Abstract: The invention relates to a sintered alloy. This sintered alloy includes 3-13.4 wt % of W, 0.4-5.6 wt % or 0.8-5.9 wt % of V, 0.2-5.6 wt % of Cr, 0.1-0.6 wt % or 0.6-5.0 wt % of Si, 0.1-0.6 wt % or 0.2-1.0 wt % of Mn, 0.6-2.2 wt % of C, and a balance of Fe. The sintered alloy includes first and second phase which are distributed therein, in a form of spots, respectively. The second phase is in an amount of from 20 to 80 wt %, based on the total weight of the first and second phases. The first phase contains 3-7 wt % of W, 0.5-1.5 wt % of optional V, up to 1 wt % of Cr, 0.1-0.6 wt % or 0.6-5.0 wt % of Si, 0.1-0.6 wt % or 0.2-1.0 wt % of Mn, up to 2.2 wt % of C, and a balance of Fe. The second phase contains 3-15 wt % of W, 2-7 wt % of V, 1-7 wt % of Cr, 0.1-0.6 wt % or 0.6-5.0 wt % of Si, 0.1-0.6 wt % or 0.2-1.0 wt % of Mn, up to 2.2 wt % of C, and a balance of Fe. When the manganese contents of the first and second phases and the total of the sintered alloy are respectively in a range of from 0.2 to 1.

Abstract: A mechanical valve lifter for an internal combustion engine comprises a head section having a recessed portion on an upper face thereof, a skirt section formed integral with the head section and adapted to be in sliding-contact with a lifter guiding bore in an engine cylinder head, a mechanical valve-clearance adjusting shim put in the recessed portion, an annular groove formed in an upper face of a bottom wall of the recessed portion of the lifter body, a first through-opening formed in the shim to communicate with the annular groove, and a second through-opening formed in the head section to communicate with the annular groove and to penetrate the head section. The annular groove and the second through-opening are formed in an essentially zero bending moment area midway between a central axis of the head section and a peripheral wall of the recessed portion.