Hydraulic lash adjuster

Claim 2

In a hydraulic lash adjuster for an internal combustion engine having a body; a plunger reciprocal within said body, said plunger having a central cavity forming an oil reservoir; a lubricating oil inlet means communicating with said central cavity of said plunger; a closure element forming the upper outer portion of said plunger; and lubricating passage means extending from the central cavity of said plunger through said closure element; the improvement comprising a cup means positionable in said plunger cavity beneath said closure elemEnt for reducing the pressure in said oil reservoir relative to the pressure at said oil inlet means, said cup means having a side wall, a bottom wall, and an open top, said top facing said closure element, said inlet means being positioned intermediate said open top and bottom wall during operation of said adjuster, the side wall of said cup means forming a restricted passageway from said inlet means to said cavity and further forming a restricted passageway from said inlet means to said closure element such that the flow from said inlet means is diverted simultaneously into said reservoir and closure element thereby reducing the oil pressure in said reservoir relative to said inlet means, said inlet means being comprised of a first opening through said body and a second opening through said plunger, said openings being in communication with each other, the wall of said plunger cavity having an inner shoulder formed therein above said second opening, said cup means having an outwardly projecting lip formed at its upper end, said lip being engageable on said shoulder whereby the wall of said cup is positioned adjacent said second opening, the diameter of said cup being less than said cavity wall to form said restricted passageway, and means comprising a longitudinal spacing between said shoulder and closure element greater than the thickness of said cup lip, the diameter of said lip being less than that of said cavity wall above said shoulder, the oil pressure in said reservoir urging said cup lip against said closure element whereby said lip is clear of said shoulder, said cup lip having a groove formed in the upper surface to form a passageway for oil flow from the outer surface of the lip to said central opening.

Claim 3

The lash adjuster according to claim 1 wherein said groove with said closure element forms a restricted flow passageway which also meters the flow of oil to said closure element.

Claim 4

The lash adjuster according to claim 1 wherein said closure element includes a spherical head providing a pivot for a rocker arm, said spherical head being receivable in a rocker arm socket, and a body having a portion receivable in said plunger.

Claim 5

The lash adjuster according to claim 1 wherein said closure element is comprised of a push rod seat means formed in the upper end thereof.

Claim 6

A hydraulic lash adjuster having an internal cavity; an internal reservoir; oil inlet and outlet means; means communicating with said oil reservoir, inlet, and outlet means to permit flow through said adjuster while reducing the reservoir pressure relative to the oil inlet pressure, said means comprising a cup-shaped element positioned in said cavity adjacent said inlet means, the wall of said cup-shaped element during operation of said adjuster defining a restricted passageway from said inlet means to said reservoir and outlet means whereby oil flowing through said inlet means is directed simultaneously to said reservoir and outlet means thereby causing the oil pressure in said reservoir to have a reduced pressure relative to the inlet pressure, the upper rim of said cup-shaped element having an outwardly projecting lip positioned intermediate said inlet and outlet means, said lip including a groove formed in the upper surface thereof, said groove with said outlet means forming a restricted passageway for oil flow to said outlet, said groove metering the rate of flow through said outlet.

Claim 7

A hydraulic lash adjuster having an internal cavity; an internal reservoir; oil inlet and outlet means; means communicating with said oil reservoir, inlet, and outlet means to permit flow through said adjuster while reducing the reservoir pressure relative to the oil inlet pressure, said means comprising a cup-shaped element positioned in said cavity adjacent said inlet means, the wall of said cup-shaped element during operation of said adjuster defining a restricted passageway from said inlet means to said reservoir and outlet means whereby oil flowing through said inlet means is directed simultaneously to said reservoir and outlet means thereby causing the oil pressure in said reservoir to have a reduced pressure relative to the inlet pressure, the upper rim of said cup-shaped element having an outwardly projecting lip positioned intermediate said inlet and outlet means, said lip including a groove formed in the upper surface thereof, said groove with said outlet means forming a restricted passageway for oil flow to said outlet, said groove metering the rate of flow through said outlet.

