Abstract: The molding and transporting apparatus comprises a molding section for vertically blowing sand from above between a front die and a rear die that have vertically formed pattern faces, and thereafter, driving the front and rear dies and compacting the sand to produce a mold M, and for extruding the mold horizontally, a dividing mechanism for, before the sand is blown, vertically dividing the mold into front and rear portions, as needed, at the center of a molding space, a pouring port formation mechanism for forming a pouring port in the mold; and a form converter for selectively rendering an active operation for changing the form of the mold that is extruded from the molding section from the vertically split form to the horizontally split form, and a non-active operation for transporting the extruded mold to a pouring line, without changing the form of the mold.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve lifter for use in an internal combustion engine, comprises an inverted cup-like body, an inverted cup-like plunger housed within the body, a high pressure chamber defined between the body and the plunger, and an oil passage through which an oil is fed to the high pressure chamber. At least one oil discharge hole is defined in the plunger and extends from the oil passage to open to a valve stem so as to lubricate between the valve stem and a valve guide.