Coupling device

Abstract

A unitized valve train assembly includes a finger follower having a pocket and a peripheral surface adjacent the pocket, and a hydraulic lash adjuster having a body, and a plunger extending from the body and received within the pocket of the finger follower. The plunger defines a longitudinal axis. The assembly also includes a single-wire coupling device having a first arm configured to selectively engage the finger follower, and a second arm clamped to one of the body and the plunger. The second arm is spaced from the peripheral surface of the finger follower when the plunger is received within the pocket of the finger follower.

1 . A unitized valve train assembly comprising:
 a finger follower including a pocket and a peripheral surface adjacent the pocket;   a hydraulic lash adjuster including
 a body; and 
 a plunger extending from the body and received within the pocket of the finger follower, the plunger defining a longitudinal axis; 
   a single-wire coupling device including
 a first arm configured to selectively engage the finger follower; and 
 a second arm clamped to one of the body and the plunger; 
   wherein the second arm is spaced from the peripheral surface of the finger follower when the plunger is received within the pocket of the finger follower.   
     
     
         2 . The unitized valve train assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second arm includes a substantially semi-circular hook portion clamped to the one of the body and the plunger from a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the plunger. 
     
     
         3 . The unitized valve train assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the hook portion defines an inner diameter, and wherein the hook portion includes opposite ends defining therebetween a minimum gap less than the inner diameter of the hook portion. 
     
     
         4 . The unitized valve train assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the plunger defines an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the hook portion prior to clamping the hook portion to the plunger. 
     
     
         5 . The unitized valve train assembly of  claim 4 , wherein a difference between the inner diameter of the hook portion and the outer diameter of the plunger yields an interference between about 1% and about 8% of the outer diameter of the plunger. 
     
     
         6 . The unitized valve train assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the plunger defines an outer diameter greater than the gap between the respective ends of the hook portion prior to clamping the hook portion to the plunger, and wherein the respective ends of the hook portion spread apart from each other during clamping of the hook portion to the plunger. 
     
     
         7 . The unitized valve train assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the gap between the respective ends of the hook portion prior to clamping the hook portion to the plunger is between about 5% and about 13% less than the outer diameter of the plunger. 
     
     
         8 . The unitized valve train assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the hook portion is clamped to the plunger, and wherein the hook portion is spaced from the body when the plunger is received within the pocket of the finger follower. 
     
     
         9 . The unitized valve train assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plunger includes a shank and a spherical end portion, and wherein the hook portion is clamped to the shank. 
     
     
         10 . The unitized valve train assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first arm includes an arcuate lip portion configured to selectively engage the finger follower. 
     
     
         11 . The unitized valve train assembly of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the shank is cylindrical, and wherein substantially the entire length of the hook portion is engageable with the cylindrical portion of the shank. 
     
     
         12 . The unitized valve train assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling device is formed from a single wire having a circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         13 . The unitized valve train assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the single wire has a diameter between about 0.5 mm and about 0.75 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The unitized valve train assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second arm includes a hoop portion clamped to the body. 
     
     
         15 . The unitized valve train assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first arm includes dual, parallel wire segments, and wherein the coupling device further includes dual, parallel intermediate wire segments interconnecting the hoop portion and the respective wire segments of the first arm. 
     
     
         16 . A unitized valve train assembly comprising:
 a finger follower including a pocket;   a hydraulic lash adjuster including a plunger received within the pocket of the finger follower, the plunger defining a longitudinal axis;   a coupling device including
 a first arm configured to selectively engage the finger follower; and 
 a second arm including a substantially semi-circular hook portion engageable with the plunger from a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the plunger; 
   wherein the hook portion defines an inner diameter, and wherein the hook portion includes opposite ends defining therebetween a minimum gap less than the inner diameter of the hook portion.   
     
     
         17 . The unitized valve train assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the plunger defines an outer diameter greater than the gap between the respective ends of the hook portion prior to assembly of the hydraulic lash adjuster and the coupling device, and wherein the respective ends of the hook portion spread apart from each other during assembly of the hydraulic lash adjuster and the coupling device. 
     
     
         18 . The unitized valve train assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the gap between the respective ends of the hook portion prior to assembly of the hydraulic lash adjuster and the coupling device is between about 5% and about 13% less than the outer diameter of the plunger. 
     
     
         19 . A single-wire resilient clip adapted to couple a finger follower and a hydraulic lash adjuster for use in a valve train of an engine, the hydraulic lash adjuster having a plunger defining a longitudinal axis, the finger follower having a pocket for receiving the plunger, the resilient clip comprising:
 a first arm configured to selectively engage the finger follower; and   a second arm including a substantially semi-circular hook portion engageable with the plunger from a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the plunger;   wherein the hook portion defines an inner diameter, and wherein the hook portion includes opposite ends defining therebetween a minimum gap less than the inner diameter of the hook portion.   
     
     
         20 . The single-wire resilient clip of  claim 19 , wherein the first arm includes an arcuate lip portion configured to selectively engage the finger follower. 
     
     
         21 . The single-wire resilient clip of  claim 19 , further comprising an intermediate portion interconnecting the first and second arms, wherein the intermediate portion is oriented substantially normal to the first arm and the second arm. 
     
     
         22 . A method of coupling a finger follower and a hydraulic lash adjuster for use in a valve train of an engine, the finger follower having a pocket for receiving a plunger of the hydraulic lash adjuster, the method comprising:
 providing a clip having a hook portion defining an inner diameter, the hook portion including opposite ends defining therebetween a minimum gap less than the inner diameter of the hook portion;   inserting the plunger into the hook portion in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the plunger;   spreading the opposite ends of the hook portion from each other during insertion of the plunger into the hook portion;   clamping the plunger with the hook portion to secure the clip to the hydraulic lash adjuster; and   positioning the plunger within the pocket of the finger follower.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 providing a first arm on the clip having the hook portion;   providing a second arm on the clip spaced from the first arm; and   supporting the hydraulic lash adjuster from the finger follower via engagement of the first arm and the finger follower.