Linear-guided valve bridge for an internal combustion engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10858962-B2
Application number	US-201916280508-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2019
Priority date	Feb 21, 2018
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

A cylinder head assembly is for an internal combustion engine. The cylinder head assembly includes a cylinder head and first and second valves coupled to the cylinder head. The first and second valves are associated with a combustion chamber partially defined by the cylinder head. The cylinder head assembly also includes a fixed member coupled to the cylinder head and a valve bridge engageable with the first and second valves. The valve bridge is axially moveable along an axis relative to the fixed member to move the first and second valves together between an open position and a closed position. The cylinder head assembly further includes an anti-rotation feature between the valve bridge and the fixed member. The anti-rotation feature restricts rotational movement of the valve bridge about the axis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cylinder head assembly for an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head assembly comprising:
a cylinder head;
first and second valves coupled to the cylinder head, the first and second valves associated with a combustion chamber partially defined by the cylinder head;
a fixed member coupled to the cylinder head;
a valve bridge engaging the first and second valves, the valve bridge configured to axially move along an axis relative to the fixed member to move the first and second valves together between an open position and a closed position; and
an anti-rotation feature between the valve bridge and the fixed member such that a portion of the anti-rotation feature engages the fixed member, the anti-rotation feature restricting rotational movement of the valve bridge about the axis.

2. The cylinder head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fixed member is a support frame pivotably supporting a rocker arm that engages a body of the valve bridge, and wherein the anti-rotation feature includes a bracket selectively coupled to the support frame and the body of the valve bridge.

3. The cylinder head assembly of claim 2 , wherein the bracket includes a ring portion having a non-circular inner surface that interfaces with an outer surface of the body.

4. The cylinder head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fixed member includes a post received within the valve bridge such that the post guides the valve bridge axially along the axis, and wherein the anti-rotation feature includes a non-circular inner surface of the valve bridge that interfaces with an outer surface of the post.

5. The cylinder head assembly of claim 4 , wherein the valve bridge includes a body coupled to an arm portion by a ball-and-socket joint, and wherein the arm portion engages the first and second valves and the body engages a rocker arm.

6. The cylinder head assembly of claim 4 , wherein the post includes a passageway configured to have a lubricant that is dispensed from an outlet of the post to lubricate an interface of the post and the valve bridge.

7. A cylinder head assembly for an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head assembly comprising:
a cylinder head;
first and second valves coupled to the cylinder head, the first and second valves associated with a combustion chamber partially defined by the cylinder head;
a fixed member coupled to the cylinder head; and
a valve bridge including
a first arm engaging the first valve, and
a second arm engaging the second valve,

wherein the valve bridge is receivable configured to be received through an aperture of the fixed member from above the fixed member for the first and second arms to engage the first and second valves while the fixed member is coupled to the cylinder head.

8. The cylinder head assembly of claim 7 , wherein the fixed member is a support frame pivotably supporting a rocker arm that engages a body of the valve bridge for the first and second arms to move the first and second valves in response to pivoting movement of the rocker arm.

9. The cylinder head assembly of claim 8 , wherein the body, the first arm, and the second arm of the valve bridge are integrally formed as one component.

10. The cylinder head assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a post fixedly coupled to the cylinder head to be slidably received within the valve bridge such that the valve bridge is configured to move along an axis relative to the post and the support frame.

11. The cylinder head assembly of claim 10 , wherein the post includes a passageway configured to dispense a lubricant out of the post to lubricate an interface of the post and the valve bridge.

12. The cylinder head assembly of claim 10 , further comprising an anti-rotation feature coupled to the body of the valve bridge and the support frame, wherein the anti-rotation feature restricts rotational movement of the valve bridge about the axis.

13. A cylinder head assembly for an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head assembly comprising:
a cylinder head;
first and second valves coupled to the cylinder head, the first and second valves associated with a combustion chamber partially defined by the cylinder head;
a fixed member coupled to the cylinder head, the fixed member including a wall defining an aperture; and
a valve bridge including
a body received within the aperture of the fixed member,
a first arm engaging the first valve, and
a second arm engaging the second valve,

wherein the body slidably engages the wall of the fixed member such that the valve bridge is configured to move along an axis relative to the fixed member for the first and second arms to move the first and second valves.

14. The cylinder head assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first and second arms of the valve bridge are integrally formed as one component, and wherein the body is coupled to the first and second arms by a ball-and-socket joint such that the first and second arms are configured to move relative to the body.

15. The cylinder head assembly of claim 13 , wherein the fixed member is a support frame pivotably supporting a rocker arm that engages the body of the valve bridge.

16. The cylinder head assembly of claim 15 , wherein the wall of the fixed member includes an opening sized to receive a finger of the rocker arm, and wherein the finger of the rocker arm engages the body.

17. The cylinder head assembly of claim 13 , wherein the fixed member is a support frame, and wherein a post is coupled to the cylinder head to be slidably received within the body to guide the valve bridge along the axis.

18. The cylinder head assembly of claim 17 , further comprising an anti-rotation feature positioned between the post and the valve bridge, wherein the anti-rotation feature restricts rotational movement of the first and second arms about the axis.

19. The cylinder head assembly of claim 17 , wherein the post includes a passageway configured to dispense a lubricant out of the post to lubricate an interface of the post and the valve bridge.

20. The cylinder head assembly of claim 19 , wherein the passageway includes an outlet that is spaced from the body of the valve bridge while the first and second valves are in a closed position, and wherein the outlet is positioned within the body of the valve bridge while the first and second valves are in an open position such that the outlet is configured to dispense the lubricant within the valve bridge.

Assignees

• Harley Davidson Motor Co Inc

Inventors

• Voges Johann

Classifications

• F01M9/10 Primary

  Lubrication of valve gear or auxiliaries · CPC title

• F01M9/104

  of tappets · CPC title

• F01L2810/02

  Lubrication · CPC title

• F01L1/183

  of the boat type · CPC title

• F01L1/26

  characterised by the provision of two or more valves operated simultaneously by same transmitting-gear; peculiar to machines or engines with more than two lift-valves per cylinder (with coaxial valves F01L1/28) · CPC title