Valve deactivator latching assembly

An improved cylinder valve deactivation apparatus for an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one valve controller for selective switching between valve actuating and valve deactivating conditions wherein at least one associated valve is operated normally in the valve actuating conditions and deactivated to remain closed in the deactivating conditions;
• an engine gallery having a bore to receive a valve actuator and including supply and exhaust passages for supplying and discharging pressurized hydraulic fluid for switching between activated and deactivated conditions;
• said valve actuator having a substantially hollow, tubular outer body member with an inner and outer surface, including a peripheral latching groove disposed on the inner surface thereof and actuation ports formed between said inner and outer surface for communicating pressurized hydraulic fluid to said latching groove;
• a tubular inner body member having an interior surface and an exterior surface for insertion into said outer body member where said exterior and a lost motion spring biasing said inner body member toward an axially extended position relative to said outer body member, a deep groove formed along a substantial portion of the outer surface of the inner body, and a plunger for axial insertion at least into part of the inner body;
• a latching assembly formed by at least a pair of collar members nestable within the deep groove when in a compressed state and spring biased to slidably extend from the deep groove into the peripheral groove of the outer body, said collar members including continuously interengaged cooperating alignment elements and having a substantially flat upper and lower surfaces that define the latching shear surface area and a radially outwardly directing biasing element to bias the collar members toward said peripheral groove.