Latch orientation mechanism

Abstract

A latch assembly comprises a hollow bore comprising a cylindrical inner surface. A latch comprises a base abutting the cylindrical inner surface. A body comprises a first end adjoining the base, a distal end distanced from the first end, and a groove extending from the distal end towards the first end. A sleeve surrounds the body and is fitted to the cylindrical inner surface. The sleeve comprises an opening, and a ball aligns the opening with the groove.

1 . A latch assembly, comprising:
 a hollow bore comprising a cylindrical inner surface;   a latch comprising:
 a base abutting the cylindrical inner surface; 
 a body comprising:
 a first end adjoining the base; 
 a distal end distanced from the first end; and 
 a groove extending from the distal end towards the first end; 
 
   a sleeve surrounding the body and fitted to the cylindrical inner surface, the sleeve comprising an opening; and   a ball aligning the opening with the groove.   
     
     
         2 . The latch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base reciprocates in the bore and wherein the body reciprocates in the sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The latch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ball rolls in the groove when the latch reciprocates in the bore. 
     
     
         4 . The latch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ball is press-fit in the opening. 
     
     
         5 . The latch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ball floats freely in the opening. 
     
     
         6 . The latch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the groove is “V” shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The latch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is one of a tapered hole and a stepped hole. 
     
     
         8 . The latch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end further comprises a step forming a flat surface, and wherein the ball in the opening aligns the flat surface with respect to the bore when the latch reciprocates in the bore. 
     
     
         9 . The latch assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a hydraulic feed connected to the bore, wherein the latch further comprises a receptacle, and wherein the hydraulic feed is connected to move the latch in the bore. 
     
     
         10 . The latch assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a spring in the receptacle, and the spring biases the latch away from the bore. 
     
     
         11 . The latch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a base diameter, wherein the base abuts the cylindrical inner surface, and wherein the body comprises a body diameter smaller than the first base diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The latch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bore comprises an end surface, wherein the base comprises at least one angled edge facing the end surface. 
     
     
         13 . The latch assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the base comprises at least two angled edges. 
     
     
         14 . The latch assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the cylindrical inner surface of the bore comprises a first bore diameter surrounding the sleeve and a second bore diameter adjacent the end surface, and wherein the second bore diameter is greater than the first bore diameter. 
     
     
         15 . A rocker arm comprising:
 an inner arm, comprising:
 a hollow bore comprising a cylindrical inner surface; 
 a latch comprising:
 a base abutting the cylindrical inner surface; 
 a body comprising:
 a first end adjoining the base; 
 a distal end displaced from the first end; and 
 a groove extending from the distal end towards the first end; 
 
 
 a sleeve surrounding the body and fitted to the cylindrical inner surface, the sleeve comprising an opening; and 
 a ball aligning the opening with the groove; and 
   an outer arm connected to pivot with respect to the inner arm, the outer arm comprising an end face for selectively engaging and disengaging the latch when the outer arm pivots relative to the inner arm.   
     
     
         16 . The rocker arm of  claim 15 , wherein the ball one of rolls, floats freely or is press-fit in the opening. 
     
     
         17 . The rocker arm of  claim 15 , wherein the groove is “V” shaped. 
     
     
         18 . The rocker arm of  claim 15 , wherein the base comprises a base diameter, wherein the base abuts the cylindrical inner surface, and wherein the body comprises a body diameter smaller than the first base diameter. 
     
     
         19 . The rocker arm of  claim 15 , further comprising a hydraulic feed to the bore to supply pressurized fluid against the base, wherein the base reciprocates in the bore and wherein the body reciprocates in the sleeve in response to the pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The rocker arm of  claim 15 , wherein the distal end further comprises a step forming a flat surface, and wherein the ball in the opening aligns the flat surface with respect to the bore when the latch reciprocates in the bore. 
     
     
         21 . The rocker arm of  claim 15 , wherein the latch further comprises a receptacle, wherein the bore further comprises a fluid port, and wherein the receptacle is oriented in the bore to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid through the fluid port in the bore. 
     
     
         22 . The rocker arm of  claim 21 , further comprising a spring in the receptacle, and the spring biases the latch away from the bore. 
     
     
         23 . A method for assembling a rocker arm, comprising:
 aligning an opening in a sleeve with a “V” shaped groove of a latch;   inserting a ball in to the opening to couple the opening with the groove;   inserting the sleeve, the latch, and the ball in to a hollow bore of an inner rocker arm; and   fitting the sleeve against a cylindrical inner surface of the hollow bore.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising connecting an outer rocker arm to the inner rocker arm by a pivot pin in a pivot hole, the outer arm comprising an end face for selectively engaging and disengaging the latch when the outer arm pivots relative to the inner arm. 
     
     
         25 . The rocker arm of  claim 15 , wherein the inner arm further comprises at least one pass-through, wherein the rocker arm further comprises a pivot axle in the pass-through, and wherein the outer arm is connected to the pivot axle to pivot with respect to the inner arm.