Patents Assigned to Pacbrake Company
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Self-contained compression brake control module for integrated rocker arm engine braking and methods
Patent number: 12031462Abstract: An exhaust rocker assembly for operating an exhaust valve of an engine during a compression-release engine braking operation. The exhaust rocker assembly comprises an exhaust rocker arm and a self-contained compression brake control module (CBCM) mounted to the exhaust rocker arm and operatively coupled to the exhaust valve for controlling a lift and a phase angle thereof. The CBCM includes a casing, an actuation piston disposed outside the casing so as to define an actuation piston cavity, a reset check valve provided between the casing and the actuation piston, and a compression brake actuator disposed in the casing. The actuation piston reciprocates relative to the casing. The compression brake actuator includes a control piston. The control piston engages the check valve when deactivated so as to unlock the actuation piston cavity and disengages from the check valve when activated so as to lock the actuation piston cavity.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2023Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: Pacbrake CompanyInventors: Kody Taylor, Peter Stec -
Publication number: 20230235687Abstract: A compression-release engine brake system operating an exhaust valve of an engine during a compression-release engine braking operation. The compression-release brake system comprises an exhaust rocker arm and a brake reset device disposed in a reset bore formed in the exhaust rocker arm. The brake reset device comprises a reset check valve, a slider-piston slidably disposed in the reset bore and an external slider bias spring biasing the piston foot away from the brake reset device. The external slider bias spring is disposed outside the reset bore and around the piston-slider. The brake reset device permits pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow from a supply conduit to a reset conduit to supply a brake actuation piston when the reset check valve is open. The actuation piston extends and engages the exhaust valve toward the end of a compression stroke of the internal combustion engine, and the brake reset device resets.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Applicant: Pacbrake CompanyInventors: Kody TAYLOR, James BALDWIN, Peter STEC
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Patent number: 11619149Abstract: A compression-release engine brake system operating an exhaust valve of an engine during a compression-release engine braking operation. The compression-release brake system comprises an exhaust rocker arm and a brake reset device disposed in a reset bore formed in the exhaust rocker arm. The brake reset device comprises a reset check valve, a slider-piston slidably disposed in the reset bore and an external slider bias spring biasing the piston foot away from the brake reset device. The external slider bias spring is disposed outside the reset bore and around the piston-slider. The brake reset device permits pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow from a supply conduit to a reset conduit to supply a brake actuation piston when the reset check valve is open. The actuation piston extends and engages the exhaust valve toward the end of a compression stroke of the internal combustion engine, and the brake reset device resets.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2022Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Pacbrake CompanyInventors: Kody Taylor, James Baldwin, Peter Stec
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Patent number: 11384698Abstract: A compression-release brake system for operating an exhaust valve of an engine during an engine braking operation. The compression-release brake system comprises a self-contained compression brake control module (CBCM) operatively coupled to the exhaust valve for controlling a lift and a phase angle thereof. The CBCM includes a casing defining an actuator cavity, a actuation piston disposed outside the casing so as to define an actuation piston cavity between the casing and the actuation piston, and a check valve provided between the actuation piston cavity and a compression brake actuator disposed in the actuator cavity. The actuation piston reciprocates relative to the casing. The compression brake actuator includes an actuator element and a biasing spring. The actuator element selectively engages the check valve when deactivated so as to unlock the actuation piston cavity and disengages from the check valve when activated so as to lock the actuation piston cavity.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2021Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Pacbrake CompanyInventors: Peter Stec, Kody Taylor, Devin Batcheller
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Lost motion exhaust rocker engine brake system with actuation solenoid valve and method of operation
Patent number: 11242778Abstract: A compression-release engine brake system for effectuating a compression-release engine braking operation of an internal combustion engine. The compression-release system includes a lost motion exhaust rocker assembly including an exhaust rocker arm, an actuation device including an actuation piston and an actuation cavity, and a reset device including a reset check valve and a slider-piston. Hydraulic fluid in the exhaust rocker arm is locked in the actuation cavity when the reset check valve is in the closed position, and flows through the reset check valve when the reset check valve is in the open position. The slider-piston is associated with the reset check valve so that in an extended position of the slider-piston the reset check valve is free to move toward the closed position, and in a retracted position of the slider-piston the reset check valve is moved to the open position thereof by the slider-piston.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2020Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: Pacbrake CompanyInventors: Devin Batcheller, Kody Taylor, Vincent Meneely -
