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US 9,217,407 B2Granted
Mechanical lifter
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsWilliam D Bauman, Gerald R Stabel, Carl Ralph Kangas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The mechanical lifter generally includes an inner lift member, an outer lift member, and a roller. The inner lift member is at least partly made of a metallic material. The outer lift member is at least partly made of a polymeric material and surrounds the inner lift member. The roller is rotatably coupled with respect to the inner lift member and is partly disposed within the inner lift member. The inner lift member is configured to move a first component in response to a force applied to the roller by a second component.
Claims19
A mechanical lifter comprising:
- an inner lift member at least partly made of a metallic material;
- an outer lift member at least partly made of a polymeric material, the outer lift member surrounding the inner lift member;
- a roller rotatably coupled with respect to the inner lift member, the roller being partly disposed within the inner lift member, wherein the inner lift member is configured to move a first component in response to a force applied to the roller by a second component;
- and
- a shaft supporting the roller, wherein the shaft is fixed to the outer lift member, and at least a portion of the shaft is in direct contact with the outer lift member.
2 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- an engine configured to power the vehicle, the engine including an engine component;
- a housing;
- and
- a fuel pump assembly in fluid communication with the engine so as to supply fuel to the engine, the fuel pump assembly including:
- a pump body affixed to the housing and defining a pump bore, the pump bore defining a stroke axis;
- a plunger at least partly disposed in the pump bore, the plunger being operatively coupled to the pump body such that the plunger is configured to move relative to the pump bore along the stroke axis;
- a mechanical lifter disposed within the housing, the mechanical lifter being operatively coupled to the plunger such that the plunger is configured to move relative to the pump bore along the stroke axis upon movement of the mechanical lifter relative to the housing, the mechanical lifter including:
- an outer lift member including a polymeric material;
- an inner lift member at least partly disposed within the outer lift member, the outer lift member being molded over the inner lift member;
- a roller rotatably coupled with respect to the inner lift member, the roller being partly disposed within the inner lift member, wherein the engine component is configured to apply a force to the roller so as to move the mechanical lifter relative to the housing along the stroke axis;
- and
- a shaft supporting the roller, wherein at least a portion of the shaft is in direct contact with the outer lift member.
9 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- an engine configured to power the vehicle, the engine including an engine component;
- a housing;
- and
- a fuel pump assembly in fluid communication with the engine so as to supply fuel to the engine, the fuel pump assembly including:
- a pump body affixed to the housing and defining a pump bore, the pump bore defining a stroke axis;
- a plunger at least partly disposed in the pump bore, the plunger being operatively coupled to the pump body such that the plunger is configured to move relative to the pump bore along the stroke axis;
- a mechanical lifter disposed within the housing, the mechanical lifter being operatively coupled to the plunger such that the plunger is configured to move relative to the pump bore along the stroke axis upon movement of the mechanical lifter relative to the housing, the mechanical lifter including:
- an outer lift member including a polymeric material;
- an inner lift member at least partly disposed within the outer lift member, the outer lift member being molded over the inner lift member;
- and
- a roller rotatably coupled with respect to the inner lift member, the roller being partly disposed within the inner lift member, wherein the engine component is configured to apply a force to the roller so as to move the mechanical lifter relative to the housing along the stroke axis;
- and
- a shaft supporting the roller, wherein the shaft is directly fixed to the outer lift member.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.