Valve rotating apparatus of internal-combustion engine

Abstract: A valve rotating apparatus of an internal-combustion engine comprises: a valve 1 biased in the closing direction by a coil spring 5; a valve lifter 4 disposed on an engine head in such manner as to be vertically movable together with the valve 1; a cam 9 formed on a cam shaft 10 for directly driving the valve 1 through the valve lifter 4; and a thrust rolling bearing 2 disposed in a retainer 6 of the coil spring 5, the thrust rolling bearing 2 comprising an upper washer 21, a lower washer 22 and balls 20 held by a cage 23 between the upper and lower washers. In the thrust rolling bearing 2, the cage 23 is provided at the circumference thereof with a plurality of pockets at regular spatial intervals, a plurality of balls 20 being housed in each pocket. In the thrust rolling bearing 2, each of the upper and lower washers is provided at the inner or outer periphery thereof with an axially extending cylindrical portion. In the thrust rolling bearing 2, the upper washer 21 has the degree of freedom for movement in all directions including X and Y directions, within the same plane.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The present invention relates to a valve rotating apparatus and more particularly to a valve rotating apparatus for the intake/exhaust valve of a four-cycle engine. The intake/exhaust valve of a four-cycle engine is attached, as biased in the closing direction, to a valve sheet disposed at the engine head by a coil spring. The intake/exhaust valve is adapted to suck/exhaust as opened and closed by a cam formed at a cam shaft (or a locker arm) through a valve lifter biased by the spring. However, the valve is often repeatedly opened and closed with respect to the valve sheet. This may cause the contact surface of the valve to be unevenly worn. Such uneven wear of the valve makes it difficult to hermetically seal the inside of the engine, provoking a variety of troubles. Accordingly, various proposals for rotating the valve have been conventionally made. As an example of the prior art for rotating the valve, there is known a valve operating mechanism disclosed in the specification of USP No. 4,597,408. This valve operating mechanism comprises: a poppet valve (5) having a threaded end of its stem (10); a valve spring retainer (14) having a center bore for the valve stem, a circular groove for a coil spring (12) and a first ball bearing (18) race on the opposite face from the circular groove; and a valve retainer (16) having a threaded bore and a second ball bearing race. A set of ball bearings are placed at one face of the spring retainer (14). The valve stem (10) insertingly passes through the spring (12) and the spring retainer (14), and the valve retainer (16) is threadedly connected to the screw at the stem end. This causes the ball bearings (18) to be fitted to the valve stem. According to the ball bearing having the arrangement above-mentioned, the poppet valve (5) is adapted to be rotated by the operation of the spring and the spring retainer. Japanese Utility-Model Laid-Open Publication No. 160707/1987 discloses a valve operating mechanism of an internal-combustion engine. This valve operating mechanism has a valve spring (19) for biasing an end of a valve (1) attached to a cylinder head (3) through a valve guide (5), toward the cylinder head in the closing direction, and is characterized in that the spring sheet of the valve spring (19) at the cylinder head (3) side is formed integrally with the valve guide and that the valve guide is rotatably disposed to the cylinder head. Japanese Utility-Model Laid-Open Publication No. 190810/1987 discloses a valve operating mechanism of an internal-combustion engine. This valve operating mechanism comprises a valve to be opened and closed by a rocker arm, a coil spring for biasing the valve toward the cylinder head in the closing direction, a retainer disposed between the valve and the coil spring and secured to the stem end of the valve and a needle bearing disposed between the retainer and the coil spring, and is characterized in that the needle bearing is formed by a plurality of needle rollers and a case for holdindg the needle rollers therein, and that the case has slits through which portions of the needle rollers project from the case. US-A-2743714 discloses a valve operating mechanism of an internal-combustion engine with a bearing for accommodating substantially unrestrained rotation between two parts and means for snubbing against the parts to prevent undesired relative rotation between the parts. In a preferred embodiment the prior bearing is applied to a combustion engine cylinder head comprising a valve guide, a push rod and an engine driven cam. Furthermore the disclosed bearing includes race members and a plurality of balls which roll in suitable track-ways. The patent abstracts of Japan, Vol. 12, No. 251 (M-718) [3098] of 15. July 1988 discloses a valve operating device for internal-combustion engines comprising a bearing which corresponds to a roller bearing. When an upper washer shifts in the horizontal direction following a spring, slipping effect is generated between the upper washer and the roller bearing to promote wear between these components, thus merely resulting in the contracted service live. FR-A-792784 describes a valve operating mechanism with a bearing. That bearing refers to a structure of a bearing cage where relative points of the upper