US2199914A - Rocker arm - Google Patents

Description

Maly-7, 1940. A. H. HABERSTUMP 2.199.914

ROCKER ARM Filed March 31, "1939 /O vill/allg JNVENTIOR Patented May 7, 1940 to The Murray Corporation of America, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application March 3l, 12939, Serial N0. 265,309

7Claims.

'Ihe present invention relates to fabricated 0peratlng arms and is an improvement on the structure disclosed in the co-pending application of Alfred H. Haberstump,y Serial No. 210,844, filed 5 May 3l, 1938. v

One of the primary objects of the present invention isto provide an improved rocker arm structure which is economical to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved, stamped, sheet metal rocker arm formed of a -single metal stamping, thereby providing a simplified and economical structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved simplified rocker arm of generally box section, having great strength and rigidity.A

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved rocker arm for an automotive engine having a' central bearing, an arcuate operating surface at the extension of one arm and a threaded portion at the end of the opposite arm for association with operating elements.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification,l the drawing relating thereto, and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, in which like numerals. are used to designate like parts in the several views t throughout:

Figure l is a cross-sectional view through'a portion of an automotive engine illustrating a rocker arm according to the present invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is anenlarged elevational view of the rocker arm illustrated in Fig. l;

35 Fig. 3 is a plan view of the rocker ann illustrated in Fig. 2; l

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5 5 of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view` taken alongthe line 6 6y of Fig. 2. l

. The structure of the present invention-is directed to operating arms, such as rocker'arm's, bell cranks, and the like, and in the embodiment illustrated a rocker arm is employed in automotive engines for the purpose of operating the engage anadjustable set screw on one end .of a o?! rocker arm generally indicated at I4, the other terminal end of the rocker arm having an arcuate contact member for engagement with the n valve stem, for translating a reciprocating movement of the tappet rod to the valve. The functions oi' the tappet rod, rocker arm and valve 5 are well knownto those engaged in the internal combustion art and need not be described in detail here. A, According to the present invention the rocker arm I4 is constructed of a thin sheet metal material stamped into the shape to be described' thereby providing an economical construction for the rocker. arm but at the same time providing a structure having the required strength and rigidity characteristics. The rocker arm I4 is formed of alsingle strip of sheetmetal material which is pre-stamped tothe required shape and then folded upon itself and thereafter having the folded portions joined together to provide the finished article. 20

The single sheet of stamped metal is folded upon itself as indicated at I6, substantially midway between the ends thereof to provide superimposed layers i8 and 20. The upper layer I8 is provided with a longitudinally extending rib 22 terminating along its side edges in outwardly disposed anges 24, the rib extending from a position adjacent the fold I6 to a position adjacent the opposite end of the arm and the anges 24 extending substantially the full length of the arm. The lower layer 20 is also formed with a complementary longitudinally extending rib 26, the side edges ofv which terminate in outwardly disposed flanges 2B complementary to the flanges -24.

'I'he ilanges 24 and 2d and the ribs 22 and 2S `are shaped intermediate their ends to provide complementary portions which form a substantially circular transverse hub 30. A bearing bushing 32 maybe disposed within the hub 3Il so that the rocker arm I4 may be rockably mounted upon a shaft 34 iixedly mounted on suitable standards on the engine.

' The ribs 22 and 26 and the flanges 24 and 28V face-each other, with portions of flanges 24 and 28 abutting each other so that a generally box sectioned structure is provided which gives the` rocker arm the strength and rigidity characteristiosrequired in this type of article. The'abutting portions of flanges 24' and 28 may be fixed together by spot welding, for example.

Portions of the ilanges 24 and 28 are separated from each other adjacent the fold I6; and a contact memb'er 36 is adapted to be disposed bevtween the upper and lower layers I8 and 20, re-

spectively, adjacent the fold I6. The lower layer 20 is provided with an opening 38 therethrough adjacent the fold I6; and the lcontact member 36 is formed with shoulder portions 40 which engage the facing edges of the spaced portions of flanges 24 and 28. The member 36 also has a portion which projects through opening 38 with the bottom surface thereof "arcuate in shape as indicated at 42, and such arcuate surface is adapted to bear against the top of the valve Il. The projecting portion of member 36 is complementary in shape to the shape of opening 38, and it will thus be evident that through the engagement of shoulders 40 with the flanges 24 and 28 that the member 36'is rigidly fixed in position.

The ends of upper and lower layers I8 and 20, respectively, which form the terminal end of the arm I4 opposite to that of the folded end are each formed in the shapeI of generally round, complementary bosses 44 and 46, respectively, which in turn are each formed with inwardly disposed flanges 48 and 49. The flanges 48 and i9 are generally circular in cross-section and are complementary to each other to provide an opening 50 therethrough which is threaded for the reception of an adjustable set screw 52. The set screw 52 may be readily adjusted to adjustably set the rod I2.

