Patent ID: 6497207
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
Classification: F01L,Y10T

Abstract:
A deactivation hydraulic valve lifter, comprising:an elongate lifter body having a substantially cylindrical inner wall, said inner wall defining at least one annular pin chamber therein, said lifter body having a lower end configured for engaging a cam of an engine; an elongate pin housing including a substantially cylindrical pin housing wall and pin housing bottom, said pin housing wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, said pin housing bottom defining a radially directed pin bore therethrough, said pin housing being substantially concentrically disposed within said inner wall of said lifter body such that said outer surface of said pin housing wall is adjacent to at least a portion of said inner wall of said lifter body, a plunger having a substantially cylindrical plunger wall, said plunger wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, said plunger being substantially concentrically disposed within said pin housing such that said outer surface of said plunger wall is adjacent to at least a portion of said inner surface of said pin housing wall; a deactivation pin assembly disposed at least partially within said pin bore, said deactivation pin assembly including two pin members, said pin members biased radially outward relative to each other, at least a portion of each said pin member being disposed within a corresponding one of said at least one annular pin chamber to thereby couple said lifter body to said pin housing, said pin members being configured for moving toward each other when said at least one annular pin chamber is pressurized, thereby retracting said pin members from within a corresponding one of said at least one annular pin chamber and decoupling said lifter body from said pin housing; and a vent groove disposed on an outside surface of said lifter body, said vent grove being disposed proximate to and a predetermined distance from said lower end of said lifter body.