Claim 8

In a hydraulic lash adjuster for an internal combustion engine having a body; a plunger reciprocal within said body, said plunger having a central cavity forming an oil reservoir; a lubricating oil inlet means communicating with said central cavity of said plunger; a closure element forming the upper outer portion of said plunger; and lubricating passage means extending from the central cavity of said plunger through said closure element; the improvement comprising means for reducing the pressure in said oil reservoir relative to the pressure at said oil inlet means, said means for reducing the pressure in saId oil reservoir comprising a cup means positionable in said plunger cavity beneath said closure element, said means having a sidewall and an open top, said top facing said closure element, the sidewall of said cup means forming a restricted passageway from said inlet means to said cavity and further forming a restricted passageway from said inlet means to said closure element such that flow from said inlet means is movable simultaneously into said reservoir and closure element thereby reducing the oil pressure in said reservoir relative to said inlet means, said inlet means comprising a first opening through said body and a second opening through said plunger, said openings being in communication with each other, the wall of said plunger cavity having an inner shoulder formed therein above said second opening, said cup means having an outwardly projecting lip formed at its upper end, said lip being engageable on said shoulder whereby the wall of said cup is positioned adjacent said second opening, the diameter of said cup being less than said cavity wall to form said restricted passageway, said adjuster including a longitudinal spacing between said shoulder and closure element greater than the thickness of said cup lip, the diameter of said lip being less than that of said cavity wall above said shoulder, the oil pressure in said reservoir urging said cup against said closure element whereby said lip is clear of said shoulder, said closure element includes a central opening therethrough, said cup means lip having at least one groove formed in the upper surface to form a restricted passageway for oil flow from the outer surface of said lip and closure element to said central opening, said groove metering the rate of flow through said central opening.

Claim 9

In a hydraulic lash adjuster for an internal combustion engine having a body; a plunger reciprocal within said body, said plunger having a central cavity forming an oil reservoir; a lubricating oil inlet means communicating with said central cavity of said plunger; a closure element forming the upper outer portion of said plunger; and lubricating passage means extending from the central cavity of said plunger through said closure element; the improvement comprising means for reducing the pressure in said oil reservoir relative to the pressure at said oil inlet means, said means for reducing the pressure in saId oil reservoir comprising a cup means positionable in said plunger cavity beneath said closure element, said means having a sidewall and an open top, said top facing said closure element, the sidewall of said cup means forming a restricted passageway from said inlet means to said cavity and further forming a restricted passageway from said inlet means to said closure element such that flow from said inlet means is movable simultaneously into said reservoir and closure element thereby reducing the oil pressure in said reservoir relative to said inlet means, said inlet means comprising a first opening through said body and a second opening through said plunger, said openings being in communication with each other, the wall of said plunger cavity having an inner shoulder formed therein above said second opening, said cup means having an outwardly projecting lip formed at its upper end, said lip being engageable on said shoulder whereby the wall of said cup is positioned adjacent said second opening, the diameter of said cup being less than said cavity wall to form said restricted passageway, said adjuster including a longitudinal spacing between said shoulder and closure element greater than the thickness of said cup lip, the diameter of said lip being less than that of said cavity wall above said shoulder, the oil pressure in said reservoir urging said cup against said closure element whereby said lip is clear of said shoulder, said closure element includes a central opening therethrough, said cup means lip having at least one groove formed in the upper surface to form a restricted passageway for oil flow from the outer surface of said lip and closure element to said central opening, said groove metering the rate of flow through said central opening.

Claim 10

The lash adjuster according to claim 5 wherein said closure element is comprised of a push rod seat means formed in the upper end thereof.

