Hydraulic timing chain tensioner assembly

A hydraulic timing chain tensioner assembly comprising:

• a shoe configured to contact a timing chain;
• a hydraulic tensioner including a plunger having a distal end abutting said shoe, said plunger being movable within an opening formed in a tensioner body, said opening including oil and a spring member therein to cushion chain loads transmitted through the shoe and plunger;
• said hydraulic tensioner further including a spring-controlled oil pressure relief structure operatively associated with said opening to vent the oil when the oil is pressurized above a predetermined level by movement of the plunger into the opening, thereby enabling further movement of the plunger into the opening to regulate loads experienced by the timing chain;
• and
• wherein said oil pressure relief structure comprises a poppet valve structure formed by the plunger, the plunger including a plunger sleeve, a shoe contact end, a valve head end and an internal spring compressed between the shoe contact end and a rim of said plunger sleeve, said rim also being in contact with the oil and with the valve head end for closing the poppet valve, said poppet valve opening when force from pressure of the oil and force from the spring member against the rim overcomes force of the internal spring against the rim.