LOST MOTION VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION SYSTEMS AND METHOD

Abstract

A compact, modular, lost motion variable valve actuation assembly includes a dry start hydraulic circuit to enable quick priming of a lost motion master-slave circuit from a dry start reservoir to the master piston chamber during engine start. Motion of the master piston on engine startup may draw in fluid from the dry start hydraulic circuit. The dry start components may be integrated into a compact modular rocker shaft pedestal package suitable for retrofit on existing engine head assemblies. The master piston may include a push tube interface that includes a deep push tube cavity and lubrication capabilities in the master piston that provides for improved wear, stability, easy installation and alignment. The slave piston may be provided with a valve catch to reduce valve closing velocity during cycles involving lost-motion.

Claims

1. An engine valve actuation assembly for controlling motion of at least one engine valve in an engine comprising: a motion source; an engine valve train for conveying motion from the motion source to the at least one engine valve, the engine valve train including a housing; a master piston bore defined in the housing; a master piston cooperating with the master piston bore to define a master piston chamber; the master piston having a motion receiving interface for receiving motion from the motion source; a slave piston bore defined in the housing; a slave piston cooperating with the slave piston bore to define a slave piston chamber; the slave piston having a motion transferring interface for transferring motion to a motion receiving component in the valve train and to the at least one engine valve, the slave piston chamber being in hydraulic communication with the master piston chamber such that the slave piston responds to pressure changes in the master piston chamber; wherein the master piston chamber and slave piston chamber are substantially axially aligned and the distance between the top of the slave piston bore and the top of the master piston bore is less than the minimum of the master piston and slave piston diameters; and a valve catch assembly arranged to control pressure or flow in the slave piston chamber and thereby control motion of the at least one engine valve.

2. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve catch assembly comprises a control piston and a control pin operatively connected to the control piston and having at least one port arranged to permit flow from the slave piston chamber to the master piston chamber.

3. The engine valve assembly of claim 2, wherein the valve catch assembly comprises a check disk cooperating with the control pin such that the check disk progressively occludes flow through the at least one port in response to motion of the slave piston during engine valve closing.

4. The engine valve assembly of claim 3, wherein least one of the at least one port in the control pin is not occluded by the check disk when the engine valve is in a seated position.

5. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve catch assembly further comprises a valve catch seat and a check disk, wherein the check disk is adapted to contact the valve catch seat when the lift of the engine valve is below a threshold.

6. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve catch assembly further comprises a control pin and a valve catch seat, wherein the control pin is adapted to contact the valve catch seat just prior to seating of the engine valve.

7. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 1, further comprising an auto-lash chamber.

8. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve catch assembly further comprises a valve catch seat, a control pin, and a check disk, wherein the valve catch seat has a common seating surface for the control pin and the check disk.

9. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve catch assembly comprises a control pin, a check disk and a check disk stop that retains the check disk.

10. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve catch assembly further comprises a control pin, a check disk and a check disk spring is disposed between the control piston and the check disk.

11. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve catch assembly further comprises a control pin and a control pin spring disposed between the slave piston and the control pin.

12. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic passage between the master piston and slave piston.

13. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 12, wherein the hydraulic passage comprises a bellmouth at the top of the master piston bore.

14. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve catch assembly comprises a control piston and control pin, wherein the control piston and control pin are operatively connected by means of a press fit.

15. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic control circuit in hydraulic communication with the master piston chamber.

16. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 15, wherein the hydraulic control circuit comprises an accumulator.

17. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 15, wherein the hydraulic control circuit comprises a dry start reservoir.

18. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 15, wherein the hydraulic control circuit comprises solenoid valve for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to the master piston chamber.

19. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 15, wherein the hydraulic circuit is integrated into the housing.

20. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing is a rocker shaft pedestal adapted to be mounted to an engine overhead assembly.

21. The engine valve actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing is a rocker pedestal and wherein the hydraulic circuit is integrated into the valve rocker pedestal to provide a modular add-on assembly adapted to be attached to an engine head.

