The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 13, 2009
Filed:
Feb. 27, 2007
Matthew Diggs, Farmington, MI (US);
Matthew Diggs, Farmington, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An internal combustion engine with selectively deactivated intake and/or exhaust valves includes a fulcrum plate having a through hole with a slidable plunger supporting a pivot ball that engages an associated rocker arm. A solenoid positioned above the rocker arm cover is directly coupled to a latching mechanism that either allows or prevents sliding movement of the plunger to selectively deactivate associated intake/exhaust valves. When in the valve activated position, the rocker arm pivots about the pivot ball and opens the valve. When in the valve deactivated position, the plunger retracts at least partially into the fulcrum plate so that the rocker arm motion is insufficient to open the associated valve. A lost motion torsional spring acts on the plunger to provide an opposing force to the rocker arm and to return the plunger to the valve activated position during the base circle portion of camshaft rotation.