Method Of Extending Engine Service Life And Angular Displacement-Limiting Clip For Same

A clip for limiting angular displacement of a valve lifter within a lifter bore formed in a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine, the clip comprising:

• a one-piece metal body including a holder, and a hanger;
• the holder having a first jaw and an opposed second jaw, and a base connecting the first and second jaws, such that the holder forms a C-shape in a first plane, each of the first and second jaws including a proximal end adjoining the base, and a free distal end, and the holder further having an open side defined by the free distal ends, for clipping the holder about the valve lifter to form a lifter assembly;
• the hanger projecting from the holder in a direction normal to the first plane, and having a straight proximal section connecting to the base and being positionable within a cutout formed in the valve lifter to rotationally couple the clip thereto, and the hanger further having a distal section forming a U-shape in a second plane normal to the first plane, for coupling the lifter assembly with a wall portion of the cylinder block adjacent the lifter bore;
• and
• the one-piece metal body having an anti-scuffing outer profile configured to inhibit interference between the base and the lifter bore during rotating the lifter assembly to and from an angular displacement-limiting stop position defined by contact between the hanger and the wall portion, and the one-piece metal body further including a first and a second fillet transitioning from the base to the straight proximal section, for diffusing stresses induced in the clip at the angular displacement-limiting stop position.

A clip for limiting angular displacement of a valve lifter, where the angular displacement is induced by engine dynamics during service of an assembly of the valve lifter and the clip in an internal combustion engine, the clip comprising:

• a one-piece metal body including a holder, and a hanger;
• the holder having a first jaw and an opposed second jaw, and a base connecting the first and second jaws, such that the holder forms a C-shape, each of the first and second jaws including a proximal end adjoining the base, and a free distal end;
• the holder further having an open side defined by the free distal ends, such that spreading apart the free distal ends enlarges the open side for clipping the holder about the valve lifter to form the assembly;
• the hanger projecting from the holder, and having a distal section forming a U-shape, for coupling the assembly with a wall portion of a cylinder block adjacent a lifter bore in the internal combustion engine;
• the hanger further having a straight proximal section connecting to the base and being positionable within a cutout formed in the valve lifter to rotationally couple the clip thereto, such that angular displacement of the valve lifter is limited at a stop position via contact between the hanger and the wall portion;
• and
• the clip further having means, including a shape and a thickness of the one-piece metal body, for inhibiting fatigue failure of the hanger in response to stresses induced at the stop position.