22. An engine valve actuation assembly for controlling motion of at least one engine valve in an engine comprising: a motion source; an engine valve train for conveying motion from the motion source to the at least one engine valve, the engine valve train including a housing; a master piston bore defined in the housing; a master piston cooperating with the master piston bore to define a master piston chamber; the master piston having a motion receiving interface for receiving motion from the motion source; a slave piston bore defined in the housing; a slave piston cooperating with the slave piston bore to define a slave piston chamber; the slave piston having a motion transferring interface for transferring motion to a motion receiving component in the valve train and to the at least one engine valve, the slave piston chamber being in hydraulic communication with the master piston chamber such that the slave piston responds to pressure changes in the master piston chamber; and a control piston bore defined in the slave piston; a control piston cooperating with the control piston bore to define an auto-lashing chamber; a control pin operatively connected to the control piston having at least one port arranged to permit flow from the slave piston chamber to the master piston chamber; and a check disk cooperating with the control pin such that the check disk progressively occludes flow through the at least one port in response to motion of the slave piston during engine valve closing.

23. An engine valve actuation assembly for controlling motion of at least one engine valve in an engine comprising: a motion source; an engine valve train for conveying motion from the motion source to the at least one engine valve, the engine valve train including a housing; a piston bore defined in the housing; a piston cooperating with the piston bore to define a piston chamber; the piston having a motion transferring interface for transferring motion to a motion receiving component in the valve train and to the at least one engine valve, the piston chamber being in hydraulic communication with a hydraulic circuit to control flow and/or pressure in the piston chamber; and a valve catch assembly arranged to control pressure or flow in the piston chamber and to thereby control motion of the at least one engine valve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The above and other attendant advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like elements throughout. It will be understood that the description and embodiments are intended as illustrative examples according to aspects of the disclosure and are not intended to be limiting to the scope of invention, which is set forth in the claims appended hereto. In the following descriptions of the figures, all illustrations pertain to features that are examples according to aspects of the instant disclosure, unless otherwise noted.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of an example modular lost motion VVA (LMVVA) assembly and an example engine valve train environment.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a pictorial illustration of the example modular LMVVA assembly shown in FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a detailed pictorial illustration of components the example LMVVA assembly shown in FIG. 2.

[0022] FIG. 4 is pictorial illustration of additional components and a lower mounting surface of the example LMVVA assembly shown in FIG. 2.

[0023] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an example LMVVA assembly and components thereof.

[0024] FIG. 6 is another exploded perspective view of the LMVVA assembly of FIG. 5 and components thereof.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an example hydraulic dry start circuit, which may be implemented in an LMVVA assembly such as that illustrated in FIGS. 1-6.

[0026] FIG. 8 is a cross-section of the LMVVA assembly of FIGS. 1-6.

[0027] FIG. 9 is another cross-section of the LMVVA assembly of FIGS. 1-6.

[0028] FIG. 10 is a third cross-section of the LMVVA assembly of FIGS. 1-6.

[0029] FIG. 11 is a detailed cross-section of an example slave piston and valve catch assembly in the LMVVA assembly of FIGS. 1-6.

[0030] FIG. 12 is a cross-section of example master piston/push tube interface components suitable for use in the LMVVA assembly of FIGS. 1-6.

[0031] FIG. 13 is a detailed cross-section of the master piston/push tube interface components of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS

[0032] As used herein, the term “in fluid communication” is intended to denote a relationship between two or more elements or components in which fluid may flow constantly, intermittently or selectively, and is not necessarily limited to direct, constant flow between such elements or components but may involve fluid flow through intermediate components, for example, through a check valve, that may be disposed intermediately between the two or more components described as being “in fluid communication.”

