Rocker arm for an internal combustion engine

Abstract

A rocker arm for use in a valvetrain of a vehicle, having a body portion including two opposed side wall portions, each defining a bearing aperture therein and including a bearing boss disposed along a perimeter of the corresponding bearing aperture. A support bearing has a pair of opposed ends, each opposed end being received in a corresponding bearing aperture, and each bearing boss includes a first portion having a first radial thickness and a second portion having a second radial thicknesses, the first radial thickness being greater than the second radial thickness.

1 . A rocker arm for use in a valvetrain of a vehicle, comprising:
 a body portion including two opposed side wall portions, each side wall portion defining a bearing aperture therein, each side wall portion including a bearing boss disposed along a perimeter of the corresponding bearing aperture and extending outwardly from the corresponding side wall portion; and   a support member having a pair of opposed ends, each opposed end being received in a corresponding bearing aperture,   wherein each bearing boss includes a first portion having a first radial thickness and a second portion having a second radial thicknesses, the first radial thickness being greater than the second radial thickness.   
     
     
         2 . The rocker arm of  claim 1 , wherein each bearing boss is asymmetric about the corresponding bearing aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The rocker arm of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the bearing boss is disposed below the second portion of the bearing boss. 
     
     
         4 . The rocker arm of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of radial roller bearings, each radial roller bearing being both disposed on a corresponding one of the opposed ends of the support member and disposed within a corresponding one of the bearing apertures. 
     
     
         5 . The rocker arm of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of strengthening ribs, each strengthening rib extending outwardly from the first portion of a corresponding bearing boss. 
     
     
         6 . The rocker arm of  claim 5 , wherein each strengthening rib lies in a plane that is transverse to the corresponding bearing boss. 
     
     
         7 . The rocker arm of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is affixed to an upper end of a stud member. 
     
     
         8 . A rocker arm for use in a valvetrain of a vehicle, comprising:
 a body portion including two opposed side wall portions, each side wall portion defining a circular bearing aperture therein, each side wall portion including a bearing boss disposed along a perimeter of the corresponding bearing aperture and extending outwardly from the corresponding side wall portion, each bearing boss having a circular outer perimeter; and   a support member having a pair of opposed ends, each opposed end being received in a corresponding bearing aperture,   wherein each bearing boss includes a first portion having a first radial thickness and a second portion having a second radial thicknesses, the first radial thickness being greater than the second radial thickness.   
     
     
         9 . The rocker arm of  claim 8 , wherein each bearing boss includes a first portion having a first radial thickness and a second portion having a second radial thicknesses, the first radial thickness being greater than the second radial thickness. 
     
     
         10 . The rocker arm of  claim 8 , wherein each bearing boss is asymmetric about the corresponding bearing aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The rocker arm of  claim 8 , wherein the first portion of the bearing boss is disposed below the second portion of the bearing boss. 
     
     
         12 . The rocker arm of  claim 8 , further comprising a pair of radial roller bearings, each radial roller bearing being both disposed on a corresponding one of the opposed ends of the support member and disposed within a corresponding one of the bearing apertures. 
     
     
         13 . The rocker arm of  claim 8 , further comprising a pair of strengthening ribs, each strengthening rib extending outwardly from the first portion of a corresponding bearing boss. 
     
     
         14 . The rocker arm of  claim 13 , wherein each strengthening rib lies in a plane that is transverse to the corresponding bearing boss. 
     
     
         15 . The rocker arm of  claim 8 , wherein the support member is affixed to an upper end of a stud member.