Valve operating assembly and method of manufacturing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a leakdown plunger, comprising a first plunger opening, a second plunger opening, and an outer plunger surface that is provided with an axis and encloses an inner plunger surface, the first plunger opening is provided with a first annular plunger surface shaped to accommodate a valve insert, the second plunger opening is configured to cooperate with a socket body, the outer plunger surface includes a cylindrical plunger surface and cooperates with an engine workpiece, and the inner plunger surface includes an inner cylindrical plunger surface.

1 . An assembly, comprising: 
 a) a socket body including a forgeable material and provided with: 
 i) an outer socket surface, a first socket surface, a second socket surface, and a socket passage;  
 ii) the outer socket surface is configured to cooperate with a second inner lifter surface of a valve lifter body;  
 iii) the first socket surface includes a push rod cooperating surface and defines a first socket hole that links the first socket surface with the socket passage;  
 iv) the second socket surface defines a second socket hole that links the second socket surface with the socket passage and is provided with 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) the leakdown plunger includes: 
 i) a first plunger opening, a second plunger opening, and an outer plunger surface enclosing an inner plunger surface;  
 ii) the first plunger opening is provided with a first annular plunger surface defining a first plunger hole shaped to accommodate an insert;  
 iii) the second plunger opening is configured to cooperate with the socket body and provided with a second annular plunger surface defining a second plunger hole;  
 iv) the outer plunger surface includes a cylindrical plunger surface and cooperates with a lash adjuster body to define a cavity between the lash adjuster body and the outer plunger surface;  
 v) the inner plunger surface includes a first inner cylindrical plunger surface and a second inner cylindrical plunger surface, wherein the second annular plunger surface is located between the first inner cylindrical plunger surface and the second inner cylindrical plunger surface  
   c) the lash adjuster body includes: 
 i) a lash adjuster opening and an outer lash adjuster surface enclosing a lash adjuster cavity; and  
 ii) the lash adjuster cavity includes an inner lash adjuster surface that is provided with a first cylindrical lash adjuster surface, an annular lash adjuster surface, and a second cylindrical lash adjuster surface, wherein the annular lash adjuster surface abuts the first and second cylindrical lash adjuster surfaces.  
   
   
   
       2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the second annular plunger surface is located adjacent to the first inner cylindrical plunger surface and the second inner cylindrical plunger surface.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the second annular plunger surface abuts the first inner cylindrical plunger surface and the second inner cylindrical plunger surface.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a valve lifter body including: 
 a) an outer lifter surface that encloses a first lifter cavity and a second lifter cavity;    b) the first lifter cavity includes a first lifter opening shaped to accept a roller and a first inner lifter surface that is provided with a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a fourth wall, a first angled surface, a second angled surface, a third angled surface, and a fourth angled surface;    c) the walls extend axially into the 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;    d) the first angled surface is located adjacent to the first wall and the fourth wall;    e) the second angled surface is located adjacent to first wall and the third wall;    f) the third angled surface is located adjacent to the second wall and the third wall;    g) the fourth angled surface is located adjacent to the second wall and the fourth wall; and    h) the second lifter cavity includes the second inner lifter surface and a second lifter opening, wherein the second inner lifter surface is provided with a plurality of cylindrical surfaces and configured to accommodate the lash adjuster body, the socket body, and the leakdown plunger.    
   
   
       5 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a valve lifter body including: 
 a) an outer lifter surface that encloses a first lifter cavity and a second lifter cavity;    b) the first lifter cavity includes a first lifter opening shaped to accept a roller and a first inner lifter surface that is provided with a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a fourth wall, a first curved surface, and a second curved surface;    c) the walls extend axially into the body from the first opening and are positioned so that the first wall faces the fourth wall and the second wall faces the third wall;    d) the first curved surface is located adjacent to the fourth wall and the second curved surface is located adjacent to the third wall; and    e) the second lifter cavity includes the second inner lifter surface and a second lifter opening, wherein the second inner lifter surface is provided with a plurality of cylindrical surfaces and configured to accommodate the lash adjuster body, the socket body, and the leakdown plunger.    
   
