Patent ID: 6889644

Claim:
A rocker arm assembly for use in a valve control system for an internal combustion engine including a cylinder head, and a poppet valve moveable relative to said cylinder head between open and closed positions in response to rotation of a camshaft defining a cam profile; said valve control system further comprising a fulcrum device being substantially fixed relative to said cylinder head and including a fulcrum portion; said rocker arm assembly comprising a rocker arm including a pair of axially spaced apart side walls interconnected by a portion defining a fulcrum surface for engagement with said fulcrum portion, whereby said rocker arm assembly pivots about said fulcrum portion as said poppet valve moves between said open and closed positions; said rocker arm assembly further comprising a cam follower disposed between said side walls for engagement with said cam profile, and disposed about a mounting shaft extending into shaft openings defined by said side walls, and a pin member defining a valve pad for engagement with a stem tip portion of said poppet valve, said pin member extending into pin openings defined by said side walls; said rocker arm assembly including a clip member; said rocker arm assembly being characterized by: (a) said clip member including a pair of axially spaced apart clip side walls disposed adjacent, and on the outside of, said side walls of said rocker arm, and a connection portion interconnecting said clip side walls; (b) said clip side walls being disposed to restrain axial movement, in either axial direction, of said mounting shaft and of said pin member; and (c) one of said clip side walls including a first retention portion engaging the adjacent side wall of said rocker arm and extending between said side walls of said rocker arm and including a terminal portion disposed adjacent said pin member and operable to limit rotation of said pin member about its axis, relative to said rocker arm.