Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.

Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.

Other

Cummins Inc.

Robb Janak

Justin D Baltrucki

Neil E Fuchs

Brian L Ruggiero

G Michael Gron, Jr

Zhou Yang

Gabriel Scott Roberts

John Mandell

Bruce A Swanbon

Matei Alexandru

Zdenek S Meistrick

Eric James Hodgkinson

Austen P Metsack

Marc B Silva

Tyler Hines

David M Barnes

Adam C Cecil

Timothy P Neal

John Jerl Purcell, Iii

Shengqiang Huang

Jacob Moore

P Douglas Aubin

Jonathan W Prusak

Stephen Lak

Michael Bergmann

Peter Popadiuc

Jared Annis

Nathaniel P Hassall

Jarad Annis

G Michael Gron

Michael C Gron

Control of engine shutdown of an internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of cylinders and, for each of the plurality of cylinders, a hydraulically controlled lost motion component operatively connected to an engine valve corresponding to the cylinder, is achieved when an engine controller determines that shutdown of the internal combustion engine has been requested. Responsive to the request for shutdown, the engine controller initiates or continues cylinder deactivation operation for each of at least one cylinder of the plurality of cylinders. The initiation or continuation of the cylinder deactivation operation for each of the at least one cylinder comprises, for an input to the hydraulically controlled lost motion component for each of at least one engine valve corresponding to the cylinder, operating the input to provide the cylinder deactivation operation for a duration at least long enough to complete shutdown of the internal combustion engine.

Shutdown control of internal combustion engine comprising lost motion component

A valve actuation system comprises a first arm having a first arm contact surface and operatively connected to a valve actuation motion. A second arm having a second arm contact surface is operatively connected to the at least one engine valve. A discrete lost motion device is provided that is controllable between a first, motion conveying state and a second, motion absorbing state. The discrete lost motion devices comprises a plunger contact surface and a housing contact surface. The housing contact surface is configured to engage one of the first or second arm contact surfaces, and the plunger contact surface is configured to engage another of the first and the second arm contact surfaces. The first and second arm contact surfaces, the housing contact surface and the first plunger contact surface are configured to support the discrete lost motion device between the first arm and the second arm.

Valve actuation system comprising a discrete lost motion device

A system for actuating at least two engine valves comprises a first rocker assembly operatively connected to a first valve actuation motion source and to a first engine valve. The first rocker assembly comprises a first lost motion component arranged in series with a first input rocker and a first output rocker. A second rocker assembly is operatively connected to a second valve actuation motion source and to a second engine valve. The second rocker assembly comprises at least one second rocker. The system further comprises a one-way coupling mechanism disposed between the first output rocker and the at least one second rocker such that second valve actuation motions are transferred from the at least one second rocker to the first output rocker, and first valve actuation motions are not transferred from the first output rocker to the at least one second rocker.

Valve actuation system comprising rocker assemblies with one-way coupling therebetween

A system for controlling actuation of an engine valve comprises a pivot and a torsion spring having first and second legs operatively connected to the pivot. A lever arm is adjustably affixed to and extending away from the pivot, and is further rotatable about a pivot axis of the pivot between a retracted position and an extended position and vice versa relative to a motion conveying component. Furthermore, a housing is provided having a pivot bore formed therein with the pivot rotatably disposed in the pivot bore. The housing further comprises a first and second openings intersecting with the pivot bore such that the first and second legs extend out of the first opening and the lever arm extends out of the second opening. When a first force is applied by the motion conveying component to the lever arm, such first force maintains the lever arm in the extended position.

Rotating actuator system for controlling valve actuation in an internal combustion engine

A switching finger follower for an engine valve train utilizes an adjustable support assembly that eliminates potential for partial engagement during operation. A lever engagement member or latch is disposed for movement on the follower body and interacts with a lever to provide a constant contact geometry. The finger follower may be configured as a lost motion device and may include a biasing assembly and a travel limiter. The latch may support the lever in at least one precise position and may support the lever in a second position for partial lost motion, or permit the lever to pivot free of the latch for complete lost motion, as in cylinder deactivation applications.

