JP2978564B2 - Valve actuator - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to a valve operating device for an internal combustion engine.

BACKGROUND ART It is well known that the use of a large number of valves for each combustion chamber increases the specific output of an internal combustion engine. For this reason, especially in high performance engines, it has become common to have multiple valves operatively associated with a common combustion chamber. In order to reduce the weight, cost and parts count of the resulting valve mechanism, methods and apparatus for operating two or more valves simultaneously have been described in several prior art documents.

One prior art document discloses a four-valve configuration in which two out of four valves are operated simultaneously by a single rocker arm and the remaining two valves are operated by two independent conventional rocker arms. I have. A single rocker arm for actuating two valves simultaneously has a Y-shaped body, both ends of which are fitted to the ends of two valve stems. Thus, the actuation force is applied directly to the valve. By employing this configuration, three rocker arms are used to operate the four valves operatively associated with the common combustion chamber. Normally, four independent rocker arms would be used to operate the four valves.

Similarly, another prior art device employs a bridge mechanism to operate two valves of an internal combustion engine simultaneously. The bridge mechanism is guided at the center of force between the two valves and is moved by a rocker arm. The contact of the rocker arm to the bridge is located on an extension of the guide means of the bridge.

In order to further reduce the number of rocker arms, a conventional device with five valves operatively associated with a common combustion chamber operates three valves simultaneously with a single rocker arm and another rocker arm with another rocker arm. The remaining two valves are activated. The rocker arm has fingers that hit the valve stem, and each of the five fingers requires an adjustment device to position the valve.

From the prior art described above, the simultaneous actuation of a number of valves operatively associated with a common combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine requires the use of a regulating device for each valve, or an arrangement other than one valve per bridge. Obviously, it is necessary to use a bridge with a guiding mechanism and a regulating device for all valves.

The present invention minimizes the use of valve regulators and avoids the use of a bridge guide mechanism in a simplified apparatus for simultaneously operating multiple valves operatively associated with a common combustion chamber.

The present invention further achieves simultaneous operation of multiple valves in a device that is more reliable and assemblable than conventional devices at about the same cost.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a valve actuation device for an internal combustion engine. The valve actuating device has a valve device having at least three valves operatively associated with a common combustion chamber. Each valve has a rod portion that supports the valve for reciprocating movement along an axis. A free-floating bridge is installed to ride on the three valve stems. The valve actuating device has, in part, means for applying a force to the free-floating bridge at a point of contact that can activate the valve simultaneously.

The disadvantage of the conventional device is that while simultaneous operation of many valves is achieved, many parts such as valve regulators, rocker arms,
And a bridge guide mechanism is required. The number of components required in conventional devices increases the weight of the valve device. The present invention simultaneously activates three valves operatively associated with a common combustion chamber by using a free floating bridge located at the end of the valve stem. The present invention minimizes the use of adjusting devices and avoids the use of bridge guide mechanisms altogether. The present invention operates three valves simultaneously in a manner that improves assembly and reliability at approximately the same cost as conventional devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 2 showing a valve device for an internal combustion engine including an embodiment of the present invention.

 FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a line 3 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial plan view of the portion shown in FIG. 3, showing the setting of a contact point in the present invention.

5 to 7 show various arrangements of valve devices,
FIG. 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2 show a valve operating device 10 for an internal combustion engine having a valve device 12. The valve device 12 includes a common combustion chamber 22
A fuel injection nozzle having three intake valves 14, 15, 16 operatively associated with one, one exhaust valve 17, and rocker arm 21
Has 20. The combustion chamber 22 is mounted in a conventional manner on a cylinder block 25 and is formed in part by a piston 26 reciprocating along an axis 28. Valves 14,15,
16 and 17 are attached to the cylinder head 29 in the usual manner. A shaft 30 having a longitudinal axis 32 is mounted on the cylinder head 29 in a suitable manner. A movable rocker arm 34 pivotally mounted on the shaft 30 and having two spaced fingers 36, 37 is used to control the intake valves 14, 15, 16 by a conventional camshaft or any suitable actuation method. Open and close. To connect the two fingers 36,37,
A strap 38 is used below or at any suitable location parallel to, but offset from, the axis 30. axis
Another movable rocker arm 39 pivotally mounted on 30 also opens and closes the exhaust valve 17 by a conventional camshaft or any suitable actuation method.