and lower washers are respectively secured to other members and held in horizontal direction. The disclosed ball receives load and supports rotation of the load. The document DE-A-2036308 discloses a valve operating mechanism comprising an arrangement to move the valves of a combustion engine using a roller bearing which inevitably generates slipping affects causing a shorten service live. Except for the so-called overhead- or side-valve type and the valve rotating apparatus mentioned in the patent abstracts of Japan, Vol. 12, No. 251 (M-718) [3098] any of the prior arts above-mentioned is arranged such that the center line of the cam is not aligned with the center line of the valve lifter, thus positively rotating the intake/exhaust valve at its surface coming in contact with the valve sheet. This prevents the valve to be unevenly worn. The prior arts above-mentioned present no problem in view of the rotation direction, but has no degree of freedom for movement in the radial direction. More specifically, when compressing the coil spring by the drive force of the cam, the coil spring is not always compressed accurately and may be compressed eccentrically with respect to the center line of the spring if the mounting precision is insufficient or if the spring is jumped. This presents the problems that the coil spring is bent, radial component is applied to the retainer of the coil spring and the roller is unevenly worn. In the type where a ball bearing is used, the balls may be unevenly raised to the bearing ring. There are also instances where a low-friction thrust washer or the like is used as the retainer. However, when the center line of the valve is not aligned with the center line of the cam, the rotating-driving force is not great. Accordingly, the valve is not rotated at a low rotational speed, and is rotated only at a high rotational speed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, the present invention is proposed with the object of providing a valve rotating apparatus of an internal-combustion engine, which is capable of smoothly rotating an intake/exhaust valve according to the expansion and contraction of the coil spring and which can flexibly cope with the application of a bending force to the coil spring itself. To achieve the object above-mentioned, the valve rotating apparatus of an internal-combustion engine in accordance with the present invention comprises the features according to claim 1. In the thrust rolling bearing, each of the upper and lower washers is preferably provided at the inner or outer periphery thereof with an axially extending cylindrical portion. Thus, the upper washer is provided at the inner periphery thereof with the axially extending cylindrical portion, and the coil spring guide washer is provided at the inner periphery thereof with the axially extending cylindrical portion. Accordingly, the center lines of the coil spring and the valve are in alignment with each other. This not only assures smooth rotation or vertical movement of the valve, but also enables the coil spring to be securely fixed to the bearing unit. This also assures not only the degree of freedom for radial movement of the thrust rolling bearing, but also efficient transmission of rotating force. This also prevents the balls from unevenly coming in contact with the upper washer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a view, shown partially in section, of a valve opening/closing mechanism in which a valve rotating apparatus of the present invention is applied between the spring seat and the coil spring; Figure 2 (a) is an axial section view of a thrust rolling bearing; Figure 2 (b) is a view of another example of the upper washer of the thrust rolling bearing; Figure 3 is an enlarged section view of portions of the cage and balls; Figure 4 is a plan view of the cage and balls held in the cage; Figure 5 is a plan view of another example of the cage in which balls are held; Figure 6 is a plan view of a further example of the cage in which balls are held; Figure 7 is a plan view illustrating the circumference of the upper washer which is partially cut out; and Figure 8 is a view illustrating how the balls unevenly come in contact with the upper washer when the coil spring is jumped. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following will discuss preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings. : In the valve rotating apparatus in accordance with the present invention shown in Fig. 1, one end of a valve 1 is attached, through a coil spring 5, to a valve lifter 4 vertically movably disposed at an engine head 3. Through a cotter 7 disposed at a groove 1a formed in the one end of the valve 1, the valve is secured to a retainer 6 which holds one end of the coil spring 5. By the coil spring 5, a seat portion 1b of the valve 1 at the other end thereof is biased to a valve seat 8 disposed at the inner surface of the upper portion of the engine head 3 connected to a manifold (not shown), so that the seat portion 1b comes in contact with the valve seat 8. A thrust rolling bearing 2 is disposed at the engine head 3 and supports the other end of the coil spring 5. This thrust rolling bearing 2 also serves as another retainer of the coil spring 5. The thrust rolling bearing 2 will be discussed in detail later. The valve 1 is adapted to be driven, through the valve lifter 4 and a pad 11 thereon, by the rotation of a cam 9 formed on a cam shaft 10. To produce a rotating-driving