# US 11,905,860 B2 · Latch assembly, latching device, and rocker arm

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- Number: US 11,905,860 B2
- Document ID: US11905860B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/778,514
- Filed: 2020-11-20
- Published: 2022-12-29
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2019-11-20
- Assignees: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
- Applicants: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
- Inventors: Jeffrey R. Brown; Matthew A. Vance
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11905860B2

## CPC

- F01L 1/185: {Overhead end-pivot rocking arms}
- F01L 1/2416: {by means of a hydraulic adjusting device attached to an articulated rocker}
- F01L 1/34: characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without changing the duration of opening {and without affecting the magnitude of the valve lift}
- F01L 13/0005: {Deactivating valves}
- 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 2013/001: {Deactivating cylinders}
- F01L 2013/105: {Hydraulic motors}
- F01L 2303/00: Manufacturing of components used in valve arrangements
- F01L 2305/00: Valve arrangements comprising rollers
- F01L 2810/02: Lubrication
- F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES

## Abstract

A latch assembly comprises a latch pin and a cage. The latch pin comprises a latch nose and a pin body. The pin body comprises an outer surface and an inner compartment. The inner compartment comprises a first inner wall segmented by a first slot and a second inner wall segmented by a second slot. The first slot and the second slot vent out of the inner compartment. The cage comprises a stepped base and a shaft extending from the stepped base into the inner compartment. The shaft comprises a first exterior flat adjoining the first inner wall and a second exterior flat adjoining the second inner wall. A spring can be biased against the latch pin and the cage. The latch assembly can be used in a latching device of a valvetrain such as a switching roller finger follower or other rocker arm.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A latch assembly, comprising:
a latch pin, comprising:
a latch nose; and
a pin body connected to the latch nose, the pin body comprising an outer surface and an inner compartment, the inner compartment comprising:
a first inner wall; and
a second inner wall;
a cage, comprising:
a stepped base; and
a shaft extending from the stepped base into the inner compartment, the shaft comprising:
a first exterior flat adjoining the first inner wall; and
a second exterior flat adjoining the second inner wall;
wherein the stepped base comprises a first end flat parallel to the first exterior flat and a second end flat parallel to the second exterior flat; and
a spring biased against the latch pin and the cage.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner compartment further comprises:
a first slot segmenting the first inner wall; and
a second slot segmenting the second inner wall,
wherein the first slot and the second slot vent out of the inner compartment.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The latch assembly of claim 2, wherein the shaft further comprises a first exterior arc surface and a second exterior arc surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The latch assembly of claim 3, wherein the inner compartment comprises an inner circumference segmented into a first arc, a first chord, a second arc, and a second chord, wherein the first chord is part of the first inner wall, and wherein the second chord is part of the second inner wall.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The latch assembly of claim 4, wherein the first arc is opposite to the second arc.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The latch assembly of claim 4, wherein:
the first exterior arc surface adjoins the first arc; and
the second exterior arc surface adjoins the second arc.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft or the stepped base forms a travel limit for the pin body.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the stepped base is solid.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a hollow portion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The latch assembly of claim 9, further comprising a solid spring cup between the stepped base and the hollow portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A latching device comprising the latch assembly of claim 1, the latching device further comprising:
a housing comprising a latch bore comprising a main inner circumference;
the latch pin configured to slide in the latch bore with the outer surface adjacent the main inner circumference; and
the stepped base fitted to a portion of the main inner circumference.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The latching device of claim 11, wherein:
wherein the stepped base spans across the main inner circumference to fit to opposed sides of the main inner circumference, and
wherein the first end flat and the second end flat are spaced away from the main inner circumference.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The latching device of claim 12, wherein:
the housing further comprises an outer end surface through which the latch bore passes; and
the stepped base comprises a first step and a second step positioned against the outer end surface.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The latching device of claim 11, further comprising an oil feed through the housing and connected to the latch bore.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

A rocker arm comprising the latching device of claim 11, the rocker arm comprising:
a pair of outer arms integrated with the housing; and
an inner arm coupled to the pair of outer arms, the inner arm configured to selectively move relative to the latch pin when the latch pin is retracted into the latch bore and configured to selectively abut the latch nose when the latch pin protrudes from the latch bore.