Patent number: 11149659Abstract: A compression-release brake system for operating an exhaust valve of an engine during an engine braking operation. The compression-release brake system comprises a self-contained compression brake control module (CBCM) operatively coupled to the exhaust valve for controlling a lift and a phase angle thereof. The CBCM includes a casing defining an actuator cavity, a actuation piston disposed outside the casing so as to define an actuation piston cavity between the casing and the actuation piston, and a check valve provided between the actuation piston cavity and a compression brake actuator disposed in the actuator cavity. The actuation piston reciprocates relative to the casing. The compression brake actuator includes an actuator element and a biasing spring. The actuator element selectively engages the check valve when deactivated so as to unlock the actuation piston cavity and disengages from the check valve when activated so as to lock the actuation piston cavity.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Pacbrake CompanyInventors: Peter Stec, Kody Taylor, Devin Batcheller
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Lost motion exhaust rocker engine brake system with actuation solenoid valve and method of operation
Patent number: 10767522Abstract: A compression-release engine brake system for effectuating a compression-release engine braking operation of an internal combustion engine. The compression-release system includes a lost motion exhaust rocker assembly including an exhaust rocker arm, an actuation device including an actuation piston and an actuation cavity, and a reset device including a reset check valve and a slider-piston. Hydraulic fluid in the exhaust rocker arm is locked in the actuation cavity when the reset check valve is in the closed position, and flows through the reset check valve when the reset check valve is in the open position. The slider-piston is associated with the reset check valve so that in an extended position of the slider-piston the reset check valve is free to move toward the closed position, and in a retracted position of the slider-piston the reset check valve is moved to the open position thereof by the slider-piston.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2019Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Pacbrake CompanyInventors: Devin Batcheller, Kody Taylor, Vincent Meneely -
Patent number: 10190451Abstract: A compression-release brake system is provided that includes a lost motion exhaust rocker assembly, an actuation piston, and a reset device. The actuation piston includes an actuation piston body that is slidably received by the rocker arm to define a piston cavity in the rocker arm and is movable between piston retracted and extended positions. The actuation piston is configured to be operatively associated with the exhaust valve to permit unseating of the exhaust valve from the seated state. An actuation piston check valve is configured to move between closed and open positions to permit hydraulic fluid flow through an actuation piston communication port to the piston cavity. The reset device includes a reset check valve and a reset pressure control spring for applying a biasing force to the reset check valve to urge the reset check valve toward an open position.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2018Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Pacbrake CompanyInventors: Vincent Meneely, Robert Price
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Patent number: 9885263Abstract: A compression-release brake system is provided that includes a lost motion exhaust rocker assembly, an actuation piston, and a reset device. The actuation piston includes an actuation piston body that is slidably received by the rocker arm to define a piston cavity in the rocker arm and is movable between piston retracted and extended positions. The actuation piston is configured to be operatively associated with the exhaust valve to permit unseating of the exhaust valve from the seated state. An actuation piston check valve is configured to move between closed and open positions to permit hydraulic fluid flow through an actuation piston communication port to the piston cavity. The reset device includes a reset check valve and a reset pressure control spring for applying a biasing force to the reset check valve to urge the reset check valve toward an open position.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2017Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Pacbrake CompanyInventors: Vincent Meneely, Robert Price
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Patent number: 9752471Abstract: A compression-release brake system is provided that includes a lost motion exhaust rocker assembly, an actuation piston, and a reset device. The actuation piston includes an actuation piston body that is slidably received by the rocker arm to define a piston cavity in the rocker arm and is movable between piston retracted and extended positions. The actuation piston is configured to be operatively associated with the exhaust valve to permit unseating of the exhaust valve from the seated state. An actuation piston check valve is configured to move between closed and open positions to permit hydraulic fluid flow through an actuation piston communication port to the piston cavity. The reset device includes a reset check valve and a reset pressure control spring for applying a biasing force to the reset check valve to urge the reset check valve toward an open position.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2016Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Pacbrake CompanyInventors: Vincent Meneely, Robert Price
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Patent number: 9562448Abstract: A compression-release brake system for effectuating a compression-release engine braking operation in connection with an internal combustion engine. The system includes a lost motion exhaust rocker assembly including a rocker arm, an actuation piston slidably received by the rocker arm to define part of a piston cavity in the rocker arm and movable between a piston retracted position and a piston extended position, the actuation piston configured to operatively associate with the exhaust valve to permit unseating of the exhaust valve from the seated state, and a reset device received by the rocker arm and operatively associated with the actuation piston to return the exhaust valve to the seated state by the end of the expansion stroke in the brake-on mode.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2016Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Pacbrake CompanyInventors: Vincent Meneely, Robert Price
