Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for welding sheets provided with an aluminum silicon anti-corrosion coating, wherein chronologically before the welding, the aluminum silicon layer on the sheets in the region of the weld joint and the underlying intermetallic interlayer between the base material and the anti-corrosion coating is passed over with a laser and as a result, on the one hand, material of the aluminum silicon layer and the underlying intermetallic interlayer is vaporized and aspirated and on the other hand, a reaction with the base material extending into the base material is produced so that a metallic reaction ablation layer or alloying ablation layer is produced, which has iron and possibly alloying elements from the base material and aluminum silicon from the aluminum silicon layer and the intermetallic interlayer, the reaction layer reaching a thickness of 5 ?m to 100 ?m.

Abstract: Embodiments may include systems and methods for manufacturing a probe for wafer sorting or die testing. A probe for wafer sorting or die testing may include a probe body and a probe tip. The probe body may include a probe core and a probe plating layer around the probe core. The probe core may include a first material, and the probe plating layer may include a second material. The probe tip may be next to the probe core of the probe body and may include the first material. In addition, the probe tip may have an end surface that is smaller than a surface of the probe core, and larger than a single point. A probe-manufacturing device may include a forging unit, a clipping unit, and an actuation mechanism to control the forging unit and the clipping unit. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: A mechanical bucket tappet (1) for a valve driver of an internal combustion engine having a hollow cylinder-shaped wall (2) which is delimited at one frontal area (3) by a disk-like bottom (4) whose top side (5) is provided as a cam stop face and which comprises a central, funnel-like recess (6), wherein a dome-like one-piece catch (8) aligned with the recess (6) projects from a lower side (7) of the bottom (4), the underside (9) of said catch being used for putting on a valve stem and wherein the funnel-like recess (6) is sealed near or at the top side (5) of the bottom (4), so that the bottom (4) comprises a central encasement (10).

Abstract: A valve sealant fitting includes a spring coupling unit having an internal screw thread for coupling unit assembly below the ball installation groove of the sealant body, the internal screw thread having a hexagonal groove for preventing a downward separation of the coil spring, allowing a fluid to flow and facilitating fastening and releasing of the screw, and having an external screw thread at an outer circumference of the spring coupling unit, and outer sealing O-rings disposed in O-ring installation grooves formed on respective upper and lower positions of the valve coupling taper screw part formed on the outer lower side of the sealant body.

Abstract: A mechanical bucket tappet (1) for a valve driver of an internal combustion engine having a hollow cylinder-shaped wall (2) which is delimited at one frontal area (3) by a disk-like bottom (4) whose top side (5) is provided as a cam stop face and which comprises a central, funnel-like recess (6), wherein a dome-like one-piece catch (8) aligned with the recess (6) projects from a lower side (7) of the bottom (4), the underside (9) of said catch being used for putting on a valve stem and wherein the funnel-like recess (6) is sealed near or at the top side (5) of the bottom (4), so that the bottom (4) comprises a central encasement (10).

Abstract: A tappet having a contiguous body, an outer wall and transverse web. The outer wall defines a cylindrically-shaped outer surface and a recess. The recess is disposed within cylindrical surface of the body. An alignment member is press-fit between two staked ends of the recess, which engage opposite sides of the alignment member. The alignment member extends outwardly from the cylindrically-shaped surface. A roller is mounted to the contiguous body at the cam contacting end of the tappet.

Abstract: A cold-formed flat top plunger blank is provided for use in a hydraulic lash adjuster. An end wall at the first end of the plunger body defines a flat top surface that is cold-formed to final dimensions or net shape. The flat top surface at the first end of the plunger body is configured to engage a flat surface within the mating bore of an engine cylinder head. By configuring the plunger body to have a flat top surface that engages a flat surface disposed within the mating bore of an engine cylinder head, the force applied to the engine block by the lash adjuster is distributed more evenly, minimizing wear. The external flat top plunger is a unitary component cold-formed to near net shape, including cold-forming to final dimensions the flat top surface and a counterbore.