[0033] FIG. 1 shows an example modular lost motion VVA assembly 100 in an engine valve train environment. A motion source, shown in the form of a lost motion VVA cam 10, may impart motion to one or more motion receiving components, which, in this example, may be a cam follower 12, journaled in a cam follower arm 14 that may be pivotably mounted to permit the cam follower 12 to follow the working surface or profile of cam 10. Cam follower 12 cooperates with a push rod 20, which extends upward and may interact with a master piston assembly 200 on the VVA assembly 100. Push tube 20 may extend into a push rod cap 22, which in turn may extend into a master piston 210 of the master piston assembly 200. Master piston 210 may interact with a slave piston 310 of a slave piston assembly 300 to provide for lost motion, as will be further described. Slave piston 310 may impart motion to a rocker arm 30 through a swivel foot or “e-foot” 32 extending therefrom. Rocker arm 30 may impart motion to one or more engine valves 50, 52 via a valve bridge 40.

[0034] As will be recognized from the instant disclosure, the VVA assembly 100 may be secured to an engine head assembly (omitted for clarity from FIG. 1) as an add-on component or replacement component for a rocker shaft pedestal. The VVA assembly 100 may include integrated structure for supporting the rocker shaft 35, which supports the rocker arm 30 for pivoting movement, as will be further described.

[0035] Referring additionally to FIGS. 2-4, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure, the VVA assembly 100 may have a compact, modular construction. Such construction provides for the integration of a number of components into the VVA housing 110 in such a manner that the VVA assembly may be installed as an add-on component without interfering with other components that may be in its vicinity in an engine head environment. The housing 110 may be constructed for attachment to an existing pedestal or post extending from the engine head. The VVA assembly integrated components may include a rocker shaft support 112, master piston assembly 200, slave piston assembly 300, and a dry start subsystem 400. As will be further described, the dry start subsystem 400 may include a dry start hydraulic circuit providing fluid communication between dry start reservoir 410, high speed solenoid valve (HSSV) 420, accumulator 430, high pressure check valve 450 and low-pressure check valve 460, as well as hydraulic fluid paths connecting the same and extending within the housing 110. These and other components, as will be described, are advantageously positioned and integrated into the VVA assembly housing 110 to provide a modular and compact VVA package that may be conveniently transported and installed as a modular unit. This VVA package configuration achieves the advantages described herein and others.

[0036] FIGS. 5 and 6 are exploded views of the example VVA assembly 100 of FIGS. 1-4, according to aspects of the disclosure. Housing 110 may include a rocker shaft support bore 114 disposed on the rocker shaft support 112. A mounting bore 116 may extend through the housing 110 and receive a fastener (i.e., bolt) for securing the housing 110 to a mounting surface within an engine head assembly (not shown). A pair of alignment pins 111 may be disposed in respective alignment pin bores 113 in a mounting surface 115 on the underside of housing 110 to facilitate stable, aligned mounting and installation. Housing 110 may include a HSSV bore 120 for receiving a valve head 426 of a HSSV 420. A mounting bracket 422 and bracket fastener 422 may secure the HSSV 420 to housing 110. As will be recognized HSSV bore 120 may include one or more fluid passages 122 in communication therewith for conveying hydraulic fluid to/from the bore 120 and, in an open state of the valve, through or past the valve head 426 of HSSV 420. According to aspects of the disclosure, a dry start reservoir 410 may be defined within the housing 110 and sealed with a reservoir cap 412 (i.e., via threaded coupling or press fit). Reservoir cap 412 may have a reservoir bleed orifice 414 therein for permitting bleed to ambient of hydraulic fluid from the reservoir. This configuration has advantages for manufacturing, particularly for a large single cylinder head.

[0037] Master piston 210 may include an annular collar or shoulder 212 extending around a lower portion thereof and a master piston socket 217 (FIG. 6) defined therein for receiving a push tube end or push tube cap. Annular shoulder 212 may define a spring seat for master piston spring 250. Another spring seat surface 123 may be defined on housing 110 around the master piston bore 120 for engaging an opposite end of spring 250. Master piston 210 may include an outer groove 213 on an upper portion thereof and including a number of radially extending ports 215 defined therein for communicating oil from outside the master piston 210 to an interior socket 217 for enhancing lubrication of the push tube/master piston interface using master piston leakage, as will be further described herein. A master piston retainer 260 may be comprised of a threaded fastener that may be secured to housing 110 such that a bolt head 262 may engage and retain the annular shoulder 212 of master piston 210, thereby securing the master piston 210 and spring 250 in an installation position on the housing 110. As will be recognized from the instant disclosure, this configuration permits the master piston 210 and spring 250 to be secured to the housing 110 during installation, with the master piston 210 retained in a fully inserted position, for example, relative to master piston bore 120, and spring 250 compressed. As will be recognized from the instant disclosure, once the VVA assembly is installed, the master piston spring 250 advantageously provides a biasing force on the master piston 210 (FIG. 1) and provides for cam follow of the master piston, push tube 20 and cam follower, regardless of the operation of the master-slave lost motion components of the VVA assembly. In particular, the master piston 210 will follow the cam closing profile during dry start so that the master piston will act as a pump to draw oil from the dry-start reservoir into the high-pressure circuit.

