ACTUATOR ARRANGEMENT

• US 20200131949A1
• Filed: 07/07/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Cecur, Majo
• Granted Patent: US 11,047,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/185 Overhead end-pivot rocking arms
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/2405 by means of a hydraulic adjusting device located between the cylinder head and rocker arm
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/267 with means for varying the timing or the lift of the valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 13/0005 Deactivating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/0537 Double overhead camshafts [DOHC]
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/186 Split rocking arms, e.g. rocker arms having two articulated parts and means for varying the relative position of these parts or for selectively connecting the parts to move in unison
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2013/001 Deactivating cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2013/103 Electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2305/00 Valve arrangements comprising rollers
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2800/08 Timing or lift different for valves of different cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 31/08 Valve drive or valve adjustment, apart from tripping aspects; Positively-driven gear

Abstract

An actuator arrangement for controlling a first latching arrangement of a first dual body rocker arm for controlling an intake valve of an internal combustion engine, and for controlling a second latching arrangement of a second dual body rocker arm for controlling an exhaust valve of the internal combustion engine, the first and second dual body rocker arms each including a first body, a second body, and the latching arrangement controllable to latch and unlatch the first body and the second body. The actuator arrangement includes: an actuation source; and an actuation transmission arrangement for transmitting movement of the actuation source to both the first latching arrangement and the second latching arrangement. In use, movement of the actuation source causes, via the actuation transmission arrangement, control of the first latching arrangement and of the second latching arrangement in common.

Claims

1. An actuator arrangement for controlling a first latching arrangement of a first dual body rocker arm for controlling an intake valve of an internal combustion engine, and for controlling a second latching arrangement of a second dual body rocker arm for controlling an exhaust valve of the internal combustion engine, the first and second dual body rocker arms each comprising a first body, a second body, and the latching arrangement controllable to latch and unlatch the first body and the second body, the actuator arrangement comprising:

an actuation source; and

an actuation transmission arrangement configured to transmit movement of the actuation source to both the first latching arrangement and the second latching arrangement,

wherein, in use, movement of the actuation source is configured to cause, via the actuation transmission arrangement, control of the first latching arrangement and of the second latching arrangement in common.

2. The actuator arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the actuation transmission arrangement is configured to transmit movement of the actuation source to a plurality of the first latching arrangements and a plurality of the second latching arrangements.

3. The actuator arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the actuation transmission arrangement comprises:

a first shaft comprising a first cam configured to control the latching arrangement of the first dual body rocker arm; and

a second shaft comprising a second cam configured to control the latching arrangement of the second dual body rocker arm,

wherein the actuation source is common to the first shaft and the second shaft; and

wherein, in use, a rotation of the actuation source is configured to cause the first shaft and the second shaft to rotate, thereby to change an orientation of the first cam and the second cam relative to the first latching arrangement and the second latching arrangement respectively, so as to control the first latching arrangement and the second latching arrangement in common.

4. The actuator arrangement according to claim 3, wherein an axis of the rotation of the actuation source is substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the first shaft and the second shaft.

5. The actuator arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the actuation transmission arrangement comprises a gear mechanism configured to translate a continuous rotation of the actuation source into an intermittent rotation of the first shaft and the second shaft in common in steps of a predefined degree.

6. The actuator arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the first shaft and the second shaft each comprise a plurality of cams configured to control a respective plurality of the latching arrangements of a respective plurality of the dual body rocker arms, and

wherein each of the plurality of cams have a different shape so as to allow control on a per rocker arm basis.

7. The actuator arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the actuation source comprises an electric motor.

8. A valve train assembly, comprising:

the actuator arrangement according to claim 1;

the intake valve and the exhaust valve; and

the first and second dual body rocker arms, each comprising a first body, a second body, and the latching arrangement moveable to latch and unlatch the first body and the second body, the first rocker arm being configured to control the intake valve and the second rocker arm being configured to control the exhaust valve.

9. The valve train assembly according to claim 8, wherein the intake valve and the exhaust valve are of a common cylinder of an internal combustion engine.

10. The valve train assembly according to claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of the first dual body rocker arms configured to control a respective plurality of intake valves of a respective plurality of cylinders of an internal combustion engine; and

a plurality of the second dual body rocker arms arranged configured to control a respective plurality of exhaust valves of the respective plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine,

wherein the actuation transmission arrangement is configured to transmit movement of the actuation source to the latching arrangements of each of the plurality of first dual body rocker arms and the plurality of second dual body rocker arms.

11. The valve train assembly according to claim 8, wherein each dual body rocker arm is configured to provide for cylinder deactivation.