Abstract: A braking control for an engine permits the timing and duration of exhaust valve opening events to be accurately determined independent of engine events so that braking power can be precisely controlled. According to one embodiment, further control over braking power can be accomplished by controlling turbocharger geometry.

Abstract: A blowby disposal system for disposing of blowby contaminants from a blowby mixture contained within a crankcase chamber of an internal combustion engine includes an air-oil separator, a passage to transport the blowby mixture from the crankcase chamber to the air-oil separator, a pump, and a passage to transport the blowby contaminants from the air-oil separator to the pump. The pump directs the stream of contaminants into the exhaust system of the engine where it becomes a portion of the overall exhaust emission stream. Degradation of the engine components and the turbocharger components is reduced because the blowby contaminants are not introduced into these components through the air intake system.

Abstract: An outwardly opening valve system for an engine includes an actuator body having a guide bore, a fluid cavity filled with hydraulic fluid that opens to a valve plunger bore, an intensifier plunger bore and a re-supply passageway. A check valve positioned in the re-supply passageway is operable to prevent back flow of hydraulic fluid from the fluid cavity. An outward valve member with a valve face is positioned to reciprocate in the guide bore. An intensifier plunger is slidably positioned in the intensifier plunger bore. A valve plunger is slidably positioned in the valve plunger bore. An over center cam mechanism includes a cam mounted to the actuator body and rotatable about a pivot pin, a push rod with one end in contact with the cam and an other end in contact with the outward valve member, and finally the pivot pin is attached to the valve plunger. A solenoid is mounted on the actuator body and includes a control rod. A computer is in communication with and capable of controlling the solenoid.

Abstract: An outward opening valve system includes an engine having a fluid cavity in fluid communication with an accumulator chamber by a transfer passage, a hollow piston cylinder in fluid communication with a gas passageway via an opening, and an intensifier bore that opens to the hollow piston cylinder. The opening includes an outward valve seat adjacent the gas passageway. An outward valve member with a valve face is moveable between a closed position in which the valve face is against the valve seat closing the opening and an open position in which the valve face is away from the valve seat. A compression spring is utilized to bias the outward valve member toward its open position. An intensifier piston is positioned in the intensifier bore with one end exposed to fluid pressure in the hollow piston cylinder. A coupling linkage interconnects the intensifier piston to the outward valve member.

Abstract: A braking control for an engine permits the timing and duration of exhaust valve opening to be accurately determined independent of engine events so that braking power can be precisely controlled.

Abstract: An actuator for an engine braking system for moving an exhaust valve includes a master fluid control device concentrically disposed within a bore in a slave fluid control device.

Abstract: An actuator for engaging an exhaust valve develops a first force to take up the lash between the actuator and the exhaust valve and generates a second, stronger force to open the exhaust valve.

Abstract: An outwardly opening valve system for an engine includes an engine having a hollow piston cylinder in fluid communication with a gas passageway via an opening. The engine also has a piston bore that opens to the hollow piston cylinder. A portion of the opening includes an outward valve seat positioned adjacent the gas passageway. An outward valve member with a valve face is positioned substantially in the gas passageway. The valve member is moveable between a closed position in which the valve face is against the valve seat closing the opening and an open position in which the valve face is away from the valve seat. An intensifier piston is positioned to reciprocate in the piston bore and has one end contacting gas within the hollow piston cylinder. Finally, a coupling linkage interconnects the intensifier piston to the outward valve member so that the valve member is held closed during combustion by exploiting combustion pressure within the hollow piston cylinder.

Abstract: A control for operating an engine in a braking mode of operation includes an actuator engagable with an engine exhaust valve. A braking magnitude is selected from a continuous range of braking magnitudes between minimum and maximum levels and turn-on and turn-off points for the actuator are established from the selected braking magnitude. The actuator is operated in accordance with the turn-on and turn-off points to cause the engine to develop the selected braking magnitude.

Abstract: An exhaust valve controlling system of an exhaust gas recirculation system of an engine has a stepper motor that is electrically controlled to actuate first and second spring systems that are associated with a one way clutch system which raises and lowers an exhaust valve in response to rotation of a spool threadably mated with a threaded end portion of the valve stem.

Abstract: A braking control for an engine having a combustion chamber, an exhaust valve movable between open and closed positions, and an electronically controlled fuel injector for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber includes an actuator for engaging the exhaust valve and a control module for timing movement of the exhaust valve to the open position. The control module has an output terminal connected to first terminals of the actuator and the fuel injector and a pair of additional return terminals connected to second terminals of the actuator and fuel injector.