[0038] Still referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a slave piston assembly 300 may be installed in a slave piston bore 130, which permits the slave piston assembly 300 to interact with the master piston 210 and to convey motion to a motion receiving component (i.e., swivel foot in FIG. 1) in the valve train. Slave piston assembly 300 may include a self-adjusting valve catch (SAVC) system to control engine valve closing velocity. Details of the master/slave piston interaction and the SAVC according to aspects of the disclosure, will be explained below.

[0039] An accumulator assembly 430 may be installed in an accumulator bore 140 provided in the housing. The accumulator assembly may include an accumulator piston 432 having a sealing surface 433 on an end wall thereof and a central bleed orifice 435 centered within the sealing surface 433. An accumulator spring 434 may be housed within the interior of accumulator piston 432 and engage the piston end wall. The accumulator assembly 430 may be retained in the accumulator bore 140 of housing 110 by a C-clip retainer 436, which also retains a spring seat/washer 438, which engages an end of the accumulator spring 434 that is opposite the piston end wall. The accumulator assembly 430 functions to accumulate a pressurized supply of hydraulic fluid during normal (steady state) engine operation with the piston moving against the biasing force of spring 434 until equilibrium is reached and an amount of oil is accumulated within a chamber defined by the 432 piston and the bore 140. According to an aspect of the disclosure, bleed orifice 435 provides for a flow of hydraulic fluid through the accumulator piston 432 for the purpose of removing heat that is generated mainly in the valve catch and HSSV. While the dry start reservoir vent orifice may provide some bleed cooling, the accumulator bleed cooling orifice 435 may be more effective since hot oil from the high-pressure circuit flows primarily to the accumulator. However, according to a further aspect of the disclosure, and as explained in more detail below in reference to FIG. 7, when engine operation ceases, and during a dry start (restart) cycle, the biasing force of spring 434 will move the piston 432 into engagement with an end wall of the bore 140, preventing any flow through bleed cooling orifice 435.

[0040] Two check valves associated with the dry start hydraulic system may be installed in the housing 110. A low-pressure check valve (LPCV) 440 may be disposed in a low-pressure check valve bore 170, having ports therein for permitting fluid communication between the LPCV and other system components. A high-pressure check valve (HPCV) 450 may be disposed within a high-pressure check valve bore 150, which likewise may have ports therein for permitting fluid communication between the HPCV 450 and other system components.

[0041] FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of an example dry start hydraulic circuit 700 which may be implemented as part of the dry start subsystem 400 (FIGS. 2-4) to achieve the advantages described herein. The hydraulic circuit may be implemented, in part, as a series of conduits or passages provided in the housing and providing fluid communication between the components depicted in the schematic drawing, i.e., accumulator, check valve, HSSV. According to an aspect, all components and conduits or passages may be integrated into the housing to provide a modular assembly that may be retro-fit onto an existing engine in place of or in addition to a rocker pedestal, for example. A master piston chamber 214 may be defined by the master piston 210 disposed in a master piston bore 120 defined in the housing 110. A high-pressure hydraulic sub circuit 710 may include a first fluid passage from the master piston chamber 214 to the HSSV 420, which may be a normally-open solenoid valve that closes when energized, and a second fluid passage 714 from the master piston chamber 214 to a high-pressure check valve 450. A low-pressure hydraulic sub circuit 720 may include a low-pressure check valve 440 disposed in a fluid passage 722 providing engine oil to the VVA assembly HSSV 420, dry start reservoir 410, having cap 412 and orifice 414, and accumulator 430, having accumulator piston 432, sealing surface 433 and bleed cooling orifice 435. The dry start reservoir is preferably located near the HPCV in the hydraulic circuit. As will be recognized, the low-pressure hydraulic sub circuit 720 is selectively isolated from the high-pressure hydraulic sub circuit 710 by way of check valve 450 and HSSV 420.