force for rotating the valve lifter 4 and the valve 1, the center line of the cam 9 is shifted by a distance δ from the center line of the valve 1. The following description will discuss in detail the thrust rolling bearing 2. As shown in Fig. 2 (a), the thrust rolling bearing 2 comprises an upper washer 21 made of carbon steel, a lower washer 22, a cage 23 and a plurality of balls 20 held by the cage 23. Neither the upper washer 21 nor the lower washer 22 is provided with a raceway groove for the balls 20. The lower washer 22 is provided at the radial upper part of the inner periphery thereof with a cylindrical portion 22a to prevent the cage 23 from excessively moving in the radial direction. As shown in Fig. 2 (b), the upper washer 21 may be provided at the axial upper portion of the inner periphery thereof with a cylindrical portion 21a which serves as a guide for the coil spring 5. In the thrust rolling bearing 2 of the valve rotating apparatus in accordance with the present invention, a coil spring guide washer 24 may be fitted to the outside of the upper washer 21, as shown in Fig. 8 The coil spring guide washer 24 is provided at the inner and outer peripheries thereof with cylindrical portions 24a and 24b, respectively, which axially extend downwardly and upwardly, respectively. Likewise the cylindrical portion 21a in Fig. 2 (b), the upper cylindrical portion 24a at the inner periphery of the washer 24 is pressingly fitted and secured to the end of the coil spring 5. As mentioned earlier, the rotating force is to be transmitted from the cam 9 to the thrust rolling bearing 2 through the valve lifter 4, the valve 1 and the coil spring 5. Accordingly, the coil spring 5 and the thrust rolling bearing 2 are preferably secured to each other. However, it is required to assure the degree or freedom for radial movement of the thrust rolling bearing 2. Therefore, the coil spring guide washer 24 is provided at the inner periphery thereof with the cylindrical portion 24a, which is pressingly fitted and securely fixed to the coil spring 5. Also, the coil spring guide washer 24 is provided at the outer periphery thereof with the lower cylindrical portion 24b, at the inside of which the upper washer 21, the lower washer 22 and the ball 20 holding cage 23 are disposed. In this another example of the thrust rolling bearing 2 which is shown in Fig. 8, the coil spring 5 is secured by the retainer 6 and the coil spring guide washer 24. This makes it easy to arrange the coil spring 5 and the valve 1 such that their center lines are in alignment with each other. By such an alignment of the center lines of the valve 1 and the coil spring 5, the rotating force may be efficiently transmitted so that the valve is smoothly rotated, vertically moved and reset. Further, the upper washer 21 may be disposed inside of the coil spring guide washer 24. In this case, even though the lower end of the coil spring 5 is not flat, the balls 20 are prevented from unevenly coming in contact with the coil spring guide washer 24, so that all the balls 20 receive the load at the same time. This advantageously provides convenience. Thus, according to such an arrangement, the coil spring 5 and the thrust rolling bearing 2 may be secured to each other, the thrust rolling bearing 2 may have the degree of freedom for radial movement and the rotating force may be efficiently transmitted. Further, such an arrangement prevents the balls from unevenly coming in contact with the coil spring guide washer 24. The outer peripheral edge of the cylindrical portion 24b at the outer periphery of the coil spring guide washer 24 is calked, at several positions thereof, to the outer periphery of the cage 23, so that the coil spring guide washer 24 is not separated from the cage 23. The upper and lower end surfaces of the cage 23 of the thrust rolling bearing 2 are guided at the inner and outer peripheries thereof by the upper washer cylindrical portion 24b or 21b and the lower washer cylindrical portion 22a, respectively. Accordingly, the cage 23 does not directly touch the raceways of the upper washer 21 and lower washer 22. More specifically, the balls 20 has a diameter d slightly greater than the thickness t of the cage 23 as shown in Fig. 3. Accordingly, distances x are provided between the raceways of the upper washer 21 and lower washer 22, and the upper and lower ends of the cage 23. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cage 23 in which the balls 20 are housed. The cage 23 is provided at the circumferential part thereof with a plurality of radially extending pockets 23a at regular spatial intervals. Two balls 20 are housed in each pocket 23a. Fig. 5 is a view of another example of the cage 23 in which the balls 20 are housed. This cage 23 is provided at the circumferential part thereof with three divided pockets 23a. A plurality of balls 20 are placed in two rows in each pocket 23a. The division number of the pockets 23a and the number of the ball rows may be increased or decreased. Fig. 6 is a view of a further example of the cage 23 in which the balls 20 are housed. This cage 23 has a plurality of large pockets 23a (four pockets in this example), in each of which a number of balls 20 are placed at random. In the foregoing, the thrust rolling bearing 2 is attached at the side of the cylinder head for supporting the coil spring 5, but may be attached at the side of the retainer 6. When the thrust rolling bearing 2 for supporting the