Patent ID: 7069891

Claim:
A process for manufacturing a valve operating assembly, comprising the steps of: a) cold forming, at least in part, a socket comprising the steps of: i) providing a first rod; ii) cold forming, at least in part, a first socket surface into the first rod so that the first socket surface includes a push rod cooperating surface; iii) cold forming, at least in part, a second socket surface into the first rod so that the second socket surface includes a protruding surface, a first flat surface, and a second flat surface, wherein the protruding surface is located between the first flat surface and the second flat surface; b) cold forming, at least in part, a leakdown plunger, comprising the steps of: i) providing a second rod; ii) cold forming, at least in part, a first plunger opening into the second rod so that the first plunger opening is provided with an annular plunger surface that defines a plunger hole shaped to accommodate a generally spherical member; iii) cold forming, at least in part, a second plunger opening into the second rod; c) cold forming, at least in part, a valve lifter body that is provided with a valve lifter axis, comprising the steps of: i) providing a third rod; ii) cold forming a first lifter cavity into the third rod so that the third rod is provided with a first inner lifter surface that includes a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, and a fourth wall that extend axially into the third rod with the fourth wall being located adjacent to a first curved surface, the third wall being located adjacent to a second curved surface, and the first and second curved surfaces are located adjacent to a lifter surface that is oriented to be generally orthogonal to the valve lifter axis of the valve lifter body; and iii) cold forming, at least in part, a second lifter cavity into the third rod so that the second lifter cavity is provided with a second inner lifter surface that includes a generally cylindrical surface.