[0042] During normal engine operation, the high-speed solenoid valve 420 may be energized and thus closed prior to the start of cam lift. In this configuration, the master piston 210 and push tube 20 (FIG. 1) may nearly follow the profile of cam 10. The slave piston 310, and thus the valve bridge 40 and intake valves 50, 52 (FIG. 1) may have lower opening lift due to hydraulic compliance within the master-slave piston components. During normal operation, the high-speed solenoid valve 420 may be intermittently de-energized and thus open to achieve a desired intake valve closing timing. As the slave piston closes, fluid flows from the slave piston chamber to the master piston chamber 214 and through the high-speed solenoid valve 420 to the accumulator 430. The accumulator 430 and reservoir 410 are each provided with bleed flows through a reservoir bleed orifice 414 and an accumulator bleed cooling orifice 435, which bleed to ambient. Below a threshold intake valve lift, for example, 3.0 mm, a self-adjusting valve catch (SAVC) in the slave piston assembly 300, the details of which will be explained, may provide for reduced valve seating velocity by progressively throttling flow out of the slave piston plenum. The SAVC may cause slave piston pressure to rise, thereby providing a force acting through the valve rocker to slow the intake valve to an acceptable seating velocity. The high-pressure circuit 710 refills on the closing portion of the cam, and oil flows from the accumulator to the master piston through both the HSSV and the HPCV. When the accumulator pressure drops below the VVA oil supply pressure, refill oil may flow from the VVA oil supply to the accumulator 430 and reservoir 410.

[0043] On engine shutdown, the HSSV 420 opens, the valve springs close the engine valves and retract the slave piston to the top of the slave piston bore as oil flows out of the high-pressure circuit through the HSSV 420. The accumulator spring 434 retracts the accumulator piston 432 as oil flows out of the low-pressure circuit through the accumulator bleed cooling orifice 435. The amount of oil in the high-pressure circuit on engine shutdown will vary depending on the position of the master piston, with the minimum amount of oil on cam peak lift. If the engine is shut down for an extended period, additional oil may leak out of the hydraulic circuits. Oil is retained in the dry start reservoir because the LPCV, HPCV, and the accumulator bleed cooling orifice 435 are closed.

[0044] During dry start, the initial conditions will typically be that the intake valves are closed and the cam may be at any lift and the hydraulic circuits may have little to no oil, except for the dry start reservoir 410. This is because oil drainage from the VVA system may occur following engine shutdown. Thus, without hydraulic fluid in the master-slave circuit, the worst case for VVA refill occurs with the cam on peak dwell. When the VVA supply oil pressure in passage 722 is below the pressure required to actuate the piston of accumulator 430, the accumulator bleed cooling orifice 435 is occluded by the accumulator piston and thus oil may not bleed from the accumulator. As will be recognized from the instant disclosure, the accumulator spring 434 may be installed with a preload to ensure that the accumulator piston 432 remains bottomed in the accumulator bore 149 when the oil pressure is at a level that is sufficient to refill the high-pressure circuit. The accumulator spring preload is set to keep the accumulator piston on the top of the bore only during dry start when the oil supply pressure is between ambient pressure and a level that is significantly lower than the minimum oil supply pressure at low idle and insufficient to refill the high-pressure circuit. In other words, the accumulator piston refill pressure will typically be set at a pressure that is higher than the pressure needed to refill the high-pressure circuit.

