A valve spring retainer for an internal combustion engine includes a body having a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion defines a radial flange and a first opening extending axially therethrough. The upper portion includes a first wall and a re-entrant lip. The first wall extends at least partially axially away from an outer perimeter edge of the radial flange. Together, the first wall and the radial flange define an open reservoir for receiving and retaining oil therein. The re-entrant lip extends from an outer end of the first wall at least partially radially inward toward a central axis of the first opening. The re-entrant lip extends over a portion of the reservoir defined by the first wall and the radial flange.

An assembling apparatus assembles a retainer by engaging a pair of cotter pieces with a valve stem. The apparatus includes an assembling head configured to hold, in a separated state, the pair of cotter pieces in the separated state prepared by a preparation unit and engage the pair of cotter pieces with the upper end of the valve stem. The head includes a storage member including a storage chamber, and a holding unit capable of pressing the pair of cotter pieces stored in the storage chamber against the upper end of the valve stem. The storage member includes first and second abutting portions. The second abutting portion positions the valve stem in the axial direction, and the first abutting portion positions the pair of cotter pieces in the axial direction.

An assembling apparatus assembles a retainer by engaging a pair of cotter pieces with a valve stem. The apparatus includes an assembling head configured to hold, in a separated state, the pair of cotter pieces in the separated state prepared by a preparation unit and engage the pair of cotter pieces with the upper end of the valve stem. The head includes a storage member including a storage chamber, and a holding unit capable of pressing the pair of cotter pieces stored in the storage chamber against the upper end of the valve stem. The storage member includes first and second abutting portions. The second abutting portion positions the valve stem in the axial direction, and the first abutting portion positions the pair of cotter pieces in the axial direction.

An assembling apparatus places a retainer on a valve spring to surround an upper end of a valve stem. The apparatus includes an assembling head, and a moving unit configured to move the assembling head between the supply position of the retainer and an assembling position. The assembling head includes a holding unit configured to hold the retainer, and a push unit configured to push out the retainer. The push unit includes a push member supported to be able to advance/retreat along an elevating direction of the assembling head, and a biasing member configured to bias the push member in an advancing direction.

An assembling apparatus places a retainer on a valve spring to surround an upper end of a valve stem. The apparatus includes an assembling head, and a moving unit configured to move the assembling head between the supply position of the retainer and an assembling position. The assembling head includes a holding unit configured to hold the retainer, and a push unit configured to push out the retainer. The push unit includes a push member supported to be able to advance/retreat along an elevating direction of the assembling head, and a biasing member configured to bias the push member in an advancing direction.

A valve rotating device has an annular main body, an annular cover body, and an annular axial spring element. The main body has multiple pockets of variable depth so that raceways are formed for balls situated therein, wherein tangential springs press the balls against ends of the pockets in the circumferential direction. The cover body is rotatable relative to the main body about an axis and is axially displaceable, and has an annular first support element, an annular second support element, and a connection, wherein the support elements are axially spaced apart from one another and the connection connects the support elements so that they are fixed relative to one another. The axial spring element at a first end rests on an annular stop surface of the main body, and at a second end rests on a surface of the first support element, wherein the axial spring element is situated between the first support element and the second support element. A surface of the second support element facing away from the axial spring element rests against the balls, and the balls and the axial spring element are arranged in an overlapping manner in the axial direction.

Provided is a sealing apparatus that can prevent a garter spring from falling off an elastic member. The sealing apparatus comprises a reinforcing ring formed annularly around an axis, an elastic body part that is attached to the reinforcing ring and that is formed annularly around the axis, and a garter spring attached to the elastic body part. The reinforcing ring includes a retainer that is an annular portion projecting to an outer periphery side from an end portion on one side of the reinforcing ring in a direction of the axis. The elastic body part has at least one projection that is formed on the one side of a zone to which the garter spring is attached in the direction of the axis and that projects from the elastic body part to the outer periphery side.

A cover body (2) for a valve rotating device includes a ring-shaped upper part (4) and a ring-shaped lower part (6). The upper part (4) and the lower part (6) are axially spaced apart and are adapted to accommodate an axial spring element (24) therebetween. The upper part (4) and the lower part (6) are connected to one another by at least one connecting piece arranged at the location opposite an insertion position of the axial spring element (24). A valve rotating device (12) having such a cover body is also provided. A ring-shaped base body (22) has a plurality of pockets (16) oriented in a circumferential direction, in each of which a ball (14) and a tangential spring (32) are arranged. The pockets (16) have a variable depth in the circumferential direction such that inclined raceways (26) for the balls (14) arranged therein are formed. The tangential springs (32) push the balls (14) toward an end of the respective pocket (16). The axial spring element (24) is ring-shaped and a first end of the axial spring element (24) is supported on an ring-shaped stop surface (18) of the base body (22) and a second end of the axial spring element (24) is supported on a surface of the upper part (4) of the cover. A surface of the lower part (6) facing away from the axial spring element (24) rests against the balls (14), and wherein the halls (14) and the axial spring element (24) are arranged overlapping in the axial direction. A method for producing a cover both (2) for a valve rotating device is also provided.

A system is provided for the automated assembly of engine cylinder valves capable of registering a valve stem as a robot datum working location, placing a valve stem spring over the working location, compressing the valve stem spring onto the valve stem, inserting a valve keeper into a valve stem seating notch and locking the valve keeper with a cap by a computer controlled automated cylinder head assembly line. A spring feeding station registers the valve stem and said places the valve stem spring over the working location. A multi-axis mechanical robot grips the valve spring about its outer diameter with a gripping fixture from a spring feeding fixture forming an end effector incorporating a jaw gripper urged by a pneumatically actuator. A vision system locates a cylinder block on a transferred pallet to determine an X, Y, and Rz plane for placement of the valve, spring and spring keeper.

A system is provided for the automated assembly of engine cylinder valves capable of registering a valve stem as a robot datum working location, placing a valve stem spring over the working location, compressing the valve stem spring onto the valve stem, inserting a valve keeper into a valve stem seating notch and locking the valve keeper with a cap by a computer controlled automated cylinder head assembly line. A spring feeding station registers the valve stem and said places the valve stem spring over the working location. A multi-axis mechanical robot grips the valve spring about its outer diameter with a gripping fixture from a spring feeding fixture forming an end effector incorporating a jaw gripper urged by a pneumatically actuator. A vision system locates a cylinder block on a transferred pallet to determine an X, Y, and Rz plane for placement of the valve, spring and spring keeper.