Patent classifications
F01L2001/467
VALVETRAIN WITH ROCKER SHAFT HOUSING MAGNETIC LATCH
A valvetrain for an internal combustion engine includes a camshaft, an electromagnetic latch assembly, a rocker shaft, and a rocker arm assembly. The rocker arm assembly may include a cam follower configured to engage a cam mounted on the camshaft as the camshaft rotates and a rocker arm configured to rotate on the rocker shaft. The electromagnetic latch assembly may include a pin translatable between a first position and a second position and an electromagnet that causes the pin to actuate. The movement of the pin may provide mode switching for a switching rocker arm, a cylinder deactivating rocker arm, or an engine brake rocker arm. The electromagnet is powered by a circuit that passes through the rocker shaft. The electromagnet may be mounted to the rocker shaft. Running the circuit through the rocker shaft allows the electromagnet to be powered with wiring that remains stationary.
Response time in lost motion valvetrains
Hydraulic systems in an engine valvetrain having lost motion and/or braking hydraulic circuits are provided with a conditioning circuit that may include a supplemental supply passage, which provides continuous and supplemental supply of hydraulic fluid from a supply source to the braking and lost motion circuits, as well as a venting of the circuits to ambient, such that the hydraulic fluid in these circuits is kept in a refreshed and conditioned state without air contamination. A vented three-way solenoid valve may be utilized. The supplemental supply passage may be provided at various locations in the valvetrain and in the engine head environment. The supplemental supply passage may include flow and pressure control devices to control the flow of the supplemental supply of hydraulic fluid.
SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR ROCKER ARM POSITION SENSING
A system for monitoring operation of an internal combustion engine having a rocker arm assembly for actuating an engine valve is disclosed. The rocker arm assembly includes a first arm with a first end and a second end, at least one slider pad connected to the first arm near the second end of the first arm, a second arm also having a first end pivotally connected near the first end of the first arm along a pivot axle, a latch that when latched secures the first arm relative to the second arm in a latched mode, and when unlatched allows the first arm to move relative to the second arm in an unlatched mode. The system also employs a sensor attached to one of the arms that can detect when the arms are moving relative to each other, and adapted to provide a signal indicating the detected movement.
VALVE TRAIN ASSEMBLY
A type II valve train assembly that selectively opens first and second intake valves and first and second exhaust valves is provided. The valve train assembly includes an intake rocker arm assembly and an exhaust rocker arm assembly. The valve train assembly is configurable for operation in any combination of activated and deactivated states of engine braking and cylinder deactivation. The exhaust rocker arm assembly includes a first exhaust rocker arm, a second exhaust rocker arm and an engine brake exhaust rocker arm. A first exhaust HLA is associated with the first exhaust rocker arm. A second exhaust HLA is associated with the second exhaust valve. An exhaust actuation assembly selectively actuates to alter travel of the first and second exhaust HLA's to change a state of cylinder deactivation between activated and deactivated.
Variable-Stroke Valve Drive With a Double Leg Spring
A variable-stroke valve drive includes a double leg spring with a first spring leg and a second spring leg in a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine and a pivot lever. The pivot lever is supported on a guideway track of a guideway by a rolling element having a pivot point and the pivot lever, by way of a control track, is supported so as to be clearance-free on an intermediate element to a charge-cycle valve. The pivot lever is pivotable by a cam of a cam shaft for adjusting a stroke and the pivot point is displaceable parallel to the guideway track by an adjustment installation for adjusting a stroke height. The double leg spring in a central region forms an intermediate leg. A respective end of the first and second spring legs is formed to be largely parallel to a longitudinal axis of the double leg spring.
ROCKER ARM ASSEMBLY, COMPLIANCE CAPSULES, ACTUATORS, AND SUPPORT STRUCTURES
Several devices are disclosed that can be usable together or used in other valvetrains. Disclosed herein are a rocker arm assembly, compliance capsules for a switchable capsule of the rocker arm, actuators, and support structures for the actuators. The alternative compliance capsules can be electromechanically actuated by the alternative actuators, which are hung over the rocker shaft by the support structure. A cam actuator can be in addition to an overhead cam rail and in addition to the rocker shaft. The cam actuator can be configured with a compliance capsule so that the switching of the switchable capsule is mechanically linked and less reliant on precise electrical signal timing.
ENGINE BRAKING CASTELLATION MECHANISM
An engine brake rocker arm assembly is operable in an engine drive mode and an engine braking mode and selectively opens first and second exhaust valves. The engine brake rocker arm assembly includes an exhaust rocker arm configured to rotate about a rocker shaft, an engine brake capsule assembly movable between (i) a locked position configured to perform an engine braking operation, and (ii) an unlocked position that does not perform the engine braking operation, and a hydraulically controlled actuator assembly configured to selectively move the engine brake capsule assembly between the first and second positions.
ROCKER ARM ASSEMBLIES
A rocker arm assembly can comprise a rocker tube configured to be positioned around a rocker shaft, the rocker tube comprising a retention mechanism. A first rocker arm can be press-fit to the rocker tube. A second rocker arm can be pivotably mounted around the rocker tube and retained on the rocker tube by the retention mechanism. An alternative rocker arm assembly, that can be combined with the first rocker arm assembly, can comprise a first and second rocker am and a plate fixed to the first rocker arm. The plate can comprise an extension extending over the second rocker arm. A lost motion spring can be installed between the second rocker arm and the extension.
Valve actuation system comprising lost motion and high lift transfer components in a main motion load path
A valve actuation system comprising a valve actuation motion source configured to provide a main event valve actuation motion to at least one engine valve via a main motion load path that comprises at least one valve train component. The valve actuation system further includes a lost motion component arranged within a first valve train component in the main motion load path, the lost motion component being controllable to operate in a motion conveying state or a motion absorbing state. The valve actuation system also comprises a high lift transfer component arranged in the main motion load path, with the high lift transfer component being configured to permit the main motion load path to convey at least a high lift portion of the main event valve actuation motion when the lost motion component is in the motion absorbing state.
LOST MOTION ROCKER BRAKE BIASING AND STROKE LIMITING SYSTEMS
Systems for valve actuation in internal combustion engines provide for control of rocker arms and other valvetrain components by utilizing biasing and stroke limited components. Such features may be implemented in any valvetrain component, including e-foot assemblies or pushrod assemblies. The biasing component may bias the cam side of a lost motion rocker toward the cam. The components may be extendable to permit a biasing mechanism to keep the valvetrain components in a controlled position at all times. Stroke limiting features may facilitate the formation of small gaps between valvetrain components during the engine cycle for improved lubrication. Stroke limiting features may also retain valvetrain components in an assembled configuration even when not installed in an engine or valve actuation system.