.

.The retainercollar or washer l t is provided with anupwardly and inwardly extending annular flange 15 of substantially ogee or S-shape in vertical section, which surrounds a pair of semi-circular sheet metal stampings or pawl elements 16 and 17 also of substantially S-shape in section and which have end portions 18 and 19 respec-' .tively adapted to extend into an annular '35 {fingers through the opening ofthe cylinder block to manipulate keys or look washers,

. In the position opening 22, the ear of one pawl being adapted to extend intothe notch of the other pawl to afford an interlock between the two parts to prevent their relative axial movement.

,The two pawl elements form in efiect a pair of ctr-operating. jaws which'are rockable one about the other upon relative axial,

movement of the collar 14 to swing. the end portions 1 8 and l9w intoror out ofthe annular notch 20.

substantially inclined surfaces of the pawl elements to draw and hold the jaws in tight contact or engagement with the valvestem.

When it, is desired to remove the valve from the engine, as for instance when replacement or re-seatingjbecoines necessary, the cover plate is removed from over the opening in the sidewall to the cylinder block and'a suitabletool is introduced for engagement beneath thec ollar 14 to lift the collar against the tension of the spring 15. Asthe collar ismoved' upwardly its upper end will en 'gage with and ride on the'substantially' inclined surfaces at the top, of the pawl elements and cause the pawl elements to rock about each other swinging the end portions l8 and 19 out of the groove until the parts assume the position shown in Figure B at WhlCh time the valve may be lifted and re- Q1-noved by the fingers. To replace the valve the procedure is reversed. Thus there will be no necessity for the operators to insert'his as is the case with the various types of valve spring. retamers now in general use. i The fact thatvery little clearance space isnec essary to accomplish removal or replacement ofvalves has the further advantage of facilitating amore' compact design, of engine:

cam suriaces, a collar surrounding the pawl elements and movable in one direction to engage one ofthefcam surf-aces 'ofeach' of l claim; I o g '1. A val've'spring retainer ncludlng a pair 'of awl elements each havin' o nositel c 7 s g l disposed inclined bearing surfaces, a collar "surrounding the pawl elements and movable in relation lZ-llQEBWIth'tO engage one or the other oisaidsuriiaces of the: respective pawl elements to move the pawl elements into or out ofengagement with a valve stem dependent upon the surfaces engaged.

2., A valve spring retainer comprising a series of circumterentially arranged pawl elementseach having oppositely inclined said pawl elements, and movable in another direction to engage another of the camsurfaces of eachiof said elements, whereby the pawl elementsare adapted to be moved eitherinto or out of engagement with a valve stem, .7

oi the parts shown in l lig- I lure 2 the tension of the coiled spring: 13 'causes the flange 15 to bear on the lower ments into or, out of enga ement with a valvestem dependent uponale direction of.

movement and the surfaces engaged there 4. A valve spr ng'retamen comprislng a series of pawl elements each" having in-.

,clined'bearing surfaces extending angularly in opposite directions, a collar surrounding the pawl elements ancl'adapted toride on the respectiveinclined "surfaces of the pawl elements and having a bearing-portion for aivalve spring, said-collar: being movable axially of "the pawl elements, -wherebyc its engagement with the respective inclined surfacesfupon movement in opposite direciZ'lOIlSf 1s adaptedto cause the pawl elements to inove into 013101176 ofengagement with a valve stem. c l I elements having substantially inclined 'portions and having interlocking engagement v with each other and adapted for relative rocking movement intoor out of engage-i ment'with a valve stem, a collar forming a bearing for a valve'spring, having an inwardly inclined annular-flange that is adapted to'ride on'saidinclined portions of the pawlelementsto rock the same;

6, A valve spring retainer comprising a pair of'semi-circular pawl elements or substant'ially s shape" in section, having anin' i terlockingear and notch formed a'dj acent one endof the respective elements, j'thetopto be 'proj ected into, a groovein a valvestem,

and'a collar, surrounc'ing the-elements hav- 111 an annular flange also of: substantially S-shape in section, and which is adapted to j g i ride on corresponding surfaces rof' 'the pawl. elements upon relative axial movement of the collar to- -cause the elementsto swing relative to each other lntogroove 1n the valve stem.

or-out ofthe; I 1 15 7. A valve spring retamercomprisifng a pair of complementary semicircular-pawl elements of substantially S-shapeinsection, I

each pawl element having tongue; at one side and a notch in the other'side, the-tongue on one element being adapted toproject into the corresponding notchi'nthe other element to form an interlock between theelement's, and a collar surrounding the elements and 'movable axially thereof to engage with-the surfaces thereof-to 'ro'clnsaid elements about each other into or out of engagement with a valve stemextended 'therethrough' 8. The'comb-i'nation with a; poppet-valve,

having a stem provided wi'th-an annular 5. A valve'sprin'g retainer comprising-"e1 series of circumferentially' arranged pawl @1 5 g .p'osite end of. each element having aportion i 7' groove, and a spring adapted to yieldingly hold the'valve on its seat, of a spring retainer detachably engageable with the stem and comprising a plurality of pawl elements having interlocklng engagement with each other and provided with substantially inclined surfaces and with portions for engagement within the annular groove on the valve stem, and a collar surrounding said elements on which the spring bears, said collar being movable axially of the elements for sliding contact on said inclined surfaces thereof to swing said elements into or out of engagement with said groove.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE W. LAMPMAN.

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