coil spring 5 has the arrangement above-mentioned, the rolling action of the balls 20 can be utilized to positively rotate the valve 1 and the coil spring 5, even though the cam 9 of the cam shaft 10 produces a small rotating force when rotatingly driven. Further, the upper washer 21 has the degree of freedom for movement in all directions including X and Y directions, within a predetermined plane. Accordingly, even though the coil spring 5 is not compressed accurately in the axial direction and is transversely displaced due to the application of a transverse (radial) force, the upper washer 21 which directly supports the end of the coil spring 5, may follow the radial displacement of the coil spring 5 caused by its bent and may be moved together with the coil spring 5. Particularly, when the end of the coil spring 5 is pressingly inserted into the cylindrical portion 21a of the upper washer 21 as shown in Fig. 2 (b) and Fig. 8 the center lines of the coil spring 5 and the valve 1 are in alignment with each other. Accordingly, the valve may be smoothly rotated, vertically moved and reset. Further, the coil spring may be securely fixed to the bearing unit. Also, the bearing may have the degree of freedom for radial movement and a rotating force may be efficient transmitted. The axially upwardly extending cylindrical portion of the thrust rolling bearing 2 may be formed at the outer periphery of the upper washer 21. In this case, the end of the coil spring 5 may be pressingly fitted into the inner periphery of this cylindrical portion. In the valve rotating apparatus of an internal-combustion engine in accordance with the present invention, the thrust rolling bearing has the degree of freedom for movement not only in the rotation direction, but also in all directions. Accordingly, even though the coil spring is compressed as distorted, it is possible to prevent the balls of the bearing from being unevenly worn or unevenly raised. It is also possible to prevent the contact surfaces of the valve and the valve sheet from being unevenly worn, thereby to lengthen the life-time of the valve. In particular, when the cylindrical portion of the coil spring guide washer 24 is pressingly fitted and secured to the coil spring 5 so that the bearing ring has a double structure, the coil spring and the bearing are not worn due to slip, thereby to enhance the reliability. Further, the defective precision (flatness) of the coil spring lower end may be soaked, thereby to prevent the occurrence of brinelling due to uneven contact. Further, the lower end of the coil spring may be fitted in a concave portion formed in the cylinder head. In this case, when the coil spring guide washer 24 is secured to the coil spring 5 so that the washer 24 is not separated from the coil spring 5, the assembling may be facilitated. Further, since the bearing unit is present in the cylindrical portion, the reverse assembling may be prevented. Thus, an advantage is also provided for maintenance. When the coil spring 5 is jumped at the time the engine is further rotated at a high speed, the upper washer 21 and the coil spring guide washer 24 are raised together with the coil spring 5 as shown in Fig. 8. Then, when the coil spring guide washer 24 is returned to the original position, the balls 20 unevenly come in contact with the upper washer 21. Under tension of an oil film, the lower washer 22 and the upper washer 21 are respectively attached to the engine head 3 and the coil spring guide washer 24. If such a phenomenon is repeated thousands times per minute, the upper washer 21 receives a local load so that its raceway surface presents pitting or false brinelling. Such a phenomenon is accelerated because the lower end surface of the coil spring 5, i.e., the surface coming in contact with the upper washer 21 or the coil spring guide washer 24, has such shape as provided when a coil-like body is transversely cut, so that the lower end surface of the coil spring 5 does not evenly come in contact with the upper washer 21 or the coil spring guide washer 24. To overcome the defect above-mentioned, the coil spring 5 is loosely fitted to the cylindrical portion 24a of the coil spring guide washer 24. This prevents the coil spring guide washer 24 from following the coil spring 5, thereby to prevent the coil spring guide washer 24 from being raised. The cylindrical portion 24a is formed at the coil spring guide washer 24 just for regulating the radial movement of the coil spring 5. Further, the surface hardness of the upper washer 21 is not less than 63 Rockwell hardness (HRc) which is harder than normal carbon steel. This not only improves the resistance to pitting, but also prevents the occurrence of false brinelling. Such surface hardness may be obtained by using, as the material of the upper washer 21, a steel material obtainable by carburizing or carburizing-nitriding case hardening steel or the like, or a high-carbon steel material such as bearing steel. The hardness of the upper washer 21 is not less than 63 HRc. Accordingly, when assembling the thrust rolling bearing 2, the calked portions of the coil spring guide washer 24 cannot be resiliently passed. Accordingly, those four parts of the circumference of the upper washer 21 corresponding to the calked portions of the coil spring guide washer 24 are cut out as shown in Fig. 7, so that the thrust rolling bearing 2 is assembled by inserting the upper washer 21 into the coil spring guide washer 24.

