Abstract: A cylinder head for an internal combustion engine includes a casting and plug. The casting defines a first channel, a second channel, and a bore extending inward from an exterior surface of the casting. The first channel intersects a central portion of the bore. The second channel intersects an opposing end of the bore relative to the exterior surface. The plug is disposed within the bore. The plug has a distal end that engages the casting along the opposing end of the bore via a slip-fit engagement, a proximal end that engages the casting within the bore proximal to the exterior surface via a fixed engagement, and an intermediate portion that is spaced apart from the casting along the central portion of the bore. The plug defines an internal channel that establishes fluid communication between the first and second channels.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an engine oil system of a cylinder head. In one example, an engine oil system may include a first oil gallery and a second oil gallery fluidly coupled to each other via a plurality of oil chambers. Each oil chamber includes a plug, and one or more of the plugs may include a slot shaped to direct a flow of engine oil from a solenoid valve to the second oil gallery.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for removing entrapped air from oil flowing within a valve deactivation hydraulic circuit of an engine. In one example, the system may include a cylinder head cap, a variable displacement engine oil control valve (VDE OCV), a variable control timing oil control valve (VCT OCV), a rocker arm, a switch of the rocker arm, a pressure relief valve and a switch of the pressure relief valve, the cylinder head cap having an inbound interior surface of the cylinder head cap, the valve deactivation hydraulic circuit having a switching gallery and a hydraulic lash adjuster oil gallery. The hydraulic lash adjuster oil gallery may provide oil pressure communication to the switching gallery, the hydraulic lash adjuster oil gallery, the switch of the rocker arm, the switch of the pressure relief valve, the VDE OCV, and the VCT OCV.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an engine oil system of a cylinder head. In one example, an engine oil system may include a first oil gallery and a second oil gallery fluidly coupled to each other via a plurality of oil chambers. Each oil chamber includes a plug, and one or more of the plugs may include a slot shaped to direct a flow of engine oil from a solenoid valve to the second oil gallery.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an engine oil system of a cylinder head. In one example, an engine oil system may include a first oil gallery and a second oil gallery fluidly coupled to each other via a plurality of oil chambers. Each oil chamber includes a plug, and one or more of the plugs may include a slot shaped to direct a flow of engine oil from a solenoid valve to the second oil gallery.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for deactivating a valve actuation mechanism. In one example, a system may include a hydraulic gallery that may deliver a restricted flow of hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic flow restrictor to a pressure relief valve within a valve deactivation oil control valve, and during a second condition may deliver an unrestricted flow of hydraulic fluid from the valve deactivation oil control valve to the hydraulic flow restrictor. The hydraulic flow restrictor may comprise two vertical bores within the camshaft carrier that are fluidically coupled via a restrictive groove on the bottom surface of the camshaft carrier.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an engine oil system of a cylinder head. In one example, an engine oil system may include a first oil gallery and a second oil gallery fluidly coupled to each other via a plurality of oil chambers. Each oil chamber includes a plug, and one or more of the plugs may include a slot shaped to direct a flow of engine oil from a solenoid valve to the second oil gallery.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for deactivating a valve actuation mechanism. In one example, a system may include a hydraulic gallery that may deliver a restricted flow of hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic flow restrictor to a pressure relief valve within a valve deactivation oil control valve, and during a second condition may deliver an unrestricted flow of hydraulic fluid from the valve deactivation oil control valve to the hydraulic flow restrictor. The hydraulic flow restrictor may comprise two vertical bores within the camshaft carrier that are fluidically coupled via a restrictive groove on the bottom surface of the camshaft carrier.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regulating oil flow to advance and retard chambers of a variable cam timing (VCT) system and to a thrust bearing of a camshaft via an oil control valve. In one example, an oil control valve may be housed within a cam journal cap the cam journal cap comprising a thrust bearing for receiving and retaining a camshaft. The cam journal cap may include a vertical bore configured to house the control valve, where the vertical bore may include a first port for receiving oil from an oil pump, a second port for flowing oil to an advance chamber of a VCT system, a third port for flowing oil to a retard chamber of the VCT system, a fourth port, coupled to the thrust bearing for flowing oil thereto, and a drain port for flowing oil to an oil sump.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for deactivating a valve actuation mechanism. In one example, a system may include a hydraulic gallery that may deliver a restricted flow of hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic flow restrictor to a pressure relief valve within a valve deactivation oil control valve, and during a second condition may deliver an unrestricted flow of hydraulic fluid from the valve deactivation oil control valve to the hydraulic flow restrictor. The hydraulic flow restrictor may comprise two vertical bores within the camshaft carrier that are fluidically coupled via a restrictive groove on the bottom surface of the camshaft carrier.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regulating oil flow to advance and retard chambers of a variable cam timing (VCT) system and to a thrust bearing of a camshaft via an oil control valve. In one example, an oil control valve may be housed within a cam journal cap the cam journal cap comprising a thrust bearing for receiving and retaining a camshaft. The cam journal cap may include a vertical bore configured to house the control valve, where the vertical bore may include a first port for receiving oil from an oil pump, a second port for flowing oil to an advance chamber of a VCT system, a third port for flowing oil to a retard chamber of the VCT system, a fourth port, coupled to the thrust bearing for flowing oil thereto, and a drain port for flowing oil to an oil sump.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for deactivating a valve actuation mechanism. In one example, a system may include a hydraulic gallery that may deliver a restricted flow of hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic flow restrictor to a pressure relief valve within a valve deactivation oil control valve, and during a second condition may deliver an unrestricted flow of hydraulic fluid from the valve deactivation oil control valve to the hydraulic flow restrictor. The hydraulic flow restrictor may comprise two vertical bores within the camshaft carrier that are fluidically coupled via a restrictive groove on the bottom surface of the camshaft carrier.

