Eaton Corporation

Daniel Bennett Trudell

Austin Robert Zurface

Douglas John Nielsen

Andrei Dan Radulescu

Brian Karl Vandeusen

David Gerard Genise

Philip Michael Kline

Tony Eric Gordon

Mark William Hildebrandt

Mark Joseph Birler

Brian Karl VanDeusen

Otto Jerome Schultheis

Robert Boychuk

A switching rocker arm system includes a rocker assembly having a first end and a second end, and engaging a lash adjuster an and engine valve. The system further includes a first arm rotationally coupled to a second arm at the first or second end, and selectively rotationally coupled to the second arm at the other of the first end and the second end by a latch. In the latched position, a second cam engagement surface of the second arm engages the second cam to operate the engine valve in a high-lift mode, a biasing spring urges the second cam engagement surface into contact with the second cam, and a rotational stop prevents contact of the second cam engagement surface with a base circle portion of the second cam in the low-lift mode.

Rocker arm assembly and components therefor

A method of precision manufacture of an outer arm of a rocker arm assembly is performed by determining structures of a rough outer arm that would require precision processing and locations to support the structures as they are processed. Starting with at least one structure requiring precision processing, locations on the outer arm close to the structure to hold the outer arm during processing are determined that would cause minimal distortion of the outer arm during processing. The outer arm is then provided with clamping lobes at these locations. The clamping lobes of the outer arm are clamping into a fixture for manufacturing. The slider pad may now be precision ground while the outer arm is clamped in the fixture with minimal risk of distortion of the outer arm.

A switching rocker arm having an outer arm having a first end, a second end, a first and second outer side arm having slider pads that ride on a second cam is disclosed. The switching rocker arm also has an inner arm disposed between the first and second outer side arms. The inner arm has a first end, a second end and a bearing disposed between the first and second end adapted to ride along a first cam. The inner arm is pivotably secured adjacent its first end to the outer arm adjacent its first end. At least one arm has an over-travel limiter structure limits pivoting motion of the first arm relative to the second arm. The switching rocker arm also exhibits decreased lash as the bearing wears, and increased lash as the latch and slider pads wear.

A system for diagnosing malfunctions in a variable valve actuation device. The system has a rocker arm assembly with first and second arms attached at a first end and a hydraulically operated latch assembly to secure the first arm to the second arm when latched. The rocker arm assembly pivots upon a hydraulic lash adjuster and includes a source of pressurized fluid connected to a hydraulic valve providing high or low pressure fluid to the hydraulically-operated latch. The latch may be operated by a remote device. A pressure transducer positioned within the hydraulic lash adjuster (HLA) is adapted to create a signal indicating fluid pressure in the HLA. A control unit coupled to the hydraulic valve and the pressure transducer is adapted to sense engine operating parameters, actuate the hydraulic valve, read the signal from the pressure transducer and identify malfunctions of the rocker arm assembly based upon the signal.

System to diagnose variable valve actuation malfunctions by monitoring fluid pressure in a hydraulic lash adjuster gallery

A system for diagnosing malfunctions in a variable valve actuation device is disclosed. The system has a rocker arm assembly that includes: a first arm, a second arm with the first and second arms attached at a first end, a hydraulically operated latch assembly that functions to secure the first arm to the second arm when latched. The rocker arm assembly pivots upon a hydraulic lash adjuster. It also includes a source of pressurized fluid connected to a hydraulic valve that provided fluid high or low pressure fluid to the hydraulically-operated latch. The latch may be operated by a remote device. A pressure transducer is positioned within the hydraulic lash adjuster (HLA) and is adapted to create a signal indicating the fluid pressure in the HLA. A control unit is coupled to the hydraulic valve and the pressure transducer, and is adapted to sense engine operation parameters, actuate the hydraulic valve, read the signal from the pressure transducer and identify malfunctions of the rocker arm assembly based upon the signal from the transducer.

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Bellingham, WA, United States of America

Daniel Bennett Trudell