# US 11,078,811 B2 · Apparatus for actuating a latching arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,811 B2 - Document ID: US11078811B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/769,613 - Filed: 2018-12-10 - Published: 2020-10-08 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-08 - Assignees: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited - Applicants: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited - Inventors: Nicola Andrisani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078811B2 ## CPC - F01L 1/185: {Overhead end-pivot rocking arms} - F01L 1/04: by means of cams, camshafts, cam discs, eccentrics or the like (F01L1/10 takes precedence) - F01L 1/46: Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups - F01L 13/0005: {Deactivating valves} - F01L 13/0036: {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} - F01L 2001/186: {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} - F01L 2820/031: Electromagnets - F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES ## Abstract An apparatus for actuating one or more latching arrangements of one or more respective rocker arms of a valve train assembly of an internal combustion engine, each rocker arm comprising a first body, a second body for pivotal motion with respect to the first body, and the latching arrangement, the latching arrangement latching and unlatching the first body and the second body, the includes: a shaft rotatable by an actuation source, from a rest orientation, in a first direction, and rotatable by the actuation source, from the rest orientation, in a second direction opposite the first direction; one or more selector cams rotatable by the shaft, each selector cam actuating the latching arrangement of a respective rocker arm so as to latch and/or unlatch the first body and the second body; and a return apparatus for returning the shaft to the rest orientation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for actuating one or more latching arrangements of one or more respective rocker arms of a valve train assembly of an internal combustion engine, each rocker arm comprising a first body, a second body for pivotal motion with respect to the first body, and the latching arrangement, the latching arrangement being configured to latch and unlatch the first body and the second body, the apparatus comprising: a shaft rotatable by an actuation source, from a rest orientation, in a first direction, and rotatable by the actuation source, from the rest orientation, in a second direction opposite the first direction; one or more selector cams rotatable by the shaft, each selector cam for being configured to actuate the latching arrangement of a respective rocker arm so as to latch and/or unlatch the first body and the second body; and a return apparatus configured to return the shaft to the rest orientation, the return apparatus comprising: one or more radial protrusions protruding radially out from the shaft; a reaction body; and a biasing means configured to contact the reaction body and the one or more radial protrusions; wherein the return apparatus is configured such that, in use: when the shaft is in the rest orientation the biasing means is configured to apply substantially no rotational force to the shaft, when the shaft is rotated from the rest orientation in the first direction the biasing means is configured to contact the reaction body and one or more of the radial protrusions so as to bias the shaft rotationally in the second direction to towards the rest orientation, and when the shaft is rotated from the rest orientation in the second direction the biasing means is configured to contact the reaction body and one or more of the radial protrusions so as to bias the shaft rotationally in the first direction to towards the rest orientation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the return apparatus is configured such that when the shaft is in the rest orientation the biasing means abuts the reaction body such that the biasing means applies substantially no net force to the shaft through the one or more radial protrusions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the return apparatus is configured such that when the shaft is in the rest orientation the biasing means abuts the one or more radial protrusions, such that the biasing means applies substantially no net force to the reaction body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises the one or more selector cams. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a drive shaft of the actuation source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the biasing means comprises a torsional biasing means. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the torsional biasing means is arranged around the shaft, a first end portion of the torsional biasing means is configured to contact the reaction body and at least one of the radial protrusions, and a second end portion of the torsional biasing means is configured to contact the reaction body and the at least one or another of the radial protrusions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the reaction body comprises a reaction member located intermediate of the first end portion of the torsional biasing means and the second end portion of the torsional biasing means. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is configured such that when the shaft is in the rest orientation the first end portion of the torsional biasing means and the second end portion of the torsional biasing means abut the reaction member such that the torsional biasing means applies substantially no force to the one or more radial protrusions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a thickness of the reaction member in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the shaft is substantially equal to or greater than a thickness of the one or more radial protrusions in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means comprises a first biasing element and a second biasing element separate from the first biasing element, the first biasing element and the second biasing element each being configured to contact the reaction body and to contact the one or more radial protrusions such that, in use, when the shaft is rotated from the rest orientation in the first direction the first biasing element applies a force to one or more of the radial protrusions so as to bias the shaft rotationally in the second direction to towards the rest orientation, and when the shaft is rotated from the rest orientation in the second direction the second biasing element applies a force to one or more of the radial protrusions so as to bias the shaft rotationally in the first direction to towards the rest orientation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the one or more radial protrusions are located intermediate of the first biasing element and the second biasing element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the reaction body comprises a reaction member located intermediate of the first biasing element and the second biasing element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus is configured such that when the shaft is in the rest orientation the first biasing element and the second biasing element abut the reaction member such that both the first biasing element and the second biasing element apply substantially no rotational force to the shaft. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the reaction member is configured such that a separation, in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the shaft, between the first biasing element and the second biasing element when the shaft is in the rest orientation is substantially equal to or greater than a thickness of the one or more radial protrusions in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first biasing element and the second biasing element each comprise a pad configured to contact the one or more the radial protrusions and for contacting the reaction member, and wherein when the shaft is in the rest orientation, the reaction member extends only part way across the pad of each biasing element, and the one or more radial protrusions extend only part way across the pad of each biasing element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of the selector cams, each configured to actuate the latching arrangement of a respective different the rocker arm of a plurality of the rocker arms. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of selector cams have a different shape so as to allow control of the latching arrangements on a per rocker arm basis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A valve train assembly for an internal combustion engine, the valve train assembly comprising: the apparatus according to claim 1; the actuation source; and the rocker arm or the plurality of rocker arms.