CDA lifter with hydraulic control feed from outside the engine block

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12326102-B2
Application number	US-202418962882-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2024
Priority date	Jun 3, 2022
Publication date	Jun 10, 2025
Grant date	Jun 10, 2025

Abstract

In one embodiment, a lifter assembly comprises a lifter having a latching mechanism, a slot arranged on an outer wall of the lifter and comprising an inlet that provides access to the latching mechanism, and a pin comprising a fluid channel. The latching mechanism is switchable between a latched position and an unlatched position. The pin is configured to interface with the slot such that the lifter is prevented from rotation about a lifter axis. The fluid channel is configured to be fluidly coupled to the inlet of the slot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lifter assembly, comprising:
a lifter comprising a latching mechanism configured to switch between a latched position and an unlatched position,
a slot arranged on an outer wall of the lifter, the slot comprising an inlet communicating with the latching mechanism, and
a pin operatively coupled to a structure outside the lifter assembly and configured to interface with the slot such that the lifter assembly is prevented from rotating about a lifter axis, the pin comprising a fluid channel configured to be fluidly coupled to the inlet of the slot.

2. The lifter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the slot is defines an elongated shape.

3. The lifter assembly of claim 2 , wherein a length of the slot is configured to maintain engagement with the pin as the lifter reciprocates along the lifter axis.

4. The lifter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the slot is configured to receive an end of the pin.

5. The lifter assembly of claim 4 , wherein a width of the slot is greater than an outer diameter of the end of the pin.

6. The lifter assembly of claim 1 , a clearance is formed between an end of the pin and a bottom surface of the slot so as to maintain fluid communication between the fluid channel and the inlet as the lifter reciprocates along the lifter axis.

7. The lifter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inlet is arranged at a bottom surface of the slot.

8. The lifter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid channel is aligned with the inlet when the lifter is on a base circle position.

9. The lifter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the latching mechanism is configured to switch to the unlatched position when a fluid pressure is supplied to the inlet via the fluid channel of the pin.

10. The lifter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lifter assembly is configured to be housed inside an engine block, and
wherein the engine block serves as the structure outside the lifter assembly such that the pin is mounted through an outer wall of the engine block so as to interface with the slot.

11. The lifter assembly of claim 10 , wherein the fluid channel is further configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid supply external to the engine block.

12. An engine block assembly, comprising:
an engine block; and
a lifter assembly housed inside the engine block, the lifter assembly comprising:
a lifter comprising a latching mechanism configured to switch between a latched position and an unlatched position,
a slot arranged on an outer wall of the lifter, the slot comprising an inlet communicating with the latching mechanism, and
a pin configured to interface with the slot such that the lifter is prevented from rotating about a lifter axis, the pin comprising a fluid channel configured to be fluidly coupled to the inlet of the slot;

wherein the pin is mounted through an outer wall of the engine block so as to interface with the slot.

13. The engine block assembly of claim 12 , wherein the fluid channel is further configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid supply external to the engine block.

14. The engine block assembly of claim 12 , wherein the pin further includes a head is configured to be mounted against the outer wall of the engine block.

15. The engine block assembly of claim 12 , wherein the pin further includes a body portion configured to extend through the outer wall of the engine block.

16. The engine block assembly of claim 12 , wherein the pin further includes an end configured to interface with the slot.

17. The engine block assembly of claim 12 , wherein the slot defines an elongated shape.

18. The engine block assembly of claim 17 , wherein a length of the slot is configured to maintain engagement with the pin as the lifter reciprocates along the lifter axis.

19. The engine block assembly of claim 12 , wherein a clearance is formed between an end of the pin and a bottom surface of the slot so as to maintain fluid communication between the fluid channel and the inlet as the lifter reciprocates along the lifter axis.

20. A lifter assembly, comprising:
a lifter comprising a latching mechanism configured to switch between a latched position and an unlatched position,
a slot arranged on an outer wall of the lifter, the slot comprising an inlet communicating with the latching mechanism, and
a pin configured to interface with the slot such that the lifter assembly is prevented from rotating about a lifter axis, the pin comprising a fluid channel configured to be fluidly coupled to the inlet of the slot so as to convey a fluid pressure which actuates the latching mechanism between the latched position and the unlatched position.

21. The lifter assembly of claim 20 , wherein the slot defines an elongated shape, wherein a length of the slot is configured to maintain engagement with the pin as the lifter reciprocates along the lifter axis.

22. The lifter assembly of claim 20 , wherein the slot is configured to receive an end of the pin.

23. The lifter assembly of claim 22 , wherein a width of the slot is greater than an outer diameter of the end of the pin.

24. The lifter assembly of claim 20 , wherein a clearance is formed between an end of the pin and a bottom surface of the slot so as to maintain fluid communication between the fluid channel and the inlet as the lifter reciprocates along the lifter axis.

25. The lifter assembly of claim 20 , wherein the inlet is arranged at a bottom surface of the slot.

26. The lifter assembly of claim 20 , wherein the fluid channel is aligned with the inlet when the lifter is on a base circle position.

27. The lifter assembly of claim 20 , wherein the pin is operatively coupled to a structure outside the lifter assembly.

28. The lifter assembly of claim 27 , wherein the lifter assembly is configured to be housed inside an engine block, and
wherein the engine block serves as the structure outside the lifter assembly such that the pin is mounted through an outer wall of the engine block so as to interface with the slot.

29. The lifter assembly of claim 28 , wherein the fluid channel is further configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid supply external to the engine block.

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Krieger Ryan
• Peters Bryar

Classifications

• F02D13/06

  Cutting-out cylinders · CPC title

• F01L2013/001

  Deactivating cylinders · CPC title

• F01L2001/256

  between cam and push rod · CPC title

• F01L13/0005

  Deactivating valves · CPC title

• F01L1/46

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