Multi-step sliding cam actuators for internal combustion engine assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10006323-B2
Application number	US-201615291101-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2016
Priority date	Oct 12, 2016
Publication date	Jun 26, 2018
Grant date	Jun 26, 2018

Abstract

Disclosed are sliding cam actuators, methods for making and using such actuators, and motor vehicles with internal combustion engines employing sliding cam actuators. A sliding cam actuator is disclosed with two actuator pins projecting from an actuator housing. These pins move from retracted to extended positions and engage a shift barrel on a sliding camshaft. An actuator assembly moves each actuator pin to its extended position into engagement with the shift barrel to thereby slide the camshaft to a different location. An actuator shank is attached to the actuator housing and engaged with the actuator pins. Moving the first actuator pin to its extended position moves the actuator shank in one direction, which moves the second actuator pin towards its retracted position. Moving the second actuator pin to its extended position causes the actuator shank to move in another direction, which moves the first actuator pin towards its retracted position.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A sliding cam actuator for an internal combustion engine (ICE) assembly, the ICE assembly including multiple engine valves operatively engaged with a sliding camshaft, the sliding camshaft including a shift barrel and multiple cams, the sliding cam actuator comprising:
an actuator housing;
first and second actuator pins projecting from the actuator housing, the first and second actuator pins being configured to selectively move between respective first and second retracted positions and respective first and second extended positions and engage the shift barrel to thereby slide the camshaft, the first actuator pin including a first shank slot having a first slot length, and the second actuator pin including a second shank slot having a second slot length less than the first slot length;
a pin actuator assembly attached to the actuator housing and operable in first and second activated states, wherein the pin actuator assembly, when in the first activated state, moves the first actuator pin to the first extended position into engagement with the shift barrel to thereby slide the camshaft to a first cam location, wherein the pin actuator assembly, when in the second activated state, moves the second actuator pin to the second extended position into engagement with the shift barrel to thereby slide the camshaft to a second cam location; and
an actuator shank movably attached to the actuator housing and engaged with the first and second actuator pins, wherein moving the first actuator pin to the first extended position causes the actuator shank to move in a first direction and move the second actuator pin towards the second retracted position, and moving the second actuator pin to the second extended position causes the actuator shank to move in a second direction and move the first actuator pin towards the first retracted position, the actuator shank having opposing first and second ends, the first end of the actuator shank being disposed within the first shank slot of the first actuator pin, and the second end being disposed within the second shank slot of the second actuator pin.

2. The sliding cam actuator of claim 1 , wherein the actuator shank includes a stem projecting from a crossbar, the stem pivotably coupling the crossbar to the actuator housing such that the crossbar rotates in the first and second directions.

3. The sliding cam actuator of claim 2 , wherein the first actuator pin, when moved to the first extended position, pushes against and rotates the actuator shank in the first direction such that the actuator shank pushes the second actuator pin to the second retracted position, and wherein the second actuator pin, when moved to the second extended position, pushes against and rotates the actuator shank in the second direction such that the actuator shank pushes the first actuator pin to the first retracted position.

4. The sliding cam actuator of claim 1 , wherein the first and second actuator pins are each columnar with a respective central longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the first and second shank slots is toroidal and concentric with the respective central longitudinal axis.

5. The sliding cam actuator of claim 1 , wherein the pin actuator assembly includes first and second linear actuators stowed inside the actuator housing, the first and second linear actuators each engaging and selectively moving a respective one of the first and second actuator pins.

6. The sliding cam actuator of claim 5 , wherein the first linear actuator includes a first piston abutting the first actuator pin, and the second linear actuator includes a second piston abutting the second actuator pin.

7. The sliding cam actuator of claim 6 , wherein the first linear actuator includes a first electrically activated solenoid coil configured to drive the first piston, and the second linear actuator includes a second electrically activated solenoid coil configured to drive the second piston.

8. The sliding cam actuator of claim 1 , wherein the actuator housing includes a housing shell mounted on a base plate to define an interior compartment.

9. The sliding cam actuator of claim 8 , wherein the base plate includes a pin window, and wherein the first and second actuator pins extend through the pin window and into the interior compartment.

10. The sliding cam actuator of claim 9 , wherein the pin actuator assembly is stowed inside the interior compartment and the actuator shank is rotatably mounted to the base plate.

11. The sliding cam actuator of claim 1 , wherein the actuator shank is a single-piece, T-shaped structure.

12. The sliding cam actuator of claim 1 , wherein the actuator shank is interposed between the first and second actuator pins.

13. The sliding cam actuator of claim 1 , wherein the actuator shank includes a stem projecting from and integrally formed with a crossbar as a single-piece structure, the stem rotatably mounting the actuator shank to the actuator housing in a cantilevered manner.

14. A motor vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle body defining an engine compartment;
an internal combustion engine (ICE) assembly disposed within the engine compartment, the ICE assembly comprising:
an engine block with a cylinder bank defining a plurality of cylinder bores;
a plurality of pistons each reciprocally movable within a respective one of the cylinder bores;
a plurality of engine valves operable to regulate fluid intake and exhaust of the cylinder bores;
an axially displaceable camshaft rotatably mounted adjacent the engine valves, the camshaft including a shift barrel and a plurality of cam lobes with distinctly shaped profiles configured to operate the engine valves at distinct lifts; and
a multi-step sliding cam actuator, including:
first and second slidable actuator pins configured to selectively translate between respective first and second retracted positions and respective first and second extended positions and engage the shift barrel to thereby axially displace the camshaft, the first actuator pin including a first shank slot having a first slot length, and the second actuator pin including a second shank slot having a second slot length less than the first slot length;
a pin actuator assembly operable in: a first activated state, whereat the pin actuator assembly pushes the first actuator pin to the first extended position into engagement with the shift barrel to thereby slide the camshaft to a first cam location; and a second activated state, whereat the pin actuator assembly pushes the second actuator pin to the second extended position into engagement with the shift barrel to thereby slide the camshaft to a second cam location; and
an actuator shank interposed between and engaged with the first and second actuator pins, wherein sliding the first actuator pin to the first extended position causes the actuator shank to rotate in a first direction and push the second actuator pin towards the second retracted position, and sliding the second actuator pin to the second extended position causes the actuator shank to rotate in a second direction, opposite the first direction, and push the first actuator pin towards the first retracted position, the actuator shank having opposing first and second ends, the first end of the actuator shank being disposed within the first shank slot of the first actuator pin, and the second end being disposed within the second shank slot of the second actuator pin.

15. A method of assembling a sliding cam actuator for an internal combustion engine (ICE) assembly, the ICE assembly including multiple engine valves operatively engaged with a sliding camshaft, the slidi

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Gallon Robert J

Classifications

• F01L1/053 Primary

  overhead type · CPC title

• F01L2013/0052

  with cams provided on an axially slidable sleeve · CPC title

• F01L2001/0473

  Composite camshafts, e.g. with cams or cam sleeve being able to move relative to the inner camshaft or a cam adjusting rod · CPC title

• F01L1/46

  Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups · CPC title

• F01L2013/101

  Electromagnets · CPC title