Engine brake system for an internal combustion engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12486807-B1
Application number	US-202418676344-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 28, 2024
Priority date	May 28, 2024
Publication date	Dec 2, 2025
Grant date	Dec 2, 2025

Abstract

An engine brake system, comprising a housing comprising a first passage extending along a first axis, a second passage extending along a second axis that intersects the first axis, the first passage in communication with the second passage. The engine brake system further comprises a pin arranged in the first passage and configured to translate along the first axis to hold open one or more valves of an internal combustion engine, a wedge arranged in the second passage and configured to translate along the second axis and engage with the pin, and a solenoid coupled to the wedge and configured to actuate the wedge along the second axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An engine brake system, comprising:
a housing, comprising:
a first passage extending along a first axis,
a second passage extending along a second axis that intersects the first axis, and
wherein the first passage is in communication with the second passage;
a pin arranged in the first passage and configured to translate along the first axis to hold open one or more valves of an internal combustion engine; a wedge arranged in the second passage and configured to translate along the second axis and engage with the pin; and a solenoid coupled to the wedge and configured to actuate the wedge along the second axis.

2 . The engine brake system of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a main body defining the first passage and the second passage and a base extending from the main body and including one or more fastener holes.

3 . The engine brake system of claim 1 , wherein the pin is movable between a first pin position and a second pin position with respect to the first axis.

4 . The engine brake system of claim 3 , wherein the pin is disengaged with the one or more valves of the internal combustion engine in the first pin position and the pin is engaged with the one or more valves in the second pin position.

5 . The engine brake system of claim 4 , further comprising a valve bridge arranged between the pin and the one or more valves of the internal combustion engine.

6 . The engine brake system of claim 4 , wherein the wedge is movable between a first wedge position and a second wedge position.

7 . The engine brake system of claim 6 , wherein the wedge is configured to be engaged by a valve train that prevents the wedge from returning to the first wedge position after the wedge departs from the first wedge position and the pin departs from the first pin position.

8 . The engine brake system of claim 1 , wherein the second passage further comprises a first lip and a second lip extending toward each other along a third axis that intersects the first and second axes, the first lip and the second lip defining a first channel and a second channel.

9 . The engine brake system of claim 8 , wherein the wedge further comprises a guide portion that is configured to translate within the first channel along the first lip and the second lip and an actuating surface that extends into the second channel and is configured to contact the pin.

10 . The engine brake system of claim 1 , wherein the second passage defines a cylindrical channel.

11 . The engine brake system of claim 10 , wherein the wedge further comprises a cylindrical body comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end.

12 . The engine brake system of claim 11 , wherein the wedge comprises a tapered portion between the first end and the second end that defines an actuating surface that is configured to contact the pin.

13 . An internal combustion engine, comprising:
a cylinder head comprising one or more passages and one or more fastener openings; a valve train coupled to the cylinder head, comprising:
one or more intake valves,
one or more exhaust valves, and
one or more rocker arms coupled to the one or more intake valves and the one or more exhaust valves; and
an engine brake coupled to the cylinder head and arranged with respect to the one or more exhaust valves, comprising:
a housing, comprising:
a main body having a first passage extending along a first axis and a second passage extending along a second axis,

a pin arranged in the first passage and configured to translate along the first axis to hold open the one or more exhaust valves,
a wedge arranged in the second passage and configured to translate along the second axis and engage with the pin, and
a solenoid coupled to the wedge and configured to actuate the wedge along the second axis.

14 . The internal combustion engine of claim 13 , wherein the pin is movable between a first pin position and a second pin position with respect to the first axis.

15 . The internal combustion engine of claim 14 , wherein the pin is disengaged with the one or more exhaust valves in the first pin position and the pin is engaged with the one or more exhaust valves in the second pin position.

16 . The internal combustion engine of claim 15 , further comprising a valve bridge arranged between the pin and the one or more exhaust valves.

17 . The internal combustion engine of claim 15 , wherein the wedge is movable between a first wedge position and a second wedge position.

18 . The internal combustion engine of claim 17 , wherein the valve train prevents the wedge from returning to the first wedge position after the wedge departs from the first wedge position and the pin departs from the first pin position.

19 . The internal combustion engine of claim 13 , wherein the wedge further comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end with respect to the second axis, and a tapered portion arranged axially between the first end and the second end.

20 . An engine brake system, comprising:
a housing including a first passage and a second passage; a pin arranged in the first passage and configured to translate between a first pin position and a second pin position; a wedge arranged in the second passage and configured to translate between a first wedge position and a second wedge position, the wedge being configured to be engaged by a valve train that prevents the wedge from returning to the first wedge position after the wedge departs from the first wedge position and the pin departs from the first pin position; and a solenoid coupled to the wedge and configured to actuate the wedge between the first wedge position and the second wedge position.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Opipari Anteo Carl
• Austin Paul
• Warner Brian Joseph
• Ortiz Rolando Huerta
• Hazel James Augustine

Classifications

• F02D13/04

  using engine as brake · CPC title

• F01L2009/2125

  Shaft and armature construction · CPC title

• F01L2009/213

  Casing construction · CPC title

• F01L9/21

  actuated by solenoids · CPC title

• F01L2013/101

  Electromagnets · CPC title