Compression brake system for an engine
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsStephen M. Wiley, John S. Pipis, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compression brake system of an internal combustion engine includes a mechanical system for coupling a camshaft to a brake actuator assembly. The mechanical system includes a stationary housing defining an aperture and a lifter is slidably disposed in the aperture. A resilient element is disposed between the housing and the shoulder and configured to bias the lifter toward the camshaft. The mechanical system is dedicated to compression braking, and therefore the camshaft may have a lobe optimized for braking.
Claims14
A compression brake system for an internal combustion engine having an engine block and a camshaft rotatable relative to the engine block, the compression brake system comprising:
- a cam follower assembly including a cam follower body having a first end supporting a roller disposed in contact with the camshaft and a second end defining contact point oriented away from the camshaft;
- and
- a brake actuator assembly having:
- a brake actuator piston;
- a master cylinder having a volume of fluid, the volume of fluid having a deactivated state, in which the volume of fluid has a first fluid pressure, and an activated state, in which the volume of fluid has a second fluid pressure that is higher than the first fluid pressure;
- a master piston slidably disposed in the master cylinder and hydraulically coupled to the brake actuator piston;
- and
- a master pin having a first end coupled to the master piston and a second end opposite the first end;
- the master piston moving to a retracted position when the master cylinder is in the deactivated state, in which the second end of the master pin is spaced from the contact point, and the master piston moving to an extended position when the master cylinder is in the activated state, in which the second end of the master pin mechanically engages the contact point, wherein the master piston is biased in the retracted position.
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- an engine block;
- a camshaft rotatably coupled to the engine block;
- a common rail fuel system;
- a compression brake system comprising:
- a cam follower assembly including a cam follower body having a first end supporting a roller disposed in contact with the camshaft and a second end defining contact point oriented away from the camshaft;
- and
- a brake actuator assembly having:
- a brake actuator piston;
- a master cylinder having a volume of fluid, the volume of fluid having a deactivated state, in which the volume of fluid has a first fluid pressure, and an activated state, in which the volume of fluid has a second fluid pressure that is higher than the first fluid pressure;
- a master piston slidably disposed in the master cylinder and hydraulically coupled to the brake actuator piston;
- and
- a master pin having a first end coupled to the master piston and a second end opposite the first end;
- the master piston moving to a retracted position when the master cylinder is in the deactivated state, in which the second end of the master pin is spaced from the contact point and the master piston moving to an extended position when the master cylinder is in the activated state, in which the second end of the master pin mechanically engages the contact point, wherein the master piston is biased in the retracted position.
A compression brake system for an internal combustion engine having an engine block and a camshaft supported for rotation relative to the engine block, the compression brake system comprising:
- a cam follower assembly including:
- a housing supported in a substantially fixed relation to the engine block, the housing defining an aperture;
- a lifter slidably disposed in the aperture and having a lifter first end facing the master piston and defining a contact point and a lifter second end;
- a roller coupled to the lifter second end and disposed in contact with the camshaft;
- and
- a resilient element disposed between the housing and the lifter and configured to bias the lifter toward the camshaft;
- and
- a brake actuator assembly having:
- a brake actuator piston;
- a master cylinder having a volume of fluid, the volume of fluid having a deactivated state, in which the volume of fluid has a first fluid pressure, and an activated state, in which the volume of fluid has a second fluid pressure that is higher than the first fluid pressure;
- and
- a master piston slidably disposed in the master cylinder and hydraulically coupled to the brake actuator piston;
- and
- a master pin having a first end coupled to the master piston and a second end opposite the first end;
- the master piston moving to a retracted position when the master cylinder is in the deactivated state, in which the second end of the master pin is spaced from the contact point, and the master piston moving to an extended position when the master cylinder is in the activated state, in which the second end of the master pin mechanically engages the contact point, wherein the master piston is biased in the retracted position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.