Self-contained compression brake control module for compression-release brake system of internal combustion engine

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to compression-release brake systems for internal combustion engines in general, and, more particularly, to a self-contained compression-release brake control module for a compression-release engine brake system of an internal combustion engine.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an internal combustion engine including a compression-release brake system according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2A is an enlarged schematic view of the portion of the compression-release brake system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention with exhaust valves closed;

#The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with the reference to accompanying drawings.

#For purposes of the following description, certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words such as “front” and “rear”, “left” and “right”, “inwardly” and “outwardly” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “smaller” and “larger” refer to relative size of elements of the apparatus of the present invention and designated portions thereof. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

#FIG. 1 schematically depicts a compression-release (or weeper) brake system 12 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, provided for an internal combustion (IC) engine 10. Preferably, the IC engine 10 is a four-stroke diesel engine, comprising a cylinder block 14 including a plurality of cylinders 14′. However, for the sake of simplicity, only one cylinder 14′ is shown in FIG. 1. Each cylinder 14′ is provided with a piston 16 that reciprocates therein. Each cylinder 14′ is further provided with two intake valves 171 and 172, and two exhaust valves 181 and 182, each provided with a return spring 17′ or 18′, respectively, and a valve train provided for lifting and closing of the intake and exhaust valves 17 and 18. The intake valves 171 and 172 as well as exhaust valves 181 and 182 are substantially structurally identical in this embodiment. In view of these similarities, and in the interest of simplicity, the following discussion will sometimes use a reference numeral without a letter to designate both substantially identical valves. For example, the reference numeral 17 will be sometimes used when generically referring to each of the intake valves 171 and 172, while the reference numeral 18 will be sometimes used when generically referring to each of the exhaust valves 181 and 182 rather than reciting all two reference numerals. It will be appreciated that each cylinder 14′ may be provided with one or more intake valve(s) and/or exhaust valve(s), although two of each is shown in FIG. 1. The engine 10 also includes an intake manifold 19 and an exhaust manifold 20 both in fluid communication with the cylinder 14′. The IC engine 10 is capable of performing a positive power operation (normal engine cycle) and an engine brake operation (engine brake cycle). The compression-release brake system 12 operates in a compression brake mode (during the engine brake operation) and a compression brake deactivation mode (during the positive power operation).