Valve actuation system comprising finger follower for lobe switching and single source lost motion

A switching finger may operate in two or three states or positions and cooperate with a single motion source to achieve methods of operating an engine in corresponding two or three modes. The modes may include cylinder deactivation, main event or auxiliary modes, including lost motion braking, LIVC and EEVO. A follower for an engine valve train utilizes an adjustable support assembly that eliminates potential for partial engagement during operation. A lever engagement member or latch is disposed for movement on the follower body and interacts with a lever to provide a constant contact geometry. The latch may support the lever in one or more precise positions, or permit the lever to pivot free of the latch for complete lost motion, as in cylinder deactivation applications.

Finger follower for lobe switching and single source lost motion

Systems and methods for controlling valves in valve actuation systems in internal combustion engines systems may be particularly suitable for sequencing valve motion in engine environments that combine cylinder deactivation and high-power density (HPD) engine braking. A main event motion system is configured to produce main event motion in one or more valve sets. An engine braking system produces engine braking motion and a cylinder deactivation system selectively deactivates main event motion of the intake and exhaust valves the valve set. A blocking system selectively prevents the cylinder deactivation system from deactivating main event motion of at least one intake valve during the engine braking operation. Thus, main event intake valve motions may be available for braking operations, such as HPD braking where main event intake valve motion may be used to enhance CR braking. One actuator can control deactivation of paired intake and exhaust main event motion.

Valve actuation and sequencing for cylinder deactivation and high-power density (HPD) braking

A valve bridge system comprises a valve bridge configured to extend between at least two engine valves of an internal combustion engine. In one embodiment, a valve bridge guide is operatively connected to the valve bridge and configured to extend between at least two valve springs respectively corresponding to the at least two engine valves, the valve bridge guide defining a surface conforming to a valve spring of the at least two valve springs. In another embodiment, the valve bridge guide may comprise at least a first member maintained in a first fixed position relative to and at a predetermined distance from the valve bridge. In both embodiments, the valve bridge guide is configured to avoid contact with the valve bridge in a controlled state, but to permit contact with valve bridge to resist uncontrolled movement of the valve bridge.

Valve bridge systems comprising valve bridge guide

A third motion transfer mechanism transfers valve actuation motion from a second motion source to a first engine valve. A motion decoupler is configured to selectively discontinue the transfer of motion from a first motion transfer mechanism to the first engine valve. Furthermore, a reset mechanism is configured to selectively discontinue, based on operation of a second motion transfer mechanism, the transfer of motion from the third motion transfer mechanism to the first engine valve. The third motion transfer mechanism may comprise a master piston and a slave piston in fluid communication with each other via a hydraulic circuit, the master piston being configured to receive motion from the second motion source and the slave piston being configured to transfer motion to the first engine valve.

Intra-cylinder auxiliary actuation of engine valves through selective discontinuation of main valve events

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

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 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 an engine valve 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. A hydraulic actuator piston may be disposed between the auxiliary rocker arm and the primary rocker arm. The actuator piston may be selectively locked into an extended position between the primary and auxiliary rocker arms so as to selectively transfer the one or more auxiliary valve actuation motions from the auxiliary rocker arm to the primary rocker arm.

Primary and offset actuator rocker arms for engine valve actuation

A system and method for actuating one or more engine valves to produce an engine valve event is disclosed. The system may comprise: a housing; an accumulator disposed in the housing having a first open end and a second open end; a master piston slidably disposed in a first bore formed in the housing; a valve train element(s) for imparting motion to the master piston; and a slave piston slidably disposed in a second bore formed in the housing, the slave piston in fluid communication with the master piston through a high pressure hydraulic passage, wherein the first open end and the second open end of the accumulator are in communication with the high pressure hydraulic passage to selectively modify the imparted motion.

Growing community of inventors

Bristol, CT, United States of America

Robb Janak