Valve lifter assembly for selectively deactivating a cylinder

A valve lifter assembly for deactivating a cylinder valve in an internal combustion engine, said lifter assembly comprising:

• a main body adapted to be disposed between said valve and a cam of said internal combustion engine;
• a plunger movably disposed within a bore defined in said main body, wherein said plunger is disposed within said bore of said main body extending from a first end thereof and having an exposed surface adjacent thereto adapted to be coupled with a rocker arm disposed between said lifter assembly and said valve;
• and
• a selectively movable locking member disposed between said main body and said plunger and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position to selectively secure said plunger to said main body, wherein said locking member is adapted to engage an annular groove formed on an inner surface of said bore of said main body when said locking member is in said locked position, and further wherein said annular groove surrounds said plunger.

A valve lifter assembly in combination with an overhead camshaft driven valve assembly of an internal combustion engine, said combination comprising:

• a valve having a valve stem extending therefrom;
• a rocker arm pivotally secured to a portion of said internal combustion engine and having a first end coupled with an end of said valve stem and a second end adapted to be coupled with said valve lifter assembly;
• a rotatable cam driven by said overhead camshaft;
• and
• said valve lifter assembly disposed between said second end of said rocker arm and said cam, said lifter assembly comprising;
• a main body disposed between said valve and said cam;
• a plunger movably disposed within a first bore defined in said main body extending from a first end thereof and having an exposed surface adjacent thereto adapted to engage said second end of said rocker arm;
• a first spring disposed between said plunger and said main body;
• a roller rotatably secured to a second end of said main body to provide a rolling interface between said cam and said lifter assembly;
• a selectively movable locking member disposed between said main body and said plunger and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position to selectively secure said plunger to said main body, said locking member including:
• a pair of locking pins disposed within a second bore defined in said plunger;
• and
• a second spring being disposed between said pair of locking pins to outwardly bias said pair of locking pins to engage an annular groove defined in said bore of said main body, wherein said annular groove surrounds said plunger;
• a source of pressurized oil in selective communication with outer ends of said pair of locking pins to selectively force said pair of locking pins inward to disengage said annular groove and allow said plunger to move relative to said main body of said lifter assembly.