Abstract: An exhaust brake has a body with a passageway for exhaust gases therein. A valve member is movably located within the passageway for selective movement between an open position where the valve member opens the passageway and exhaust gases are free to move through the passageway and a closed position where the valve member blocks the passageway and the passage of exhaust gases through the passageway. The valve member has an aperture therethrough to permit a limited flow of exhaust gases through the aperture when the aperture is open. An exhaust valve actuator mechanism is coupled to the valve member for moving the valve member between the open position and the closed position. A closure member is positioned adjacent to the aperture.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An exhaust brake has a body with a passageway for exhaust gases therein. A valve member is movably located within the passageway for selective movement between an open position where the valve member opens the passageway and exhaust gases are free to move through the passageway and a closed position where the valve member blocks the passageway and the passage of exhaust gases through the passageway. The valve member has an aperture therethrough to permit a limited flow of exhaust gases through the aperture when the aperture is open. An exhaust valve actuator mechanism is coupled to the valve member for moving the valve member between the open position and the closed position. A closure member is positioned adjacent to the aperture.

Abstract: An exhaust brake has a body with a passageway for exhaust gases therein. A valve member is movably located within the passageway for selective movement between an open position where the valve member opens the passageway and exhaust gases are free to move through the passageway and a closed position where the valve member blocks the passageway and the passage of exhaust gases through the passageway. The valve member has an aperture therethrough to permit a limited flow of exhaust gases through the aperture when the aperture is open. An exhaust valve actuator mechanism is coupled to the valve member for moving the valve member between the open position and the closed position. A closure member is positioned adjacent to the aperture.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A valve control apparatus is provided for an internal combustion engine having a valve and a camshaft. The camshaft has an axis of rotation, a first raised portion and a second raised portion adjacent to the first raised portion. The second raised portion is angularly spaced-apart about the axis from the first raised portion. The apparatus includes a follower operatively engagable with the camshaft and the valve. The follower has a first operational mode where the first raised portion operatively engages the follower on each revolution of the camshaft to open the valve a first time on each revolution. There is a mechanism for selectively putting the follower in a second operational mode where the second raised portion operatively engages the follower to open the valve a second time on each revolution of the camshaft. The mechanism puts the follower in the second operational mode on each revolution of the camshaft before the second raised portion is fully aligned with the follower.

Abstract: A valve control apparatus is provided for an internal combustion engine having a valve and a camshaft. The camshaft has an axis of rotation, a first lobe and a second lobe adjacent to the first lobe. The second lobe is angularly spaced-apart about the axis from the first lobe. The apparatus includes a follower operatively engagable with the camshaft and the valve. The follower has a first operational mode where the first lobe operatively engages the follower on each revolution of the camshaft to open the valve a first time on each revolution. There is a mechanism for selectively putting the follower in a second operational mode where the second lobe operatively engages the follower to open the valve a second time on each revolution of the camshaft. The mechanism puts the follower in the second operational mode on each revolution of the camshaft before the second lobe is fully aligned with the follower.

Abstract: A valve control apparatus particularly suited for a diesel engine brake. There is an hydraulic actuator having a piston which contacts the valve stem of an exhaust valve. The actuator is independent of the exhaust valve opening mechanism. There is a device, such as an electromagnetically activated valve, which can releasably shut off a flow of fluid from the hydraulic actuator after the exhaust valve is opened by the exhaust valve opening mechanism. The exhaust valve is prevented from closing until a flow of fluid from the hydraulic cylinder is permitted just before top dead center of the compression stroke.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for braking a multicylinder diesel engine. Some compressed gases are released from each engine cylinder near top dead center of each compression stroke on each cycle of the engine by forcing open the exhaust valve with a slave piston assembly of a two-stage master and slave cylinder combination. The slave piston assembly is moved by a master piston assembly which operatively engages an engine component which moves prior to top dead center of each compression stroke. The ratio of the area of the master piston assembly to the slave piston assembly is then increased and the exhaust valve is then opened to a preset fully cracked open position during a second stage of the master and slave cylinder combination. Loading on the engine component is reduced during the first stage and the rate of opening the exhaust valve is increased during the second stage when the force required to further open the exhaust valve has been reduced.

Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus for retarding a turbocharged engine. There is a mechanism, such as a master and slave cylinder arrangement, for cracking open each exhaust valve of each cylinder of the engine near top dead center of each compression stroke. There is also provision for increasing the pressure of gases in the exhaust manifold sufficiently to open exhaust valves of other cylinders on the intake stroke after each exhaust valve on the compression stroke is so opened. The provision for increasing the pressure of gases in the exhaust manifold includes a device for diverting the exhaust gases to a restricted portion of the turbine nozzle, thereby increasing the pressure of gases directed onto the turbine blades and the pressure in the exhaust manifold.

Abstract: An anti-lash adjuster for compression relief brakes on internal-combustion engines. The anti-lash adjuster has a slave piston adapted to contact the valve-actuating mechanism for the exhaust valves. The slave piston has a predetermined surface area and a retracting spring which biases the slave piston to a retracted position. A forward bias unit is provided to assist oil under engine-oil pressure in overcoming the retracting force to bias the slave piston to an extended position. The forward bias unit only assists the engine-oil pressure in overcoming the retracting force over a limited distance. The distance may be selected to keep the exhaust valves open throughout brake operations or only to take up the lash during brake operation or to take up part of the lash. A master piston is provided to further open the valves during portions of brake operation. There is means, such as an aperture extending through the slave piston, to prevent the slave piston from moving away from the forward bias unit.

Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus for retarding an engine. There is a mechanism, such as a master and slave cylinder arrangement, for cracking open each exhaust valve of each cylinder of the engine near top dead center of each compression stroke. There is also provision for increasing the pressure of gases in the exhaust manifold sufficiently to open exhaust valves of other cylinders on the intake stroke after each exhaust valve on the compression stroke is so opened. The provision for increasing the pressure of gases in the exhaust manifold may include retarding timing of the cracking open of the exhaust valves on the compression stroke and a valve or other device for restricting a flow of exhaust gases from the exhaust manifold.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for compression release retarding of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus opens an exhaust valve of each cylinder of the engine during a compression stroke and near the top dead center position. An exhaust valve of a second cylinder is open while the exhaust valve of the first cylinder is so open, the second cylinder being on its intake stroke. The apparatus may open the normally closed exhaust valves of a set of cylinders for a period of time when any of the cylinders is near the top dead center position following its compression stroke, during this time at least one of the cylinders of the set being on its intake stroke and all of the cylinders of the set being on the exhaust stroke, the intake stroke or the expansion stroke.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for employing the compression cycle of a four-cycle internal combustion engine as means for achieving braking of a vehicle driven by said engine. The invention relates to an improved hydraulically activated relief brake utilizing an exhaust valve associated with each cylinder of the engine. An unsprung hydraulic sleeve valve is provided to advantageously maintain each exhaust valve in a slightly open position during application of the brake, thus reducing the force required to open the exhaust valve during the compression cycle of the engine.

Abstract: An anti-lash adjuster for compression relief brakes on internal-combustion engines. The anti-lash adjuster has a slave piston adapted to contact the valve-actuating mechanism for the exhaust valves. The slave piston has a predetermined surface area and a retracting spring which biases the slave piston to a retracted position. A forward bias unit is provided to assist oil under engine-oil pressure in overcoming the retracting force to bias the slave piston to an extended position. The forward bias unit only assists the engine-oil pressure in overcoming the retracting force over a limited distance. The distance may be selected to keep the exhaust valves open throughout brake operations or only to take up the lash during brake operation or to take up part of the lash. A master piston is provided to further open the valves during portions of brake operation.