Abstract:
A device for securing a support element to an actuating lever of a valvetrain of an internal combustion. The actuating lever having a socket dome to accept a socket end of the support element and a roller pocket, with the securing device seated on the socket dome, extending through the roller pocket and splitting into two arms that extend on opposite ends of a circumferential groove below the socket end of the support element.

Description:
The present disclosure relates to a securing device for an actuating lever in a valve control mechanism for an internal combustion engine. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Securing devices for actuating levers in valve control mechanisms for internal combustion engines are known in the art. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,280 discloses a generally U-shaped retention clip that can be used for securing an actuating lever to a support member. 
     Securing devices of this type are utilized, mainly, to provide a unitary subassembly of the actuating lever and support member, for assembly into a valvetrain. By providing such a subassembly, extra components and orientation errors between the components may be avoided in a vehicle assembly environment. In addition, securing the actuating lever and support member together with a securing device aids in ease of shipping. 
     Features are sometimes added to actuating levers to prevent dislocation of pivot elements from actuating levers, often called anti-pop-off features. Also, additional features can be incorporated into actuating levers, or support members to improve performance. Securing devices must, therefore, accommodate for these additional devices. Particularly where the actuating lever has additional features, such as anti-pop-off features, alternative clip configurations are needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience and descriptive purposes only, and is not intended to be limiting to the scope of the claims. The terminology includes the words specifically noted, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. 
     According to example aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a securing device for securing an actuating lever and support member of a valvetrain of an internal combustion engine, the securing device mounting from the roller pocket, seating around the actuating lever socket dome at an upper periphery, and having a generally U-shaped configuration extending around a recessed groove in the support member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above mentioned and other features and advantages of the embodiments described herein, and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and be better understood by reference to the following description of at least one example embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. A brief description of those drawings now follows. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an actuating lever and securing device assembly according to one example embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the securing device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of actuating lever and securing device assembly, with roller removed, according to one example embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of actuating lever and securing device assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a prior art pivot element. 
         FIG. 6  is a side cross sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 , including the prior art pivot element of  FIG. 3 , taken along line A-A. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Identically labeled elements appearing in different ones of the figures refer to the same elements but may not be referenced in the description for all figures. The exemplification set out herein illustrates at least one embodiment, in at least one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claims in any manner. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of actuating lever  20 , with securing device  1  assembled in position thereon.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of securing device  1  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of actuating lever  20  of  FIG. 1  with roller  28  removed.  FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of actuating lever  20  and securing device  1  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 5  is a front view of prior art pivot element  29 .  FIG. 6  is a side cross sectional view of  FIG. 1 , including prior art pivot element  29  of  FIG. 5 , taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 . The following description should be viewed with regard to  FIGS. 1 through 6 . Actuating lever  20  comprises a support member end  30  and an actuating end  40 , with side walls  26  connecting the two ends, each side wall adapted to receive roller  28  and roller axle  50  through axle support recesses  52 , approximately centrally located between the two ends,  30  and  40 . Support member end  30  comprises side walls  26  horizontally separated by convex pivot element socket dome  23  in top surface  32 , formed by concave recess  24  in bottom surface  31  (see  FIG. 4 ) for receiving socket end  66  of support member or pivot element  29  (see  FIG. 5 ). Actuating end  40  comprises side walls  26 , horizontally separated by valve actuating land area  54 . Roller pocket  60  is the space, formed to accommodate roller  28 , between socket dome  23 , valve actuating land  54 , and side walls  26 . 
     Securing device  1  includes top planar portion  2 , having a central perforated section  70  to accommodate convex socket dome  23  of actuating lever  20 , bottom bifurcated portion  5 , having arms  3  and  4  formed to seat on opposite sides of circumferential groove  62  of pivot element  29 , and connecting portion  7  connecting top portion  2  with bottom portion  5 , formed or stamped of a single piece of material, such as steel. In order to accommodate other features assembled onto actuating lever  20 , such as anti-pop-off features, device  1  is assembled onto actuating lever  20  from roller pocket  60 , so that arms  3  and  4  of bifurcated bottom portion  5 , can extend into and around opposite ends of circumferential groove  62  of pivot element  29 , and leave gap X, to accommodate for said features. In assembled position, perforation  70  of top portion  2  seats on convex dome  23 , planar portion  2  then extending to connect to connecting portion  7 , which, in turn extends through roller pocket  60 , and connects to bifurcated bottom portion  5 , having arms  3  and  4 , extending on opposite sides of groove  62  of pivot element  29 . 
     Diameter d of groove  62  of pivot element  29  is smaller than diameter D of socket head  66 . Therefore, securing device  1  also at least partially retains pivot element  29  within concave recess  24  of actuating lever  20 , by arms  3  and  4  at least partially seating within groove  62 , preventing complete separation of socket head  66  from recess  24 , by socket head  66  contacting an upper surface of arms  3  and  4 . 
     According to one embodiment, each of arms  3  and  4  have inwardly extending tabs  11  and  12 , that extend into groove  62  on opposite ends, also including stress relief features  13  and  14 , at an end of the arms towards connecting portion  7 . It is also contemplated that arms  3  and  4  are uniformly rectangular shaped extending from connecting portion  7  to an opposite end, leaving gap X. 
     According to one embodiment top portion  2  includes a plastically deformed v- or u-shaped groove  8  at an opposite end from connecting portion  7 . Groove  8  provides retention for securing device  1 , preventing axial disassembly of securing device  1  from actuating lever  20 , by contacting a surface of socket dome  23  if movement occurs. 
     In the foregoing description, example embodiments are described. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     In addition, it should be understood that the figures illustrated in the attachments, which highlight the functionality and advantages of the example embodiments, are presented for example purposes only. The architecture or construction of example embodiments described herein is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be utilized (and navigated) in ways other than that shown in the accompanying figures. 
     Although example embodiments have been described herein, many additional modifications and variations would be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Thus, the present example embodiments should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.