Compact valve lifters

Claim 1

A two step valve lifter comprising an outer cam follower including an annular cylindrical body with first and second annular ends and concentric inner and outer cylinder surfaces, the first annular end including a pair of laterally spaced first cam engaging portions comprising a pair of rollers, an inner cam follower including a hollow piston with at least one closed end, a second end and a cylindrical outer wall reciprocably engaging the inner cylinder surface of said body, the closed end including a second cam engaging portion located generally between said first cam engaging portions, locking means on the outer and inner cam followers and engageable for selectively locking the followers together for coincident reciprocating motion, the hollow piston forming a part of hydraulic lash adjusting means including a plunger reciprocable in the piston and carrying check valve means, the plunger defining with the piston a high pressure chamber adjacent the piston closed end and an inner reservoir in the plunger extending from the check valve means toward the piston second end, and means for delivering oil through the outer and inner followers to the reservoir distal from the piston closed end and the check valve means.