US Patent 11181071 Internal combustion engine

An internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder bank comprising multiple cylinders, each cylinder comprises a rocker arm box for accommodating rocker arms of a valve train, and each cylinder comprises a rocker arm cover pivotable relative to the rocker arm box. The rocker arm cover carries an ignition coil contactable with a spark plug via an extension extending through a protective tube between the cylinder head and the rocker arm box or the rocker arm cover. The rocker arm cover comprises a first portion with a first introduction aid, into which the protective tube is threaded during closure of the rocker arm cover and a second portion with a second introduction aid, into which the spark plug extension is threaded during closure of the rocker arm cover to automatically and self-centringly form an electrical contact between the spark plug extension and the ignition coil.