초록 ▼

An internal combustion engine lost motion valve actuation system is disclosed. The system includes a variable length connection means connecting a force imparting means and an engine valve. The connection means may assume plural lengths to provide plural amounts of lost motion. The connection means

An internal combustion engine lost motion valve actuation system is disclosed. The system includes a variable length connection means connecting a force imparting means and an engine valve. The connection means may assume plural lengths to provide plural amounts of lost motion. The connection means may provide a maximum amount of lost motion which provides some minimum level of valve actuation suitable for a limp home operation of the engine. The connection means is operable for both engine positive power and engine braking modes of operation.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An internal combustion engine lost motion valve actuation system, comprising:a variable length connection means for transmitting a valve actuation force from a force source to a valve, said connection means having an internal hydraulic fluid chamber of variable volume and

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An internal combustion engine lost motion valve actuation system, comprising:a variable length connection means for transmitting a valve actuation force from a force source to a valve, said connection means having an internal hydraulic fluid chamber of variable volume and being adapted to assume a predetermined minimum length for providing at least one minimum valve opening event which is greater than zero; anda control means for controlling the length of the variable length connection means, said control means being adapted to vary the length of the connection means one or more times per cycle of said engine by selectively blocking and unblocking a hydraulic fluid drain in communication with said chamber independent of the position of the force source. [31.] An internal combustion engine comprising:a valve train including a hydraulic linkage operably coupled between an engine cylinder valve and an engine cam, said valve train and hydraulic linkage being provided to transmit a force for opening the valve from one or more lobes on said cam to the valve; anda hydraulic linkage control for selectively controlling the length of said hydraulic linkage to selectively modify the openings of said valve in response to a force transmitted from said cam lobes, said hydraulic linkage control being carried out independent of the position of the engine camwherein said hydraulic linkage comprises a master piston and a slave piston, each of which are slidably disposed in the hydraulic linkage relative to each other such that the hydraulic linkage may selectively assume plural lengths, andwherein said engine cylinder valve is an exhaust valve and said lobes include one or more of the group consisting of an exhaust lobe, a compression release lobe and an exhaust gas recirculation lobe, and wherein said hydraulic linkage control is responsive to whether said engine is in a positive power mode of operation or a compression release engine braking mode of operation by controlling the length of the hydraulic linkage so that the exhaust valve opens in response to one or more of the group consisting of said compression release lobe and said exhaust gas recirculation lobe only when said engine is in said compression release engine braking mode.