Each valve 14,15,16,17 is respectively provided with a rod portion 40,40 supported in a reciprocable manner in the cylinder head 29 in the usual manner, for example by a valve guide mechanism (one of which is indicated by reference numeral 44). 41,42,43. Valves 14, 15, 16, 17 are adapted to reciprocate along parallel, non-coplanar axes 46, 47, 48, 49 defined by rod portions 40, 41, 42, 43. I have. The valves 14,15,16,17 are movable between a first position where the valves are opened and a second position where the valves are closed.
Coil springs surrounding the valves 14, 15, 16, 17 (one of which is indicated by reference numeral 53) are provided with a cage (one of which is indicated by reference numeral 53).
55) to push the valves 14, 15, 16, 17 to the closed position. The rod portions 40,41,42,43 of each valve have valve ends 56,57,58,59. 3 and 4 show the rod portions of the intake valves 14, 15, and 16.
Three recesses 64,65, mounted to ride on 40,41,42
Shown is a bell crank shaped free floating bridge 62 having a 66 (eg, bore). When the valves 14, 15, 16 are in the second or open position, the valve ends 56, 57, 58 form a plane 68. The valve ends 56, 57, 58 of the intake valves 14, 15, 16 are arranged in a geometrical shape (for example, a triangle indicated by the imaginary line 71 in FIG. 4).
The geometry has a centroid 73 in a plane 68 set by a known formula. The mass of the free floating bridge 62 is the center of gravity
Has 75. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4,
The center of gravity 75 is located at a plane 68 at a centroid 73 of substantially geometrical shape.
On a straight line 77 (see FIG. 1).

The valve actuator 10 is provided with a pair of contacts 8 of a free floating bridge 62.
A force applying means 79 for applying a force to 1,83 to simultaneously operate the intake valves 14, 15, 16 is provided. The force applying means 79 includes the shaft 30 attached to the cylinder head 29 and the movable rocker arm 34. Two fingers 36,37 of movable rocker arm 34
Is pressed during operation to hit the free floating bridge 62. A pair of adjusting devices 85 and 86 for bringing the free floating bridge 62 into contact with the contacts 81 and 83 are releasably fastened to the fingers 36 and 37. And another plane through the centroid 73, parallel to the longitudinal axis 32 of the axis 30, and perpendicular to the plane 68 (see FIG. 3).
88 is defined. The contacts 81, 83 are located along this plane 88.

5 to 7 show some other embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that similar parts of a configuration similar to those of these embodiments are indicated using the same reference numbers of the first embodiment. The valve arrangements of these embodiments are shown in a slightly different arrangement. It should be understood that the principles and techniques of the first embodiment can be applied to any of these illustrated embodiments and various arrangements of valves.

The free floating bridge 62 shown in FIG. 5 prevents the contacts 81, 83 from interfering with the exhaust rocker arm 39, and
An additional pair of extensions 90 are made so that they can be placed on the free floating bridge 62 along the Recesses 64, 66 for receiving the ends of the rod portions 40, 42 are provided in the pair of extensions 90 for mounting the free floating bridge 62 on the rod portions 40, 42 of the intake valves 14, 16. Due to the space capacity, the rocker arm 39 for activating the exhaust valve 17 is U-shaped.

The free floating bridge 62 shown in FIG. 6 is made generally oval. Due to the aforementioned spatial constraints due to the position of the fuel injection nozzle 20 and the exhaust rocker arm 39, the contact points 83 are made outside the valve device 12.

The free floating bridge 62 shown in FIG. 7 is provided with an additional extension 92 for positioning the contact point 83.

In these embodiments, two contacts 81,83 are shown, but as shown in FIG. 4, a single contact 96 on the free floating bridge 62 is used to simultaneously open and close the intake valves 14,15,16. It should be noted that it is possible. The single contact 96 will strike the free floating bridge 62 at the centroid 73 of the geometry. It should also be noted that while the center of gravity 75 is preferably substantially at the centroid 73, the center of gravity 75 may be offset from the centroid 73.

Industrial Applicability The valve actuator 10 has the ability to open and close at least three valves 14, 15, 16 simultaneously. In use, movable rocker arm
34 is driven by a conventional camshaft or any suitable method of operation and pivots about axis 30. Then, the two fingers 36, 37 of the movable rocker arm 34 hit the free floating bridge 62 and apply a compressive force to the contacts 81, 83 via the two adjusting devices 85, 86.

Contacts 81,83 are set on free floating bridge 62 by a combination of geometric and structural relationships. The centroid 73 of the geometric shape is found by a known formula. Centroid 73
Is found, the contacts 81 and 83 are set using a plane 88 passing through the centroid 73 and parallel to the longitudinal axis 32 of the axis 30 and perpendicular to the plane 68. The contacts 81, 83 are arbitrarily selected anywhere along the plane 88. The free floating bridge 62 is made to fit in the location selected as the contacts 81,83. contact
Numerals 81 and 83 are shown on both sides of the centroid 73 at positions that do not interfere with the fuel injection nozzle 21 and the rocker arm 39 of the exhaust valve. Plane 88 is parallel to longitudinal axis 32 of axis 30 to ensure uniform operation of valves 14,15,16. Free floating bridge 62
Is supported by three points (not in line) defined by the valve ends 56, 57, 58 of the valves 14, 15, 16 so that the free floating bridge 62 is inherently static stable. Also valve end
56, 57, 58 form a surface 68 and the free floating bridge 62 is located along its plane, so that two fingers 36, 37 and the free floating bridge 62
And a predetermined working relationship can be established between them. Thus, the valves 14, 15, 16 no longer require individual valve regulators. Careful distribution of the mass of the free-floating bridge 62 such that the center of gravity of the free-floating bridge 62 is substantially at the centroid 73 of the geometrical shape provides dynamic stability.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the present invention provides an improved means of operating multiple valves simultaneously. The present invention employs a simple structure consisting of a free-floating bridge and a geometry determined by the axis of the valve end and rocker arm and the geometric relationship between the contacts on the free-floating bridge. The present invention minimizes the number of valve adjusters and avoids the use of bridge guides, while improving the assembly and reliability of the structure.

