ROCKER SHAFT WITH DIAMOND-LIKE CARBON COATING
A rocker shaft for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, including: a substantially cylindrical outer circumferential surface; and a layer of amorphous hydrocarbon deposited on the substantially cylindrical outer circumferential surface. The rocker shaft is arranged to engage a rocker arm such that the rocker arm is at least partially rotatable about the rocker shaft. A method of forming rocker shaft for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, including: forming a substantially cylindrical outer circumferential surface; and depositing a layer of amorphous hydrocarbon on the substantially cylindrical outer circumferential surface. The rocker shaft is arranged to engage a rocker arm such that the rocker arm is at least partially rotatable about the rocker shaft.
1 . A rocker shaft for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a substantially cylindrical outer circumferential surface; and,
a layer of amorphous hydrocarbon deposited on the substantially cylindrical outer circumferential surface, wherein:
the rocker shaft is arranged to engage a rocker arm such that the rocker arm is at least partially rotatable about the rocker shaft.
2 . The rocker shaft of claim 1 wherein the amorphous hydrocarbon includes:
metal-free amorphous hydrocarbon.
3 . The rocker shaft of claim 1 , wherein the amorphous hydrocarbon includes:
metal-free amorphous hydrocarbon with sp 2 and sp 3 hybridized carbon.
4 . The rocker shaft of claim 1 , wherein the rocker shaft includes a channel for flowing pressurized oil.
5 . The rocker shaft of claim 1 , wherein the rocker shaft is free of a channel for flowing pressurized oil.
6 . A rocker shaft assembly for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a rocker shaft including:
a substantially cylindrical outer circumferential surface; and,
a layer of metal-free amorphous hydrocarbon deposited on the substantially cylindrical outer circumferential surface; and, a rocker arm:
radially disposed about the substantially cylindrical outer circumferential surface;
in contact with the layer of amorphous hydrocarbon; and,
at least partially rotatable about the rocker shaft.
7 . The rocker shaft assembly of claim 6 , wherein the amorphous hydrocarbon includes metal-free amorphous hydrocarbon.
8 . The rocker shaft assembly of claim 6 , wherein the metal-free amorphous hydrocarbon includes metal-free amorphous hydrocarbon with sp 2 and sp 3 hybridized carbon.
9 . The rocker shaft of claim 6 , wherein rocker shaft includes a channel for flowing pressurized oil to the rocker arm.
10 . The rocker shaft of claim 6 , wherein the rocker shaft is free of a channel for flowing pressurized oil.
11 . A method of forming rocker shaft for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
forming a substantially cylindrical outer circumferential surface; and,
depositing a layer of amorphous hydrocarbon on the substantially cylindrical outer circumferential surface, wherein:
the rocker shaft is arranged to engage a rocker arm such that the rocker arm is at least partially rotatable about the rocker shaft.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the amorphous hydrocarbon includes:
metal-free amorphous hydrocarbon.
13 . The method of claim 11 wherein the amorphous hydrocarbon includes:
metal-free amorphous hydrocarbon with sp 2 and sp 3 hybridized carbon.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
forming a channel in the rocker shaft for flowing pressurized oil.
15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
forming the rocker shaft without a channel for flowing pressurized oil.