Braking diesel engines

Claim 1

In an apparatus for controlling the braking action of a diesel engine having a plurality of combustion chambers in which pressurized air is supplied tto the combustion chambers from a source of pressurized air during the compression stroke of the engine through valve means provided in the combustion chambers, each valve means having at least one conduit providing fluid communication between the source of pressurized air for introducing pressurized air to and discharging air from the valve means when in an open position, which valve means is opened by pressurized air supplied through a second conduit to a piston forming part of said valve means and slideably positioned in a cylinder located external to the combustion chamber, the improvement comprising: a means for controlling the introduction of pressurized air to and discharge of air from the piston and cylinder, including an electro-magnetic valve placed intermediate the source of pressurized air and the cylinder, which electro-magnetic valve is adapted to be slideably moved between an open position in which air is introduced to the cylinder and a closed position in which air is discharged from the cylinder; and a means for producing an electrical signal and actuating said electro-magnetic valve including an electrical transmitter electrically connected to said electro-magnetic valve, said transmitter being operatively associated with a means for transmitting rotational motion of the engine to the transmitter, such that the electro-magnetic valve is briefly opened at approximately the commencement and conclusion of the compression stroke.