Hydraulic rolling cylinder deactivation systems and methods
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsGregory Patrick McConville, James Douglas Ervin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for a poppet valve operator that may be implemented in a hydraulic rolling cylinder deactivation system of a vehicle, wherein a hydraulically operated pivot ball selectively engages a pivot pocket of a rocker arm. Simple and reliable deactivation systems are needed that can fit into limited packaging space while including fewer moving mechanical components that are susceptible to wear and damage. The proposed systems and methods involve selectively pressurizing hydraulic fluid to rigidly or flexibly hold a piston of the poppet valve operator in place in order to open or close a gas exchange valve.
Claims22
A poppet valve operator, comprising:
- a rocker arm including a poppet valve engaging end and a camshaft engaging end, the rocker arm including a pivot pocket positioned between the camshaft engaging end and the poppet valve engaging end;
- a hydraulically operated pivot ball attached to a piston contained within a piston housing, the pivot ball selectively engaging the pivot pocket based on a position of a solenoid valve;
- a high pressure chamber in fluidic communication with an outlet of the piston housing, the high pressure chamber further in fluidic communication with an oil gallery of an engine oil pump via a first hydraulic passage;
- and
- a medium pressure chamber in fluidic communication with the oil gallery via a second hydraulic passage,
- wherein the high pressure chamber and the medium pressure chamber are fluidically connected when the solenoid valve is in an open position, creating a single continuous pressure chamber, and wherein the high pressure chamber is fluidically separated from the medium pressure chamber when the solenoid valve is in a closed position.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A poppet valve operator, comprising:
- a rocker arm including a poppet valve engaging end and a camshaft engaging end, the rocker arm including a pivot pocket positioned between the camshaft engaging end and the poppet valve engaging end;
- a hydraulically operated pivot ball selectively engaging the pivot pocket when a solenoid valve is in an open position, the solenoid valve fluidically connecting a medium pressure chamber and a high pressure chamber to create a single continuous pressure chamber extending from the hydraulically operated pivot ball to an accumulator when in the open position, and fluidically separating the medium pressure chamber and high pressure chamber when in a closed position;
- and
- a latch pin selectively engaging a hydraulically operated pivot ball actuator configured to move the pivot ball.
10-11. (canceled)
A method for cylinder deactivation, comprising:
- during a first mode, closing a solenoid valve to trap hydraulic fluid located behind a piston of a hydraulically operated pivot ball, the hydraulic fluid holding the pivot ball in place and allowing a rocker arm to pivot about the pivot ball to actuate a poppet valve via rotation of a cam lobe while fluidically separating a high pressure chamber from a medium pressure chamber, the high pressure chamber coupled to an outlet of a housing of the piston and the medium pressure chamber coupled to an accumulator;
- and
- during a second mode, opening the solenoid valve to fluidically connect the high pressure chamber and medium pressure chamber, thereby creating a single continuous pressure chamber, and to allow hydraulic fluid located behind the piston of the pivot ball to enter the accumulator via the continuous pressure chamber, the hydraulic fluid allowing the pivot ball to move and preventing the rocker arm from actuating the poppet valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.