Rocker Arm Thinner Sidewall Ends for Mass Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rocker arms in high-powered engines require reduced inertial mass for improved responsiveness while maintaining strength and durability, as reducing size and weight can compromise strength and durability.

Innovation Solution

A rocker arm design with thinner distal ends of the sidewalls and a ribbed receiving wall to reduce inertial mass and distribute load, ensuring durability through strategic thinning and reinforcement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If the rocker arm is reduced in size and weight to reduce inertial mass, then responsiveness is improved, but strength and durability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinertial massVSAvoidstrength and durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The rocker arm applies local quality by varying the wall thickness in different regions: the receiving wall and sidewalls have greater thickness to provide strength and durability, while the distal ends of the sidewalls have reduced thickness to minimize inertial mass. This localized differentiation allows the structure to be strong where needed and lightweight where possible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The rocker arm is segmented into distinct functional zones with different thickness characteristics. The receiving wall and sidewalls form one segment for strength, while the distal ends form another segment for weight reduction. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each zone's properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Weight of moving object

If the rocker arm is reduced in size and weight to reduce inertial mass, then responsiveness is improved, but stiffness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinertial massVSAvoidstiffness

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The rocker arm applies local quality by varying the wall thickness in different regions: the receiving wall and sidewalls have greater thickness to provide stiffness and structural stability, while the distal ends of the sidewalls have reduced thickness to minimize inertial mass. This localized differentiation allows the structure to be stiff where needed and lightweight where possible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The rocker arm is segmented into distinct functional zones with different thickness characteristics. The receiving wall and sidewalls form one segment for stiffness, while the distal ends form another segment for weight reduction. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each zone's properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10309263B2Rocker arm and method of manufacturing the rocker arm

Publication Date: 2019.06.04 OTICS CORP

AI summary

Providing a rocker arm which can ensure the durability while reducing the inertial mass. The rocker arm (10) includes a valve abutment part (15) pressing a valve (80). The valve abutment part (15) includes a receiving wall (14) abutting against an end surface of a stem end (81A) of the valve (80) in a pressing state and a pair of sidewalls (13) protruding from both side ends (14A) of the receiving wall (14) so as to be opposed to each other and disposed along and in proximity to a side peripheral surface of the stem end (81A) of the valve (80). At least protruding distal ends of the sidewalls (13) each have a smaller thickness than adjacent portions and serve as a thinner portion (23).