Valve clearance setting and adjustment systems and related methods

{
  "publication_number": "US10557382B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Valve clearance setting and adjustment systems and related methods",
  "abstract": "Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to valve clearance adjustment systems and related methods that can be used to quickly and easily establish and accurately fix a desired gap between valve stems and associated valve adjustment screws attached to rocker arms, such as may be used with intake valves, exhaust valves, and fuel-injection mechanisms, among others, within, e.g., an internal combustion engine. Various alternative implementations and related methods are provided.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of establishing valve clearance using a valve-clearance and adjustment system to set a valve clearance gap, wherein a size of the valve clearance gap is adjustable with a valve adjustment screw disposed in a rocker arm, the valve clearance and adjustment system including a shim sized and configured to create a desired valve clearance gap when the shim is secured between a locking mechanism and the rocker arm, the method comprising: adjusting the valve adjustment screw to eliminate the valve clearance gap; positioning at least one component of the locking mechanism on the valve adjustment screw such that the at least one component of the locking mechanism abuts the rocker arm; adjusting the valve adjustment screw such that the shim can be placed between the at least one component of the locking mechanism and the rocker arm; positioning the shim between the locking mechanism and the rocker arm; adjusting the valve adjustment screw such that the shim contacts the rocker arm and the locking mechanism; and arranging the locking mechanism such that the shim is locked in place between the locking mechanism and the rocker arm.",
    "2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a lock nut, and arranging the locking mechanism includes adjusting the lock nut.",
    "3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one component of the locking mechanism comprises a collar designed and configured to fit around the valve adjustment screw and the locking mechanism further includes a securing mechanism for securing the collar to the valve adjustment screw, wherein positioning the at least one component of the locking mechanism includes securing the collar to the valve adjustment screw with the securing mechanism such that the collar abuts the rocker arm.",
    "4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a lock nut, and arranging the locking mechanism includes adjusting the lock nut.",
    "5. A method according to claim 3, wherein the collar includes a threaded interior surface for receiving the valve adjustment screw.",
    "6. A method according to claim 3, wherein the securing mechanism includes a screw.",
    "7. A method according to claim 3, wherein the securing mechanism includes a lock nut.",
    "8. A method according to claim 3, wherein the collar has a bottom side configured to abut the shim and a top side opposite the bottom side, wherein the securing mechanism extends from the top side.",
    "9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a collar designed and configured to fit around the valve adjustment screw, the collar including a securing mechanism for securing the collar to the valve adjustment screw, wherein positioning the at least one component of the locking mechanism includes securing the collar to the valve adjustment screw with the securing mechanism such that the collar abuts the rocker arm.",
    "10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes a shaft collar.",
    "11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the shaft collar includes a threaded interior surface for receiving the valve adjustment screw.",
    "12. A valve-clearance setting and adjustment system for establishing and adjusting a valve clearance gap with a valve adjustment screw disposed in a rocker arm, wherein the rocker arm has a first end and a second end, and opposing top and bottom surfaces each extending from the first end to the second end, wherein a portion of the bottom surface faces a valve stem, wherein the valve clearance gap is located between the valve stein and an opposing surface, the system comprising: a shim; and a locking mechanism designed and configured to be received on the valve adjustment screw and to lock the shim in place between the locking mechanism and the top surface of the rocker arm; wherein the shim has a thickness substantially equal to a predetermined size of the valve clearance gap.",
    "13. A valve-clearance setting and adjustment system according to claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism includes a lock nut.",
    "14. A valve-clearance setting and adjustment system according to claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism includes: a collar designed and configured to fit around the valve adjustment screw; and a securing mechanism for securing the collar to the valve adjustment screw.",
    "15. A valve-clearance setting and adjustment system according to claim 14, wherein the locking mechanism further includes a lock nut.",
    "16. A valve-clearance setting and adjustment system according to claim 14, wherein the collar includes a threaded interior surface for receiving the valve adjustment screw.",
    "17. A valve-clearance setting and adjustment system according to claim 14, wherein the securing mechanism includes a screw.",
    "18. A valve-clearance setting and adjustment system according to claim 14, wherein the securing mechanism includes a lock nut.",
    "19. A valve-clearance setting and adjustment system according to claim 12, wherein the rocker arm pivots about a pivot point, wherein the pivot point is located between the first and second ends.",
    "20. A valve-clearance setting and adjustment system according to claim 12, wherein the shim is configured and dimensioned to be installed around at least a portion of the valve adjustment screw and between the locking mechanism and the rocker arm after the locking mechanism is disposed on the valve adjustment screw.",