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Patent number: 9429051Abstract: A compression-release brake system comprises an exhaust rocker arm, an actuation piston slidable in a piston bore in the exhaust rocker arm so as to press an exhaust valve, a supply conduit formed within the exhaust rocker arm, and an exhaust valve reset device mounted to the exhaust rocker arm. The actuation piston defines an actuation piston cavity within the actuation piston bore between the piston bore and the actuation piston. The exhaust valve reset device includes a reset check valve disposed between the supply conduit and the actuation piston cavity to hydraulically lock the actuation piston cavity by closing the reset check valve when a pressure of the hydraulic fluid within the actuation piston cavity exceeds the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the supply conduit. The reset check valve is biased closed by the pressure of the hydraulic fluid within the actuation piston cavity during the brake-on mode.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Pacbrake CompanyInventors: Vincent Meneely, Robert Price
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Patent number: 8272363Abstract: A compression-release brake system for operating an exhaust valve of an engine during an engine braking operation. The compression-release brake system comprises a self-contained compression brake control module (CBCM) operatively coupled to the exhaust valve for controlling a lift and a phase angle thereof and a source of a pressurized hydraulic fluid. The CBCM includes a casing defining piston and actuator cavities, a slave piston mounted within the piston cavity, a check valve provided between a supply conduit and a slave piston chamber and a compression brake actuator disposed in the actuator cavity. The compression brake actuator includes an actuator element and a biasing spring. The actuator element selectively engages the check valve when deactivated so as to unlock the slave piston chamber, and disengages from the check valve when activated so as to lock the slave piston chamber. The actuator element is exposed to atmospheric pressure.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2011Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Pacbrake CompanyInventors: Vincent Meneely, Robert Price
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Patent number: 8037865Abstract: A compression-release brake system for operating an exhaust valve of an engine during an engine braking operation. The compression-release brake system comprises a self-contained compression brake control module (CBCM) operatively coupled to the exhaust valve for controlling a lift and a phase angle thereof and a source of a pressurized hydraulic fluid. The CBCM includes a casing defining piston and actuator cavities, a slave piston mounted within the piston cavity, a check valve provided between a supply conduit and a slave piston chamber and a compression brake actuator disposed in the actuator cavity. The compression brake actuator includes an actuator element and a biasing spring. The actuator element selectively engages the check valve when deactivated so as to unlock the slave piston chamber, and disengages from the check valve when activated so as to lock the slave piston chamber. The actuator element is exposed to atmospheric pressure.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2011Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Pacbrake CompanyInventors: Vincent Meneely, Robert Price
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Patent number: 7913810Abstract: A high-performance muffler assembly for exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The muffler assembly comprises an elongated casing having an inlet port and an exit port, a first pipe disposed within the casing and having an inlet end in fluid communication with the inlet port and an outlet end selectively fluidly connected to the exit port of the casing, and a first valve mounted within the casing. The first valve is selectively movable between a closed position and an open position for regulating an exhaust gas flow through the first pipe. The muffler assembly is operable in a number of different modes of operation including a high-performance mode, an exhaust braking mode, a reverse-flow mode, etc., determined by the positions of the first valve of the muffler assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Pacbrake CompanyInventors: Vincent A. Meneely, Brad Sebring, Gabriel Gavril
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Patent number: 7900597Abstract: A compression-release brake system for operating an exhaust valve of an engine during an engine braking operation. The compression-release brake system comprises a self-contained compression brake control module (CBCM) operatively coupled to the exhaust valve for controlling a lift and a phase angle thereof and a source of a pressurized hydraulic fluid. The CBCM includes a casing defining piston and actuator cavities, a slave piston mounted within the piston cavity, a check valve provided between a supply conduit and a slave piston chamber and a compression brake actuator disposed in the actuator cavity. The compression brake actuator includes an actuator element and a biasing spring. The actuator element selectively engages the check valve when deactivated so as to unlock the slave piston chamber, and disengages from the check valve when activated so as to lock the slave piston chamber. The actuator element is exposed to atmospheric pressure.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2009Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Pacbrake CompanyInventors: Vincent Meneely, Robert Price
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Patent number: 7673720Abstract: A high-performance muffler assembly for exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The muffler assembly comprises an elongated casing having an inlet port and an exit port, a first pipe disposed within the casing and having an inlet end in fluid communication with the inlet port and an outlet end selectively fluidly connected to the exit port of the casing, and a first valve mounted within the casing. The first valve is selectively movable between a closed position and an open position for regulating an exhaust gas flow through the first pipe. The muffler assembly is operable in a number of different modes of operation including a high-performance mode, an exhaust braking mode, a reverse-flow mode, etc., determined by the positions of the first valve of the muffler assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2007Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Pacbrake CompanyInventors: Vincent A. Meneely, Brad Sebring, Gabriel Gavril