# Patent

## Title
Engine having variable lift valvetrain

## Abstract

A rocker arm may include a first arm defining a first longitudinal bore and a second arm defining a second longitudinal bore. The rocker arm may house a locking assembly including a first lock pin located within the first longitudinal bore, an actuation pin extending through a radial passage in the rocker arm and engaged with the first lock pin, and a first biasing member engaged with the first lock pin and urging the first lock pin toward the actuation pin and biasing the actuation pin radially inward. An actuation assembly may be engaged with the actuation pin and linearly displaceable between first and second actuation positions. The first and second arms may be rotatable relative to one another when the actuation member is in the first actuation position and may be fixed for rotation with one another when the actuation member is in the second actuation position.

## Background
FIELD
The present disclosure relates to engines having variable valve lift mechanisms.
BACKGROUND
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Engine assemblies may include multi-step lift mechanisms to provide variable valve lift during engine operation. The multi-step lift mechanism may be actuated by a hydraulic system to switch between the various lift modes. The use of hydraulic actuation may increase oil demand for an engine, resulting in increased oil pump size and/or the inclusion of additional hydraulic systems.
SUMMARY
An engine assembly may include an engine structure, a camshaft, a rocker arm, a locking assembly and an actuation assembly. The camshaft may be rotationally supported on the engine structure and may define a longitudinally extending rotational axis including first and second lobes. The rocker arm may be rotationally supported on the engine structure.
The rocker arm may include first and second arms. The first arm may be engaged with the first lobe of the camshaft and a first engine valve and may define a first longitudinal bore. The second arm may be adjacent the first arm and engaged with the second lobe of the camshaft and may define a second longitudinal bore. The locking assembly may include a first lock pin located within the first longitudinal bore, an actuation pin extending through a radial passage in the rocker arm and engaged with the first lock pin, and a first biasing member engaged with the first lock pin and urging the first lock pin toward the actuation pin and biasing the actuation pin radially inward. The actuation assembly may include an actuation member engaged with the actuation pin and linearly displaceable between first and second actuation positions. The first and second arms may be rotatable relative to one another when the actuation member is in the first actuation position and may be fixed for rotation with one another by the first lock pin when the actuation member is in the second actuation position.
The rocker arm may additionally include a third arm engaged with a third lobe of the camshaft and a second engine valve and defining a third longitudinal bore. The locking assembly may additionally include a second lock pin located in the second longitudinal bore. The second lock pin may be located within the second and third longitudinal bores when the actuation member is in the second actuation position to fix the first, second and third arms for rotation with one another.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of an engine assembly according to the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a camshaft assembly according to the present disclosure;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the valve actuation assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section view of the valve actuation assembly of FIG. 3 in a first position;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section view of the valve actuation assembly of FIG. 3 in a second position;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section view of the valve actuation assembly of FIG. 3 in a third position;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an installation tool according to the present disclosure;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section view of the installation tool of FIG. 7 and the valve actuation assembly of FIG. 3 in a first position; and
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section view of the installation tool of FIG. 7 and the valve actuation assembly of FIG. 3 in a second position.



Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Examples of the present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an engine assembly 10 is illustrated. The engine assembly 10 may include an engine structure 12, a camshaft assembly 14, a valve actuation assembly 16 and valves 18. The camshaft assembly 14 (FIG. 2) has been removed from the engine structure in FIG. 1 in order to better illustrate the valve actuation assembly 16. In the present non-limiting example, the engine assembly 10 is shown as an overhead camshaft engine. However, the present disclosure is not limited to overhead camshaft arrangements and applies equally to cam-in-block arrangements where a single camshaft includes both intake and exhaust lobes. It is further understood that the present disclosure applies equally to intake and exhaust valve actuation assemblies.
The engine structure 12 may include a cylinder head rotationally supporting the camshaft assembly 14 and supporting the valve actuation assembly 16 and valves 18. The camshaft assembly 14 may include a camshaft 20 and a cam phaser assembly 22. The camshaft 20 may form a concentric camshaft including first and second shafts 24, 26 and first and second sets of lobes 28, 30. The second shaft 26 may be coaxial with and rotatable relative to the first shaft 24. More specifically, the second shaft 26 may be rotationally supported within the first shaft 24.
The first set of lobes 28 may be fixed for rotation with the first shaft 24 and the second set of lobes 30 may be rotatable relative to the first shaft 24 and fixed for rotation with the second shaft 26. In the present non-limiting example, the first and second sets of lobes 28, 30 are illustrated as either all intake lobes or all exhaust lobes. However, as indicated above, the present disclosure is not limited to such arrangements and applies equally to configurations where the lobes form both intake and exhaust lobes.
The cam phaser assembly 22 may be coupled to the camshaft 20 to rotate the first and second lobes 28, 30 relative to one another. However, the present disclosure is not limited to engines including cam phasers. It is further understood that the present disclosure is not limited to concentric camshaft arrangements and applies equally to camshafts where the first and second lobes 28, 30 are rotationally fixed relative to one another.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the valve actuation assembly 16 may include a valve lift assembly 32 and an actuation assembly 34. The valve lift assembly 32 may include a shaft 36 mounted to the engine structure 12, rocker arms 38 rotationally supported on the shaft 36, and a locking assembly 40 located within the rocker arms 38. The shaft 36 may define a longitudinal bore 42 and arcuate slots 44 extending radially through an outer circumferential surface into the bore 42.
With additional reference to FIGS. 4-6, the rocker arms 38 may each include first, second, and third arms 46, 48, 50. The second arm 48 may be located axially between the first and third arms 46, 50. The first and third arms 46, 50 may be engaged with the first lobes 28 of the camshaft 20 and the second arms 48 may be engaged with the second lobes 30 of the camshaft 20. The first, second, and third arms 46, 48, 50 may include mounting bores 52, 54, 56, respectively, at first ends thereof and the first and third arms 46, 50 may include valve engagement regions 58, 60, respectively, at second ends thereof. The shaft 36 may extend through the mounting bores 52, 54, 56 and rotationally support the rocker arm 38 thereon. While illustrated as including three arms, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to such arrangements. By way of non-limiting example, the present disclosure applies equally to arrangements having two arms.
Additionally, the first arm 46 may define a first longitudinal bore 62, the second arm 48 may define a second longitudinal bore 64, and the third arm 50 may define a third longitudinal bore 66. The shaft 36, mounting bores 52, 54, 56 and first, second, and third longitudinal bores 62, 64, 66 may be parallel to the rotational axis of the camshaft 20. The locking assembly 40 may be located in the first, second and third longitudinal bores 62, 64, 66. The locking assembly 40 may include an actuation pin 68, first and second lock pins 70, 72, and a biasing member 74. The actuation pin 68 may extend through a radial passage 76 in the rocker arm 38. In the present non-limiting example, the radial passage 76 is defined in the first arm 46 and extends into the first longitudinal bore 62 and the actuation pin 68 extends perpendicular to the first lock pin 70. The radial passage 76 may be aligned with a corresponding slot 44 in the shaft 36.
The first lock pin 70 may be located between and engaged with the actuation pin 68 and the second lock pin 72. In the present non-limiting example, the actuation pin 68 includes a first ramped (angled) surface 78 engaged with a second ramped (angled) surface 80 on a first end of the first lock pin 70 to translate radial displacement of the actuation pin 68 into axial displacement of the first lock pin 70. The second lock pin 72 may be located between the first lock pin 70 and the biasing member 74. More specifically, a first end of the second lock pin 72 may be engaged with the first lock pin 70 and a second end of the second lock pin 72 may be engaged with the biasing member 74.
In the present non-limiting example, the biasing member 74 is illustrated as a compression spring. However, it is understood that the biasing member 74 is not limited to such arrangements. The biasing member 74 may be engaged with a longitudinal stop (or end wall) 82 in the rocker arm 38 and may urge the first and second lock pins axially toward the actuation pin 68, biasing the actuation pin 68 radially inward and into the bore 42 of the shaft 36 through the slot 44.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the actuation assembly 34 may include an actuator 84, an actuation rod 86, actuation members 88, first and second stop members 90, 92 and biasing members 94. The actuator 84 may be engaged with the actuation rod 86 and may provide linear displacement of the actuation rod 86. In the present non-limiting example, the actuator 84 is an electric motor. The use of an electric motor may provide a more robust system that is insensitive to oil pressure fluctuations (i.e., at start-up/shutdown conditions or hot/cold operating temperatures). However, the present disclosure is not limited to such arrangements and applies equally to any actuator capable of providing linear displacement of the actuation rod 86. The actuation members 88, first and second stop members 90, 92 and biasing members 94 may be similar along the actuation rod 86. Therefore, a single actuation member 88, first stop member 90, second stop member 92 and biasing member 94 will be described.
With reference to FIGS. 4-6, the actuation member 88 and biasing member 94 may be located on the actuation rod 86 between the first and second stop members 90, 92. The first and second stop members 90, 92 may be axially fixed to the actuation rod 86. The actuation member 88 may be slidably disposed on the actuation rod 86 between the first and second stop members 90, 92. The biasing member 94 may be located between and engaged with the actuation member 88 and the second stop member 92 and may urge the actuation member 88 toward the first stop member 90. The actuation member 88 may include a ramped (angled) surface 96 expanding radially outward along its axial extent in a direction from the first stop member 90 to the second stop member 92.
