Valve deactivating system for an engine

• US 10,151,223 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2017
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: McConville, Gregory Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon, Jr., Jorge
• Application Number:
  US15/429,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20170356314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 123 9012, 123 9015, 123 9017, 123 9027, 123 9034
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/047 Camshafts
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/46 Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 13/0005 Deactivating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/0476 Camshaft bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/0535 Single overhead camshafts [SOHC]
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2013/001 Deactivating cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 9/102 of camshaft bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 9/105 using distribution conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0203 Variable control of intake and exhaust valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/06 Cutting-out cylinders

Abstract

Systems and methods for operating an engine with deactivating valves are presented. In one example, a groove in a camshaft controls oil flow to a valve operator that selectively activates and deactivates a poppet valve of a cylinder. The groove moves with the camshaft so that oil delivery to the valve operator is timed properly to deactivate and reactivate the cylinder.

Claims

1. An engine system, comprising:

a camshaft saddle including a stationary groove;

a camshaft including a discontinuous groove, the camshaft fitted to the camshaft saddle, and the stationary groove aligned with the discontinuous groove;

an oil pump supplying oil to an oil inlet port wherein the oil inlet port is located along the camshaft saddle and in fluidic communication with the stationary groove; and

an oil control valve located along an oil gallery leading from the oil pump to the oil inlet port.

2. The engine system of claim 1, where the discontinuous groove is oriented axially along the camshaft.

3. The engine system of claim 1, further comprising an oil outlet port located along the camshaft saddle.

4. The engine system of claim 1, where an oil outlet port is in fluidic communication with an intake valve operator.

5. An engine system, comprising:

a camshaft including a first discontinuous groove, and a second discontinuous groove;

a first valve body including a first stationary groove and a first inlet port and a first outlet port;

a first intake valve operator in mechanical communication with the camshaft and in fluidic communication with the first discontinuous groove;

a first valve positioned along a conduit between the first valve body and an oil pump, a second valve positioned along the conduit between a second valve body and the oil pump,

the second valve body including a second stationary groove and a second inlet port and a second outlet port; and

a second intake valve operator in mechanical communication with the camshaft and in fluidic communication with the second discontinuous groove.

6. The engine system of claim 5, further comprising a controller including executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory, which when executed by the controller, open the first valve independent from opening the second valve.

7. The engine system of claim 6, further comprising additional instructions to open the second valve at a same time the first valve is opened.

8. The engine system of claim 5, further comprising a first exhaust valve operator in mechanical communication with the camshaft and in fluidic communication with the first stationary groove.

9. The engine system of claim 5, where the first discontinuous groove is positioned to inhibit oil flow to an exhaust valve operator between exhaust valve closing of a cylinder and intake valve opening of the cylinder.

10. A vehicle system, comprising:

an engine including a camshaft with a discontinuous groove;

a valve operator in mechanical communication with an exhaust valve and in fluidic communication with the discontinuous groove; and

a camshaft journal cap including an oil exit port; and

an accumulator in fluidic communication with the oil exit port.

11. The vehicle system of claim 10, where the oil exit port is in fluidic communication with an exhaust valve operator.

12. The vehicle system of claim 10, where the discontinuous groove is circumferential.

13. The vehicle system of claim 10, where the discontinuous groove is axially oriented on the camshaft.