Abstract: A device for use in an engine brake control to move an exhaust valve to an open position includes an actuator engageable with the exhaust valve and an electrically-operable control valve. The actuator includes a valve spool and a slave piston wherein the slave piston includes a passage and wherein the valve spool includes a high pressure annulus coupled to a source of high fluid pressure and a low pressure annulus coupled to a source of low fluid pressure. The valve spool is movable relative to the slave piston to interconnect the passage with the high pressure annulus or the low pressure annulus. The electrically-operable control valve selectively provides high fluid pressure to the valve spool and to the slave piston to cause the slave piston to oscillate about a point at which the exhaust valve is disposed in the open position and the passage is alternately connected to the low pressure annulus and the high pressure annulus.

Abstract: An actuator for moving an engine valve to an open position includes an outer sleeve threadably disposed within a main body that houses the actuator. A slave piston is disposed within the outer sleeve and has a central bore containing a master fluid control device. The axial position of the outer sleeve may be adjusted relative to the main body bore to adjust the actuator lash between the actuator and a mechanism for opening the valve, such as a rocker arm.

Abstract: An engine brake system for opening an engine exhaust valve recirculates actuating fluid between an actuator and a pump so that demands placed on an oil pump of the engine are minimized.

Abstract: A fluid pressure control valve includes a double acting solenoid and a poppet valve seatable against two opposite valve seats. The respective solenoids are momentarily operated to move the poppet valve into respective valve seat positions. Solenoid actuation is terminated when the poppet valve reaches the valve seat position. The poppet valve is maintained against one of the valve seats by a spring force. A hydraulic force maintains the poppet valve against the opposite valve seat. One valve seat has a larger diameter than the other so that the hydraulic force against the poppet valve in one seat position develops a larger force than the spring force, whereas in the opposite valve seating position, the spring force is greater than the developed hydraulic force.

Abstract: A braking control for an engine permits the timing and duration of exhaust valve opening to be accurately determined independent of engine events so that braking power can be precisely controlled.

Abstract: The design and construction of current electronically-controlled hydraulically-actuated engine valve systems are currently still being tested for dependability. The electronics control various activities including actuation velocity and, therefore, can include complicated components. The present invention overcomes this and other problems by providing a valve actuation system including an electronically-controlled hydraulically-actuated plunger for actuating an engine valve. Hydraulic means are utilized for reducing the plunger velocity thereby controlling the valve lift and the valve seating as the valve approaches the open and closed positions. The hydraulic means reduces the need for a complicated electronic control unit, therefore, improving the feasibility and dependability of the present invention.

Abstract: An engine compression braking system for a multicylinder engine having a plurality of hydraulically operated exhaust valve actuators, one for each respective cylinder exhaust valve. An hydraulically operated braking control valve is operatively coupled to each of the exhaust valve actuators to in turn simultaneously open each associated exhaust valve. Selective fluid coupling and decoupling of hydraulic operating lines to the braking control valve enables a spool valve element to effectively float between an operating end point and a return end point to prevent the spool valve element from undesirably impacting the end point stops. The engine braking horsepower can be varied by timing the simultaneous opening of the exhaust valves and the duration of the opening.

Abstract: A multiple input, single output, mechanical actuator including a housing, an actuator rod reciprocably mounted in the housing and having one end projecting therefrom, a plurality of aligned, signal responsive elements in the housing, each independently mounted for reciprocation therein towards and away from the rod, a plurality of signal input structures in the housing, one for each of the elements, for applying a force to reciprocably move the associated element toward or away from the rod, and a plurality of aligned, interengaging links reciprocably mounted within the housing, one for each of the elements, and operatively associated with the rod, each of the links being relatively movable with respect to its element and slidable with respect thereto for one direction of movement of the element and movable therewith in the other direction of movement of its element.

Abstract: A resilient mount for attaching a relatively heavy engine to a frame includes a housing secured to the frame defining an internal chamber, a resilient pad disposed between the housing and the engine and upon which the engine rests, and a snubber spool fixed to the engine extending through an opening in the housing and having an enlarged flange enclosed with resilient material within the chamber, so that normal vibration of the engine is absorbed by the pad and excess vibration is controlled by the material on the flange contacting the chamber walls.