Valvetrain power tranfer module with shortened leaf-spring contact

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022235677-A1
Application number	US-202017611957-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 15, 2020
Priority date	May 17, 2019
Publication date	Jul 28, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A valvetrain includes a camshaft (501), a pivot (303), a rocker arm assembly (203) mounted on the pivot (303), a latch assembly (122), a power transfer module (100) a rocker arm (401), a cam follower (301) configured to engage a cam, and two contacts pin (403) protruding to opposite sides of the rocker arm (401). The electromagnetic latch assembly (122) includes a latch pin (405) and an electromagnet (119) that is powered through at least one of the contact pins (403). The power transfer module (100) includes a framework (101) that supports two contact pad each contacting a respective one of the contact pins. The framework (101) has a base that abuts the pivot (303). The contact pads extend upward from the base and terminates at a height that is below a height of the rocker arm assembly (203) above the pivot (303).

First claim

1 . A valvetrain for an internal combustion engine of a type that has a combustion chamber and a moveable valve having a seat formed in the combustion chamber, comprising:
a camshaft; a pivot; a rocker arm assembly mounted on the pivot and comprising a rocker arm, a cam follower configured to engage a cam mounted on the camshaft as the camshaft rotates, and two contacts pin protruding to opposite sides of the rocker arm assembly; and an electromagnetic latch assembly comprising a latch pin and an electromagnet powered through at least one of the contact pins, wherein the electromagnet is operable to move the latch pin between a first latch pin position and a second latch pin position; and a power transfer module comprising a framework that supports two contact pads each contacting a respective one of the contact pins; wherein the contact pads have inward bends that bend inward toward the rocker arm assembly in an area above the contact pins and the inward bends are operative together with the contact pins to improve retention of the rocker arm assembly on the pivot.

2 . The valvetrain of claim 1 , wherein the inward bends are integral with inward facing rolls in the contact pads.

3 . The valvetrain of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic latch assembly provides the latch pin with positional stability that is independent of the electromagnet in both the first latch pin position and the second latch pin position.

4 . The valvetrain of claim 1 , further comprising:
wiring that connects with the contact pads; wherein the framework provides a lead frame for the.

5 . The valvetrain of claim 1 , wherein:
the pivot is one of a plurality of pivots; and the framework surrounds two or more of the plurality of pivots.

6 . A method of assembling the valvetrain of claim 1 , the method comprising bending the contact pads outward sufficiently to push the contact pins past the inward bends.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising fitting the framework around the pivot.

8 . A valvetrain for an internal combustion engine of a type that has a combustion chamber and a moveable valve having a seat formed in the combustion chamber, comprising:
a camshaft; a pivot; a rocker arm assembly mounted on the pivot and comprising a rocker arm, a cam follower configured to engage a cam mounted on the camshaft as the camshaft rotates, and two contact pins protruding to opposite sides of the rocker arm assembly; and an electromagnetic latch assembly comprising a latch pin and an electromagnet powered through at least one of the contact pins, wherein the electromagnet is operable to move the latch pin between a first latch pin position and a second latch pin position; and a power transfer module comprising a framework that supports two contact pads each contacting a respective one of the contact pins; wherein the framework has a base that abuts the pivot; the contact pads extend upward from the base and terminate below a height of the rocker arm assembly above the pivot.

9 . The valvetrain of claim 8 , wherein the base fits around the pivot.

10 . The valvetrain of claim 8 , wherein the electromagnetic latch assembly comprises a permanent magnet operative to stabilize the latch pin in both in the first latch pin position and in the second latch pin position.

11 . The valvetrain of claim 8 , wherein the contact pads extend upward from the base by 20 mm or less.

12 . The valvetrain of claim 8 , wherein the contact pads angle outward from the rocker arm assembly as they extend upward from the base.

13 . The valvetrain of claim 8 , wherein the contact pads each have an inward bend in an area above the contact pins.

14 . The valvetrain of claim 8 , wherein:
the rocker arm assembly has a front end and a back end; the rocker arm assembly abuts a valve stem proximate the front end and rests on the pivot proximate the back end; and the contact pads extend toward the back end as they extend upward from the base.

15 . The valvetrain of claim 14 , wherein:
the contact pads comprise a bulge in an area that is above the contact pins and includes an area further toward the back end then the contact pins; and the bulge is functional to facilitate retention of the rocker arm assembly on the pivot during a critical shift.

16 . The valvetrain of claim 11 , wherein the contact pads each have an inward bend in an area above the contact pins.

17 . The valvetrain of claim 11 , wherein:
the rocker arm assembly has a front end and a back end; the rocker arm assembly abuts a valve stem proximate the front end and rests on the pivot proximate the back end; and the contact pads extend toward the back end as they extend upward from the base.

18 . The valvetrain of claim 12 , wherein the contact pads each have an inward bend in an area above the contact pins.

19 . The valvetrain of claim 12 , wherein:
the rocker arm assembly has a front end and a back end; the rocker arm assembly abuts a valve stem proximate the front end and rests on the pivot proximate the back end; and the contact pads extend toward the back end as they extend upward from the base.

20 . The valvetrain of claim 19 , wherein:
the contact pads comprise a bulge in an area that is above the contact pins and includes an area further toward the back end then the contact pins; and the bulge is functional to facilitate retention of the rocker arm assembly on the pivot during a critical shift.

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Stretch Dale Arden

Classifications

• F01L2013/101

  Electromagnets · CPC title

• F01L2001/186

  Split rocking arms, e.g. rocker arms having two articulated parts and means for varying the relative position of these parts or for selectively connecting the parts to move in unison · CPC title

• F01L13/0036

  the valves being driven by two or more cams with different shape, size or timing or a single cam profiled in axial and radial direction · CPC title

• F01L13/0005

  Deactivating valves · CPC title

• F01L2013/001

  Deactivating cylinders · CPC title