[0045] The HSSV 420 is kept in a closed position during dry start in order to retain oil in the high-pressure circuit 710. As the engine cranks during startup, the master piston may reciprocate within the master piston chamber, generating pressure in the master piston plenum that is sufficiently below ambient to overcome the HPCV cracking pressure of typically 0.3 bar. This permits oil to be drawn by the master piston from the dry start reservoir 410 through the HPCV 450. The dry start reservoir is located close to the HPCV to avoid overcoming the LPCV cracking pressure, which could draw air into the system. The accumulator piston will be at the top of the bore, thereby occluding the bleed cooling orifice 435. During the cam opening profile, the master piston check valve closes, and any oil in the master piston will be pumped to the slave piston. When the slave piston is sufficiently filled, the engine valves will be actuated. On subsequent cycles, more oil is suctioned from the reservoir by the master piston on the cam closing profile. Thus, the intake valve lift will be the full cam lift with progressively decreasing lash (increasing lift) on each cycle as more oil is pulled into the master piston chamber. In this manner, the lost motion system may rapidly reach a state, following engine startup, where the master-slave piston components receive sufficient hydraulic fluid to provide full VVA cam lift, rather than operating for an extended period under dry start (i.e., insufficient hydraulic fluid in the master-slave piston components to permit full operation).

[0046] In a preferred implementation, the dry start reservoir will be located at a higher elevation than the master piston port. However, since the system can overcome a small head difference between the reservoir and the master piston port, other relative elevations for the dry start reservoir may be implemented within the VVA housing 110. It will be recognized from the instant disclosure that the HPCV provides advantages in the dry start hydraulic circuit, namely, that the presence of the HPCV permits the HSSV to be in a closed state during dry start and the HPCV may be used to fill and retain oil in the high-pressure circuit. Stated another way, without the HPCV, it would be necessary to control the HSSV during dry start to be open during cam closing to allow for the draw of oil from the dry start reservoir to the high-pressure circuit and closed during cam opening, and during any peak dwell, to retain oil in the high-pressure circuit.

[0047] FIGS. 8-10 are cross sections taken through different planes in the example VVA assembly of FIGS. 1-7, and further illustrating details of the example master piston assembly 200 and slave piston assembly 300. FIG. 8 is a view from the side of the housing 110 that integrates the accumulator 430. This view also shows further details of the master piston assembly 200, including master piston 210, master piston chamber 120, push tube receiving socket 217, tapered annular alignment surface 222 on an entrance to the push tube receiving socket 217, one of the master piston ports 215 and piston retainer 262. HSSV 420 and slave piston assembly 300 are also shown in an installed position in the housing 110. FIG. 9 is a sectional view in the plane of a high-pressure hydraulic passage 712 between the master piston chamber 120 and the HSSV 420. In this view, the end of accumulator 430 is visible. FIG. 10 is another cross-section showing a high-pressure hydraulic passage 714 between the HPCV 450 and the piston chamber 120.

[0048] FIG. 11 is a cross-section of an example slave piston and SAVC according to aspects of the disclosure. Slave piston 310 may be disposed in a slave piston bore 130 in the VVA housing 110, defining with the slave piston bore, an expansible slave piston chamber 314 in fluid communication with the master piston chamber 214. A valve catch seat 318 is secured within a complementarily shaped valve catch seat recess 132 formed in the housing between the slave piston bore 130 and the master piston bore 120. Valve catch seat 318 includes a central passage 319 surrounded by an annular seating surface 321. Slave piston 310 may include an inner cavity 330 for receiving a control pin 340, which is provided with a control pin collar 342, which may be press-fit thereon or secured with a retaining pin (not shown). Control pin collar 342 may function as a control piston and to permit guided movement of the control pin 340 within the slave piston bore or cavity 330, keeping the control pin 340 centered within the slave piston cavity 330. Control pin 340 includes a check disk stop 345 that limits the downward motion of the check disk 350 relative to the control pin 340. Control pin 340 may include a shoulder 349 to provide for positive positioning and installation of control pin collar 342. Control pin collar 342 includes an upper spring guide 344, which cooperates with control pin spring 354, and a lower spring guide 346, which cooperates with a check disk spring 356. Control pin spring 354 provides a downward (seating) biasing force on the control pin 340 relative to the slave piston 310. Spring 356 provides a downward (seating) biasing force on a check disk 350 against an annular seating surface 321 relative to the position of the control pin collar 342. Check disk 350 may be slidably disposed on control pin 340. According to an aspect of the disclosure, the control pin/collar assembly defines an auto-lash chamber 355 at the top of the inner cavity 330 of slave piston 310. Oil may flow (leak) between the slave piston 310 and auto-lash chamber 355 through the clearance between the control pin collar 342 and the slave piston 310 in response to the relative pressures between the chambers defined by each end of the control pin collar 342.

