Rocker shaft with de-aeration oil gallery segment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9945270-B2
Application number	US-201615217325-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2016
Priority date	Jul 23, 2015
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

A hollow rocker shaft including a central opening defined by a radially inner surface and a separator secured in the central opening of the rocker shaft is provided. A radially outer surface of the separator engages the radially inner surface of the rocker shaft via a press-fit. The separator divides the central opening of the rocker shaft into (1) a first chamber extending between a first chamber axial end and the separator, and (2) a second chamber extending between a second chamber axial end and the separator. The separator includes an orifice defined between the first chamber and the second chamber that provides fluid connection between the first chamber and the second chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A switchable valve train assembly comprising:
a supply assembly including a pressurized fluid source for pressurized hydraulic fluid, and a solenoid and a control valve for selectively supplying the pressurized hydraulic fluid;
a hydraulic lash adjuster feed channel in fluid connection with the pressurized fluid source;
a switch channel in fluid connection with the control valve;
a hollow rocker shaft including a central space with one or more chambers defined by a radially inner surface;
a separator secured in the central space of the rocker shaft and a radially outer surface of the separator engages the radially inner surface of the rocker shaft,
the separator dividing the central space of the rocker shaft into (1) a first chamber extending between a first chamber axial end and the separator, and (2) a second chamber extending between a second chamber axial end and the separator, the separator including an orifice defined between the first chamber and the second chamber providing fluid connection between the first chamber and the second chamber,
a first chamber end cap fixed in the rocker shaft defining the first chamber axial end, and a second chamber end cap fixed in the rocker shaft defining the second chamber axial end;
wherein the hydraulic lash adjuster feed channel is in fluid communication with the first chamber;
wherein the switch channel is in fluid communication with the second chamber; and
a rocker arm assembly arranged on the rocker shaft includes a hydraulic lash adjuster connected to a first intake port and a locking assembly connected to a second intake port, the first chamber includes a first actuator port in fluid connection with the first intake port for the hydraulic lash adjuster, and the second chamber includes a second actuator port in fluid connection with the second intake port for the locking assembly.

2. The switchable valve train assembly of claim 1 , wherein the separator is press-fit within the rocker shaft.

3. The switchable valve train assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber end cap and the second chamber end cap are press-fit within the rocker shaft.

4. The switchable valve train assembly of claim 1 , wherein the separator is formed from plastic.

5. The switchable valve train assembly of claim 1 , wherein the separator is formed from metal.

6. The switchable valve train assembly of claim 1 , wherein the separator includes a first recess on the radially outer surface that defines a first passage between the first chamber and the first actuator port, and the separator includes a second recess on the radially outer surface that defines a second passage between the second chamber and the second actuator port.

7. The switchable valve train assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first recess and the second recess overlap in a radially extending plane.

8. The switchable valve train assembly of claim 1 , wherein (1) the supply assembly has a first state in which the control valve closes a flow path from the pressurized fluid source to the switch channel, and the orifice allows pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber, and the second chamber directs pressurized hydraulic fluid to the switch channel, and (2) the supply assembly has a second state in which the solenoid is activated and the control valve opens the flow path from the pressurized fluid source to the switch channel such that pressurized hydraulic fluid is provided via the switch channel to the locking assembly via the second chamber.

9. A rocker shaft for a switchable valve train, the rocker shaft comprising:
a hollow rocker shaft including a central opening defined by a radially inner surface;
a separator secured in the central opening of the rocker shaft and a radially outer surface of the separator engages the radially inner surface of the rocker shaft, the separator dividing the central opening of the rocker shaft into (1) a first chamber extending between a first chamber axial end and the separator, and (2) a second chamber extending between a second chamber axial end and the separator, the separator including an orifice defined between the first chamber and the second chamber providing fluid connection between the first chamber and the second chamber,
a first chamber end cap fixed in the rocker shaft defining the first chamber axial end, and a second chamber end cap fixed in the rocker shaft defining the second chamber axial end.

10. The rocker shaft of claim 9 , wherein the separator is press-fit within the rocker shaft.

11. The rocker shaft of claim 9 , wherein the first chamber end cap and the second chamber end cap are press-fit within the rocker shaft.

12. The rocker shaft of claim 9 , wherein the separator is formed from plastic.

13. The rocker shaft of claim 9 , wherein the separator is formed from metal.

14. The rocker shaft of claim 9 , wherein the separator includes a first recess on the radially outer surface that defines a first passage between the first chamber and a first actuator port, and the separator includes a second recess on the radially outer surface that defines a second passage between the second chamber and a second actuator port.

15. The rocker shaft of claim 14 , wherein the first recess and the second recess overlap in a radially extending plane.

16. A switchable valve train assembly comprising:
first and second supply assemblies each including a pressurized fluid source for pressurized hydraulic fluid, and each including a solenoid and a control valve for selectively supplying the pressurized hydraulic fluid;
first and second hydraulic lash adjuster feed channels in fluid connection with a respective pressurized fluid source;
first and second switch channels in fluid connection with a respective control valve;
a hollow rocker shaft including a central space defined by a radially inner surface;
an intermediate divider defining a first chamber and a second chamber in the central space;
first and second separators secured in a respective one of the first chamber and the second chamber, and a radially outer surface of the first separator and the second separator engages the radially inner surface of the rocker shaft,
the first separator and the second separator each dividing the first chamber and the second chamber into (1) a first sub-chamber extending between a first sub-chamber axial end and the respective separator, and (2) a second sub-chamber extending between a second sub-chamber axial end and the respective separator, the first separator and the second separator each including an orifice defined between the first sub-chamber and the second sub-chamber providing fluid connection between the first sub-chamber and the second sub-chamber,
a first sub-chamber end cap fixed in the rocker shaft defining the first sub-chamber axial end, and a second sub-chamber end cap fixed in the rocker shaft defining the second sub-chamber axial end;
wherein each of the hydraulic lash adjuster feed channels are in fluid communication with a respective one of the first sub-chambers, and each of the switch channels are in fluid communication with a respective one of the second sub-chambers; and
first and second rocker arm assemblies arranged on the rocker shaft each including a hydraulic lash adjuster connected to a first intake port and a locking assembly connected to a second intake port, the first sub-chambers each include a first actuator port in fluid connection with the first intake port for the hydraulic lash adjuster, and the second sub-chambers each include a second actuator port in fluid connection with th

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Ahmed Faheem
• Foster Colin
• Chandler David
• Whitton John
• Manther Debora
• MOHAN DAS Pradeep Mohan
• Nagaraj Sumukha

Classifications

• F01L13/0005

  Deactivating valves · CPC title

• F01L1/18 Primary

  Rocking arms or levers · CPC title

• F01L1/2416

  by means of a hydraulic adjusting device attached to an articulated rocker · CPC title

• F01L1/46

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

• F01L1/181

  Centre pivot rocking arms · CPC title