Eaton Intelligent Power Limited

Nicholas Peter Gillette

James Edward McCarthy, Jr

Dale Arden Stretch

Petr Liskar

Robert Philip Benjey

Austin Robert Zurface

Anthony Leon Spoor

Brian Karl Vandeusen

Eric Yankovic

Thomas Michael Tembreull

Michael J Campbell

Jiri Cecrle

Tomas Drabek

Michael James Stanton

Mark Allan Juds

Matthew Richard Busdiecker

Andrei Dan Radulescu

James McCarthy

Doug Hughes

A valvetrain for an internal combustion engine of the type that has a combustion chamber, a moveable valve having a seat formed in the combustion chamber, and a camshaft includes a rocker arm assembly, a pivot providing a fulcrum for a rocker arm of the rocker arm assembly, and a latch assembly. An electrical device mounted to the rocker arm assembly receives power or communicates through a circuit that includes an electrical connection formed by abutment between surfaces of two distinct parts. The rocker arm assembly is operative to move one of the two abutting surfaces relative to the other in response to actuation of the cam follower. Forming an electrical connection through abutting surfaces that are free to undergo relative motion may reduce or eliminate the need to run wires to a mobile portion of the rocker arm assembly.

Sliding contact for electrically actuated rocker arm

An internal combustion engine includes a cam-actuated rocker arm assembly with a solenoid-actuated latch that provides for cylinder deactivation or variable valve actuation. The solenoid has an inductance that varies significantly in relation to the position of a latch pin as it translates between latching and non-latching configurations. A sensor is positioned to monitor a current or a voltage in a circuit that includes the solenoid. Diagnostic information relating to the operation of the rocker arm assembly is determined by comparing data collected from the sensor over a first period to data collected from the sensor over a second period.

Electrically latching rocker arm assembly having built-in OBD functionality

A valvetrain includes a rocker arm assembly having a rocker arm and an electromagnetic latch assembly. A magnet of the latch assembly is housed within a chamber formed by the rocker arm. The chamber may be a retrofit hydraulic chamber. The magnet may be an electromagnet or a permanent magnet. A flux shifting bi-stable latch provides a sufficiently compact design. Isolation of the magnet within the rocker arm chamber may provide protection from metal particles carried by oil in an operating environment for the rocker arm assembly.

Valvetrain with rocker arm housing magnetic latch

An internal combustion engine includes a cam-actuated rocker arm assembly with a solenoid-actuated latch that provides for cylinder deactivation or variable valve actuation. The solenoid is in a position where its inductance varies significantly in relation to the position of a latch pin as it translates between latching and non-latching configurations. A sensor is positioned to monitor a current or a voltage in a circuit that includes the solenoid. The sensor data is analyzed to provide diagnostic information relating to the operation of the rocker arm assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Ceresco, MI, United States of America

Nicholas Peter Gillette