US4777914A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Valve operating apparatus for an internal combustion engine
Assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1987-08-27
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Granted: 1988-10-18
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Expires: 2007-08-27
Abstract
Abstract Valve operating apparatus is disclosed in which the valves are operated by rocker arms driven by cams having different cam profiles and hydraulically operated coupling mechanisms for selectively connecting or disconnecting adjacent rocker arms to vary the operation of the valves under different engine operating conditions. The coupling mechanisms are operated by fluid supplied through the rocker shaft mounting the rocker arms. The rocker shaft is divided into independent fluid supply passages whereby the couplings can be suppplied independently with operating fluid in order to expand the number of available valve operating control modes. Variations are described in which operating fluid can be independently supplied to various ancillary hydraulically-operated equipment, as well as to the selective coupling mechanisms.
Inventors
- 👤 Tsuneo Konno
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:35
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01L; F01L1/00; F01L1/20; F01L1/22; F01L1/24; F01L1/2411; F01L1/26; F01L1/267; F01M; F01M9/00; F01M9/10; F02; F02D; F02D13/00; F02D13/02; F02D13/06; F01L13/00; F01L13/0015; F01L13/0036; F01M11/00; F01M11/02; F01M9/104; F01M9/107; F01M9/108; F02F; F02F1/00; F02F1/24; F02F1/42; F02F1/4214; F02F2001/244; F02F2001/247; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
For use in an internal combustion engine having a cylinder, intake and exhaust valves operable in said cylinder, selective valve operating means, comprising: a plurality of pivotally mounted rocker arms, including at least one driver rocker arm having an end operably connecting said valves and a free rocker arm selectively connectable with an adjacent driver rocker arm; a camshaft rotatably driven by said engine; a plurality of cams mounted for rotation on said engine, each said cam engaging a follower surface on each said rocker arm; hydraulically operated, selectively actuable coupling means carried by respective of said rocker arms for selectively connecting or disconnecting adjacent rocker arms; fluid passages in said rocker arms for supplying operating fluid to said coupling means; and means for supplying operating fluid independently to each said fluid passage, including: a rocker shaft having an axial opening mounting said rocker arms for pivotal movement; partition means in said rocker shaft opening defining a plurality of independent fluid supply lines; and means for independently connecting respective of said fluid supply lines to respective of said rocker arm passages.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
For use in an internal combustion engine having a cylinder, intake and exhaust valves operable in said cylinder, selective valve operating means, comprising: a plurality of pivotally mounted rocker arms, including at least one driver rocker arm having an end operably connecting said valves and a free rocker arm selectively connectable with an adjacent driver rocker arm; a camshaft rotatably driven by said engine; a plurality of cams mounted for rotation on said engine, each said cam engaging a follower surface on each said rocker arm; hydraulically operated, selectively actuable coupling means carried by respective of said rocker arms for selectively connecting or disconnecting adjacent rocker arms; fluid passages in said rocker arms for supplying operating fluid to said coupling means; and means for supplying operating fluid independently to each said fluid passage, including: a rocker shaft having an axial opening mounting said rocker arms for pivotal movement; partition means in said rocker shaft opening defining a plurality of independent fluid supply lines; and means for independently connecting respective of said fluid supply lines to respective of said rocker arm passages.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including a hydraulic lash adjuster operably connecting each said driver rocker arm to the associated valve; fluid supply passages through said driver rocker arms connecting with said lash adjusters; and means for connecting one said rocker shaft fluid supply line to said rocker arm lash adjuster fluid supply passages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including lubricating fluid supply passages in said rocker arms for conducting lubricating oil to said follower surface thereon; and means for connecting said lubricating fluid supply passages to one of said rocker shaft fluid supply lines.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said rocker arms include a free rocker arm interposed between a pair of driver rocker arms, said coupling means including independent couplers for selectively connecting said free rocker arm to each adjacent driver rocker arm, and means for independently connecting the fluid passages in said rocker arms between respective of said rocker shaft supply lines and each said coupler.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 in which said coupling means comprises a pair of couplers oppositely disposed in said free rocker arm for selective connection with an adjacent driver rocker arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 in which said coupling means comprises a coupler in each said driver rocker arm for selective connection with said free rocker arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 in which said rocker arms include a free rocker arm interposed between a pair of driver rocker arms; said coupling means including separate couplers for selectively connecting said free rocker arm to the adjacent driver rocker arm; said rocker arm fluid passage including first passages connecting with said couplers and second passages connecting with said lash adjusters; and means for connecting said first and second passages to respective of said rocker shaft supply lines.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 including a driver rocker arm having a bifurcate body operably connecting a pair of valves; a lash adjuster on each segment of said body; and said fluid supply passage through said driver rocker arm being coextensive with said segments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 in which said rocker shaft is disposed between said rocker arm end and said follower surface; said coupling means being disposed adjacent said follower surface; said coupling means fluid supply passages and said lash adjuster fluid supply passages extending oppositely from said rocker shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including a rocker arm having a rocker base fixed to said rocker shaft; an annular groove in said rocker base communicating with said rocker arm passage; and means for communicating said annular groove with one of said rocker shaft fluid supply lines.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus according to claim 10 in which said rocker shaft is disposed between said rocker arm end and said follower surface; said coupling means disposed adjacent said rocker arm end; said coupling means fluid supply passages and said lash adjuster fluid supply passages being arranged to connect one with said rocker shaft and one with said annular groove.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 in which said coupling means comprises guide holes in adjacent rocker arms having registrable openings; a movable piston carried by one of said guide holes for extension into the opening in the adjacent guide hole; said coupling means fluid supply passage communicating with said one guide hole at the end remote from said opening; an annular groove in the wall of said one guide hole adjacent the opening therein; and said lash adjuster fluid supply passage intersecting said annular groove.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which said rocker shaft fluid supply lines conduct fluids at different pressures.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
44 words
The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12 in which each of said cams has a cam profile defining a different mode of valve operation and said coupling means being selectively actuable in accordance with a desired mode of valve operation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 14 in which at least one of said cams has a circular profile.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-18 | 1992-04-18 | 1992-10-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-18 | 1996-04-18 | 1996-10-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-18 | 2000-04-18 | 2000-10-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |