Systems, methods, and devices for rocker arm position sensing
AssigneeEaton Intelligent Power Limited
InventorBrian Karl VanDeusen
Life of this patent
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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 along a pivot axle, at least one torsion spring coiled around an end of the pivot axle, 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 employs 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.
Claims23
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 axle;
- at least one torsion spring, wherein the at least one torsion spring is coiled around an end of the pivot axle;
- 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 positioned in proximity to a second end of the first arm, the sensor adapted to detect motion of the first arm and the second arm relative to each other, and further adapted to provide a signal indicating the detected motion.
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 axle;
- at least one torsion spring, wherein the at least one torsion spring is coiled around an end of the pivot axle;
- 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 motion detector for detecting relative motion of the first arm and the second arm,
- wherein the motion detector is positioned at the first end of at least one of the first arm or the second arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.