[0049] Control pin 340 includes an annular control pin seating surface 341 which engages the valve catch seat annular seating surface 321. Valve catch seat annular seating surface 321 thus provides a positive stop for the control pin. As the auto-lash chamber 355 may fill with hydraulic fluid, the positive stop of seating surface 321 operates to limit the auto-lash movement of the control pin 340. Likewise, the check disk 350 includes an annular check disk seating surface 351, which engages the valve catch seat annular surface 321. Control pin 340 includes a plurality of control pin ports 343, which may be round, slotted or another shape, which permit flow through the control pin 340. The check disk 350 operates to direct flow through the control pin ports 343 and includes a metering edge 357, which operates to progressively occlude the control pin ports 343 as the control pin 340 moves (downward) relative to the check disk 350. The check disk 350 includes an outer skirt 353, which maintains a precise relationship between the metering edge 357 and the control pin ports 343 by virtue of both the check disk 350 and the control pin 343 utilizing a common seating surface 321. This configuration eliminates any tolerance stack issues that would otherwise affect the precision between the metering edge 357 and the control pin ports 343.

[0050] According to an aspect of the disclosure, a self-adjusting valve catch prevents excessive closing velocity of the slave piston (downward direction in FIG. 11) and thus prevents excessive closing movement of the motion receiving components in the valve train and thus prevents excessive closing velocity of the engine valve(s) associated with the valve train. According to another aspect of the disclosure, the valve catch check disk and control pin share a common seating surface. This common seating configuration reduces the tolerance stack of the cooperating parts, making the valve lift seating profile and seating velocity control less sensitive to dimensional variations in the control pin and check disk (i.e., manufacturing tolerances).

[0051] Control pin ports 343 may be progressively occluded by the check disk 350 during a valve catch mode of operation, as will be described. During normal valve lift operation of the master-slave hydraulic circuit (i.e., as dictated by the profile of cam 10), hydraulic pressure increase in the master piston chamber 214, which results from upward movement of the master piston, causes the slave piston and control pin to move upward together and the engine valve to open. The slave piston and control pin move substantially together due to the low leakage flow between the slave piston and the auto-lash chambers. The check disk may initially move upward relative to the control pin to allow flow into the slave piston chamber. As the slave piston lift increases, the check disk moves downward relative to the control pin and contacts the control pin stop 345. The engine valve may close due to the cam profile or opening of the HSSV. As the engine valve initially closes, the slave piston and control pin move together, and the check disk remains in contact with the control pin check disk stop 345. At an engine valve lift of typically 3 mm, the check disk seating surface 351 contacts the valve catch seat annular seating surface 321, directing the flow out of the slave piston chamber through the control pin radial holes 343. Initially with the check disk in contact with the control pin check disk stop 345, the flow area of the holes does not significantly restrict the flow. As the engine valve approaches zero lift, the check disk moves relative to the control pin, and the check disk metering edge 357 progressively occludes the radial holes. At an engine valve lift of typically 0.3-0.5 mm, the radial holes are fully occluded directing the flow out of the slave piston through the diametrical clearance between the check disk 350 and the control pin340. The occluding hole area vs. lift profile is analogous to the acceleration portion of a cam profile closing feature, and the check disk—control pin diametrical clearance flow area is analogous to a cam profile constant velocity ramp.