.From the above description it will be evident that the present invention provides a simplified structure which maybe economically manufactured in that the portions i8 and 20 of the single strip of metal may be stamped to the shape described before these portions are folded at the mid-point between theirends. Such a stamping operation -is a simple one; and after this operation the contact member 36 may be positioned so that the projecting portion extends through the opening 38 before the strip is folded. By thereafter folding the strip about mld-point I6 the flanges 24 and 28 engage shoulders 40, as described above, so that the member 36 'is xed in position. Also the portions of the flanges and ribs intermediate the ends of the arms when folded into thel position shown in Fig. 2 are complementary to each other to form the hub;

and the circular flange portions 48 and 49 are also complementary to each other to provide the opening 50. The flanges may then be xed together by spot welding as mentioned above.

While a rocker arm for internal/ combustion engines has been specifically described, it is to be understood that the teachings of the present invention may be applied to the construction of other types of arms, such as bell cranks and the like. The arms of the present invention are rugged in construction but are light in weight because thin gauge metal material may be used. Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claimms. y

What is claimed is:

1..A.stampe'd metal rocker arm comprisingl a metal strip folded upon itself to provide superimposed first and second layers, said first and second layers each having a longitudinally disposed rib terminating in outwardly disposed l flanges, the ribs and flanges of the respective f 2. A stamped metal rocker arm comprising a' metal strip folded upon itself to provide superimposed first and second layers, said first and second layers each having a longitudinally disposed ri b terminating in outwardly disposed anges, the ribs and flanges of the respective layers facing, each other with portions of the facing flanges abutting eachl other and joined together toform a box section structure, and

'other portions of the vanges intermediate the flanges, the ribs and anges of the respective layers facing each other with portionsA of the facing anges abutting each other and joined together to form a box section structure, other portions of the flanges intermediate the ends thereof being shaped to provide complementary portions forming a hub, the terminal end of one of said layers beingl provided with an opening, a contact member disposed`within said opening ,and projecting downwardly therebelow, inwardly disposed circular flanges. formed on both of said layers adjacent the other terminal end thereof forming a cylindrical opening.

4. A stamped metal rockerarm comprising a metal strip folded upon itself at substantially the midpoint between its terminal ends to provide superimposed rst and second layers, said first and second layers each having a. longitudinally disposed rib terminating in outwardly disposed anges, the ribs and lianges of the respective layers facing each other with portions of the facing flanges abutting each other and joined together to form a box section construction, other portions of the flanges intermediate the ends thereof being shaped to provide complementary portions forming a hub, one of said layers adjacent said fold being provided with an opening, a contact'member disposed between said first and second layers adjacent said fold having a portion projecting through said opening, and means forming a threaded opening through said arm adjacent the terminal end opposite to that of said fold.

5. A stamped metal rocker arm comprising a. metal strip folded upon itself to provide superimposed i'st and second layers, said rst and second layers each having a. longitudinally disposed rib terminating in outwardly disposed flanges, the ribs and flanges of the respective layers facing each other, with -portlons of the facing flanges abutting each other and joined together to form a boxv section construction, other portions of .the flanges intermediate the ends thereof being shaped to form complementary portions forming a transversely extending hub, one of said layers adjacent said fold being provided with an opening, the axis of said opening being at substantially right angles to the l axis of said hub, said first and second layers having inwardly disposed flanges adjacent the'ter- 'minal end of said arm opposite to that of said last named-opening forming another opening with its axis substantially parallel tothe axis of said first named opening.

6. A stamped metal rocker arm comprising a.y metal strip folded upon itself substantially midway between its ends toprovide superimposed first and second layers, said rst and secondl layers each having a longitudinally disposed rib terriiating in outwardly disposed flanges, the

ribs and flanges of the respective layers facing u a box section construction, other portions of the flanges intermediate the ends thereof being shaped to provide complementary portions forming a/hub, one of said layers adjacent said fold being provided with an opening; other portions of the flanges of said rst and second layers ad jacent said fold being separated from each other,

f'a. contact member disposed between said first and second layers adjacent said fold with shoulder portions disposed between and engaged .by the separated' flange portions, said member having another portion projecting through said openingfand means forming an opening through said first and second layers adjacent the terminal end of said arm opposite to that of said fold, said opening being threaded. i I

7. A stamped metal lrocker arm comprising a metal strip folded upon itself substantially midway between its ends to provide superimposed first Vand second 1ayers, said first and second layers each having a longitudinally disposed rib terminating invoutwardly disposed flanges, the ribs and anges of the respective layers facing each other with portions of the facing ilanges abuttingeach other and joined together to form a box section structure, other portions of the vflanges intermediate the ends thereof being shaped to provide complementary portions forming atransversely extending hub, one of said layers adjacent said fold being provided with an opening, the axis of said opening being at substantially a right angle to the axis of said hub, a contact member disposed between said first and second layers adjacent said fold having a portion projecting through said opening, said .rst andsecond layers having inwardly disposed parallel to the axis of said first-named opening. 20

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