Structural unit for a gas exchange valve train of an internal combustion engine

Abstract

A structural unit for a gas exchange valve train of an internal combustion engine is provided. The structural unit includes a support element ( 8 ) having a joint head ( 7 ) and a valve lever ( 1 ) having a joint socket ( 6 ) which, together with the joint head, forms a joint for a pivotal mounting of the valve lever on the support element. The structural unit further includes an anti-loss device arranged on the joint, with the anti-loss device having one or more projections ( 11 ) extending from the opening of the joint socket while being directed toward the center of the joint socket, which projections retain the valve lever secure against loss on the support element through a positive-engagement behind a recess situated axially adjacent to the joint head. The invention further provides that the projections are configured in one piece with the joint socket.

1 . A structural unit for a gas exchange valve train of an internal combustion engine, said structural unit comprising a support element comprising a joint head and a valve lever comprising a joint socket which, together with the joint head, forms a joint for a pivotal mounting of the valve lever on the support element, said structural unit further comprising an anti-loss device arranged on the joint, said anti-loss device comprising one or more projections extending from an opening of the joint socket while being directed toward a center of the joint socket, which projections retain the valve lever secure against loss on the support element through a positive-engagement behind a recess situated axially adjacent to the joint head, wherein the projections are configured in one piece with the joint socket. 
     
     
         2 . A structural unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve lever comprises a lever body shaped out of sheet metal, each of the projections being integrally formed on the lever body by an embossing or a stamping of material delimiting the joint socket and said projections being directed toward the opening of the joint socket. 
     
     
         3 . A structural unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the two projections are offset at 180° from each other. 
     
     
         4 . A structural unit according to  claim 3 , wherein a connecting line of the projections extends at right angles to a plane of pivoting of the valve lever. 
     
     
         5 . A structural unit according to  claim 1 , wherein, at a transition to the recess configured as a circumferential undercut, the joint head is completely circular in shape, an inner spacing (S 1 ) of the projections being smaller than a largest diameter (S 2 ) of the joint head while being dimensioned such that the projections are elastically resilient relative to the joint head at the largest diameter (S 2 ) of the joint head. 
     
     
         6 . A structural unit according to  claim 1 , wherein, at a transition to the recess, the joint head is circular in shape and comprises flattened regions complementary in shape to the projections, an inner spacing (S 1 ) of the projections being smaller than a largest diameter (S 2 ) of the joint head and substantially equal to or larger than an outer spacing (S 3 ) of the flattened regions.