# US 8,770,162 B2 · Lifter guide assembly for an internal combustion engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,162 B2 - Document ID: US8770162B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/686,449 - Filed: 2012-11-27 - Published: 2014-02-20 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-17 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Nick John Hendriksma; Gerald R. Stabel; Kenneth J. Veenstra - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770162B2 ## CPC - F01L 1/14: Tappets {(hydraulic tappets for automatically adjusting or compensating clearance F01L1/24)}; Push rods - F01L 1/146: {Push-rods} - F01L 1/46: Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups - F01L 2307/00: Preventing the rotation of tappets - Y10T 29/49231: I.C. [internal combustion] engine making - F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A lifter guide includes a lifter guide body having an outer surface and an inner surface that extend from a first end to a second end. The inner surface defines at least one push rod passage. A plurality of compression members are provided at the first end. The plurality of compression members project proudly from the first end. The plurality of compression members are configured and disposed to be compressed by a cylinder head to retain the lifter guide in a cylinder block. The lifter guide is devoid of mechanical fasteners. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lifter guide comprising: a lifter guide body including an outer surface and an inner surface that extend from a first end to a second end, the inner surface defining at least one push rod passage; a plurality of compression members provided at the first end, the plurality of compression members projecting proudly from the first end, the plurality of compression members being configured and disposed to be compressed by a cylinder head to retain the lifter guide in a cylinder block, the lifter guide being devoid of mechanical fasteners. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lifter guide according to claim 1, wherein the lifter guide body includes a first body portion and a second body portion, the at least one push rod passage including first and second push rod passages provided in the first body portion, third and fourth push rod passages provided in the second body portion, the first body portion being joined to the second body portion through a linking bridge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lifter guide according to claim 2, wherein the linking bridge includes a first surface and an opposing second surface, the plurality of compression members being provided on first surface of the linking bridge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The lifter guide according to claim 3, wherein the first surface of the linking bridge includes a central raised portion, the plurality of compression members being provided on the central raised portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The lifter guide according to claim 3, wherein the second surface of the linking bridge includes a recessed portion configured and disposed to receive a mounting post. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lifter guide according to claim 1, wherein the at least one push rod passage includes a first push rod passage and a second push rod passage extending through the lifter guide body, the first push rod passage being separated from the second push rod passage by a divider. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The lifter guide according to claim 6, wherein the lifter guide body includes at least one flange portion extending radially from the outer surface, the plurality of compression members being provided on the at least one flange portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The lifter guide according to claim 7, wherein the at least one flange portion includes a first flange portion positioned adjacent the first push rod passage, and a second flange portion positioned adjacent the second push rod passage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The lifter guide according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of compression members are provided on each of the first and second flange portions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The lifter guide according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of compression members comprise a raised bump. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The lifter guide according to claim 10, wherein the raised bump includes a generally circular edge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The lifter guide according to claim 10, further comprising: a lifter provided at the second end. ### Claim 13 An internal combustion engine comprising: a cylinder block including a deck face and at least one lifter guide receiving portion defined in the deck face; a cylinder head mounted to the cylinder block at the deck face; and a lifter guide arranged between in the lifter guide receiving portion, the lifter guide includes: a lifter guide body including an outer surface and an inner surface that extend from a first end to a second end, the inner surface defining at least one push rod passage; a plurality of compression members provided at the first end, the plurality of compression members projecting proudly relative to the deck face at the first end, the plurality of compression members being compressed by the cylinder head to retain the lifter guide in the cylinder block, the lifter guide being devoid of mechanical fasteners. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The internal combustion engine according to claim 13, wherein the lifter guide body includes a first body portion and a second body portion, the at least one push rod passage including first and second push rod passages provided in the first body portion, third and fourth push rod passages provided in the second body portion, the first body portion being joined to the second body portion through a linking bridge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The internal combustion engine according to claim 14, wherein the linking bridge includes a first surface and an opposing second surface, the plurality of compression members being provided on first surface of the linking bridge. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The internal combustion engine according to claim 15, wherein the first surface of the linking bridge includes a central raised portion, the plurality of compression members being provided on the central raised portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The internal combustion engine according to claim 15, wherein the second surface of the linking bridge includes a recessed portion configured and disposed to receive a mounting post. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The internal combustion engine according to claim 13, wherein the at least one push rod passage includes a first push rod passage and a second push rod passage extending through the lifter guide body, the first push rod passage being separated from the second push rod passage by a divider. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The internal combustion engine according to claim 18, wherein the lifter guide body includes at least one flange portion extending radially from the outer surface, the plurality of compression members being provided on the at least one flange portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The internal combustion engine according to claim 19, wherein the at least one flange portion includes a first flange portion positioned adjacent the first push rod passage, and a second flange portion positioned adjacent the second push rod passage. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The internal combustion engine according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of compression members are provided on each of the first and second flange portions. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The internal combustion engine according to claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of compression members comprise a raised bump. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The internal combustion engine according to claim 22, wherein the raised bump includes a generally circular edge. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The internal combustion engine according to claim 13, further comprising: a lifter provided at the second end. ### Claim 25 A method of installing a lifter guide in an internal combustion engine, the method comprising: inserting a lifter guide into a lifter guide receiving portion formed in a cylinder block having a deck surface; mounting a cylinder head to the deck surface of the cylinder block; and compressing a plurality of compression members that project from the lifter guide proudly relative to the deck surface with the cylinder head to retain the lifter guide in the lifter guide receiving portion without a mechanical fastener. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein compressing the plurality of compression members include deforming a plurality of raised bumps provided on the lifter guide.