# US 2014/0190432 A1 · Actuator for lobe switching camshaft system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190432 A1 - Document ID: US20140190432A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/734,768 - Filed: 2013-01-04 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Gregory Patrick McConville; Kim Hwe Ku - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190432A1 ## CPC - F01L 1/22: automatically, e.g. mechanically - 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 2013/0052: {with cams provided on an axially slidable sleeve} - F01L 2820/031: Electromagnets - F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES ## Abstract Systems and methods for actuating lobe switching in a camshaft system in an engine are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises deploying a first pin into a groove of a camshaft outer sleeve while a second pin remains in place due to an absence of a groove in which to deploy, and maintaining the second pin in place with a ball locking mechanism even after the second pin is exposed to a vacated groove in the camshaft outer sleeve. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for a multiple-lift profile cam lobe switching mechanism actuator in an engine, comprising: deploying a first pin into a groove of a camshaft outer sleeve while a second pin remains in place due to an absence of a groove in which to deploy; and maintaining the second pin in place with a ball locking mechanism even after the second pin is exposed to a vacated groove in the camshaft outer sleeve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein deploying a first pin into a groove of a camshaft outer sleeve includes applying a force to the first and second pins and wherein maintaining the second pin in place with a ball locking mechanism is performed while maintaining the force applied to the first and second pins. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein applying a force to the first and second pins includes energizing a coil coupled to the first and second pins and wherein maintaining the second pin in place with a ball locking mechanism is performed while maintaining an energized state of the coil, and the method further comprises de-energizing the coil after the first pin engages the groove. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising returning the first pin to a home position during a decreasing depth in the groove. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising, in response to an engine operating condition, energizing the coil to deploy the second pin into a groove in the camshaft outer sleeve while the first pin remains in place due to the absence of a groove in which to deploy, and maintaining the energized state of the coil even after the first pin is exposed to a vacated groove while the first pin remains in place due to the ball locking mechanism. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the engine operating condition is a change in engine speed and/or load, and wherein the ball locking mechanism includes a ball positioned adjacent to and contiguous with reduced diameter sections of each of the first and second pins. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the ball locking mechanism engages an indentation in a non-deployed pin in response to a deployment of another pin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the ball locking mechanism disengages the indentation in the non-deployed pin in response to the other pin returning to a home position. ### Claim 9 A method for a multiple-lift profile cam lobe switching mechanism actuator in an engine, comprising: biasing a first and second pin toward a camshaft outer sleeve; deploying the first pin into a groove of the camshaft outer sleeve while the second pin remains in place due to an absence of a groove in which to deploy; and maintaining the second pin in place with a ball locking mechanism even after the second pin is exposed to a vacated groove in the camshaft outer sleeve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein biasing the first and second pin toward the camshaft outer sleeve includes supplying a current to a coil adjacent to the first and second pins. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising, in response to an engagement of the first pin in the groove, discontinuing the supply of current to the coil. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein deploying a first pin into a groove of a camshaft outer sleeve includes energizing a coil coupled to the first and second pins and wherein maintaining the second pin in place with a ball locking mechanism is performed while maintaining an energized state of the coil. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising, in response to a decreasing depth in the groove, returning the first pin to a home position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the ball locking mechanism is engages an indentation in a non-deployed pin in response to a deployment of another pin. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the ball locking mechanism further disengages the indentation in the non-deployed pin in response to the other pin returning to a home position. ### Claim 16 A system for multiple-lift profile cam lobe switching mechanism in an engine, comprising: a body including first and second parallel bores extending therethrough; a first pin within the first bore and a second pin within the second bore, where the first and second pins are each moveable within their respective bores from a home position within the body to an extended position where a portion of the pin extends outside of the body, and wherein the first and second pins each include an indentation; a ball locking mechanism between the first and second bores at the indentations in the pins in the home position, wherein the ball locking mechanism includes a spherical moveable ball and is configured to engage an indentation in a pin in the home position when the other pin is in the extended position; and an actuator coupled to the first and second pins, the actuator configured to apply a force to direct the first and second pins into extended positions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the ball locking mechanism includes a ball positioned in an orifice between the first and second bores. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein a distance between the pins at the indentations in the pins is substantially the same or less than a diameter of the ball. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the ball locking mechanism includes a ball positioned in an orifice between the first and second bores, where the orifice is offset from a center line through both pins. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein a diameter of the ball is substantially the same length as a distance between the first pin at a non-indentation region and the second pin at the indentation at a position offset from a center line through both pins.