During operation, the rocker arms 38 may be switched between first and second lift modes by the actuation assembly 34. The first lift mode may provide a first valve opening and the second mode may provide a second valve opening that is different than the first valve opening. In the present non-limiting example, the first lobes 28 may displace the first and third arms 46, 50 relative to the second arm 48 during the first lift mode and the second lobes 30 may displace the first, second and third arms 46, 48, 50 with one another during the second lift mode. The default (initial) lift mode may be varied by changing the starting location of the actuation rod 92.
Linear displacement of the actuation rod 86 may switch the rocker arms 38 between first and second lift modes. The first lift mode is illustrated in FIG. 4 and the second lift mode is illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 5 illustrates a transition between the first and second lift modes. As seen in FIG. 4, the actuation pin 68, the first lock pin 70 and the second lock pin 72 may be in a first lock position during the first lift mode. In the first lock position, the end of the first lock pin 70 engaged with the second lock pin 72 may be located outside of the second longitudinal bore 64 and the end of the second lock pin 72 engaged with the biasing member 74 may be located outside of the third longitudinal bore 66 to provide relative rotation between the first, second and third arms 46, 48, 50.
As seen in FIG. 6, the actuation pin 68, the first lock pin 70 and the second lock pin 72 may be in a second lock position during the second lift mode. In the second lock position, the first lock pin 70 may be located in both the first and second longitudinal bores 62, 64 and the second lock pin 72 may be located in both the second and third longitudinal bores 64, 66 to fix the first, second and third arms 46, 48, 50 for rotation with one another. More specifically, the end of the first lock pin 70 engaged with the second lock pin 72 may be located within the second longitudinal bore 64 and the end of the second lock pin 72 engaged with the biasing member 74 may be located within the third longitudinal bore 66 when in the second lock position.
The actuation pin 68 may be located radially outward relative to the first lock position when in the second lock position. The outward radial displacement of the actuation pin 68 may displace the first and second lock pins 70, 72 axially against the force of the biasing member 74 to switch from the first lift mode to the second lift mode. The actuation pin 68 may be displaced by the actuation member 88. The actuation rod 86 may be displaced from a first actuation position to a second actuation position to displace the locking assembly 40 from the first lock position to the second lock position.
In the first actuation position, seen in FIG. 4, the actuation pin 68 may be engaged with a first region of the actuation member 88. In the second actuation position, seen in FIG. 6, the actuation rod 86 may be linearly displaced relative to the first actuation position, displacing the actuation member 88 relative to the actuation pin 68 and providing engagement between the actuation pin 68 and a second region of the actuation member 88. The second region may have a greater radial extent than the first region. As a result, the actuation member 88 may displace the actuation pin 68 radially outward as the actuation pin 68 travels along the ramped surface 96 from the first region to the second region. The outward radial displacement of the actuation pin 68 displaces the first and second lock pins 70, 72 against the force of the biasing member 74 and into the second lock position.
As seen in FIG. 5, the actuation assembly 34 may provide a transition between the first and second actuation positions when the rocker arm 38 is in the second lift mode and the first and third arms 46, 50 are displaced relative to the second arm 48. When first and third arms 46, 50 are displaced relative to the second arm 48, the first and third longitudinal bores 62, 66 may not be aligned with the second longitudinal bore 64 due to an engagement with a peak region of the first lobes 28, preventing axial displacement of the first lock pin 70 into the second longitudinal bore 64 and displacement of the second lock pin 72 into the third longitudinal bore 66. When the actuation rod 86 is displaced to the second actuation position during the misalignment condition discussed above, the actuation member 88 may remain in the first actuation position.
The displacement of the action rod 86 displaces the first and second stop members 90, 92, compressing the biasing member 94 and urging the actuation member 88 outward against the actuation pin 68. When the first, second and third longitudinal bores 62, 64, 66 are aligned again (i.e., when the first and third arms 46, 50 are engaged with a base circle region of the first lobes 28), the actuation member 88 is displaced by the biasing member 94 and forces the actuation pin 68 radially outward, displacing the first and second lock pins 70, 72 to the second lock position.
The valve actuation assembly 16 may be assembled using the tool 100 illustrated in FIGS. 7-9. The tool 100 may define a rocker arm housing 102 receiving the rocker arm 38 and a coupling mechanism 104. The rocker arm 38 may contain the locking assembly 40 before being located in the rocker arm housing 102. The rocker arm 38 may be secured to the tool 100 via an engagement between the locking assembly 40 and the coupling mechanism 104 of the tool 100 (FIG. 8).
The locking assembly 40 may be in the second lock position when the rocker arm 38 is in the rocker arm housing 102, fixing the first, second and third arms 46, 48, 50 relative to one another. In the present non-limiting example, the rocker arm 38 may define an additional radial passage 106 opposite the radial passage 76. When the locking assembly 40 is in the second lock position, the actuation pin 68 may extend through the radial passage 106.
The end of the actuation pin 68 extending through the radial passage 106 may define a first detent 108. The coupling mechanism 104 of the tool 100 may form a lever having a first end 110 defining an actuation member and a second end 112 defining a second detent 114. The first and second detents 108, 114 may be engaged with one another to retain the rocker arm within the rocker arm housing 102 and maintain the locking assembly 40 in the second lock position. A similar tool 100 may be used for each of the rocker arms 38.
During assembly, the tools 100 and rocker arms 38 may be positioned relative to the engine structure 12 to provide alignment between bores 116, 118 in the engine structure 12 and the mounting bores 52, 54, 56 of the rocker arms 38. The shaft 42 may then be inserted into the bores 116, 118 in the engine structure 12 and the mounting bores 52, 54, 56 of the rocker arms 38. The actuation assembly 34 may be located within the shaft bore 42 before or after installation of the shaft 36.
After the shaft 36 is inserted into the bores 116, 118 in the engine structure 12 and the mounting bores 52, 54, 56 of the rocker arms 38, the coupling mechanism 104 may be disengaged from the actuation pin 68. In the present non-limiting example, the first end 110 of the lever may be displaced to provide disengagement between the first and second detents 108, 114 and release the actuation pin 68. The tool 100 may then be removed from the rocker arm 38.
The terms “first”, “second”, etc. are used throughout the description for clarity only and are not intended to limit similar terms in the claims.