Abstract: An engine, such as a variable displacement engine, has a camshaft retainer. The camshaft retainer has a cap adapted to cooperate with a carrier to support first and second overhead camshafts for rotation. The retainer cap forms a housing for a camshaft journal bearing. The retainer cap also forms a retainer land defining an open channel adapted to provide a jet of lubricating fluid from the bearing housing to externally lubricate a cam. The retainer land is adapted to mate with a sealing land of the carrier to enclose the open channel.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for deactivating a valve actuation mechanism. In one example, a system may include first and second hydraulic galleries for supplying hydraulic fluid to a switchable roller finger follower, and a third hydraulic gallery for promoting the flow of air away from the first hydraulic gallery. The third hydraulic gallery may receive a restricted flow of oil from a hydraulic restrictor incorporated into an annular clearance between a VCT oil control valve and a mating bore within the cylinder head.

Abstract: An engine, such as a variable displacement engine, has a camshaft retainer. The camshaft retainer has a cap adapted to cooperate with a carrier to support first and second overhead camshafts for rotation. The retainer cap forms a housing for a camshaft journal bearing. The retainer cap also forms a retainer land defining an open channel adapted to provide a jet of lubricating fluid from the bearing housing to externally lubricate a cam. The retainer land is adapted to mate with a sealing land of the carrier to enclose the open channel.

Abstract: A rotary-vane vacuum pump comprises a stator and a vaned rotor, the stator partly defining an outlet chamber and including an outlet passage opening to the outlet chamber. The rotor is rotatably sealed to the stator; it has a sealing area to block the outlet passage, and, an unsealing area alignable with the outlet passage by rotation of the rotor to periodically unblock the outlet passage. The disclosed pump offers reduced resistance to lubricant oil discharge from the outlet passage, which results in lower differential pressure between inlet and outlet chambers at the end of the pumping cycle.

Abstract: A method for operation of an engine is provided. The method includes operating an engine with independent variable intake and exhaust valve timing with an intake valve timing actuator and an exhaust valve timing actuator, locking both the intake and exhaust valve timing actuators in a mid-lock position, and unlocking both the intake and exhaust valve timing actuators via a common locking-control valve.

Abstract: A rotary-vane vacuum pump comprises a stator and a vaned rotor, the stator partly defining an outlet chamber and including an outlet passage opening to the outlet chamber. The rotor is rotatably sealed to the stator; it has a sealing area to block the outlet passage, and, an unsealing area alignable with the outlet passage by rotation of the rotor to periodically unblock the outlet passage. The disclosed pump offers reduced resistance to lubricant oil discharge from the outlet passage, which results in lower differential pressure between inlet and outlet chambers at the end of the pumping cycle.

Abstract: In one example, a method is described for an engine with a hydraulically actuated phaser for adjusting cam timing. The phaser is controlled by a hydraulic spool valve, for example, having a de-energized position that results in hydraulic force urging the phaser to a base timing. When it is desired to operate the cam timing at base timing, rather then leave the spool valve in a de-energized position that can generate leakage, the spool valve is adjusted to near a null position to reduce the hydraulic pressure drop across the cam journal and thus reduce oil leakage. In this way, it is possible to maintain base timing, while also reducing leakage.

Abstract: A method for operation of an engine is provided. The method includes operating an engine with independent variable intake and exhaust valve timing with an intake valve timing actuator and an exhaust valve timing actuator, locking both the intake and exhaust valve timing actuators in a mid-lock position, and unlocking both the intake and exhaust valve timing actuators via a common locking-control valve.