Method and apparatus for valve seating velocity control
AssigneeDiesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
InventorsRichard Vanderpoel, John A. Schwoerer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for controlling the seating of an engine valve is disclosed. The system is designed to bring a hydraulically actuated engine valve to a soft landing on its valve seat. The velocity of the engine valve is reduced as it approaches its seat by progressively throttling the escape of hydraulic fluid from a chamber. The chamber is pressurized as a result of the valve approaching its seat. Accordingly, as the valve approaches its seat, the pressure in the chamber increases, causing the force that opposes the closing motion of the engine valve to increase.
Claims43
An engine valve seating system having a piston adapted to be bi-directionally displaced in response to the filling and draining of hydraulic fluid from an hydraulic chamber in communication with said piston, said system comprising:
- means for guiding hydraulic fluid from said chamber during draining;
- and
- means for throttling hydraulic fluid flow through the guiding means at a preselected rate in response to a change in position of the guiding means relative to the throttling means during draining,
- wherein the throttling means includes a central bore, and the guiding means includes a surface adapted to selectively occlude the central bore.
An engine valve seating system having a piston adapted to be bi-directionally displaced in response to the filling and draining of hydraulic fluid from an hydraulic chamber in communication with said position, said system comprising:
- means for guiding hydraulic fluid from said chamber during draining;
- and
- means for throttling hydraulic fluid flow through the guiding means at a preselected rate in response to a change in position of the guiding means relative to the throttling means during draining;
- wherein said guiding means comprises an elongated stop having at least one flute formed along a sidewall of said stop.
An engine valve seating system having a piston adapted to be bi-directionally displaced in response to the filling and draining of hydraulic fluid from an hydraulic chamber in communication with said piston, said system comprising:
- means for guiding hydraulic fluid from said chamber during draining;
- and
- means for throttling hydraulic fluid flow through the guiding means at a preselected rate in response to a change in position of the guiding means relative to the throttling means during draining,
- further comprising a spring positioned between said piston and a shoulder formed on said guiding means.
An engine valve seating system having a piston adapted to be bi-directionally displaced in response to the filling and draining of hydraulic fluid from an hydraulic chamber in communication with said piston, said system comprising:
- means for guiding hydraulic fluid from said chamber during draining;
- and
- means for throttling hydraulic fluid flow through the guiding means at a preselected rate in response to a change in position of the guiding means relative to the throttling means during draining,
- wherein said guiding means is adjustably connected to said piston by cooperating screw threads formed on the guiding means and on a threaded recess in the piston.
An engine valve seating system having a piston adapted to be bi-directionally displaced in response to the filling and draining of hydraulic fluid from an hydraulic chamber in communication with said piston, said system comprising:
- means for guiding hydraulic fluid from said chamber during draining;
- and
- means for throttling hydraulic fluid flow through the guiding means at a preselected rate in response to a change in position of the guiding means relative to the throttling means during draining,
- wherein said guiding means and said piston are integrally formed.
A system for controlling seating velocity of an internal combustion engine valve comprising:
- a housing having a bore formed therein for receipt of a piston;
- a piston positioned in and adapted for bi-directional displacement in the bore;
- an hydraulic chamber defined by an end of the piston;
- a piston stop extending into the chamber;
- and
- a disk having at least a central opening, said disk positioned in the chamber and being adapted to cooperate with said piston stop to control valve seating velocity.
A system for controlling seating velocity of an internal combustion engine valve comprising:
- a housing having a bore formed therein for receipt of a piston, and a recess formed in an end wall of the bore;
- a recess shoulder formed along the intersection of the recess and the bore;
- a piston positioned in and adapted for bi-directional displacement in the bore;
- an hydraulice chamber defined by the bore end wall and the piston;
- means for providing hydraulic fluid flow to and from the chamber;
- a disk having at least a central opening, said disk positioned between the piston and the bore end wall;
- a spring adapted to bias the disk against the recess shoulder when the piston is in a retracted position;
- and
- an elongated stop having a fluted end extending from the piston, through the chamber through the disk, and into the recess, wherein a minimized hydraulic passage is formed between the disk and the elongated stop when the piston is in the retracted position.
A system for controlling seating velocity of an internal combustion engine valve comprising:
- a housing having a bore formed therein for receipt of a piston;
- a piston positioned in and adapted for bi-directional displacement in the bore, said piston having a recess formed in an upper end thereof;
- an hydraulic chamber defined by an end wall of the bore and the upper end of the piston;
- a recess shoulder formed along the intersection of the recess and the chamber;
- a disk having a central opening, said disk positioned between the piston and the bore end wall;
- a spring adapted to bias the disk against the recess shoulder when the piston is in a retracted position;
- and
- an elongated stop having a fluted end extending from the bore end wall, through the chamber, through the disk, and into the recess, wherein a minimized hydraulic passage is formed between the disk and the elongated stop when the piston is in the retracted position.
An engine valve seating system having an outer tappet adapted to be bi-directionally directionally displaced in response to the filling and draining of hydraulic fluid from an hydraulic chamber in communication with said outer tappet, said system comprising:
- a housing having a bore formed therein for receipt of the outer tappet, said bore having an end wall;
- an outer tappet disposed in the bore, said outer tappet being adapted to contact a valve train element, and having an end proximate to the bore end wall;
- an hydraulic chamber formed between the bore end wall and the end of the outer tappet proximate to the bore end wall;
- a hydraulic fill and drain passage communicating with the hydraulic chamber, said passage being adapted to be selectively occluded by displacement of the outer tappet in the bore.
An engine valve seating system comprising:
- a housing having a bore formed therein;
- means for supplying hydraulic fluid to the bore;
- a lash adjustment piston disposed in the bore;
- a seating piston disposed in the bore, said seating piston being spaced from the lash adjustment piston;
- and
- a disk disposed in the bore, said disk having a central opening adapted to be selectively occluded by said seating piston.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.