Switching finger follower assembly
AssigneeTimken US Corporation
InventorsRichard F. Murphy, Matthew J. Deierlein
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A two-step finger follower rocker arm assembly comprising a follower body having a first end for engaging the engine and a second end for engaging a valve stem of the gas valve. The follower body has a passage formed in the body between the first and second ends and has a first bore traversing the passage. A central follower is positioned in the passage and is configured for engagement with the central lobe. A first lateral follower is pivotally supported on a shaft extending through the first bore and is configured to engage the at least one lateral cam lobe. A latching mechanism is positioned on the follower body for selectively latching the lateral follower to the body.
Claims20
A finger follower rocker arm assembly for variably activating a gas valve of an internal combustion engine having a camshaft having a central lobe and at least one lateral lobe adjacent a first side of the central lobe, comprising:
- a follower body having a first end for engaging the engine and a second end for engaging a valve stem of the gas valve and having a passage formed in the body between the first and second ends and having a first bore traversing the passage;
- a central follower configured for engagement with the central lobe and rotatably supported in the passage by a shaft extending through the first bore and;
- a first lateral follower configured to engage the at least one lateral cam lobe and pivotally supported on the shaft;
- and
- a latching mechanism disposed on the follower body for selectively latching the lateral follower to the body to cause the motion of the at least one lateral cam lobe to be translated to the body in a first rocker assembly mode having a first valve lift capability and for unlatching the lateral follower from the body to cause engagement of the central follower with the central camshaft lobe to provide a second rocker assembly mode having a second valve lift capability.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.