Claims: A valve rotating apparatus of an internal combustion engine comprising; a valve (1) which is energized in the closing direction by means of a coil spring (5); a valve lifter (4) which is installed to an engine head (3) by way of being movable in the vertical direction; a cam (9) which is formed on a cam shaft (10) in order to directly drive said valve (1) via said valve lifter (4); and a thrust rolling bearing (2) which is disposed between said coil spring (5) and a member for supporting said coil spring (5) ; wherein operating point of said cam (9) for directly driving said valve (1) offsets from the center of said valve (1) ; characterized in that said thrust rolling bearing (2) comprises the following; an upper annular washer (21) which is disposed to allow its own radial displacement relative to said valve (1) and contains a flat race-way; a lower annular washer (22) which is disposed by way of being substantially coaxial with said upper annular washer (21) and contains a flat race-way; and a plurality of balls (20) which are accommodated in a plurality of pockets of an annular cage (23) between said upper (21) and lower (22) annular washers. A valve rotating apparatus of an internal-combustion engine according to Claim 1, wherein the cage of the thrust rolling bearing is provided at the circumference thereof with a plurality of pockets at regular spatial intervals, a plurality of balls being housed in each of said pockets. A valve rotating apparatus of an internal-combustion engine according to Claim 1, wherein the upper washer of the thrust rolling bearing is provided at the inner periphery thereof with a cylindrical portion which axially upwardly extends. A valve rotating apparatus of an internal-combustion engine according to Claim 3, wherein the cylindrical portion of the upper washer is pressingly fitted and secured to the end of the coil spring. A valve rotating apparatus of an internal-combustion engine according to Claim 1, wherein the upper washer of the thrust rolling bearing is provided at the outer periphery thereof with a cylindrical portion which axially downwardly extends and of which inner diameter is greater than the outer diameter of the annular cage. A valve rotating apparatus of an internal-combustion engine according to Claim 1, wherein the lower washer of the thrust rolling bearing is provided at the inner periphery thereof with a cylindrical portion which axially upwardly extends. A valve rotating apparatus of an internal-combustion engine according to Claim 1, wherein the thrust rolling bearing has the annular cage disposed in a space formed by the upper washer, the axially downwardly extending cylindrical portion at the outer periphery of said upper washer, the lower washer and the axially upwardly extending cylindrical portion at the inner periphery of said lower washer, said cage having pockets in each of which a plurality of balls are housed, several parts of the circumferential edges of said cylindrical portion of said upper washer being calked to form projections, the diameter of an inscribed circle of said projections being smaller than the outer diameter of said cage so that said upper washer and said cage are formed in a unitary structure. A valve rotating apparatus of an internal combustion engine according to Claim 1, wherein said thrust rolling bearing (2) comprises the following; a coil spring guide washer (24) which is mounted on said upper annular washer (21) by way of being coaxial with said upper washer (21), wherein top surface of said guide washer (24) receives and supports said coil spring (5), said coil spring guide washer (24) being provided at the inner periphery thereof with a cylindrical portion (24a) which axially upwardly extends in order to guide said coil spring (5) which extends itself upwards in the axial direction of said guide washer (24). A valve rotating apparatus of an internal-combustion engine according to Claim 8, wherein the cylindrical portion of the coil spring guide washer is formed such that the end of the coil spring is guided by said cylindrical portion as loosely fitted therein. A valve rotating apparatus of an internal-combustion engine according to Claim 8, wherein the thrust rolling bearing has the annular cage disposed in a space formed by the upper washer, the axially downwardly extending cylindrical portion at the outer periphery of the coil spring guide washer, the lower washer and the axially upwardly extending cylindrical portion at the inner periphery of said lower washer, said cage having pockets in each of which a plurality of balls are housed, several parts of the circumferential edge of said cylindrical portion of said coil spring guide washer being calked to form projections, the diameter of an inscribed circle of said projections being smaller than the outer diameter of said cage so that said coil spring guide washer, said upper washer and said cage are formed in a unitary structure. A valve rotating apparatus of an internal-combustion engine according to Claim 10, wherein the surface of the upper washer has hardness not less than 63 Rockwell hardness (HRc), and the circumference of said upper washer is partially cut out such that the outer diameter of said upper washer is smaller than the diameter of an inscribed circle of the projections of the coil spring guide washer.

Inventors: OKUSE HIROTSUGU, SATO HIROSHI, TAKAHASHI KENJI, UCHIDA KAZUO, OKUSE, HIROTSUGU, SATO, HIROSHI, TAKAHASHI, KENJI, UCHIDA, KAZUO
Applicants: KOYO SEIKO CO, KOYO SEIKO CO., LTD.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: F01L1
IPC codes: F01L1, F16C19