Tappet push rod seat and meter means

Claim 2

In a tappet adapted for operative connection to a push rod and including a tappet body having an oil reservoir; a push rod seat means positioned within said tappet body above said reservoir, said seat means having a passageway adapted for communication with said push rod; and means for metering oil conducted from said reservoir and into said rod; the improvement comprising: said push rod seat means being formed of an upper and lower part which are maintained in constant engagement with each other; said upper part having a push rod seating surface in its upper surface and an opening extending from said seating surface to at least the upper surface of said lower part; and a slot formed in at least one of the surfaces of engagement between said upper and lower parts, said slot extending from said opening to the space between the seat and inner wall of said tappet body; said opening and said slot forming the said passageway adapted for communication of said reservoir with said push rod.

Claim 3

In a tappet adapted for operative connection to a push rod and including a tappet body having an oil reservoir; a push rod seat means positioned within said tappet body above said reservoir, said seat means having a passageway adapted for communication with said push rod; and means for metering oil conducted from said reservoir and into said rod; the improvement comprising: said push rod seat means being formed of an upper and lower part which are maintained in constant engagement with each other; said upper part having a push rod seating surface in its upper surface and an opening extending from said seating surface to at least the upper surface of said lower part; and a slot formed in at least one of the surfaces of engagement between said upper and lower parts, said slot extending from said opening to the space between the seat and inner wall of said tappet body; said opening and said slot forming the said passageway adapted for communication of said reservoir with said push rod.

Claim 4

In a tappet adapted for operative connection to a push rod and including a tappet body having an oil reservoir; a push rod seat means positioned within said tappet body above said reservoir, said seat means having a passageway adapted for communication with said push rod; and means for metering oil conducted from said reservoir and into said rod; the improvement comprising: said push rod seat means being formed of an upper and lower part which are maintained in constant engagement with each other; said upper part having a push rod seating surface in its upper surface and an opening extending from said seating surface to at least the upper surface of said lower part; and a slot formed in at least one of the surfaces of engagement between said upper and lower parts, said slot extending from said opening to the space between the seat and inner wall of said tappet body; said opening and said slot forming the said passageway adapted for communication of said reservoir with said push rod.

Claim 5

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said tappet includes means for supporting said push rod seat within said tappet body, said lower surface of said lower part being in contact with said shoulder, a second slot in one of said engaging surfaces between said shoulder and lower part, said second slot extending from the space between said seat and said inner wall of said tappet body to at least the point in communication with said reservoir, said lower part having a portion spaced from the inner wall of said tappet body providing an annular path between at least a portion of the outer wall of said lower part and the inner wall of said tappet body, said second slot, path and passageway providing a means for oil to communicate from said reservoir to said opening, at least one of said second slot, path and passageway defining a restricted flow means to provide said metering means.

Claim 6

The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein the cross-sectional flow area of said annular path is less than each of said passageway and second slot so that said annular path provides said metering means.

Claim 7

The improvement as defined in claim 3 wherein the rate of said metering is determined by preselecting the thickness of said lower seat part.

Claim 8

The improvement as defined in claim 3 wherein the rate of said metering is determined by preselecting the diameter of said lower seat part.

Claim 9

The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein the cross-sectional area of the clearance between said inner tappet wall and the outer wall of said upper part of said push rod seat is substantially less than any cross-sectional area of said passageway so that said metered oil will flow freely through said passageway into said seat opening.

Claim 10

In a tAppet adapted for operative connection to a push rod and including a tappet body having an oil reservoir; a push rod seat means positioned within said tappet body above said reservoir, said tappet including shoulder means for supporting said push rod seat means; said seat means having a passageway adapted for communication with said push rod from said reservoir; and means for metering oil conducted from said reservoir and into said rod; the improvement comprising: said push rod seat means being formed of an upper and lower part which are maintained in constant engagement with each other, the upper part having a push rod seating surface in its upper surface and an opening extending from said seating surface to at least the upper surface of said lower part, said lower part including a slot formed in each of its upper and lower surfaces, said upper slot extending at least from said opening to the inner wall of said tappet body, said lower slot extending from at least said reservoir to the inner wall of said tappet body, said lower part having a portion spaced from the inner wall of said tappet body and providing an annular path between at least a portion of the upper and lower surfaces of said lower part, said opening, slots, and path providing a means for oil to communicate from said reservoir to said opening, at least one of said opening, slot and path defining a restricted flow means to provide said metering means.

Claim 11

In a tAppet adapted for operative connection to a push rod and including a tappet body having an oil reservoir; a push rod seat means positioned within said tappet body above said reservoir, said tappet including shoulder means for supporting said push rod seat means; said seat means having a passageway adapted for communication with said push rod from said reservoir; and means for metering oil conducted from said reservoir and into said rod; the improvement comprising: said push rod seat means being formed of an upper and lower part which are maintained in constant engagement with each other, the upper part having a push rod seating surface in its upper surface and an opening extending from said seating surface to at least the upper surface of said lower part, said lower part including a slot formed in each of its upper and lower surfaces, said upper slot extending at least from said opening to the inner wall of said tappet body, said lower slot extending from at least said reservoir to the inner wall of said tappet body, said lower part having a portion spaced from the inner wall of said tappet body and providing an annular path between at least a portion of the upper and lower surfaces of said lower part, said opening, slots, and path providing a means for oil to communicate from said reservoir to said opening, at least one of said opening, slot and path defining a restricted flow means to provide said metering means.

Claim 12

The improvement as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for supporting said seat means with said tappet body is comprised of a portion of said tappet body defining a shoulder, at least a portion of said reservoir being below said shoulder.

