Patent ID: 7308879
Filing Date: 2007-12-18
Classification: F01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A valve lifter assembly for deactivating a cylinder valve in an engine, the lifter assembly comprising: a lifter body including a wall, the wall having an inner surface, the wall defining at least one pin receiving feature therein, the lifter body having a first lifter end configured for engaging a cam of the engine; a pin housing including a pin housing wall and a pin housing body portion, the pin housing wall having an outer surface and a spring retaining portion, the pin housing body portion defining a radially directed pin bore therein, the pin housing is disposed within the lifter body such that at least a portion of the outer surface of the pin housing wall is adjacent to at least a portion of the inner surface of the wall of the lifter body; a spring having a first spring end and a second spring end, the first spring end is connected to the spring retaining portion of the pin housing wall, the second spring end is connected to the lifter body, the spring is compressed between the lifter body and the spring retaining portion of the pin housing to bias the pin housing in an extended position; and at least two locking pins disposed in the pin housing in an unlocked position, the at least two locking pins being selectively disposed in the pin housing and the at least one pin receiving feature defined in the lifter body in a locked position, wherein when the at least two locking pins are positioned in the locked position the pin housing is secured to the lifter body to prevent relative movement there between and thereby transmit rotational movement of the cam to operate the valve, and when the at least two locking pins are in the unlocked position the pin housing is permitted to move relative to the lifter body to isolate the rotational movement of the cam to deactivate the valve.