    "21. A valve-clearance setting and adjustment system according to claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism includes a shaft collar.",
    "22. A valve-clearance setting and adjustment system according to claim 21, wherein the shaft collar includes a threaded interior surface for receiving the valve adjustment screw.",
    "23. A rocker arm assembly, comprising at least one rocker arm and a valve-clearance setting and adjustment system designed and configured for use with the at least one rocker arm for establishing and adjusting a valve clearance gap, wherein the rocker arm has a first end and a second end, and top and bottom surfaces each extending from the first end to the second end, wherein a portion of the bottom surface faces a valve stem, the valve clearance gap being located between the valve stem and an opposing surface, the valve-clearance setting and adjustment system comprising: a shim designed and configured to be disposed around at least a portion of a valve adjustment screw; and a locking mechanism designed and configured to be received on the valve adjustment screw and to lock the shim in place between the locking mechanism and the top surface of the rocker arm; wherein the shim has a thickness approximately substantially equal to a predetermined size of the valve clearance gap.",
    "24. A rocker arm assembly according to claim 23, wherein the locking mechanism includes a lock nut.",
    "25. A rocker arm assembly according to claim 23, wherein the locking mechanism includes: a collar designed and configured to fit around the valve adjustment screw; and a securing mechanism for securing the collar to the valve adjustment screw.",
    "26. A rocker arm assembly according to claim 25, wherein the locking mechanism further includes a lock nut.",
    "27. A rocker arm assembly according to claim 25, wherein the locking mechanism includes a collar designed and configured to fit around the valve adjustment screw, the collar including a securing mechanism for securing the collar to the valve adjustment screw.",
    "28. A rocker arm assembly according to claim 23, wherein, wherein the rocker arm pivots about a pivot point, wherein the pivot point is located between the first and second ends.",
    "29. A valve-clearance setting and adjustment system for establishing and adjusting a valve clearance gap, the valve clearance gap adjustable with a valve adjustment screw disposed in a rocker arm, wherein the rocker arm has a first end and a second end, opposing top and bottom surfaces each extending from the first end to the second end, wherein a portion of the bottom surface faces a valve stem, the valve clearance gap being located between the valve stein and an opposing surface, the system comprising: a shim; and a collar designed and configured to be received on the valve adjustment screw and to lock the shim in place between the collar and the top surface of the rocker arm; wherein the shim has a thickness approximately substantially equal to a predetermined size of the valve clearance gap and is configured and dimensioned to be installed around at least a portion of the valve adjustment screw.",
    "30. A valve-clearance setting and adjustment system according to claim 29, wherein the collar includes a threaded interior surface for receiving the valve adjustment screw and a screw for securing the collar to the valve adjustment screw.",
    "31. A valve-clearance setting and adjustment system according to claim 29, wherein the collar is a lock nut."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention generally relates to the field of internal combustion engines. In particular, the present invention is directed to, among other things, setting clearances between rocker arm actuated engine components such as the valve clearance setting adjustment systems (also known as “tappet setting” or “valve lash setting”) that are commonly used in the inlet and exhaust valves in the cylinders of internal combustion engines and related methods.\n\nWhile aspects of this disclosure apply to any engine that requires a human to insert a feeler gauge or otherwise mechanically set and adjust valve clearances by hand, the currently understood valve adjustment procedure for the 1965 to 1994 Porsche® 911 engines is used as a basis for the description of various embodiments of the present disclosure. On the pre-1995 Porsche® 911 engine, setting and adjusting the valves is currently performed in several different ways and using several different tools, but always by turning an adjustment screw located in the rocker arm and, once the specified clearance is set, locking the screw down with a lock nut. This process is very difficult to perform with the engine in the car given the small clearances, lack of visibility and manipulation of tools around the engine parts and compartment. The process is still difficult to perform even with the engine out of the car because the tolerances for the adjustment are very small. For example, in the aforementioned Porsche® 911 engines, the gap between the swivel foot of the adjustment screw and the valve stem is specified by the manufacturer at 0.1 mm.",
  "cpc": [
    "F01L 1/205",
    "F01L 1/181",
    "F01L 1/20",
    "F01L 2800/01",
    "F16B 35/005",
    "F16B 39/04",
    "F16B 39/12"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F01L 1/18",
    "F01L 1/20",
    "F16B 35/00",
    "F16B 39/04",
    "F16B 39/12"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "R. Bradford Fawley"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-02-10",
  "publication_date": "2020-02-11",
  "grant_date": "2020-02-11",
  "priority_date": "2015-02-11",
  "application_number": "US-201615549293-A",
  "family_id": "56614903",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US652794A",
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    "US3326194A",
    "US4387680A",
    "US4519345A",
    "US4796576A",
    "GB2203811A",
    "US20040045518A1",
    "JP2004360564A",
    "US8118004B2",
    "JP2007177710A"
  ]
}