Actuation Transmission Apparatus for Switchable Valve Train
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transmission of actuation force to a latch pin in switchable engine or valve train components is challenging due to packaging constraints and engine conditions, often preventing immediate actuation.
Innovation Solution
An actuation transmission apparatus with a rotatable shaft, a contacting element, and a biasing means, such as a coil spring, that biases the contacting element rotationally to actuate the latching arrangement when the latch pin becomes actuatable again, ensuring timely unlatching and latching of switchable valve train components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a moveable latch pin is used to switch between two modes of operation, then the valve train component can provide multiple operational modes, but the transmission of actuation force becomes difficult due to packaging constraints and functional requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The latch pin is received within the rocker arm body, with the latch pin groove and associated features nested into the existing rocker arm structure. This integration allows the latching mechanism to provide multiple operational modes while minimizing additional packaging space requirements and reducing the complexity of force transmission pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The contacting element acts as an intermediary between the actuation source and the latch pin. It translates rotational motion from the actuation source into linear motion that actuates the latch pin, simplifying the force transmission mechanism while enabling mode switching.
2Reliability
If actuation is delayed due to engine conditions, then the system can respond to appropriate conditions, but immediate actuation is prevented when the latch pin should be released
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing means (spring) is pre-loaded to store energy that will automatically actuate the latch pin when conditions permit. This preliminary action ensures that as soon as the actuation condition is met, the latch pin is immediately released without delay, while still maintaining reliable condition-based actuation control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static latched state to a dynamic state where the biasing means can automatically actuate the latch pin. The contacting element rotates relative to the shaft, enabling the stored energy to be released and the latch pin to be actuated dynamically when conditions allow.
3Speed
If the contacting element is directly actuated by the shaft, then immediate response is achieved, but the system cannot store actuation energy for delayed release
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing means is pre-loaded during the actuation attempt, storing energy in advance. When the actuation condition is met, this stored energy is immediately released to actuate the latch pin, achieving both fast response and reliable energy storage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically transitions between energy storage and energy release states. The contacting element can rotate to store energy in the biasing means, then quickly release that energy to actuate the latch pin when conditions permit, combining speed and reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables immediate actuation of the latching arrangement when possible, simplifying packaging and installation while ensuring that actuation occurs as soon as engine conditions allow, reducing the complexity and number of components in the actuation system.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing means to bias the contacting element rotationally with respect to the shaft; wherein, in use, the biasing means becomes biased by the shaft when the actuation source rotates the shaft
Implementation Method 2
the biasing means becomes biased by the shaft when the actuation source rotates the shaft when the actuation source attempts to actuate the latching arrangement... whereby the biasing means causes the contacting element to actuate the latching arrangement
Data Source
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AI summary
An actuation transmission (1) apparatus for actuating a latching arrangement (15) for latching and unlatching a first body (4) and a second body (6) of a switchable valve train component (2) of an internal combustion engine comprises: a shaft (10) rotatable by an actuation source (3); a contacting element (12) for contacting the latching arrangement (15); and a biasing means (14) to bias the contacting element (12) rotationally with respect to the shaft (10). The biasing means (14) becomes biased by the shaft (10) when the actuation source (3) rotates the shaft (10) when the actuation source (3) attempts to actuate the latching arrangement (15) to an unlatched position, via the contacting element (12), when the latching arrangement (15) is in an un-actuatable state. The biasing means (14) causes the contacting element (12) to actuate the latching arrangement (15) to the unlatched position when the latch arrangement becomes actuatable again.