Oil control valve system for valve actuation switching
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorAustin Robert Zurface
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An oil control valve system according to one example of the present disclosure incorporates a common or interchangeable oil control valve at distinct locations of an engine to direct operation of switching mechanisms over sets of three cylinders. In another aspect of the present disclosure, four interchangeable oil control valves are used in a six-cylinder engine. Utilizing interchangeable oil control valves minimizes design costs, reduces assembly time, lessens repair or replacement burdens, and allows for enhanced engine performance.
Claims20
An oil control valve system for an engine having first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth engine cylinders, each engine cylinder having a first and a second intake valves in operable contact with a respective switching rocker arm, the oil control valve system comprising:
- a first oil control valve in operable pressure communication with switching mechanisms of a first and second switching rocker arms of the first engine cylinder, and a switching mechanism of a first switching rocker arm of the second engine cylinder;
- a second oil control valve in operable pressure communication with switching mechanisms of a first and second switching rocker arms of the third engine cylinder, and a switching mechanism of a second switching rocker arm of the second engine cylinder;
- a third oil control valve in operable pressure communication with switching mechanisms of a first and second switching rocker arms of the fourth engine cylinder, and a switching mechanism of a first switching rocker arm of the fifth engine cylinder;
- and
- a fourth oil control valve in operable pressure communication with switching mechanisms of a first and second switching rocker arms of the sixth engine cylinder, and a switching mechanism of a second switching rocker arm of the fifth engine cylinder.
An oil control valve system for an engine having first, second and third engine cylinders, each engine cylinder having a first and a second intake valves in operable contact with a respective switching rocker arm, the oil control valve system comprising:
- a first oil control valve in operable pressure communication with switching mechanisms of a first and second switching rocker arms of the first engine cylinder, and a switching mechanism of a first switching rocker arm of the second engine cylinder;
- and
- a second oil control valve in operable pressure communication with switching mechanisms of a first and second switching rocker arms of the third engine cylinder, and a switching mechanism of a second switching rocker arm of the second engine cylinder.
A method for operating an oil control valve system fluidly coupled to a plurality of switching mechanisms provided in respective rocker arms of an engine, the engine having first, second and third cylinders, each cylinder having a first and a second intake valves that is actuated by respective first and second rocker arms, the method comprising:
- providing a first oil control valve, the first oil control valve in pressure communication with (i) the first rocker arm of the first cylinder, (ii) the second rocker arm of the first cylinder;
- and (iii) the first rocker arm of the second cylinder,
- providing a second oil control valve, the second oil control valve in pressure communication with (i) the first rocker arm of the third cylinder, (ii) the second rocker arm of the third cylinder, and (iii) the second rocker arm of the second cylinder;
- activating the first oil control valve, thereby actuating the first and second rocker arms of the first cylinder and the first rocker arm of the second cylinder;
- and
- activating the second oil control valve, thereby actuating the first and second rocker arms of the third cylinder and the second rocker arm of the second cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.