Valve Bridge Spline Bushing for Selective Valve Deactivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve train systems in internal combustion engines face challenges in efficiently deactivating valves to manage variable valve lift strategies, particularly in transferring rotational motion to linear motion for valve operation.
Innovation Solution
A valve bridge assembly with a receiving body and piston body that can rotate between aligned and misaligned positions, utilizing an actuator to selectively transfer force to the valve stem, allowing for valve deactivation and activation through a spline bushing mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a valve bridge assembly is designed to enable valve deactivation and dual lift strategies, then engine performance and efficiency are enhanced, but the device complexity increases due to multiple movable components (receiving body, piston body, actuator)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the receiving body and piston body into a single valve bridge assembly that works cooperatively to achieve multiple functions (valve activation, deactivation, and dual lift strategies). The actuator merges rotational and axial movement capabilities into one component, reducing the need for separate mechanisms for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve bridge assembly is designed as a multi-functional device that can perform valve activation, valve deactivation, and dual lift strategies through the coordinated movement of the receiving body and piston body. The actuator provides both rotational positioning and axial displacement capabilities, making the assembly universal for various valve control strategies.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the receiving body is made movable between aligned and misaligned positions to enable valve deactivation, then valve control flexibility is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator serves as an intermediary mechanism that controls the positioning of the receiving body between aligned and misaligned positions. By using the actuator as a mediator, the system achieves precise control without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances on the receiving body itself, as the actuator compensates for and fine-tunes the positioning.
3Force
If the piston body is designed to move axially relative to the main body for force transmission, then force transfer efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve bridge assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the main body, the receiving body with key-receiver, and the piston body with key. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function (structural support, rotational positioning, axial force transmission) efficiently while maintaining overall system manageability despite the increased number of parts.
Data Source
AI summary
A valve bridge assembly for an engine includes a main body configured to engage a distal end of at least one valve stem. A receiving body is movably disposed within a cavity of the main body between a first position and a second position. The receiving body includes at least one key-receiver. A piston body is movably attached to the main body and includes a key configured to be received into the key-receiver of the receiving body. When the receiving body is in the first position. the key-receiver feature and key are misaligned and a force applied to the piston body is transmitted to the at least one valve stem via the receiving body and the main body. When the receiving body is in the second position, the key-receiver and the key are aligned and a force applied to the piston body causes the piston body to be displaced relative to the main body.