Hydraulic backlash compensating element

Abstract

A hydraulic backlash compensating element for an internal combustion engine, which has a housing in which a pressure-actuated piston is mounted The piston has a check valve via which oil can flow into the housing, and the check valve has a valve seat and a valve element arranged movably therein. The valve element is a hollow ball.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A hydraulic backlash compensating element for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 an elongated housing having a bore therein;   a pressure-actuated piston, which is mounted in the bore of the housing; and   a check valve mounted at one end of the housing to allow oil to flow into the housing, the check valve having a valve seat and a hollow ball arranged movably within the check valve.   
     
     
         10 . The hydraulic backlash compensating element according to  claim 9 , wherein the hollow ball is produced from a sintered inorganic material. 
     
     
         11 . The hydraulic backlash compensating element according to  claim 9 , wherein the hollow ball has a filling. 
     
     
         12 . The hydraulic backlash compensating element according to  claim 11 , wherein the filling comprising a gas, gel or colloid. 
     
     
         13 . The hydraulic backlash compensating element according to  claim 11 , wherein the filling is composed of solids. 
     
     
         14 . The hydraulic backlash compensating element according to  claim 13 , wherein the solids are sand or powder. 
     
     
         15 . The hydraulic backlash compensating element according to  claim 11 , wherein the filling comprises at least one liquid. 
     
     
         16 . The hydraulic backlash compensating element according to  claim 9 , wherein the hollow ball has a wall comprised of a porous material. 
     
     
         17 . The hydraulic backlash compensating element according to  claim 9 , wherein the hollow ball has a wall comprised of layers of different materials. 
     
     
         18 . A check valve for hydraulic backlash compensating element for an internal combustion engine which has an elongated housing with a bore therein and a pressure-actuated piston mounted in the bore of the housing, comprising:
 a housing;   a valve seat; and   a hollow ball, the valve seat and the hollow ball being arranged movably within the housing.