[0052] Over the valve lift event and during valve seating, the auto-lash chamber pressure is lower than the slave piston pressure due to spring forces and piston diameters. This causes oil to leak from the slave piston to auto-lash chamber via the diametrical clearance between the control piston bore and collar. At an engine valve lift typically below 0.1 mm, the control pin seating surface contacts the valve catch seat annular seating surface. This causes the slave piston chamber pressure to drop to nearly ambient pressure and the auto-lash chamber pressure to increase due to the engine valve spring load. Oil leaks from the auto-lash to the slave piston chamber until the engine valve seats and unloads the valve springs. This both provides both additional slowing of the engine valve and the auto-lash function that the control pin contacts the valve catch seat approximately when the engine valve contacts the engine valve seat. According to further aspects of the disclosure, guiding features of the check disk spring 356 and the control pin ensure that the control pin ports are not contacted by the spring 356, thus avoiding avoid wear of the port edges by the spring 356. The control pin-check disk diametrical clearance is sufficiently large to prevent the check disk-control pin from locking due to friction force and to provide acceptable sensitivity to oil viscosity.

[0053] FIGS. 12 and 13 are cross-sections, which illustrate details of an example push tube/master piston interface. In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, the master piston of the VVA assembly may be provided with advantageous features to ensure stability of operation and durability of the motion receiving interface for the VVA assembly. Push tube 20 may cooperate with a push tube cap 22 which engages an end of the push tube 20 and extends at a significant depth into the master piston push tube socket 217 such that the end 24 of the push tube cap 22 is in close proximity to the external surface 221 of master piston end wall 219. Preferably, the depth should be sufficient to locate interface between the push tube end 24 and the master piston end wall 219 within the master piston bore 120 of the housing 110. The socket depth may be such that the interface between the push tube and master piston (i.e., the thickness of the master piston end wall, may preferably be less than the diameter of the piston. This configuration provides minimal, if any, side loading on the push tube cap. That is, the forces applied by the push tube 20 and push tube cap 22 in combination with the high-pressure forces applied to the external surface 221 will not create any appreciable side loading on the push tube cap 22, especially in the vicinity of the end wall 219. This reduces lateral forces on the push tube, cap and master piston, provides for more stable operation and reduces frictional loss and wear.

[0054] To further enhance alignment of the push tube cap 22 within the master piston push tube socket 217, the push tube cap 22 may be provided with a slight radius on the end 24 in order to accommodate very slight angular variation in alignment and to keep contact stresses low. As a further measure, the master piston end wall 219 may be provided with a flat or a slightly concave surface, preferably having a radius that is greater than the radius provided on the push tube cap end 24, to further reduce contact stress and ensure alignment of the push tube cap 24 within the master piston push tube socket 217. To still further enhance alignment, the push tube cap 22 may be provided with a radially extending, annular protuberance or bump 29 that provides axial alignment of the push tube cap within the master piston socket. This configuration provides a centering force on the end of the push tube cap 22 that is opposite the end wall 24. The push tube end/push tube cap end may define a toroid annular shape with the push tube receiving socket of the master piston.

[0055] In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, an example VVA assembly may provide enhanced lubrication capabilities at the master piston/push tube interface. Referring to FIG. 13, and again to FIGS. 5, 6 and 8-10, the annular groove 213 and radial extending ports 215 on the master piston may supply engine oil to the master piston push tube socket 217 and thus to the push tube/master piston interface. According to an aspect of the disclosure, the respective dimensions of the master piston and the master piston bore are configured to provide an annular clearance, which, under the high-pressure forces in the master piston chamber, provide for the bleed or leakage of oil into the annular space, where it is collected by the master piston annular groove and directed within the master piston push tube receiving socket. The oil may originate in the master piston chamber and may leak between the lateral outer surface of the master piston 210 and the master piston chamber 120. The groove 213 may thus function to collect or “scavenge” oil that has leaked from the master piston chamber into this space and convey it to the push tube/master piston interface. The above-described radial centering features may keep the push tube convex piston face centered inside of the master piston and also maintain a perimeter to contain the hydraulic fluid film from leaking out of the high-pressure circuit.

[0056] Although the present implementations have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.