An internal combustion engine has a valvetrain that includes a rocker arm assembly on which is mounted an electronic device and at least a part of a generator. The generator converts some of the mechanical energy that is transmitted through the rocker arm assemblies into electricity. That electricity may be used to power an electric latch, a transmitter, or another type of rocker arm assembly-mounted electrical device. Various generator configurations are described. In some configurations, the generator is piezoelectric. In other configurations, the generator is electromagnetic. In some configurations, the generator is driven by force transmitted by the rocker arm assembly from a cam. In some configurations, the generator is driven by vibrations.

The variable valve actuating device (20) comprises a switch pin (53) slidably received in the valve lifter (24) so as to selectively abut the end surface of the valve stem as the valve lifter is actuated by the cam. The device further comprises a first spring retainer (36) attached to an intermediate part of the valve stem (32) to engage a first valve spring (35), and a second spring retainer (44) slidably engaged by an end part of the valve stem to engage a second valve spring (43). The valve stem is provided with a stem end (39) which is enlarged with respect to a part of the valve stem slidably engaging the second spring retainer so as to define a shoulder surface (40a) that engages the second spring retainer against a spring force of the second valve spring.

A lash adjuster can include a hydraulic lash assembly, a mechanical lash assembly, and a check assembly. The hydraulic lash assembly can include a body, a top plunger, a leak down plunger, and the check assembly between the body and the leak down plunger. The mechanical lash assembly can be between the top plunger and the leak down plunger. The mechanical lash assembly can include a shim abutting the top plunger, a spacer, and a spring pressing against the spacer and the shim to form a gap between the top plunger and the leak down plunger. The lash adjuster can include the spring pressing directly against the spacer and directly or indirectly against the shim.

A novel latch seat for a switching rocker arm assembly used in variable valve actuation (VVA) systems for internal combustion engines. The seat is formed interactively in the assembled switching rocker arm using a novel fixture and press. The press interactively creates a curved dimple of the correct curvature, position and depth while measuring several lash dimensions. Since the latch seat is formed on the assembled rocker arm assembly, the latch seat depth is designed to account for the inaccuracies in the rocker arm assembly parts which create lash. Therefore all of the parts may be made with less precision since the latch seat is sized to compensate for the inaccuracies of all of the parts. The rocker arm assembly parts now may be manufactured to less stringent standards, but result in a rocker arm assembly with same accuracy of rocker arm assemblies manufactured to previous standards.

A rocker arm configured to perform a first event and a second event against a valve bridge assembly operably associated with first and second engine valves includes a rocker arm body configured to rotate about a rocker shaft. The rocker arm body includes a first event rocker arm assembly comprising a hydraulic capsule in a bore, and a second event rocker arm assembly. The first event rocker arm assembly is configured to selectively engage the valve bridge assembly to open the first and second engine valves.

A diagnostic system for a vehicle includes a difference module, a Fourier module, and a fault module. The difference module determines pressure differences for a camshaft revolution based on differences between: first pressures within first chambers of a camshaft phaser measured during the camshaft revolution, wherein the first pressures within the first chamber control advancement of the camshaft relative to a crankshaft of an engine; and second pressures within second chambers of the camshaft phaser measured during the camshaft revolution, wherein the second pressures within the second chamber control retardation of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft of the engine. The Fourier module performs a Fourier Transform (FT) based on the pressure differences to produce FT data. The fault module, based on the FT data, selectively indicates that a fault is present in a variable valve lift mechanism that is actuated by the camshaft.

In a lash adjuster used for a valve operating mechanism of an internal combustion engine, there is known a lash adjuster constituted by inserting a cylindrical sleeve into a plunger cap for preventing air from entering a high-pressure chamber located at a lower portion of the lash adjuster. However, in the conventional lash adjuster, since the plunger cap is formed with two side holes which are different in height in the axial direction of the plunger cap, it becomes complicated to regulate the side surface the plunger cap which corresponds to a sliding surface. Therefore, it is problems to be solved by the present invention to provide a lash adjuster in which the side surface of the plunger cap can be easily regulated without disturbing the inflow and outflow of oil and whose machining cost can be kept low. The above problems can be solved by a hydraulic lash adjuster in which two or more cap side holes 27c are provided and all of them are disposed in a plane perpendicular to a shaft center of the body 21.

A rocker arm assembly includes an outer arm having a first outer side arm and a second outer side arm, each of the first and second outer side arms having a low lift lobe contacting surface, an inner arm having a high lift lobe contacting surface and disposed between the first and second outer side arms, the inner arm having a first end and a second end operably associated with a lash adjuster and defining a latch bore, and a latch assembly arranged at least partially within the latch bore. The latch assembly is movable between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the latch assembly engages the outer arm such that the outer arm rotates with the inner arm, and in the second configuration, the latch assembly disengages the outer arm such that the outer arm rotates independently from the inner arm.

A variable valve lift apparatus includes an outer body for selectively performing a first lever motion depending on a rotation of a high cam, the outer body further forming an inside space, an inner body disposed in the inside space of the outer body so as to selectively perform a second lever motion depending on a rotation of the high cam by being selectively locked to the outer body, the selective performing of the second lever motion depending on a rotation of a low cam being released from the outer body, and the inner body being configured so that a valve is connected with one end of the inner body, a connecting shaft rotatably connecting the outer body with the inner body, and a lost motion spring wound around the connecting shaft so as to return the outer body after being relatively rotated with respect to the inner body when the outer body is released from the inner body, wherein a roller rolling-contacting with the low cam is disposed at the inner body, and the connecting shaft is disposed between a pivot axis for a lever motion of the inner body and the roller.

An exhaust valve includes a stem extending to a valve end. The valve end includes a pressure relief apparatus. An engine assembly includes a casing defining a cylinder bore, a combustion chamber and an exhaust passage. The combustion chamber is disposed between the exhaust passage and the cylinder bore. The engine assembly also includes a piston movable in the cylinder bore. The engine assembly further includes an exhaust valve movable between a first position blocking fluid communication through the exhaust passage and a second position allowing fluid communication through the exhaust passage. The exhaust valve includes a pressure relief apparatus configured to allow fluid communication through the exhaust valve from the cylinder bore to the exhaust passage when the exhaust valve is in the first position and a predetermined pressure threshold occurs in the cylinder bore between the exhaust valve and the piston.