Valve lifter body

Abstract

The present invention relates to a valve lifter body, comprising an outer surface, enclosing a first cavity and a second cavity, wherein the first cavity includes a first inner surface configured to house a cylindrical insert, the second cavity includes a second inner surface cylindrically shaped, and at least one of the cavities is fabricated through forging.

1 . A valve lifter body that is generally cylindrical about an axis and provided with a first end and a second end, comprising: 
 a) the valve lifter body has been cold formed, at least in part, to provide a first cavity and a second cavity;    b) an outer surface that encloses the first cavity and the second cavity;    c) the first end of the valve lifter body includes a first opening shaped to accept a roller;    d) the first cavity includes a first inner surface that is provided with a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a fourth wall, a first angled wall, a second angled wall, a third angled wall, fourth angled wall, a first angled surface, a second angled surface, a third angled surface, and a fourth angled surface;    e) the walls extend axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening and are positioned so that the first wall faces the second wall and the third wall faces the fourth wall;    f) the first angled wall extends axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening and terminates, at least in part, at the first angled surface that is located adjacent to the first wall and the fourth wall;    g) the second angled wall extends axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening and terminates, at least in part, at the third angled surface that is located adjacent to the second wall and the third wall;    h) the third angled wall extends axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening and terminates, at least in part, at the fourth angled surface that is located adjacent to the second wall and the fourth wall;    i) the fourth angled wall extends axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening and terminates, at least in part, at the second angled surface that is located adjacent to the first wall and the third wall;    j) the second end of the valve lifter body includes a second opening; and    k) the second cavity extends axially into the valve lifter body from the second opening and includes a second inner surface that has been machined, at least in part, to provided a plurality of cylindrical surfaces and configured to accommodate a lash adjuster body, a socket body, and a leakdown plunger.    
   
   
       2 . The valve lifter body of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the angled surfaces is generally oriented to be at an angle relative to a plane that is orthogonal to the axis of the valve lifter body, the angle measuring between twenty-five and about ninety degrees.  
   
   
       3 . The valve lifter body of  claim 1  wherein the fourth angled surface has been cold formed to extend from the third angled wall at an angle measuring between 45 degrees and 65 degrees relative to a plane that is orthogonal to the axis of the valve lifter body.  
   
   
       4 . The valve lifter body of  claim 1  further comprising a combustion engine wherein the valve lifter body is located and functions to operate a valve.  
   
   
       5 . The valve lifter body of  claim 1  wherein at least one angled surface has been cold formed to extend from at least one of the angled walls at an angle measuring between 25 degrees and 75 degrees relative to a plane that is orthogonal to the axis of the valve lifter body.  
   
   
       6 . The valve lifter body of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the angled surfaces is generally oriented to be at an angle relative to a plane that is orthogonal to the axis of the valve lifter body.  
   
   
       7 . The valve lifter body of  claim 1  wherein the first inner surface includes: 
 a) a first curved surface;    b) a second curved surface;    c) the fourth wall extends axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening and terminates, at least in part, at the first curved surface; and    d) the third wall extends into the valve lifter body from the first opening and terminates, at least in part, at the second curved surface.    
   
   
       8 . The valve lifter body of  claim 1  wherein: 
 a) the first inner surface includes a first curved surface and a second curved surface;    b) the fourth wall extends axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening and terminates, at least in part, at the first curved surface;    c) the third wall extends into the valve lifter body from the first opening and terminates, at least in part, at the second curved surface;    d) the first angled surface is located adjacent to the first wall, the fourth wall, the first angled wall, and the first curved surface;    e) the second angled surface is located adjacent to the first wall, third wall, the fourth angled wall, and the second curved surface;    f) the third angled surface is located adjacent to the second wall, the third wall, the second angled wall, and the second curved surface; and    g) the fourth angled surface is located adjacent to the second wall, the fourth wall, the third angled wall and the first curved surface.    
   
   
       9 . The valve lifter body of  claim 1  further comprising a combustion engine wherein: 
 a) the valve lifter body is located in the combustion engine and functions to operate a valve;    b) the first angled surface is located adjacent to the first wall, the fourth wall, and the first angled wall;    c) the second angled surface is located adjacent to the first wall, third wall, and the fourth angled wall;    d) the third angled surface is located adjacent to the second wall, the third wall, and the second angled wall;    e) the fourth angled surface is located adjacent to the second wall, the fourth wall, and the third angled wall;    f) at least one of the angled surfaces is generally oriented to be at an angle relative to a plane that is orthogonal to the axis of the valve lifter body, the angle measuring between twenty-five and about ninety degrees;    g) the first cavity is fabricated, at least in part, through cold forming; and    h) at least one of the angled surfaces extends, at least in part, from at least one of the angled walls towards the axis of the valve lifter body.    
   