## Claims

1. An engine valve actuation assembly comprising:
a shaft adapted to be coupled to an engine structure and defining a shaft bore;
a rocker arm rotationally supported on an outer surface of the shaft and including:
a first arm adapted to engage a first lobe of a camshaft and a first engine valve and defining a first longitudinal bore; and
a second arm adjacent the first arm, adapted to engage a second lobe of the camshaft and defining a second longitudinal bore;

a locking assembly including a first lock pin located within the first longitudinal bore, an actuation pin extending through a radial passage in the rocker arm and engaged with the first lock pin, and a first biasing member engaged with the first lock pin and urging the first lock pin toward the actuation pin and biasing the actuation pin radially inward; and
an actuation assembly located in the shaft bore and including an actuation member supported on an actuation rod, engaged with the actuation pin and linearly displaceable between first and second actuation positions, the first and second arms being rotatable relative to one another when the actuation member is in the first actuation position and being fixed for rotation with one another by the first lock pin when the actuation member is in the second actuation position.

2. The valve actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the first lock pin is located within the first and second longitudinal bores when the actuation member is in the second actuation position to fix the first and second arms for rotation with one another.

3. The valve actuation assembly of claim 2, wherein the rocker arm includes a third arm adapted to engage a third cam lobe on the camshaft and a second engine valve and defining a third longitudinal bore, the first biasing member being located in the third longitudinal bore and the locking assembly including a second lock pin located within the second and third longitudinal bores and fixing the second and third arms for rotation with one another when the actuation member is in the second actuation position.

4. The valve actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking assembly is displaceable between first and second lock positions by the actuation assembly, the first biasing member displacing the actuation pin to the first lock position when the actuation member is in the first actuation position and the actuation member forcing the actuation pin to the second lock position when the actuation member is in the second actuation position, the actuation pin being located radially outward when in the second lock position relative to the first lock position.

