US 6,644,265 B2Granted

Electro-hydraulic manifold assembly and method of making same for controlling de-activation of combustion chamber valves in a multicylinder engine

AssigneeEaton Corporation

InventorsKenneth J. Parker, Jorge A. Moreno, Chuck Chang

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A solenoid valve and manifold assembly for installation on an engine and connecting with hydraulic circuits in the engine for de-actuating the combustion chamber valves of selected cylinders of the engine. A manifold deck is formed with the valving channels and ports therein for connecting to the hydraulic circuits. A gasket is formed with solenoid valve mounting bosses and valving passages as a unitary member and is retained on the manifold deck by a retaining plate preferably stamped from sheet stock with clearance holes received over the valve mounting bosses and secured to the manifold deck over the gasket for sealing the gasket thereon. The valves are inserted in the bosses and retained by a preferably stamped bracket and the bracket, retaining plate and gasket secured to the manifold deck by common fasteners. A common electrical lead frame is received over the valve terminals for making electrical connection to the valves. The assembly of valves and the manifold deck may then be attached to the engine as a unit.

Claims22

Dependent claims

In combination, an electric valve and hydraulic manifold assembly for controlling de-actuation of combustion chamber valves in a multi-cylinder engine comprising:

(a) a deckplate having (i) a supply pressure inlet port and a supply channel communicating therewith and formed on a common side of the deckplate;
(ii) a plurality of control pressure inlet ports disposed in spaced arrangement on the common side of said deckplate;
(iii) a plurality of control pressure outlet ports, on the common side of the deckplate, with each of the control pressure outlet ports communicating respectively with one of said control pressure inlet ports;
(b) a gasket disposed on said common side of said deckplate and having a plurality of spaced valve inlet ports communicating with said supply channel, and a plurality of spaced transfer ports each communicating respectively with one of said control pressure inlet ports in said deckplate and a pair of ports communicating with and dividing each of said control pressure outlet ports into an intake and an exhaust valve control pressure port, said gasket having integrally formed therewith a plurality of valve mounting bosses, with each boss having a valving cavity therein communicating with one of said valve inlet ports and each of said cavities communicating with one of said transfer ports respectively;
(c) an electrically operated valve disposed in each of said valving cavities and operable upon electrical energization to provide fluid communication between said inlet channel and said transfer port;
(d) means operable for retaining the valve in each of said valving cavities, and for retaining and sealing said gasket over the control pressure outlet ports, the supply channel, and said supply pressure inlet ports;
and,
(e) means for providing electrical connection to the valve in each of said valving cavities.

5 more elements

A method of making an electro-hydraulic assembly for controlling actuation of combustion chamber valves in a multi-cylinder engine comprising:

(a) providing a deckplate and forming a supply channel on one side thereof and an inlet supply pressure port communicating therewith;
(b) forming a plurality of control pressure inlet ports in spaced arrangement on the one side of the deckplate and forming a plurality of control pressure outlet ports in said one side each communicating respectively with one of said control pressure inlet ports;
(c) disposing a one-piece gasket on said one side of the deckplate and forming separate intake and exhaust valve pressure control ports therein communicating with a common one of the control pressure outlet ports in the deckplate and forming a plurality of spaced supply ports therein with each supply port communicating with the deckplate supply channel;
(d) forming a plurality of valve mounting bosses spaced on said gasket and forming a valving cavity in each boss and disposing a valve in each of said cavities for communicating with one of the gasket supply ports and forming a transfer passage in each cavity and communicating the transfer passage respectively with one of the control pressure inlet ports in the deckplate;
(e) disposing an inlet and outlet of an electrically operated valve in each of said cavities and communicating the valve inlet with said supply port therein and the valve outlet with said transfer port therein;
and,
(f) compressing said gasket on said deckplate and sealing over said supply channel, said control pressure inlet ports and said control pressure outlet ports and retaining said valves on said bosses and electrically connecting to each of the valves.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/119,402Filed 9 Apr 2002
Published: US 2003/0188710 A19 Oct 2003
Granted: 11 Nov 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

F01L 13/0005
Modifications of valve-gear to facilitate reversing, braking, starting, changing compression ratio, or other specific operations: deactivating valves
F01L 1/14
Transmitting gear between valve drive and valve: tappets ; Push rods
F01L 1/18
Transmitting gear between valve drive and valve: rocking arms or levers
F01L 1/245
By fluid means, e.g. hydraulically: hydraulic tappets