Roller follower assembly

A method for manufacturing an assembly that includes a socket body, a leakdown plunger, and a roller follower body comprising the steps of:

• a) providing at least one parts former that includes a punch side and a die side;
• b) locating a plurality of pins on at least one of the punch side and the die side of at least one parts former;
• c) providing a first rod with a first end and a second end;
• d) fabricating the socket body from the first rod, comprising the steps of:
• 1) cold forming the first rod to provide at least a portion of the socket body including the steps of:
• i) using a first pin and a first punch to form, at least in part, a first socket surface and a second socket surface;
• ii) using a second pin and a second punch to form, at least in part, a push rod cooperating surface;
• 2) providing the socket body with an outer socket surface and a socket passage that fluidly links the first and second socket surfaces;
• e) providing a second rod that includes a first end and a second end
• f) fabricating the leakdown plunger from the second rod including the steps of:
• 1) cold forming the second rod to provide at least a portion of the leakdown plunger including the steps of
• i) using a third pin and a third punch to form, at least in part, an annular plunger surface into the first end of the second rod;
• ii) using a fourth pin and a fourth punch to form, at least in part, an inner plunger surface;
• 2) providing the annular plunger surface located at the first end with a plunger hole;
• g) providing a third rod;
• h) fabricating the roller follower body from the third rod including the steps of:
• 1) cold forming the third rod to provide at least a portion of the roller follower body including the steps of:
• i) using a fifth pin and a fifth punch to form, at least in part, a first roller cavity that includes a first roller opening and a first inner roller 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 curved surface, and a second curved surface, wherein:
• (a) the walls and the angled 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;
• (b) the first curved surface abuts the first wall and the second curved surface abuts the second wall;
• and
• 2) providing a second roller cavity that includes a second roller opening and a second inner roller surface that is configured to accommodate the socket body and the leakdown plunger.