Variable valve actuation assembly for an internal combustion engine

A variable valve actuation (VVA) assembly for actuation and deactuation of first and second valves in an internal combustion engine having a camshaft with high-lift and low-lift lobes for each one of said valves, each of said lobes having a lift portion and a base circle portion, the camshaft having an axis of rotation, comprising:

• a) an arbor mounted on said engine;
• b) first and second rocker assemblies pivotably disposed on first and second pivot means in said engine for variably responding to rotary motion of said lobes to open and close said first and second valves, respectively, each of said rocker assemblies including a frame fixedly supportive of at least one low-lift cam follower and pivotably supportive of a variably pivotable high-lift cam follower, said follower being pivotable about a first pivot axis;
• c) first and second primary latching assemblies disposed on said first and second rocker assemblies, respectively, for variably latching said high-lift cam followers to said frames;
• d) first and second secondary latching assemblies for variably actuating said first and second primary latching assemblies, respectively;
• and
• e) first and second solenoids disposed on said arbor for variably actuating said first and second secondary latching assemblies, respectively.

A secondary latching assembly mountable to an internal combustion engine for actuating a primary latching means in a rocker assembly for variably actuating a valve in the engine, comprising:

• a) a backer frame pivotably mounted to said engine for pivoting about a second pivot axis for variable contact with said rocker assembly;
• b) secondary latching means disposed on said backer frame;
• and
• d) a blocker plate pivotably mounted to said engine for pivoting about said second pivot axis and having a bore variably receivable of said secondary latching means for locking said backer frame and said blocker plate together for unified pivoting.

An internal combustion engine having a variable valve actuation assembly for variable actuation of an engine valve, comprising:

• a) a rocker assembly pivotably disposed on pivot means in said engine for variably responding to rotary motion of camshaft lobes to open and close on at least one valve of said engine, said rocker assembly including a frame fixedly supportive of at least one low-lift cam follower and pivotably supportive of a variably pivotable high-lift cam follower, said follower being pivotable about a first pivot axis;
• b) a primary latching assembly and a secondary latching assembly, said primary latching assembly disposed on said rocker assembly for variably latching said high-lift cam follower to said frame, said primary latching assembly including a primary latching pin slidingly disposed in a bore in said frame and variably engageable with said high-lift cam follower, said primary latching pin having a trigger portion for engaging with said secondary latching assembly, a first spring operatively connected to said primary latching pin for urging said pin out of engagement with said high-lift follower, said secondary latching assembly adjacent said primary latching assembly for variably actuating said primary latching assembly;
• and
• c) a solenoid adjacent said secondary latching assembly for variably actuating said secondary latching assembly.