US2882591A - Hydraulic valve lifter tool - Google Patents

Description

April 21, 1959 H'. c. GROSSMAN ,5 1

HYDRAULIC VALVE LIFTER 001.

Filed Oct. 17, 1955 Harry 6. 6r0ssm an 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent HYDRAULIC VALVE LIFTER TOOL Harry C. Grossman, Baltimore, Md.

' Application October 17, 1955, Serial No. 540,872

1 Claim. (Cl. 29213) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements and tools intended primarily for use in conjunction with automotive equipment, and more specifically to an improved hydraulic valve lifter tool.

In a large number of the automobiles now being produced, hydraulic lifters are utilized in lieu of the old time type of cam follower. The lower end of the valve hfter is disposed Within the crankcase portion of the engine block and is exposed to the oil spray therein. As a result, the oil settles on the exposed portion of the valve lifter which does not pass up into the block, and as a result a film of varnish is formed thereon which prevents the withdrawal of the valve lifter by pulling through its seat in the engine block.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a lifter tool which may be inserted into the engine block through the conventional push rod hole and utilized to pull the valve lifter out of its seat in the engine block with a minimum of effort.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved hydraulic valve lifter tool which includes a novel head construction which is of such a nature whereby the head may be engaged in the retaining spring groove on the valve lifter and form a tight connection therewith so that the valve lifter may be easily pulled out of its seat notwithstanding the fact that the lower portion thereof is coated with a film of varnish.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved hydraulic valve lifter tool which utilizes a spring engageable with the head of the engine to continuously resiliently urge the valve lifter tool in a retracted position whereby taps may be made on the lifter tool to effect the loosening of the valve lifter and the spring will urge the valve lifter out of its seat.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved valve lifter tool for hydraulic valve lifters the tool being of such a construction whereby the head thereof has a spring snap contact with the hydraulic valve lifter to insure a full connection between the head of the lifter tool and the valve lifter whereby the valve lifter may be pulled from its seat.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an arrangement of a hydraulic valve lifter, push rod, rocker arm and valve of an automobile engine;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 and shows the hydraulic valve lifter tool which is the subject of this invention in position for removing a stuck valve lifter;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the lower portion of the lifter tool and the relationship of the head thereof with respect to a hydraulic valve lifter, a portion 2 of the valve lifter being broken away and shown in section in order to illustrate the relationship of the fingers of the head with respect to the valve lifter;

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the head of the valve lifter tool and shows the specific details thereof;

Figure 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the valve litter and shows the position of the retaining spring thereof; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the valve lifter tool rotated from the position of Figure 2 and shows further details thereof.

Referring now to Figure 1 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated the general details of a portion of a V-type engine which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The engine 10 includes a block 12 in a head 14. Rotatably journaled in the block 12 is a cam shaft 16 which has disposed in engagement therewith a hydraulic valve lifter which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 18. The hydraulic valve lifter 18 is mounted for reciprocating movement within a seat 20 formed in the block 12. Engaged with the upper end of the hydraulic valve lifter 18 is a push rod 22 which passes through a suitable seat 24 formed in they head 14. Suitably carried by the head 14 is a rocker arm shaft 26 on which there is mounted for pivotal movement a rocker arm 28. The upper end of the push rod 22 engages one end of the rocker arm 28 and the opposite end of the rocker arm 28 engages the upper end of a valve 30.

Referring now to Figure 6 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated the lifter tool which is the subject of this invention, the lifter tool being referred to in general by the reference numeral 32 and being intended for use in removing the hydraulic valve lifter 18. The hydraulic valve lifter tool 32 includes an elongated shank 34 which has formed at the upper end thereof a transverse handle 36. The lower end of the shank 34 is threaded as at 38 and has removably retained thereon a valve lifter engaging head which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 40. It is to be noted that the extreme lower end of the shank 34 is provided with a tapered point 42, which is best illustrated in Figure 3.

