Patent ID: 7464677

Claim:
An engine assembly comprising: a cylinder head at least partially forming a plurality of cylinders; first and second sets of hydraulic lash adjusters operatively connected to first and second sets of said cylinders, respectively, and responsive to a variation in hydraulic fluid pressure to cause a variation in lift of first and second sets of engine valves respectively operatively connected thereto, said first and second sets of hydraulic lash adjusters including a body and an inlet portion; a first feed passage defined by said cylinder head, said first feed passage in fluid communication with said first set of hydraulic lash adjusters; and a second feed passage defined by said cylinder head, said second feed passage in fluid communication with said second set of hydraulic lash adjusters; wherein the valve lift of the first set of engine valves is independently variable by controlling the pressure of hydraulic fluid in the first feed passage, and the valve lift of the second set of engine valves is independently variable by controlling the pressure of hydraulic fluid in the second feed passage; and wherein the second feed passage is partially blocked by the first set of hydraulic lash adjusters such that hydraulic fluid transferred through the second feed passage engages the body of the first set of hydraulic lash adjusters without entering the inlet portion of the first set of hydraulic lash adjusters.