Control system for deactivation of valves in an internal combustion engine

A multiple-cylinder internal combustion engine having a system for deactivation of engine valves, the engine comprising:

• a) a deactivation valve lifter for each valve to be deactivatable;
• b) an engine control module for controlling the activation and deactivation of said valve lifters;
• c) a source of pressurized oil;
• and
• d) a valve deactivation control system disposed in said engine between said valve lifters and said engine control module, said system including
• i) a hydraulic manifold having a plurality of oil galleries connected between said oil source and said lifters;
• ii) a plurality of independently-controllable solenoid control valves disposed on said manifold and extending into said galleries, a one of said control valves being operable for activation and deactivation of lifters associated with each one of said cylinders by controlling the flow of pressurized oil to said associated lifters;
• and
• iii) a lead frame connector/retainer mounted on said manifold for retaining said control valves in said disposition on said manifold and for providing electrical signals to said control valves for activation and deactivation of said lifters.

A control system for use with hydraulically-actuated deactivation valve lifters, comprising:

• a hydraulic manifold including a top plate, said top plate having a lower surface, said lower surface defining an upper portion of a first pattern of oil passages, a bottom plate having an upper surface, said upper surface defining a lower portion of a second pattern of oil passages, said top and bottom plate being connected together, oil galleries defined at least in part by said first and second pattern of oil passages;
• a gasket plate having a first surface and a second surface, a first pattern of resilient gasketing material disposed on said first surface and corresponding to said first pattern of oil passages, a second pattern of resilient gasketing material disposed on said second surface and corresponding to said second pattern of oil passages, said gasket plate defining a plurality of bores extending from said first surface to said second surface, said gasket plate being disposed between said top and bottom plates, said gasket plate defining at least in part said oil galleries in conjunction with said first and second pattern of oil passages;
• and
• a lead frame connector/retainer affixed to said manifold, said lead frame including a plurality of retaining means and electrical signal carrying means.