The valve lifter engageable head 40 includes a nut member 44 which is threadedly engaged on the threaded portion 38 of the shank 34. The valve lifter engageable head 40 also includes a pair of bowed spring fingers 46 which have central portions thereof in closely adjacent relation. The upper ends of the spring fingers 46 are connected together by an integral web 48. The nut 44 is suitably secured to the web 48 as by welding 50. It is to be understood that the web 48 is provided with a suitable opening through which the lower end of the shank 34 passes, the opening in the web 48 not being illustrated but aligned with the nut 44.

The shank 34 also carries a stop collar 52 adjacent the handle 36. The stop collar 52 may be interlocked with the shank 34 welded thereto as desired. Carried by the shank 34 below the stop collar 52 is a coil spring 54. The upper end of the coil spring 54 is engageable with the stop collar 52 so as to limit upward movement of the coil spring 54.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 5 in particular, it will be seen that the hydraulic valve lifter 18 is a multi-piece member and includes an outer body 56 and inner part 58 which is mounted for reciprocation Within the body 56. The inner part 58 is retained within the body 56 by a snap spring 60 seated within a groove 62 formed in the inner surface of the body 56 adjacent the upper end thereof. It is to be noted that the snap spring 60 includes a pair of spaced parallel intermediate portions 64 which may be engaged by a suitable tool to facilitate v the removal of the snap spring 60.

In the case of a V-type engine, it will be necessary that the intake manifold thereof be removed so that access to the interior of the valve chamber may be had. Further, it will be necessary to remove the rocker arm 28 and the push rod 22 of the particular hydraulic valve lifter 18 which is to be removed. After this has been accomplished, the head 40 is inserted in the valve chamher and the fingers 46 have their lower ends thereof snapped into engagement with the hydraulic valve lifter 18, the lower ends of the fingers 46 engaging inthe groove 62 on opposite sides of the intermediate portions 64 of the spring retainer 60. This is best illustrated in Figure 3. After the head 40 has been interlocked with the hydraulic valve lifter 18 to be removed, the shank 34 is passed down through the seat for the push rod 22 and the lower end .of the spring 54 is engaged with the upper surface of the head 14. The shank 34 is then threaded into the nut 44 and the tapered point 42 passes between the fingers 46, as is best illustrated in Figure 3, to prevent their removal from the groove 62. After the tool 32 has been thus positioned, the handle 36 may be tapped lightly with a hammer which will cause the driving downwardly of the hydraulic valve lifter 18. The action of the spring 5.4 will be such so as to snap the hydraulic valve lifter 18 back up. This process is repeated until such time as the spring .54 has driven the hydraulic valve lifter 18 up through its seat 20. If desired, intermediate tapping of the handle 36, the tool 32 may be pulled upon to determine whether the hydraulic lifter 18 has been loosened sufficiently to permit pulling thereof from its seat 20,.

In the case of an in-line engine, it is not necessary to remove the intake manifold to gain access to the valve chamber. However, it will be necessary to remove the side cover (not shown) in order to position the head 40.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that there has been devised a hydraulic valve lifter tool which is provided with a head of such construction whereby a rigid connection between the head and a valve. lifter to be removed is accomplished and that the entire lifter tool may be inserted and utilized with the removal of a of parts of the engine. Further, the construcof the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A hydraulic valve lifter tool for removing hydraulic valve lifters from an internal combustion engine, said tool comprising an elongated shank, a shank rotating handle at one end of said shank, a valve lifter engaging head threadedly engaged on the opposite end of said shank, said valve lifter engaging head including a narrow elongated strip of spring sheet metal of a configuration to provide a pair of fingers connected together by an intermediate integral web, a nut member carried by: said web, each of said fingers being arcuate in edge elevation and being oppositely formed, said fingers having closely adjacent intermediate portions and terminated in pointed terminal ends, said other end of said shank extending through said nut and said web and terminating in a tapered point engaging between said adjacent intermediate portions of said fingers to prevent movement of said fiingers towards each other whereby said fingers are retained by said tapered point in a valve lifter engaging I position.

References (Zited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,776,194 Leftwick Sept. 16, 1930 1,958,330 Beard V May 8, 1934 1,986,093 Abernathy Jan. 1, 1935 2,380,068 Patton July 10, 1945 2,553,479 Schmarje et a1. May 15, 1951 2,698,446 Apostoli Jan. .4, 1955 2,748,458 Knudsen et al. June 5 1956

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