   
       6 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a valve lifter body including: 
 a) an outer lifter surface that encloses a first lifter cavity and a second lifter cavity;    b) the first lifter cavity includes a first lifter opening shaped to accept a roller and a first inner lifter surface that is provided with a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a fourth wall, a first curved surface, and a second curved surface;    c) the walls extend axially into the body from the first opening and are positioned so that the first wall faces the fourth wall and the second wall faces the third wall;    d) the first curved surface is located adjacent to the first wall and the fourth wall and the second curved surface is located adjacent to the second wall and the third wall; and    e) the second lifter cavity includes the second inner lifter surface and a second lifter opening, wherein the second inner lifter surface is provided with a plurality of cylindrical surfaces and configured to accommodate the lash adjuster body, the socket body, and the leakdown plunger.    
   
   
       7 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a valve lifter body including: 
 a) an outer lifter surface that encloses a first lifter cavity and a second lifter cavity;    b) the first lifter cavity includes a first lifter opening shaped to accept a roller and a first inner lifter surface that is provided with a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a fourth wall, a first angled surface, a second angled surface, a third angled surface, a fourth angled surface, a first curved surface, and a second curved surface;    c) the walls extend axially into the 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;    d) the first angled surface is located adjacent to the first wall, the fourth wall, and the first curved surface;    e) the second angled surface is located adjacent to first wall, the third wall, and the second curved surface;    f) the third angled surface is located adjacent to the second wall, the third wall, and the second curved surface;    g) the fourth angled surface is located adjacent to the second wall, the fourth wall, and the first curved surface; and    h) the second lifter cavity includes the second inner lifter surface and a second lifter opening, wherein the second inner lifter surface is provided with a plurality of cylindrical surfaces and configured to accommodate the lash adjuster body, the socket body, and the leakdown plunger.    
   
   
       8 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a valve lifter body including: 
 a) an outer lifter surface that encloses a first lifter cavity and a second lifter cavity;    b) the first lifter cavity includes a first lifter opening shaped to accept a roller and a first inner lifter 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, a fourth angled wall, a first angled surface, a second angled surface, a third angled surface, a fourth angled surface, a first curved surface, and a second curved surface;    c) the walls extend axially into the body from the first opening and are positioned so that the first wall faces the second wall, the third wall faces the fourth wall, the first angled wall faces the second angled wall, and the third angled wall faces the fourth angled wall;    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 first wall, the 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, second angled wall, and the second curved surface;    g) the fourth angled surface is located adjacent to the second wall, the fourth wall, the third angled wall, and the first curved surface; and    h) the second lifter cavity includes the second inner lifter surface and a second lifter opening, wherein the second inner lifter surface is provided with a plurality of cylindrical surfaces and configured to accommodate the lash adjuster body, the socket body, and the leakdown plunger.    
   
   
       9 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the protruding surface abuts the first flat surface and the second flat surface.  
   