Claim 13

The improvement as defined in claim 7 wherein said tappet includes a plunger mounted within said tappet body, a portion of said plunger being disposed beneath said push rod seat means, said plunger including a shoulder for supporting said push rod seat means.

Claim 14

The improvement as defined in claim 7 wherein the cross-sectional flow area of said annular path is less than each of said slots and opening so that said annular path provides said metering means, the rate of said metering being varied by varying the dimensions of said lower seat part.

Claim 15

A tappet comprising, in combination: a tappet body having an internal cavity, the upper end of which is open; a hollow plunger positioned within said cavity, the upper end of which is open, said hollow plunger defining an oil reservoir; a push rod seat means separate from said plunger and supported by said plunger within said cavity closing the open end of said tappet body, said push rod seat means being formed of an upper and lower part which are maintained in constant engagement with each other, said upper part having a push rod seating surface in its upper surface and an opening extending from said seating surface to at least the upper surface of said lower part, and a slot formed in at least one of the surfaces of engagement between said upper and lower parts, said slot extending from said opening to the space between the seat and inner wall of said tappet body, the upper end of said plunger including a support surface for said seat means, said support surface including one or more grooves extending from the space between said seat and inner wall of said tappet body to at least the point in communication with said reservoir, said slot, space and groove providing a means for oil to communicate from said reservoir to said opening; and means for metering the rate of oil flow to said opening, one of said slot and space defining a restricted flow means to provide said metering means.

Claim 16

A tappet comprising, in combination: a tappet body having an internal cavity, the upper end of which is open; a hollow plunger positioned within said cavity, the upper end of which is open, said hollow plunger defining an oil reservoir; a push rod seat means separate from said plunger and supported by said plunger within said cavity closing the open end of said tappet body, said push rod seat means being formed of an upper and lower part which are maintained in constant engagement with each other, said upper part having a push rod seating surface in its upper surface and an opening extending from said seating surface to at least the upper surface of said lower part, and a slot formed in at least one of the surfaces of engagement between said upper and lower parts, said slot extending from said opening to the space between the seat and inner wall of said tappet body, the upper end of said plunger including a support surface for said seat means, said support surface including one or more grooves extending from the space between said seat and inner wall of said tappet body to at least the point in communication with said reservoir, said slot, space and groove providing a means for oil to communicate from said reservoir to said opening; and means for metering the rate of oil flow to said opening, one of said slot and space defining a restricted flow means to provide said metering means.

Claim 17

The combination according to claim 11 wherein said one or more grooves are comprised of a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially projecting grooves.

Claim 18

The combination according to claim 12 wherein at least a pair of said circumferentially spaced grooves are in diametrical alignment.

Claim 19

The combination according to claim 11 wherein said grooves are convergent towarD the center of said plunger, the cross section of which is a maximum at said space between said seat and inner wall.

Claim 20

In a tappet adapted for cooperative association with a rocker arm and including a tappet body having an oil reservoir; a closure means positioned within said tappet body above said reservoir, said closure means having a passageway adapted for communication with said associated rocker arm and means for metering oil conducted from said reservoir to said arm; the improvement comprising: said closure means being formed of an upper and lower part which are maintained in constant engagement with each other; said upper part having an opening extending from its upper surface to at least the upper surface of said lower part; and a slot formed in at least one of the surfaces of engagement between said upper and lower parts, said slot extending from said opening to the space between the closure means and inner wall of said tappet body; said opening and said slot forming the said passageway adapted for communication of said reservoir with said closure means.

Claim 21

In a tappet adapted for cooperative association with a rocker arm and including a tappet body having an oil reservoir; a closure means positioned within said tappet body above said reservoir, said closure means having a passageway adapted for communication with said associated rocker arm and means for metering oil conducted from said reservoir to said arm; the improvement comprising: said closure means being formed of an upper and lower part which are maintained in constant engagement with each other; said upper part having an opening extending from its upper surface to at least the upper surface of said lower part; and a slot formed in at least one of the surfaces of engagement between said upper and lower parts, said slot extending from said opening to the space between the closure means and inner wall of said tappet body; said opening and said slot forming the said passageway adapted for communication of said reservoir with said closure means.

Claim 22

The improvement as defined in claim 15 wherein said tappet includes means for supporting said closure means within said tappet body, said lower surface of said lower part being in contact with said support means, a second slot in one of said engaging surfaces between said support means and lower part, said second slot extending from the space between said closure means and said inner wall of said tappet body to at least the point in communication with said reservoir, said lower part having a portion spaced from the inner wall of said tappet body providing an annular path between at least a portion of the outer wall of said lower part and the inner wall of said tappet body, said second slot, path and passageway providing a means for oil to communicate from said reservoir to said opening, at least one of said second slot, path and passageway defining a restricted flow means to provide said metering means.

Claim 23

The improvement as defined in claim 16 wherein the cross-sectional flow area of said annular path is less than each of said passageway and second slot so that said annular path provides said metering means.

Claim 24

The improvement as defined in claim 17 wherein the rate of said metering is determined by preselecting the thickness of said lower part.

Claim 25

The improvement as defined in claim 17 wherein the rate of said metering is determined by preselecting the diameter of said lower part.

Claim 26

The improvement as defined in claim 16 wherein the cross-sectional area of the clearance between said inner tappet wall and the outer wall of said upper part of said closure means is substantially less than the cross-sectional area of said passageway so that said metered oil will flow freely through said passageway into said closure means opening. The improvement as defined in claim 16 wherein said closure means is a push rod seat means, said upper part having a push rod seating surface in its upper surface operatively engaged with a push rod.

Claim 27

The improvement as defined in claim 16 wherein said tappet further includes a plunger reciprocal within said tappet body, the upper end of said plunger forming said support means on which said lower part seats.