Claim 11

In a hydraulic lash adjuster for an internal combustion engine having a body; a plunger reciprocal within said body, said plunger having a central cavity forming an oil reservoir; a lubricating oil inlet means communicating with said central cavity of said plunger; a closure element forming the upper outer portion of said plunger; and lubricating passage means extending from the central cavity of said plunger through said closure element; the improvement comprising: means for reducing the the pressure in said oil reservoir also metering the flow of oil to said closure element and comprising a cup means positionable in said plunger cavity beneath said closure element, said cup means having a sidewall and open top, said top facing said closure element, the upper margin of said sidewall having an outwardly projecting lip, said cup being urged by the oil within said reservoir against said closure element so that said lip abuts said closure element, said closure element having a central opening therethrough, said lip having at least one groove formed in the upper surface thereof to form a restricted passageway for oil flow from the outer surface of said lip to said central opening, said groove metering the rate of flow to said central opening.

Claim 12

In a hydraulic lash adjuster for an internal combustion engine having a body; a plunger reciprocal within said body, said plunger having a central cavity forming an oil reservoir; a lubricating oil inlet means communicating with said central cavity of said plunger; a closure element forming the upper outer portion of said plunger; and lubricating passage means extending from the central cavity of said plunger through said closure element; the improvement comprising: means for reducing the the pressure in said oil reservoir also metering the flow of oil to said closure element and comprising a cup means positionable in said plunger cavity beneath said closure element, said cup means having a sidewall and open top, said top facing said closure element, the upper margin of said sidewall having an outwardly projecting lip, said cup being urged by the oil within said reservoir against said closure element so that said lip abuts said closure element, said closure element having a central opening therethrough, said lip having at least one groove formed in the upper surface thereof to form a restricted passageway for oil flow from the outer surface of said lip to said central opening, said groove metering the rate of flow to said central opening.

Claim 13

The lash adjuster according to claim 8 wherein said cup diameter is less than the diameter of said cavity, said wall of said cup forming a restricted passageway from said inlet means to said reservoir and closure element to reduce the oil pressure in said reservoir relative to said inlet means.

Claim 14

In a hydraulic lash adjuster for an internal combustion engine having a body; a plunger reciprocal within said body, said plunger having a central cavity forming an oil reservoir; a lubricating oil inlet means communicating with said central cavity of said plunger; a closure element forming the upper outer portion of said plunger; a lubricating passage means extending from the central cavity of said plunger through said closure element; the improvement comprising: cup means positionable in said plunger cavity beneath said closure element, said cup means having a sIdewall and open top, said top facing said closure element, the upper margin of said sidewall having an outwardly projecting lip, said cup being urged by the oil within said reservoir against said closure element so that said lip abuts said closure element, said closure element having a central opening therethrough, said lip having at least one groove formed in the upper surface thereof to form a restricted passageway for oil flow from the outer surface of said lip to said central opening, said groove metering the rate of flow to said central opening.

Claim 15

In a hydraulic lash adjuster for an internal combustion engine having a body; a plunger reciprocal within said body, said plunger having a central cavity forming an oil reservoir; a lubricating oil inlet means communicating with said central cavity of said plunger; a closure element forming the upper outer portion of said plunger; a lubricating passage means extending from the central cavity of said plunger through said closure element; the improvement comprising: cup means positionable in said plunger cavity beneath said closure element, said cup means having a sIdewall and open top, said top facing said closure element, the upper margin of said sidewall having an outwardly projecting lip, said cup being urged by the oil within said reservoir against said closure element so that said lip abuts said closure element, said closure element having a central opening therethrough, said lip having at least one groove formed in the upper surface thereof to form a restricted passageway for oil flow from the outer surface of said lip to said central opening, said groove metering the rate of flow to said central opening.

Claim 16

The lash adjuster according to claim 10 wherein said closure element is comprised of a push rod seat means formed in the upper end thereof.

Claim 17

The lash adjuster according to claim 10 wherein said closure element includes a spherical head providing a pivot for a rocker arm, said spherical head being receivable in a rocker arm socket, and a body having a portion receivable in said plunger.