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US 5,007,388 AGranted
Hydraulic valve lifter
AssigneeBriggs & Stratton Corporation
InventorRichard W. Seilenbinder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydraulic valve lifter is disclosed which does not require a source of pressurized lubricating fluid, and is particularly suitable for engines using a splash lubrication system. The engine crankcase oil is transferred from the cam surface through a check valve into the pressure chamber of the lifter. The check valve is operated by the pressure differential between the chamber pressure and the pressure at the cam surface. The check valve may also be operated by the cam itself.
Claims10
A hydraulic lifter for an internal combustion engine having a crankcase containing a hydraulic fluid, comprising:
- an axially movable cylinder having an axial bore therein and having a lifter face that engages a cam on a camshaft;
- a piston having a valve end and a base end, said piston being axially slidable within the axial bore, and the valve end of said piston engaging a valve member interconnected with an engine valve;
- a chamber located within said axial bore and adjacent the base end of said piston;
- an outer spring, disposed within said chamber that engages said piston base end;
- and
- valve means in fluid communication with both said chamber and with said crankcase for transferring hydraulic fluid from said crankcase to said chamber in response to a pressure decrease within said chamber.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.