Systems, methods and devices for rocker arm position sensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9228454-B2
Application number	US-201313868067-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2013
Priority date	Mar 19, 2010
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

A system for monitoring operation of an internal combustion engine having a rocker arm assembly for actuating an engine valve is disclosed. The rocker arm assembly includes a first arm with a first end, a second arm also having a first end pivotally connected near the first end of the first arm, a latch that when latched secures the first arm relative to the second arm in a latched mode, and when unlatched allows the first arm to move relative to the second arm in an unlatched mode. The system also employing a sensor attached to one of the first and second arms that can detect when the arms are moving relative to each other, and adapted to provide a signal indicating the sensed movement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for monitoring operation of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a rocker arm assembly having:
a first arm having a first end;
a second arm having a first end, the second arm pivotally connected near the first end of the first arm along a pivot having a pivot axis;
a reference structure comprising magnetic material forming at least a portion of the first end of the first arm; and
a latch that when latched secures the first arm relative to the second arm in a latched mode, and when unlatched allows the first arm to move relative to the second arm in an unlatched mode;
wherein the rocker assembly is adapted to pivot about the pivot axis to open an engine valve and return to a position in which the engine valve is closed; and

a sensor positioned near the rocker arm assembly adapted to provide a signal indicating proximity of the reference structure to the sensor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the reference structure is an outer arm tie bar.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the reference structure is a structure near the first end of the first arm.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the reference structure is metal and the sensor creates a signal relative to its distance from a metal object.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a non-contact sensor.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a Hall-effect sensor.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein when the rocker arm assembly is in the latched mode, it can provide a first lift height to the engine valve.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein when the rocker arm assembly is in the unlatched mode, it can provide a second lift height to the engine valve.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the second lift height is lower than the first lift height.

11. A system for monitoring operation of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a rocker arm assembly for actuating an engine valve, the rocker arm assembly comprising:
a first arm having a first end;
a second arm having a first end, the second arm pivotally connected near the first end of the first arm along a pivot having a pivot axis;
a latch that when latched secures the first arm relative to the second arm in a latched mode, and when unlatched allows the first arm to move relative to the second arm in an unlatched mode; and
a sensor attached to at least one of the first and second arms that can detect motion of the arms relative to each other, and adapted to provide a signal indicating the detected motion.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the sensor comprises:
magnetic material connected to at least one of the first arm and the second arm; and
a coil sufficiently near the magnetic material wherein relative motion of the magnetic material relative to the coil creates a signal indicating that the rocker arm assembly is not in the latched mode.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the sensor is a non-contact sensor.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the sensor is a Hall-effect sensor.

16. A system for monitoring operation of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a rocker arm assembly for actuating an engine valve having:
a first arm having a first end;
a second arm having a first end, the second arm pivotally connected near the first end of the first arm along a pivot having a pivot axis;
a latch that when latched secures the first arm relative to the second arm in a latched mode, and when unlatched allows the first arm to move relative to the second arm in an unlatched mode; and
a sensor for detecting motion of the first arm and second arm relative to each other, the sensor adapted to provide a signal indicating the detected motion.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first end of the first arm comprises a tie bar.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the sensor is mounted on the rocker arm assembly.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the sensor is mounted on one of the first arm and the second arm.

Assignees

• Eaton Corp
• Eaton Coporation

Inventors

• Vandeusen Brian Karl

Classifications

• F01L2013/118

  Valve lift · 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

• F01L1/18 Primary

  Rocking arms or levers · 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

• F01L13/0005

  Deactivating valves · CPC title