Engine including cylinder deactivation assembly and method of control
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsJames B. Hicks, William C. Albertson, Mark Stabinsky, Mike M. McDonald
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of purging air from an oil passage in communication with a lifter assembly in an engine assembly may include isolating the oil passage from a pressurized oil source while the lifter assembly is engaged with a base region of a cam lobe to operate the first lifter assembly in the activated mode. The pressurized oil may be provided to the lifter assembly via the oil passage after the isolating when the lifter assembly is engaged with a lift region of the cam lobe. The lifter assembly may be maintained in the activated mode after the providing. Air may be purged from the oil passage based on the pressurized oil provided to the oil passage.
Claims20
A method of purging air from an oil passage in an engine assembly, the engine assembly including an engine structure defining the oil passage, a first cam lobe rotationally supported by the engine structure and including a base region and a lift region, a first lifter assembly supported by the engine structure and in fluid communication with the oil passage, and a first valve supported by the engine structure and displaceable from a seated position to a lift position by the first lifter assembly, the first lifter assembly being switched from an activated mode to a deactivated mode by pressurized oil provided to the oil passage by a pressurized oil source, the activated mode including the first valve being in the seated position when the base region engages the first lifter assembly and being displaced from the seated position by the first lifter assembly when the lift region engages the first lifter assembly, the deactivated mode including the first valve remaining in the seated position when the lift region of the first cam lobe engages the first lifter assembly, the method comprising:
- isolating the oil passage from the pressurized oil source while the first lifter assembly is engaged with the base region of the first cam lobe to operate the first lifter assembly in the activated mode;
- providing the pressurized oil to the first lifter assembly via the oil passage after the isolating when the first lifter assembly is engaged with the lift region of the cam lobe, the first lifter assembly maintained in the activated mode after the providing;
- and
- purging air from the oil passage based on the pressurized oil provided to the oil passage.
A method of purging air from an oil passage in an engine assembly, the engine assembly including an engine structure defining the oil passage, a first cam lobe rotationally supported by the engine structure and including a base region and a lift region, a first lifter assembly supported by the engine structure and in fluid communication with the oil passage, and a first valve supported by the engine structure and displaceable from a seated position to a lift position by the first lifter assembly, the first lifter assembly being switched from an activated mode to a deactivated mode by pressurized oil provided to the oil passage by a pressurized oil source, the activated mode including the first valve being in the seated position when the base region engages the first lifter assembly and being displaced from the seated position by the first lifter assembly when the lift region engages the first lifter assembly, the deactivated mode including the first valve remaining in the seated position when the lift region of the first cam lobe engages the first lifter assembly, the method comprising:
- isolating the oil passage from the pressurized oil source while the first lifter assembly is engaged with the base region of the first cam lobe to operate the first lifter assembly in the activated mode;
- providing the pressurized oil to the first lifter assembly via the oil passage after the isolating when the first lifter assembly is engaged with the lift region of the cam lobe, the first lifter assembly maintained in the activated mode after the providing;
- purging air from the oil passage based on the pressurized oil provided to the oil passage;
- and
- providing the pressurized oil to the first lifter assembly via the oil passage after the purging when the first lifter assembly is engaged with the base region of the cam lobe to switch the first lifter assembly to the deactivated mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.