Delphi Technologies, Inc.

David J Draeger

Nick J Hendriksma

William J LaBarge

Mark James Spath

Conrad H Anderson

William Dean Bauman

John Giacchina

David A Smith

Valve lift variation associated with a deactivation roller hydraulic valve DRVHL (DRHVL) can result in unacceptable valve overlap and idle conditions for an internal combustion engine. Two sources of length variation in a DRHVL are leakdown and residual mechanical lash. Total length variation is the sum of these two factors, and each factor has an associated tolerance. In the prior art, the two factors are independent, resulting in a total population variation that is the sum of the two independent variations. A DRHVL assembly process in accordance with the invention includes the step of associating leakdown test results for individual lash adjusters with residual lash results by adjusting the residual lash characteristics of individual DRHVL assemblies to complement the leakdown characteristics in minimizing total length variation in the population of assembled DRHVLs.

Assembly process for hydraulic valve lifters to reduce variation in valve lift

A valve deactivation lifter including means for restricting relative rotation between the pin housing and the lifter body. When used in a V-style or slant engine, a prior art deactivation lifter can be subject to oil drainage during engine shutdown if the oil supply port in the pin housing rests in the 'down' position. In an improved lifter, relative rotation between the pin housing and the lifter body is limited and the pin housing is oriented such that the oil supply port is never on the underside of the pin housing. Rotation may be limited by any of several means, for example, a ball disposed in a dimple in the pin housing and extending into a longitudinal groove in the lifter body, and a flat on the pin housing and locking means installed in the lifter body to engage the flat and thus prevent rotation of the pin housing.

Anti-rotation deactivation valve lifter

A spark plug electrode is disclosed. The electrode comprises, based upon the total weight of the electrode, about 83 wt. % to about 96.8 wt. % copper, about 3.0 wt. % to about 9.0 wt. % chromium, and about 0.2 wt. % to about 8.0 wt. % niobium. A spark plug is also disclosed. The spark plug comprises a shell disposed in contact with an insulator body. A center electrode is disposed at a lower end of the insulator body. A side electrode is also disposed at a lower end of the shell. This side electrode is coaxially aligned with the center electrode. At least one of the center electrode and the side electrode comprises a core composition of about 83 wt. % to about 96.8 wt. % copper, about 3.0 wt. % to about 9.0 wt. % chromium and about 0.2% to about 8.0% niobium, based upon the total weight of the composition. A resistor section is also disposed in electrical communication with the center electrode.

Spark plug copper core alloy

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Byron, MI, United States of America

David J Draeger