   
       10 . The valve lifter body of  claim 1  wherein the lash adjuster body, the socket body, and the leakdown plunger are fabricated, at least in part, through cold forming.  
   
   
       11 . The valve lifter body of  claim 1  wherein the first angled wall faces the second angled wall and the third angled wall faces the fourth angled wall.  
   
   
       12 . The valve lifter body of  claim 1  wherein the first opening is a chamfered opening.  
   
   
       13 . A valve lifter body that is generally cylindrical about an axis and provided with a first end and a second end, comprising: 
 a) an outer surface that encloses a first cavity and a second cavity;    b) the first end of the valve lifter body includes a first opening shaped to accept a roller;    c) the first cavity includes a first inner surface that is provided with a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a fourth wall, a first angled wall, a second angled wall, a third angled wall, fourth angled wall, a first curved surface, a second curved surface, and a flat surface;    d) the first wall and the second wall extend axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening and are positioned so that the first wall faces the second wall;    e) the third wall extends axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening and terminates, at least in part, at the second curved surface;    f) the fourth wall extends axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening and terminates, at least in part, at the first curved surface;    g) the third wall and the fourth wall are positioned so that the third wall faces the fourth wall;    h) the first angled wall extends axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening, faces the second angled wall, and is located between the fourth wall and the first wall;    i) the second angled wall extends axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening, faces the first angled wall, and is located between the second wall and the third wall;    j) the third angled wall extends axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening, faces the fourth angled wall, and is located between the second wall and the fourth wall;    k) the fourth angled wall extends axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening, faces the third angled wall, and is located between the first wall and the third wall;    l) the first and second curved surfaces are, at least in part, located adjacent to the flat surface, which is generally orthogonal to the axis of the valve lifter body;    m) the second end of the valve lifter body includes a second opening;    n) the second cavity extends axially into the valve lifter body from the second opening and includes a second inner surface that is provided with a plurality of cylindrical surfaces and configured to accommodate a socket body and a leakdown plunger; and    o) the first cavity is fabricated, at least in part, through cold forming.    
   
   
       14 . The valve lifter body according to  claim 13  wherein the flat surface is generally circular in shape.  
   
   
       15 . The valve lifter body according to  claim 13  wherein the first opening has been cold formed to provide a chamfered opening.  
   
   
       16 . A valve lifter body that is generally cylindrical about an axis and provided with a first end and a second end, comprising: 
 a) an outer surface that encloses a first cavity and a second cavity;    b) the first end of the valve lifter body includes a first opening shaped to accept a roller;    c) the first cavity includes a first inner surface that is provided with a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a fourth wall, a first curved surface, a second curved surface, and a flat surface;    d) the first wall extends axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening, faces the second wall, and terminates, at least in part, at the first curved surface;    e) the second wall extends axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening, faces the first wall, and terminates, at least in part, at the second curved surface;    f) the third wall extends axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening, faces the fourth wall, and terminates, at least in part, at the flat surface;    g) the fourth wall extends axially into the valve lifter body from the first opening, faces the third wall, and terminates, at least in part, at the flat surface;    h) the first curved surface extends from the first wall towards the axis of the valve lifter body and terminates, at least in part, at the flat surface;    i) the second curved surface extends from the second wall towards the axis of the valve lifter body and terminates, at least in part, at the flat surface;    j) the flat surface is generally rectangular in shape and generally orthogonal to the axis of the valve lifter body;    k) the second end of the valve lifter body includes a second opening;    l) the second cavity extends axially into the valve lifter body from the second opening and includes a second inner surface that is provided with a plurality of cylindrical surfaces and configured to accommodate a socket body and a leakdown plunger; and    m) the first cavity is fabricated, at least in part, through cold forming.    
   
   
       16 . The valve lifter body of  claim 16  wherein the second cavity includes a well that is cylindrically shaped and provided with a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the second inner surface.  
   
   
       17 . The valve lifter body of  claim 16  wherein: 
 a) the second cavity includes a well and a lead surface;    b) the lead surface extends from the second inner surface towards the axis of the valve lifter body and terminates, at least in part, at the well; and    c) the well is cylindrically shaped and provided with a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the second inner surface.    
   
   
       18 . The valve lifter body of  claim 16  wherein: 
 a) the second cavity includes a well and a lead surface;    b) the lead surface is frusto-conical in shape, extends from the second inner surface towards the axis of the valve lifter body, and terminates, at least in part, at the well; and    c) the well is cylindrically shaped and provided with a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the second inner surface.    
   
   
       19 . The valve lifter body of  claim 16  wherein: 
 a) the second cavity includes a well and a lead surface;    b) the lead surface extends from the second inner surface towards the axis of the valve lifter body and terminates, at least in part, at the well; and    c) the well is cylindrically shaped, provided with a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the second inner surface, and generally concentric relative to the second inner surface.