5. The valve actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuation member is slidably disposed on the actuation rod.

6. The valve actuation assembly of claim 5, wherein the actuation assembly includes first and second stop members fixed for axial displacement with the rod on opposite ends of the actuation member and a biasing member located axially between the first and second stop members and engaged with the actuation member.

7. The valve actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuation pin is perpendicular to the first lock pin.

8. The valve actuation assembly of claim 7, wherein the actuation pin and the first lock pin include angled surfaces abutting one another and providing axial displacement of the first lock pin via radial displacement of the actuation pin.

9. The valve actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft bore and the first and second longitudinal bores are parallel to a rotational axis of the camshaft.

10. An engine assembly comprising:
an engine structure;
a camshaft rotationally supported on the engine structure, defining a longitudinally extending rotational axis and including first and second lobes;
a shaft fixed to the engine structure and defining a shaft bore;
a rocker arm rotationally supported on an outer surface of the shaft and including:
a first arm engaged with the first lobe of the camshaft and a first engine valve and defining a first longitudinal bore; and
a second arm adjacent the first arm, engaged with the second lobe of the camshaft and defining a second longitudinal bore;

a locking assembly including a first lock pin located within the first longitudinal bore, an actuation pin extending through a radial passage in the rocker arm and engaged with the first lock pin, and a first biasing member engaged with the first lock pin and urging the first lock pin toward the actuation pin and biasing the actuation pin radially inward; and
an actuation assembly located in the shaft bore and including an actuation member supported on an actuation rod, engaged with the actuation pin and linearly displaceable between first and second actuation positions, the first and second arms being rotatable relative to one another when the actuation member is in the first actuation position and being fixed for rotation with one another by the first lock pin when the actuation member is in the second actuation position.

11. The engine assembly of claim 10, wherein the first lock pin is located within the first and second longitudinal bores when the actuation member is in the second actuation position to fix the first and second arms for rotation with one another.

12. The engine assembly of claim 10, wherein the locking assembly is displaceable between first and second lock positions by the actuation assembly, the first biasing member displacing the actuation pin to the first lock position when the actuation member is in the first actuation position, and the actuation member forcing the actuation pin to the second lock position when the actuation member is in the second actuation position, the actuation pin being located radially outward when in the second lock position relative to the first lock position.

13. The engine assembly of claim 10, wherein the actuation member is slidably disposed on the actuation rod.

14. The engine assembly of claim 13, wherein the actuation assembly includes first and second stop members fixed for axial displacement with the rod on opposite ends of the actuation member and a biasing member located axially between the first and second stop members and engaged with the actuation member.

15. The engine assembly of claim 10, wherein the actuation pin is perpendicular to the first lock pin.

16. The engine assembly of claim 15, wherein the actuation pin and the first lock pin include angled surfaces abutting one another and providing axial displacement of the first lock pin via radial displacement of the actuation pin.

17. The engine assembly of claim 10, wherein the shaft bore and the first and second longitudinal bores are parallel to a rotational axis of the camshaft.

18. An engine assembly comprising:
an engine structure;
a camshaft rotationally supported on the engine structure, defining a longitudinally extending rotational axis and including first and second lobes;
a shaft fixed to the engine structure and defining a shaft bore;
a rocker arm rotationally supported on an outer surface of the shaft and including:
a first arm engaged with the first lobe of the camshaft and a first engine valve and defining a first longitudinal bore;
a second arm engaged with the second lobe of the camshaft and defining a second longitudinal bore; and
a third arm engaged with a third cam lobe on the camshaft and a second engine valve and defining a third longitudinal bore, the second arm located between the first and third arms;

a locking assembly including a first lock pin located within the first longitudinal bore, a second lock pin located in the second longitudinal bore, an actuation pin extending through a radial passage in the rocker arm and engaged with the first lock pin, and a first biasing member located in the third longitudinal bore, the first biasing member engaged with the first lock pin and urging the first lock pin toward the actuation pin and biasing the actuation pin radially inward; and
an actuation assembly located in the shaft bore and including an actuation member supported on an actuation rod, engaged with the actuation pin and linearly displaceable between first and second actuation positions, the first and third arms being rotatable relative to the second arm when the actuation member is in the first actuation position, the first lock pin being located within the first and second longitudinal bores and the second lock pin being located within the second and third longitudinal bores when the actuation member is in the second actuation position to fix the first, second and third arms for rotation with one another.