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-57-186009 (JP, A) JP-A-61-49114 (JP, A) JP-A-62-282211 (JP, A) JP-A-3-63704 (JP) U.S. Pat. No. 57-89804 (JP, U) JP-B 62-42134 (JP, B2) JP-B 1-31035 (JP, B2) JP-B 33-19902 (JP, Y1) U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,780 (US, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) F01L 1/26

Claims (14)

(57) [Claims] 1. Each valve (14, 15, 16) has an axis (46,
Valve for an internal combustion engine with a valve device (12) having at least three valves (14, 15, 16) having rod portions (40, 41, 42) reciprocating along (47, 48) An actuating device (10), comprising: a free-floating bridge (62) mounted to ride on the rod portion (40, 41, 42) of the valve (14, 15, 16); The free floating bridge (62) is actuated by a contact (96) that can actuate the valves (14, 15, 16) simultaneously to exert a force on the free floating bridge (62) for valve actuation. A valve actuating device (10), characterized in that it comprises means for applying force (79). 2. The rod section (40,40) of the valve (14,15,16).
A valve actuating device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the free-floating bridge (62) is provided with a plurality of recesses (64, 65, 66) for individually receiving the same. Ten). 3. The valve operating device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the recesses (64, 65, 66) are bores.
0). 4. The valve (14, 15, 16) is movable between a first position in which the valve is opened and a second position in which the valve is closed. Each of the rod portions (40, 41, 42) has a valve end (56, 57, 58), and the valve end (56, 57, 58) has a valve end (14, 15, 16). The valve actuating device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it forms a plane (68) when in two positions. 5. The valve end (56, 5) of the valve (14, 15, 16).
The valve actuating device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the (7, 58) are arranged in a geometrical shape having a centroid (73). 6. The valve actuating device (10) according to claim 5, wherein said geometric shape is a triangle. 7. The mass of the free-floating bridge (62) has a center of gravity (75), the center of gravity (75) being substantially at the centroid (73) of the geometric shape, and the plane ( Claim 5 characterized by being on a straight line (77) perpendicular to 68).
The valve actuating device (10) according to paragraph. 8. Each valve (14, 15, 16) has an axis (46,
Valve for an internal combustion engine with a valve device (12) having at least three valves (14, 15, 16) having rod portions (40, 41, 42) reciprocating along (47, 48) An actuating device (10), comprising: a free-floating bridge (62) mounted to ride on the rod portion (40, 41, 42) of the valve (14, 15, 16); Force applying means (79) which is moved to strike said free floating bridge (62) so as to actuate the valves (14, 15, 16) simultaneously to apply a force for valve operation to said free floating bridge (62). The force applying means (79) includes a shaft (30) attached to a cylinder head (29), and a single contact (81) pivotally mounted on the shaft (30). Free floating bridge (6
A valve actuating device (10) comprising a movable rocker arm (34) having a first finger (36) corresponding to 2). 9. The valve (14, 1) is provided with the force applying means (79).
5, 16) can be activated simultaneously with other contacts (8
9. The valve actuating device (10) according to claim 8, adapted to apply a force to (3). 10. The movable rocker arm (34) having a second finger (37) that strikes the free floating bridge (62) at the other contact (83). The described valve actuator (10). 11. The valve (14, 15, 16) is movable between a first position in which the valve is opened and a second position in which the valve is closed. Each of said rod portions (40, 41, 42) has a valve end (56, 57, 58) and said valve end
56, 57, 58) form a plane (68) when said valve (14, 15, 16) is in said second position, said valve (14, 15,
The valve ends (56, 57, 58) of 16) are arranged in a geometrical shape having a centroid (73) and pass through the centroid (73) to the longitudinal axis (32) of the axis (30). The valve actuating device (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that another plane (88) which is parallel and perpendicular to said plane (68) is defined. 12. The first and second fingers (36, 37).
Valve according to claim 11, characterized in that the contact (81, 83) lies along the other plane (88) against the free-floating bridge (62). Actuator (10). 13. The first and second fingers (36, 37).
Means that the free floating bridge (62) is brought into contact with the contact points (81, 83) at the position sandwiching the centroid (73) of the geometric shape along the other plane (88). The valve actuating device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that 14. An axis (46, 47, axis) of said valve (14, 15, 16).
48. The valve actuating device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the (48) are parallel and not coplanar.