Patent ID: 8360023

Claim:
An engine assembly comprising: an engine structure defining a first cylinder bore and a first lifter housing; a camshaft rotationally supported by the engine structure; and a first valve lift mechanism located within the first lifter housing, engaged with a first lobe of the camshaft and including: a housing member defining a first annular wall including a first oil passage extending therethrough, an inner circumference of the first annular wall defining a first continuous region along an axial extent corresponding to the first oil passage from a first location on the inner circumference to a second location on the inner circumference at least 180 degrees circumferentially offset from the first location; and a plunger located in the housing member within the first annular wall, the plunger defining a second annular wall including a series of apertures axially aligned with at least a portion of the first oil passage and separated from one another by an outer circumferential region of the second annular wall, the outer circumferential region abutting the first continuous region of the first annular wall to inhibit oil flow past the outer circumferential region.