Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.

Other

Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.

Brian L Ruggiero

Zhou Yang

Neil E Fuchs

Shengqiang Huang

Robb Janak

Steven N Ernest

Joseph V Paturzo

Richard E Vanderpoel

John J Lester

Ryan C Noss

Kevin P Groth

David Bernard Smith

John A Schwoerer

Andrew Jozef Brzoska

Michael P Dailey

James A Judd

Zdenek S Meistrick

Bruce A Swanbon

Eric Day

Jeffrey E Mossberg

Jin Chang Xu

Guy L Patterson

David A Waldburger

Jonathan W Prusak

Johnathan W Prusak

Erin Day

Joseph Iii Paturzo

Ryan Noss

A system for actuating one or more engine valves for positive power operation and engine braking operation is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, an exhaust valve bridge and intake valve bridge each receive valve actuations from two sets of rocker arms. Each valve bridge includes a sliding pin for actuating a single engine valve and an outer plunger disposed in the center of the valve bridge to actuate two engine valves through the bridge. The outer plunger of each valve bridge may be selectively locked to its valve bridge to provide positive power valve actuation. During engine braking, application of hydraulic pressure to the outer plungers may cause the respective valve bridges and outer plungers to unlock so that all engine braking valve actuations are provided from a rocker arm acting on one engine valve through the sliding pin.

Combined engine braking and positive power engine lost motion valve actuation system

A system for actuating an engine valve to decompress an engine cylinder for engine start up and/or engine braking is disclosed. The system may include a first member, such as an outer piston, disposed above an engine valve, which receives an inner piston extending into a bore provided in the first member. One or more springs may bias the inner piston into a predefined position in the first member. The inner piston may include a lower surface that directly, or through an intervening sliding pin, actuates an engine valve in response to the application of fluid pressure on the inner piston. The inner piston may be used to decompress an engine cylinder for engine start up and/or to provide engine braking.

Method and system for engine cylinder decompression

Systems and methods for actuating engine valves are disclosed. The systems may include primary and auxiliary rocker arms disposed adjacent to each other on a rocker arm shaft. The primary rocker arm may actuate engine valves for primary valve actuation motions, such as main exhaust events, in response to an input from a first valve train element, such as a cam. The auxiliary rocker arm may receive one or more auxiliary valve actuation motions, such as for engine braking, exhaust gas recirculation, and/or brake gas recirculation events, from a second valve train element to actuate one of the engine valves. Master and slave pistons may be provided in the primary rocker arm. The master piston may be actuated by the auxiliary rocker arm.

Primary and auxiliary rocker arm assembly for engine valve actuation

A system and method of actuating one or more engine valves is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises: a valve train element; a rocker arm pivotally mounted on a shaft and adapted to rotate between a first position and a second position, the rocker arm selectively receiving motion from the valve train element; a valve bridge disposed above the one or more engine valves; and a lost motion system disposed in the valve bridge.

Valve bridge with integrated lost motion system

A variable valve actuation system to actuate and control the seating velocity of an internal combustion engine valve is disclosed. The system comprises: a housing having a bore formed therein; an outer piston slidably disposed in the bore, the outer piston having an orifice formed therein; a catch piston slidably disposed in the outer piston; and an cone-shaped extension extending from the inner piston, wherein the cone-shaped extension is adapted to provide a variable flow area through the outer piston orifice to provide improved engine valve seating.

Valve actuation system with valve seating control

A variable valve actuation system to actuate and control the seating velocity of an internal combustion engine valve is disclosed. The system may comprise a rocker arm that includes first, second and third contact surfaces. The first contact surface may contact the engine valve. A hydraulic lost motion system may contact the rocker arm at the second contact surface, and a mechanical valve train element may contact the rocker arm at the third contact surface. The lost motion system may include a slave piston with a valve seating device incorporated therein. The lost motion system and the mechanical valve train element may be provided side by side at the end of the rocker arm opposite that of the engine valve.

Variable valve actuation system

A variable valve actuation system to actuate and control the seating velocity of an internal combustion engine valve is disclosed. The system comprises: a housing having a bore formed therein; an outer piston slidably disposed in the bore, said outer piston having an internal hydraulic passage, an internal chamber defined by an outer piston side wall, and an internal orifice connecting the internal hydraulic passage and the internal chamber; a catch piston slidably disposed in the outer piston; and a cone-shaped extension extending from the inner piston, wherein the cone-shaped extension is adapted to provide a variable flow area through the outer piston orifice to provide improved engine valve seating.

Self adjusting valve catch with valve seating control

A lost motion engine valve actuation system and method of actuating an engine valve are disclosed. The system may comprise a valve train element, a pivoting lever, a control piston, and a hydraulic circuit. The pivoting lever may include a first end for contacting the control piston, a second end for transmitting motion to a valve stem and a means for contacting a valve train element. The amount of lost motion provided by the system may be selected by varying the position of the control piston relative to the pivoting lever. Variation of the control piston position may be carried out by placing the control piston in hydraulic communication with a control trigger valve and one or more accumulators. Actuation of the trigger valve releases hydraulic fluid allowing for adjustment of the control piston position. Means for limiting valve seating velocity, filling the hydraulic circuit upon engine start up, and mechanically locking the control piston/lever for a fixed level of valve actuation are also disclosed.

Variable lost motion valve actuator and method

Apparatus and methods for hydraulic valve actuation of engine valves are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a lost motion piston assembly that transfers motion between first and second rocker arms to selectively provide auxiliary engine valve actuation motions to the engine valves for engine operations such as engine braking and exhaust gas recirculation. The lost motion piston assembly may reduce or eliminate transient loads that may otherwise be transmitted to engine valve train elements during the times that lost motions systems are turned on and off for auxiliary valve actuations.

Engine brake apparatus

Systems and methods of actuating engine valves using a hydraulic valve actuation system are disclosed. The valve actuation system includes a master piston and two slave pistons slidably disposed in bores provided in a housing. The master piston and two slave pistons are connected together by a hydraulic circuit. Linear motion imparted to the master piston is transferred to the two slave pistons via the hydraulic circuit. In turn, the two slave pistons may actuate one or more engine valves directly or through an intermediate valve bridge. A valve seating device may be provided to assist in seating the engine valves in embodiments where the valve actuation system is adapted to provide variable valve actuation.

Multiple slave piston valve actuation system

Systems and methods for hydraulic and/or variable valve actuation of engine valves are disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention may include a hydraulic valve actuation system operatively connected to an engine valve. First and second control valves may be operatively connected to the hydraulic valve actuation system and adapted to selectively release hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic valve actuation system independent of one another. The first control valve is preferably a solenoid actuated trigger valve and the second control valve is preferably a mechanically or hydraulically actuated valve.

System and method for hydraulic valve actuation

Systems and methods of actuating two engine valves associated with a common engine cylinder using one or more lost motion systems and one or more control valves are disclosed. The control valves are capable of selectively trapping hydraulic fluid in the lost motion systems for auxiliary engine valve actuations and selectively releasing the hydraulic fluid to default to cam controlled valve seating of the engine valves. The systems may provide a combination of main exhaust, compression release, exhaust gas recirculation and early exhaust valve opening in preferred embodiments.

Growing community of inventors

East Granby, CT, United States of America

Brian L Ruggiero