Valve lifter and method of manufacturing same
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsHiroyuki Horimura, Kosuke Doi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A valve lifter and a method of manufacture thereof is provided in which sliding properties of a cam on a cam-contacting sliding surface in an upper surface of a valve lifter are improved by forming the cam-contacting sliding surface as a concave surface to permit retention of lubricating oil therein. The cam-contacting sliding surface is integrally provided in an outer wall of an upper part of a valve lifter. The cam-contacting sliding surface is formed as a concave surface to provide better retention of the lubricating oil. The concave sliding surface is formed during high temperature oxidation of the valve lifter by permitting the natural slumping down of the upper part due to its own weight under the gravity.
Claims14
A valve lifter, comprising:
- a lifter body having an upper sliding surface for slidably contacting a cam, wherein
- said upper sliding surface has a concave shape in cross section.
A method of manufacturing a valve lifter made of a titanium alloy, the valve lifter comprising a lifter body having a sliding surface for slidably contacting a cam, wherein
- the sliding surface is integrally formed as an upper surface of the lifter body, and wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- orienting the valve lifter with the sliding surface facing upwardly, and
- performing an oxidation treatment on the valve lifter such that the sliding surface is formed in a concave shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.