Deactivating valve lifter

Abstract

A valve lifter for an internal combustion engine comprises an outer body, an inner body and at least one pin. The inner body is movable with respect to the outer body, and the at least one pin is movable in response to hydraulic pressure into the groove to lock the outer body against movement relative to the inner body.

1 . A valve lifter comprising: 
 an outer body having a groove;    an inner body movable with respect to the outer body;    at least one pin movable in response to hydraulic pressure, the at least one pin being movable into the groove to lock the outer body against movement relative to the inner body.    
     
     
         2 . The valve lifter of  claim 1  further comprising a lost motion spring disposed between the outer body and the inner body.  
     
     
         3 . The valve lifter of  claim 1  wherein the at least one pin is retractable out of the groove and within the inner body.  
     
     
         4 . The valve lifter of  claim 1  wherein the at least one pin is retractable out of the groove and within the inner body in response to relatively high hydraulic pressure.  
     
     
         5 . The valve lifter of  claim 1  wherein the at least one pin is retractable out of the groove against a spring force.  
     
     
         6 . The valve lifter of  claim 1  wherein the at least one pin comprises a pair of pins.  
     
     
         7 . The valve lifter of  claim 1  wherein the hydraulic pressure is developed by engine oil.  
     
     
         8 . The valve lifter of  claim 1  further comprising a hydraulic lash adjuster disposed within the inner body.  
     
     
         9 . A valve lifter comprising: 
 an outer body having a pair of grooves;    an inner body movable with respect to the outer body;    a pair of pins movable in response to hydraulic pressure, each pin being movable into a respective groove to lock the outer body against movement relative to the inner body.    
     
     
         10 . The valve lifter of  claim 9  further comprising a lost motion spring disposed between the outer body and the inner body.  
     
     
         11 . The valve lifter of  claim 9  wherein the at least one pin is retractable out of the groove and within the inner body.  
     
     
         12 . The valve lifter of  claim 9  wherein the at least one pin is retractable out of the groove and within the inner body in response to relatively high hydraulic pressure.  
     
     
         13 . The valve lifter of  claim 9  wherein the at least one pin is retractable out of the groove against a spring force.  
     
     
         14 . The valve lifter of  claim 9  wherein the hydraulic pressure is developed by engine oil.  
     
     
         15 . The valve lifter of  claim 9  further comprising a hydraulic lash adjuster disposed within the inner body.  
     
     
         16 . A valve lifter for an internal combustion engine, the valve lifter comprising: 
 an outer body having a groove;    an inner body movable with respect to the outer body;    at least one pin movable into the groove to lock the outer body against movement relative to the inner body, the at least one pin being retractable out of the groove and within the inner body in response to relatively high oil pressure developed by the engine.    
     
     
         17 . The valve lifter of  claim 1  further comprising a lost motion spring disposed between the outer body and the inner body.  
     
     
         18 . The valve lifter of  claim 1  wherein the at least one pin is retractable out of the groove against a spring force.  
     
     
         19 . The valve lifter of  claim 1  wherein the at least one pin comprises a pair of pins.  
     
     
         20 . The valve lifter of  claim 1  further comprising a hydraulic lash adjuster disposed within the inner body.