Control valve mounting system

• US 8,261,708 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2010
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Keller, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eshete, Zelalem
• Application Number:
  US12/755,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20110247580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 123/90.38, 123/90.16, 123/90.17, 123/195.C
• US Class Current: 123/90.38
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/3442 using hydraulic chambers with variable volume to transmit the rotating force
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/2444 Details relating to the hydraulic feeding circuit, e.g. lifter oil manifold assembly [LOMA]
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/3443 Solenoid driven oil control valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/34433 Location oil control valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/183 internal, i.e. with spreading action

Abstract

A system for mounting a control valve on an engine includes an engine head operatively disposed on a cylinder block of the engine. The engine head has one or more open receptacles. A retainer is operatively configured to hold the control valve in the open receptacle. The retainer is further configured to be removeably engaged with the open receptacle. The retainer is co-axial with the open receptacle.

Claims

1. A system for mounting a control valve on an engine, the mounting system comprising:

an engine head operatively disposed on a cylinder block of the engine, the engine head having at least one open receptacle and a connector locator portion, wherein the connector locator portion is to operatively engage an electrical connector having a fixed location on the control valve, thereby substantially preventing rotation of the control valve about a longitudinal axis through the control valve; and

a retainer operatively configured to hold the control valve in a seated position in the at least one open receptacle and to operatively oppose hydraulic pressure exerted on the control valve, and to be removeably engaged with the at least one open receptacle, the retainer being co-axial with the at least one open receptacle.

2. A system for mounting a control valve on an engine, the mounting system comprising:

an engine head operatively disposed on a cylinder block of the engine, the engine head having at least one open receptacle and a connector locator portion, wherein the connector locator portion further comprises a slot defined at or proximate to an opening of the open receptacle, the slot being integral to the open receptacle, the slot having opposed side walls and a base disposed between the opposed side walls, wherein the slot is to operatively engage and locate an electrical connector disposed on the control valve; and

a retainer operatively configured to hold the control valve in the at least one open receptacle, and to be removeably engaged with the at least one open receptacle, the retainer being co-axial with the at least one open receptacle;

wherein the open receptacle defines a groove operatively configured to engage with the retainer.

3. The mounting system as defined in claim 2 wherein the retainer comprises a resilient snap ring.

4. The mounting system as defined in claim 3 wherein the snap ring includes a pair of end portions configured to be accessible from outside of the engine head to disengage the snap ring from the engine head.

5. The mounting system as defined in claim 4 wherein the pair of end portions defines apertures therein.

6. The mounting system as defined in claim 5 wherein each of the pair of end portions is configured to be drawn toward the other to remove the snap ring from the engine head.

7. The mounting system as defined in claim 3 wherein the snap ring is a beveled retaining ring.

8. The mounting system as defined in claim 3 wherein the groove includes an angled surface to engage with the resilient snap ring.

9. The mounting system as defined in claim 3 wherein the snap ring has a circular cross section.

10. The mounting system as defined in claim 4 wherein the snap ring is configured to be distorted from its free state to remove the retainer from the engine head.

11. The mounting system as defined in claim 3 wherein the snap ring has a rectangular cross section.

12. The mounting system as defined in claim 2 wherein the retainer is rigid and the retainer is to engage a complementary locking structure to secure the retainer and the control valve retained by the retainer.

13. A system for mounting a control valve on an engine, the mounting system comprising:

an engine head operatively disposed on a cylinder block of the engine, the engine head having at least one open receptacle and a connector locator portion, wherein the connector locator portion is to operatively engage an electrical connector having a fixed location on the control valve, thereby substantially preventing rotation of the control valve about a longitudinal axis through the control valve; and

a retainer operatively configured to hold the control valve in the at least one open receptacle, and to be removeably engaged with the at least one open receptacle, the retainer being co-axial with the at least one open receptacle, the open receptacle defining a groove operatively configured to engage with the retainer;

wherein the retainer is a resilient snap ring, the snap ring including a pair of end portions configured to be accessible from outside of the engine head to disengage the snap ring from the engine head, each of the pair of end portions being configured to be drawn toward the other to remove the snap ring from the engine head;

and wherein the snap ring is configured to be distorted from its free state to remove the retainer from the engine head.

14. The mounting system as defined in claim 13 wherein the snap ring is a beveled retaining ring.

15. The mounting system as defined in claim 14 wherein the groove includes an angled surface to engage with the resilient snap ring.

16. The mounting system as defined in claim 13 wherein the snap ring has one of a circular cross section or a rectangular cross section.