Abstract: A deactivation hydraulic valve lifter includes an elongate lifter body having a substantially cylindrical inner wall. The inner wall defines at least one annular pin chamber therein. The lifter body has a first end configured for engaging a cam of an engine. An elongate pin housing includes a substantially cylindrical pin housing wall and pin housing bottom. The pin housing wall includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The pin housing bottom defines a radially directed pin bore therethrough. The pin housing is concentrically disposed within the inner wall of the lifter body such that the outer surface of the pin housing wall is adjacent to at least a portion of the inner wall of the lifter body. A plunger having a substantially cylindrical plunger wall with an outer surface is concentrically disposed within the pin housing such that the outer surface of the plunger wall is adjacent to at least a portion of the inner surface of the pin housing wall.

Abstract: A roller finger follower includes an elongate body having a first side and a second side. A first end and a second end interconnect and space apart the first and second sides. The first and second sides define a first and second pin orifice, respectively. A roller is disposed between the first and second sides intermediate the first and second ends of the body. The roller defines a shaft orifice therethrough. An elongate shaft extends transversely through the shaft orifice and has a first shaft end and a second shaft end. The first shaft end is disposed proximate the first side and the second shaft end is disposed proximate the second side. The first shaft end defines a pin chamber therein, the second shaft end defines a shaft bore therein. The shaft bore is concentric with and intersects the pin chamber. A locking pin assembly is disposed within each of the shaft bore, the pin chamber, and at least one of the pin orifices.

Abstract: A deactivation roller finger follower for use with an internal combustion engine includes an elongate body. The body has a valve pallet end and a socket. The pallet end is configured for engaging a valve stem of the internal combustion engine. The socket is configured for engaging a hydraulic lash adjuster of the internal combustion engine. The body defines a roller aperture. A roller is disposed within the roller aperture. The roller is configured for engaging a cam lobe of the internal combustion engine. The roller defines a shaft orifice therethrough. An elongate shaft extends transversely through the shaft orifice. In a default operating position, the shaft is coupled to the body to thereby transfer rotary motion of the cam to pivotal movement of the body about the hydraulic lash adjuster. The shaft is selectively decoupled from the body such that the rotary motion of the cam is not transferred to pivotal movement of the body.

Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster having, in preferred embodiments, a body carrying a reciprocable plunger defining with a closed end of the body, a high pressure oil chamber from which oil may escape through a primary clearance between the plunger and body. Make up oil is fed from a low pressure chamber defined within the plunger. Thermal pump up of the lash adjuster is prevented by a control ring within the plunger which varies the leakdown path with oil temperature so that normal flow is attained at normal engine operating temperature and the clearance is increased to maintain adequate flow at cold engine starting and operating temperatures. In a first embodiment, the control ring forces the side wall of the plunger outward to reduce the primary clearance between the plunger and body.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve lifter for use between a cam and a valve in an engine valve train includes a hydraulic lash adjuster element of varying length for acting in the valve train between the cam and valve, an expansion spring for extending the length of the lash adjuster to take up lash in the valve train between valve opening events, and a lash spring stronger than the expansion spring but weaker than a valve spring of an associated engine valve. The lash spring biases the adjuster element against the expansion spring and shortens the effective lash adjusting length of the valve lifter a small amount to maintain a sufficient amount of lash in the valve train between valve opening events to prevent holding open of the valve during cold engine operation. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Valve lift mechanism for an engine includes a two step variable valve lifter having roller followers for engaging multiple cams on an associated camshaft of the engine and an anti-rotation guide mounted in the engine externally of a cylindrical bore receiving the lifter. The guide engages an axial guide recess in the lifter body without requiring a corresponding recess in the bore. The lifter also has a saddle in a central low lift cam follower engagable by lock pins in an annular body of an associated high lift cam follower to lock the followers together for high valve lift operation. The saddle is disposed axially between a follower roller and a high pressure chamber of a hydraulic lash adjuster of the low lift cam follower so that lock pin loads are transmitted as compressive forces through the low lift follower.

Abstract: A two-step valve lifter for actuation of a valve member in an internal combustion engine includes an outer cam follower, having a cam-engaging upper surface with a cylindrical body depending therefrom, and an inner cam follower disposed within said cylindrical body. The inner follower includes a hollow cylinder having a first diameter "D", an upper, closed end and a lower, open end. The open end is configured to receive, for disposition between the two-step valve lifter and the valve member, a lash adjusting, hydraulic element assembly. An obround follower foot, having a length "L" normal to said camshaft axis and a width "W" parallel to said camshaft axis and less than said length "L", extends from the upper, closed end of the inner follower to terminate in a cam engaging surface which is extendable through an opening in the cam engaging surface of the outer cam follower. The width "W" of the follower foot is less than the first diameter "D" of the hollow cylinder of the inner follower.