   
       10 . An assembly, comprising: 
 a) a socket body including a forgeable material and provided with: 
 i) an outer socket surface, a first socket surface, a second socket surface, and a socket passage;  
 ii) the outer socket surface is configured to cooperate with a second inner lifter surface of a valve lifter body;  
 iii) the first socket surface includes a push rod cooperating surface and defines a first socket hole that links the first socket surface with the socket passage;  
 iv) the second socket surface defines a second socket hole that links the second socket surface with the socket passage and is provided with a protruding surface and at least one flat surface located adjacent to the protruding surface;  
   b) the leakdown plunger includes: 
 i) a first plunger opening, a second plunger opening, and an outer plunger surface enclosing an inner plunger surface;  
 ii) the first plunger opening is provided with a first annular plunger surface defining a first plunger hole shaped to accommodate an insert;  
 iii) the second plunger opening is configured to cooperate with the socket body and provided with a second annular plunger surface defining a second plunger hole;  
 iv) the outer plunger surface includes a cylindrical plunger surface and cooperates with a lash adjuster body to define a cavity between the lash adjuster body and the outer plunger surface;  
 v) the inner plunger surface includes a first inner cylindrical plunger surface and a second inner cylindrical plunger surface, wherein the second annular plunger surface is located between the first inner cylindrical plunger surface and the second inner cylindrical plunger surface  
   c) the lash adjuster body includes: 
 i) a lash adjuster opening and an outer lash adjuster surface enclosing a lash adjuster cavity; and  
 ii) the lash adjuster cavity includes an inner lash adjuster surface that is provided with a first cylindrical lash adjuster surface, an annular lash adjuster surface, and a second cylindrical lash adjuster surface, wherein the annular lash adjuster surface abuts the first and second cylindrical lash adjuster surfaces.  
   
   
   
       11 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the second annular plunger surface is located adjacent to the first inner cylindrical plunger surface and the second inner cylindrical plunger surface.  
   
   
       12 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the second annular plunger surface abuts the first inner cylindrical plunger surface and the second inner cylindrical plunger surface.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , further comprising a valve lifter body including: 
 a) an outer lifter surface that encloses a first lifter cavity and a second lifter cavity;    b) the first lifter cavity includes a first lifter opening shaped to accept a roller and a first inner lifter surface that is provided with a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a fourth wall, a first angled surface, a second angled surface, a third angled surface, and a fourth angled surface;    c) the walls extend axially into the 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;    d) the first angled surface is located adjacent to the first wall and the fourth wall;    e) the second angled surface is located adjacent to first wall and the third wall;    f) the third angled surface is located adjacent to the second wall and the third wall;    g) the fourth angled surface is located adjacent to the second wall and the fourth wall; and    h) the second lifter cavity includes the second inner lifter surface and a second lifter opening, wherein the second inner lifter surface is provided with a plurality of cylindrical surfaces and configured to accommodate the lash adjuster body, the socket body, and the leakdown plunger.    
   
   
       14 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , further comprising a valve lifter body including: 
 a) an outer lifter surface that encloses a first lifter cavity and a second lifter cavity;    b) the first lifter cavity includes a first lifter opening shaped to accept a roller and a first inner lifter surface that is provided with a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a fourth wall, a first curved surface, and a second curved surface;    c) the walls extend axially into the body from the first opening and are positioned so that the first wall faces the fourth wall and the second wall faces the third wall;    d) the first curved surface is located adjacent to the fourth wall and the second curved surface is located adjacent to the third wall; and    e) the second lifter cavity includes the second inner lifter surface and a second lifter opening, wherein the second inner lifter surface is provided with a plurality of cylindrical surfaces and configured to accommodate the lash adjuster body, the socket body, and the leakdown plunger.    
   
   
       15 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , further comprising a valve lifter body including: 
 a) an outer lifter surface that encloses a first lifter cavity and a second lifter cavity;    b) the first lifter cavity includes a first lifter opening shaped to accept a roller and a first inner lifter surface that is provided with a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a fourth wall, a first curved surface, and a second curved surface;    c) the walls extend axially into the body from the first opening and are positioned so that the first wall faces the fourth wall and the second wall faces the third wall;    d) the first curved surface is located adjacent to the first wall and the fourth wall and the second curved surface is located adjacent to the second wall and the third wall ;and    e) the second lifter cavity includes the second inner lifter surface and a second lifter opening, wherein the second inner lifter surface is provided with a plurality of cylindrical surfaces and configured to accommodate the lash adjuster body, the socket body, and the leakdown plunger.    
   
