The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 17, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 18, 1997
Steven W Reedy, Nashville, IN (US);
Rand D Klopfer, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Randal L Myers, Randolph, NY (US);
Cummins Engine Company, Inc., Columbus, IN (US);
Abstract
A high strength, lightweight camshaft for an internal combustion engine, comprising a shaft body having an axially oriented hollow interior extending a predetermined length from between a pair of spaced points, respectively, adjacent the ends of the shaft body. Plural camshaft journal bearings are spaced apart on the shaft body and include a pair of end camshaft journal bearings positioned adjacent the ends of the shaft body, respectively, with at least one inner camshaft journal bearing positioned intermediate the pair of end camshaft journal bearings. Each end camshaft journal bearing has a lubricant transfer means formed therein for receiving lubricant from an external supply and for transferring lubricant into the hollow interior of the camshaft. At least one radial hole is formed in the shaft body for providing lubricant from the hollow interior to an inner camshaft journal bearing wherein the lubricant transfer means associated with the pair of end camshaft journals provides at least two paths for lubricant to flow into the hollow interior of the camshaft for providing an even distribution of lubrication to each inner camshaft journal bearing during operation of the internal combustion engine. A supply of lubricant always remains in the camshaft to assist in lubricating the camshaft journal bearings during engine start-up.