Variable valve lift apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9528398-B2
Application number	US-201414558398-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2014
Priority date	Sep 16, 2014
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A variable valve lift apparatus includes a rocker arm having a rocker arm shaft penetrating therethrough. One portion of the rocker arm is supported by a cam shaft and another portion thereof contacts an upper end of an intake valve or an exhaust valve to open and close the intake valve or the exhaust valve. An actuator is disposed at an end of the rocker arm and protrudes toward the intake valve or the exhaust valve depending on an oil pressure applied to change an opening of the intake valve or the exhaust valve. A control valve applies the oil pressure to the actuator to maintain an opened state of the intake valve or the exhaust valve when the intake valve or the exhaust valve is closed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A variable valve lift apparatus, comprising:
a rocker arm having a rocker arm shaft penetrating therethrough, one portion of the rocker arm supported by a cam shaft and another portion of the rocker arm contacting an upper end of an intake valve or an exhaust valve to open and close the intake valve or the exhaust valve;
a valve actuator disposed at an end of the rocker arm and protruding toward the intake valve or the exhaust valve depending on an oil pressure to change an opening of the intake valve or the exhaust valve;
a control valve configured to apply the oil pressure to the valve actuator to maintain an opened state of the intake valve or the exhaust valve;
a discharge channel through which the oil supplied to a chamber is discharged to outside;
a connection channel extending from a supply channel to connect an end thereof to the discharge channel; and
a first check valve for closing the discharge channel and the connection channel depending on the oil pressure applied to the supply channel,
wherein the first check valve is disposed at the end of the connection channel so that when the oil pressure of the connection channel is equal to or more a set pressure, and
wherein the supply channel between an extending point of the connection channel and the chamber has a second check valve opening or closing depending on the applied oil pressure.

2. The variable valve lift apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the chamber is connected to one end of the rocker arm and has one side opened toward the intake or exhaust valve so that the valve actuator is inserted into the chamber,
wherein the rocker arm has a supply channel which connects the chamber to the control valve to supply an oil into the chamber by an operation of the control valve.

3. The variable valve lift apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the valve actuator includes:
a housing having an opened one side opposite to another side of the chamber, and another side of the housing contacting the intake valve or the exhaust valve;
a support rod having one end coupled with another side of the chamber, and another end of the support rod disposed inside the housing;
a cover covering one side of the housing and coupled with the housing; and
an elastic member having one end supporting the other end of the support rod inside the housing, and another end of the elastic member contacting the cover to press the housing and the cover upwardly.

4. The variable valve lift apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the oil is supplied to a space between the chamber and the cover when pressing the valve actuator to press the housing in one direction in which the chamber is opened.

5. The variable valve lift apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the intake valve or the exhaust valve is formed in pair, further comprising:
a bridge having both ends connected to one end of the pair of exhaust valves or the pair of exhaust valves, respectively; and
a central portion of the bridge elastically coupled with the one end of the rocker arm adjacent the valve actuator.

6. The variable valve lift apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the valve actuator protrudes toward one of the pair of intake valves or the pair of exhaust valves when the oil pressure is applied.

7. The variable valve lift apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rocker arm opens and closes the exhaust valve.

8. The variable valve lift apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the control valve is a solenoid valve and is connected to an oil pump to apply the oil pressure to the valve actuator during an intake stroke.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jeon Jae Hee
• Yoon Seock Joong

Classifications

• F01L1/047

  Camshafts · CPC title

• F01L1/185

  Overhead end-pivot rocking arms · CPC title

• F01L1/2411 Primary

  by means of a hydraulic adjusting device located between the valve stem and rocker arm · CPC title