   
       16 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , further comprising a valve lifter body including: 
 a) an outer lifter surface that encloses a first lifter cavity and a second lifter cavity;    b) the first lifter cavity includes a first lifter opening shaped to accept a roller and a first inner lifter surface that is provided with a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a fourth wall, a first angled surface, a second angled surface, a third angled surface, a fourth angled surface, a first curved surface, and a second curved surface;    c) the walls extend axially into the 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;    d) the first angled surface is located adjacent to the first wall, the fourth wall, and the first curved surface;    e) the second angled surface is located adjacent to first wall, the third wall, and the second curved surface;    f) the third angled surface is located adjacent to the second wall, the third wall, and the second curved surface;    g) the fourth angled surface is located adjacent to the second wall, the fourth wall, and the first curved surface; and    h) the second lifter cavity includes the second inner lifter surface and a second lifter opening, wherein the second inner lifter surface is provided with a plurality of cylindrical surfaces and configured to accommodate the lash adjuster body, the socket body, and the leakdown plunger.    
   
   
       17 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , further comprising a valve lifter body including: 
 a) an outer lifter surface that encloses a first lifter cavity and a second lifter cavity;    b) the first lifter cavity includes a first lifter opening shaped to accept a roller and a first inner lifter 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, a fourth angled wall, a first angled surface, a second angled surface, a third angled surface, a fourth angled surface, a first curved surface, and a second curved surface;    c) the walls extend axially into the body from the first opening and are positioned so that the first wall faces the second wall, the third wall faces the fourth wall, the first angled wall faces the second angled wall, and the third angled wall faces the fourth angled wall;    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 first wall, the 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, second angled wall, and the second curved surface;    g) the fourth angled surface is located adjacent to the second wall, the fourth wall, the third angled wall, and the first curved surface; and    h) the second lifter cavity includes the second inner lifter surface and a second lifter opening, wherein the second inner lifter surface is provided with a plurality of cylindrical surfaces and configured to accommodate the lash adjuster body, the socket body, and the leakdown plunger.    
   
   
       18 . An assembly, comprising: 
 a) a socket body provided with: 
 i) an outer socket surface, a first socket surface, a second socket surface, and a socket passage;  
 ii) the outer socket surface is configured to cooperate with a second inner lifter surface of a valve lifter body;  
 iii) the first socket surface includes a push rod cooperating surface and defines a first socket hole that links the first socket surface with the socket passage;  
 iv) the second socket surface defines a second socket hole that links the second socket surface with the socket passage and is provided with a protruding surface and at least one flat surface located adjacent to the protruding surface;  
   b) the leakdown plunger includes: 
 i) a first plunger opening, a second plunger opening, and an outer plunger surface enclosing an inner plunger surface;  
 ii) the first plunger opening is provided with a first annular plunger surface defining a first plunger hole shaped to accommodate an insert;  
 iii) the second plunger opening is configured to cooperate with the socket body and provided with a second annular plunger surface defining a second plunger hole;  
 iv) the outer plunger surface includes a cylindrical plunger surface and cooperates with a lash adjuster body to define a cavity between the lash adjuster body and the outer plunger surface;  
 v) the inner plunger surface includes a first inner cylindrical plunger surface and a second inner cylindrical plunger surface, wherein the second annular plunger surface is located between the first inner cylindrical plunger surface and the second inner cylindrical plunger surface  
   c) the lash adjuster body includes: 
 i) a lash adjuster opening and an outer lash adjuster surface enclosing a lash adjuster cavity;  
 ii) the lash adjuster cavity includes an inner lash adjuster surface that is provided with a first cylindrical lash adjuster surface, an annular lash adjuster surface, and a second cylindrical lash adjuster surface, wherein the annular lash adjuster surface abuts the first and second cylindrical lash adjuster surfaces; and  
   d) at least a portion of the assembly is fabricated through cold forming.    
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein the second socket surface is provided with the 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.  
   
   
       20 . The assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the second annular plunger surface is located adjacent to the first inner cylindrical plunger surface and the second inner cylindrical plunger surface.