Abstract: A cold-formed ball plunger blank is provided for use in manufacturing a finished ball plunger used in a hydraulic lash adjuster that includes a check valve assembly having a check ball and a retainer. The ball plunger blank includes a cup-shaped member that extends from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis. The cup-shaped member includes a ball portion adjacent the first end of the member and a body portion adjacent the second end of the member. The body portion has a cavity disposed therein, a counterbore extending from the second end of the body towards the first end of the member, and a shoulder that separates the cavity from the counterbore and at least partially closes the cavity. The shoulder defines a ball seat surface configured to receive the check ball and a retainer receiving surface configured to receive the retainer, wherein the ball seat surface and the retainer receiving surface are to sized to the final dimensions of the finished ball plunger.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically adjusting the valve lash of an internal combustion engine is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, a probe is employed for verifying and/or setting valve lash settings in an automated manner. A further aspect of the present invention does not require determination of a zero lash position or reference datum prior to adjusting the valve lash adjusting screw for desired lash.

Abstract: To provide an inner shim that is unlikely to fall off from a spring retainer even when an anomalous operation of a valve occurs. A spring retainer fixed to the upper end portion of a valve shaft has a shim-attachment hole. An inner shim is fitted into the shim-attachment hole. The bottom face of the inner shim is in contact with the upper end portion of the valve shaft, and the top face of the inner shim is positioned below the upper edge of the shim-attachment hole. A tappet is disposed above the spring retainer, and is allowed to move freely in the axial direction of the valve shaft. A shim-holding projection sticks out from the under face of the tappet, and extends downward. The projection enters, from above, the inside of the shim-attachment hole, and is in contact with the top face of the inner shim.

Abstract: A variable valve drive for changing control timing of cam-actuated gas-exchange valves of an internal combustion engine is provided, with a tappet (6a, 6b, 6c), which, with convex cam engaging contour (5), engages a cam (4a, 4b, 4c) of a camshaft (3a, 3b, 3c) and which is guided so that it can move in the longitudinal direction in a rotatable tappet guide (7a, 7b, 7c), whose rotational angle (9) is adjustable for changing the control timing. In this way, the tappet guide (7a, 7b, 7c) can rotate about a rotational axis (8) parallel to a longitudinal axis (2) of the camshaft (3a, 3b, 3c).

Abstract: A valve lifter and a method of manufacture thereof is provided in which sliding properties of a cam on a cam-contacting sliding surface in an upper surface of a valve lifter are improved by forming the cam-contacting sliding surface as a concave surface to permit retention of lubricating oil therein. The cam-contacting sliding surface is integrally provided in an outer wall of an upper part of a valve lifter. The cam-contacting sliding surface is formed as a concave surface to provide better retention of the lubricating oil. The concave sliding surface is formed during high temperature oxidation of the valve lifter by permitting the natural slumping down of the upper part due to its own weight under the gravity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a roller follower, comprising an outer surface, enclosing a first cavity, a second cavity, and a transition opening, wherein the first cavity includes a first inner surface configured to house a cylindrical insert the second cavity includes a second inner surface configured to house an inner body, and the transition opening links the first cavity with the second cavity; and at least one of the cavities is fabricated through forging.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a wear-resistant coating and to a wear-resistant coating on predetermined surfaces of machine or engine parts, in particular for internal combustion engines, which are exposed to frictional wear, comprising at least one nanocrystalline functional layer (4) made up of at least two CrNx phases for reducing friction and increasing the wear resistance of the predetermined surface (2) of the machine or engine part (1).

Abstract: An improved process 30 for making an engine poppet valve 10 provides an unfinished poppet valve 10 with an initial diameter (d1) of a valve head 22 and an initial thickness (t1) of an interface 56 between a seat facing groove 54 and a combustion face 18 of the valve 50 prior to seat facing the valve 50 to prevent burn-through during the welding process 38. Coining 40 the valve head 22 after seat facing 38 decreases the initial thickness (t1) of the interface 56 to a selected thickness (t2) and increases the initial diameter (d1) to a final or desired diameter (d2) of the valve head 22. The method of the present invention eliminates any need for removing excess material and allows for hot forming the seat facing material 58 to reduce machining steps.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing and Al alloy tappet, used in an internal combustion engine, includes supplying wear resistant particles on a surface of a light metal tappet body, the surface slideably contacting a cam, kneading said particles with a surface layer of the surface of the tappet body to imbed them and then changing the surface layer after kneading to a flat surface.