Patent US3963007A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3963007A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydraulic valve lifter or adjuster
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-03-07
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Granted: 1976-06-15
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Expires: 1995-03-07
Abstract
Abstract A hydraulic lifter assembly for adjusting the opening movement of engine valves by push rods actuated by the engine cam shaft is completely self-contained as a unit which may be quickly installed or replaced when necessary. The valve lifter assembly is totally enclosed, so that oil is sealed in the housing and dirt is excluded from the housing reservoir. A plastic indicator cap cooperates with grooves on the exterior of the housing to visually indicate proper valve lifter adjustment and adequate stroke in the operation of the same. The indicator means also makes it apparent when the lifter or adjuster requires attention.
Inventors
- 👤 Weldon S. Baker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:00
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01L; F01L1/00; F01L1/20; F01L1/22; F01L1/24; F01L1/2422; F01L1/34; F01L1/344; F01L1/3442; F01L2001/34423; F01L2001/34436
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
In a hydraulic valve lifter for engines and the like, a housing having a fluid reservoir chamber and a bore leading from said chamber, a cap element secured fixedly to the housing and projecting into said chamber and having a bore, a fluid sealing element interposed between the cap element and said chamber, a driver extending through the bore of the cap element and adapted to slide axially therein, a fluid sealing flexible bellows having opposite ends secured to the cap element and a lower end portion of the driver and allowing essential axial relative movement between the driver and cap element, valve lifter means disposed within the bore of the housing which leads from said chamber and including a spring-urged plunger engaged with a lower end portion of the driver, visual indicator means on the upper end portion of the housing, and cooperating indicator means carried by the driver exteriorly of the housing, said housing and driver adapted for connection with push rod elements of engine valve opening mechanism.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
In a hydraulic valve lifter for engines and the like, a housing having a fluid reservoir chamber and a bore leading from said chamber, a cap element secured fixedly to the housing and projecting into said chamber and having a bore, a fluid sealing element interposed between the cap element and said chamber, a driver extending through the bore of the cap element and adapted to slide axially therein, a fluid sealing flexible bellows having opposite ends secured to the cap element and a lower end portion of the driver and allowing essential axial relative movement between the driver and cap element, valve lifter means disposed within the bore of the housing which leads from said chamber and including a spring-urged plunger engaged with a lower end portion of the driver, visual indicator means on the upper end portion of the housing, and cooperating indicator means carried by the driver exteriorly of the housing, said housing and driver adapted for connection with push rod elements of engine valve opening mechanism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The structure of claim 1, and said driver having a longitudinal keyway, and a key element fixed to said cap element and projecting into said keyway slidably, whereby the driver is prevented from rotating on its axis and twisting said bellows.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The structure of claim 2, and an additional external flexible bellows sealingly engaged with said driver exteriorly of the housing and cap element and also sealingly engaged with said cap element and allowing relative axial movement between the driver and cap element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The structure of claim 1, and said visual indicator means on said housing comprising plural grooves in the exterior of the housing, and said cooperating indicator means comprising a dirt excluding cap on the driver having a marginal skirt engaging telescopically over the housing in the region of said grooves, said skirt having an end constituting an indicator element observable in relation to said grooves.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The structure of claim 1, and said driver having first and second longitudinally spaced stop means thereon, and a stop element secured to the cap element and extending into the path of movement of said first and second stop means of the driver to positively limit longitudinal movement of the driver in two directions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
The structure of claim 5, and said first and second stop means of the driver comprising the end walls of a slot formed in one side of the driver longitudinally, and said stop element secured to the cap element consisting of a pin anchored radially to the cap element and having an interior end portion projecting into said slot in the path of movement of said slot end walls, said pin preventing rotation of the driver by engagement with the slot side walls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The structure of claim 1, and clamping ring means securing the opposite ends of said bellows to said cap element and driver sealingly with the bellows completely surrounding the adjacent portions of the cap element and driver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The structure of claim 1, and said housing having a lower end socket opening below said bore, an adapter having one end portion releasably secured in said socket opening, and a second end portion on the adapter sized to enter the bore of a tubular push rod section, the push rod section secured to the adapter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The structure of claim 8, and said socket opening of said housing being screw-threaded, said one end portion of the adapter being screw-threaded for engagement in the socket opening, said second end portion of the adapter being cylindrical and adapted to be sized variably for fitment into bores of variously sized tubular push rod sections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The structure of claim 9, and an enlarged flange on the adapter separating said first and second end portions and having a face adapted to abut the adjacent end of the housing and having a second face adapted to abut one end of the push rod element, said flange also adapted to be welded to the push rod element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure of claim 1, and one end of the driver projecting outwardly of the cap element and indicator means having a concave recess to receive a ball end of a push rod section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure of claim 1, and said cap element being screw-threaded into said housing, and said fluid sealing element comprising an O-ring seal interposed between the cap element and housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The structure of claim 6, and said driver having a transverse opening formed therethrough and communicating with the lower end of said slot and adapted to receive an implement for the purpose of dislodging said pin from the cap element, said pin being tightly pressed into a radial opening of the cap element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The structure of claim 13, and a bushing interposed between the driver and the bore of the cap element and having a radial opening adjacent to said slot receiving said pin in order to locate the bushing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure of claim 14, and said bushing being a thin dry lube bushing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-06-15 | 1979-12-15 | 1980-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-15 | 1983-12-15 | 1984-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-15 | 1987-12-15 | 1988-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |