Abstract: A pressure release brake for an internal combustion engine includes a master hydraulic actuator and a slave hydraulic actuator. The slave hydraulic actuator is operatively connected to the exhaust valve opening mechanism of one exhaust valve. The master hydraulic actuator is movable by an engine component to increase hydraulic pressure which moves the slave hydraulic actuator and opens the one exhaust valve near top dead center of compression strokes when the brake is operational. There is a lash adjusting mechanism for the slave hydraulic actuator. The lash adjusting mechanism includes a device for adjusting hydraulic pressure acting on the slave hydraulic actuator during exhaust strokes and thereby lash between the slave hydraulic actuator and the exhaust valve opening mechanism.

Abstract: In an arrangement for controlling the flow of compressed air from a cylinder of a Diesel engine which includes a decompression valve mounted on a cylinder to permit the discharge of compressed air from the cylinder into a discharge passage, the decompression valve is operable by high pressure fuel admitted to an operating cylinder of the decompression valve via a control line including a magnetic control valve for the admission of fuel from a high pressure fuel distribution duct from which fuel is also supplied to the engine fuel injectors via an injection pipe which also includes a magnetic control valve, and both control valves are operable by a control unit which independently energizes the magnetic control valves.

Abstract: A cruise control based retarder control. If the vehicle speed exceeds the cruise control set speed, the cruise control system continuously checks the vehicle speed and acceleration order to determine the optimum auxiliary brake level based upon the amount of overspeed and acceleration. The cruise control system allows the vehicle driver to select which auxiliary brakes will be applied to slow down the vehicle to the desired speed by means of the normal cabin brake switches, limited by the determined optimum brake level. The driver can therefore control which auxiliary brakes are applied, however the application of these brakes is controlled by the cruise control system without the need to exit cruise control mode. Operation of the auxiliary brakes by the cruise control system will normally reset in increased fuel economy over prior art systems which require exiting of the cruise control system, manual activation of the auxiliary brakes and resumption of the cruise control system.

Abstract: An electronic fuel injection augmentation system and method for a turbocharged diesel engine compression braking system injects a predetermined volume of fuel into cylinders of an engine at a predetermined timing prior to the piston of the cylinder reaching a top dead center position. Combustion of such injected fuel increases cylinder pressure and engine braking. The increased pressure is transferred to the turbocharger of the engine thereby increasing intake air flow and engine braking as a result thereof.

Abstract: A camless internal combustion engine has electronically or computer controlled, electrically operated hydraulic actuators for selectively opening the engine cylinder valves. The engine is capable of operating in either positive power mode or compression release engine braking mode. The pressure of the hydraulic fluid available for application to the hydraulic actuators is automatically adjusted from a relatively low pressure during positive power mode to a relatively high pressure during compression release engine braking mode. The stroke lengths of the engine cylinder valves may be automatically adjusted for various engine operating conditions using feedback loops that include sensors for detecting the amount of opening of each engine cylinder valve whose stroke length is to be controlled in this manner. The shapes of the valve opening and closing trajectories as a function of engine crank angle may similarly be varied in many other respect.

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: In an operating mechanism for an engine brake valve of an internal combustion engine which has fuel injectors mounted in the cylinder head to which pressurized fuel is delivered through high pressure fuel passages from a high pressure fuel injection pump, a hydraulic operating piston disposed in a hydraulic cylinder is operatively connected to the engine brake valve by way of a lever which is actuated by the hydraulic operating piston when fuel under pressure is supplied to the hydraulic cylinder and a hydraulic control valve is arranged in the high pressure fuel passages for selectively directing the high pressure fuel from the injection pump either to the injector for injection into the engine or to the hydraulic cylinder for opening the engine brake valve at the end of an engine compression stroke to discharge the compressed gas from the engine during engine braking operation.

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: 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: In engine brakes of the type in which a master piston is reciprocated by an associated internal combustion engine part to hydraulically pressurize hydraulic fluid in a plenum, after which a trigger valve is opened to apply that hydraulic pressure to a slave piston which opens an exhaust valve in the engine to produce a compression release event, an electronically controlled trigger valve is used in place of the conventional mechanically operated trigger valve. The electronically controlled trigger valve can be much simpler and cheaper than the mechanical trigger valve it replaces, and it can also be readily controlled to automatically vary the timing of the compression release events if desired.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has engine cylinder intake and exhaust valves that are operated by intake and exhaust cams via hydraulic linkages. The hydraulic linkages have selective lost motions that allow selective modification of the openings and closings of the engine cylinder valves. These modifications may include complete omission of all response to particular lobes on the cams. The hydraulic linkages may be interconnected so that some intake valve openings are produced by an exhaust cam lobe and/or some exhaust valve openings are produced by an intake cam lobe. The linkages and linkage interconnections are preferably controlled electronically. The engine is preferably operable in either four-cycle positive power mode or two-cycle compression release engine braking mode.

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: An on/off compression braking system is provided which when actuated controllably opens one inlet valve and one outlet valve in response to the actuation of the injector unit rocker arm and deactivates the exhaust valve rocker arm. This braking system thereby is useful on four cycle engines and is of a construction which eliminates elements of heretofore utilized compression braking systems and provides a four cycle engine with a two cycle compression braking system.

Abstract: A compression braking system is provided which controllably opens one inlet valve and one outlet valve in response to the actuation of the injector unit rocker arm. This braking system thereby is useful on four cycle engines and is of a construction which eliminates elements of heretofore utilized compression braking systems.

Abstract: A method for comprehensive integrated control of a compression-ignition internal combustion engine having integral fuel pump-injectors utilizing an electronic control unit is disclosed. The control strategy integrates various functions of engine control including fuel delivery, cooling fan control, engine speed governing and overspeed protection, engine braking, torque control, and vehicle speed diagnostics and control. Cooling fan control is integrated with vehicle speed diagnostics and control as well as fuel delivery to provide an integrated cruise .control function which incorporates engine braking. The method also includes improved control over the various engine speed governors while improving idle quality by balancing the power delivered by each of the engine cylinders when at idle. The integrated torque control employs functions to reduce NOx emissions and noise utilizing adaptive fuel delivery timing and a split injection strategy.

Abstract: In a compression release engine brake for increasing the braking available from an associated internal combustion engine, an electrically controlled hydraulic valve having at least two coils and at least two positions is used to apply high pressure hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic actuator for opening an exhaust valve in the engine when a compression release event in the engine is desired. After each compression release event, the valve is switched to a condition in which it allows hydraulic fluid to drain from the hydraulic actuator, thereby allowing the associated engine exhaust valve to close.

Abstract: A solenoid valve for use with a solenoid as park of an engine retarder braking system includes a valve body arranged with a plurality of apertures and which receives an upper check valve pin, a lower check valve pin, and a biasing spring which acts on both check valve pins. The solenoid includes a coil and moveable armature and the braking system includes a high pressure circuit with a master piston and cylinder and a slave piston and cylinder. The two cylinders are connected by a flow passageway. The housing has a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an access port. The fluid inlet receives low pressure oil which acts upon one side of the lower check valve pin. The opposite side of the lower check valve pin is acted upon by the fluid in the high pressure circuit and by the biasing spring. When the pressure difference allows the lower check valve pin to move out of its sealed position against the fluid inlet, oil is introduced into the high pressure circuit.

Abstract: In a compression release engine brake, electrically controlled mechanisms are provided to partly selectively control the positions or motions of the engine brake slave pistons which periodically open the exhaust valves in the associated internal combustion engine when engine braking is desired. The electrically controlled mechanisms can be used for such purposes as controlling the "lash" of the engine brake or controlling the timing and duration of exhaust valve openings. Because these mechanisms are electrically controlled, they can be made to operate substantially instantaneously.

Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission control lever (2) is provided that carries switch means for controlling a system for braking the vehicle's engine or in combination: (i) switch means for controlling a cruise control system and (ii) switch means for controlling a system for braking the vehicle's engine. The switch means for controlling the cruise control system and the engine braking system are preferably mounted on a housing (10) secured to a handle or knob (6) that is secured to transmission control lever (2) for convenient operation by the operator.

Abstract: Braking systems for use with internal combustion engine have in the past used a variety of mechanical mechanisms to activate the braking system in addition to the conventional cam, lifters, pushrods and rocker arms. Many of these systems fail to provide the option of controllably and modulatively varying the sequence and amount of the opening and closing of an intake or exhaust valve relative to a piston position in a cylinder bore. The present invention provides an electronic control system outputting an discrete control signal, an opening device for unit actuation of each of the pair of valves independently. The electronic control system is programmable to respond in a first predetermined logic pattern for conventional operation of the engine at which time each of the pair of valves are in the closed position during the compression stroke.

Abstract: A motor brake for air-compressing internal combustion engines is provided. To improve the braking power of the engine, it is proposed to combine a motor brake having a butterfly valve to throttle engine exhaust with a motor brake where an exhaust valve, in addition to the cam drive, can be raised slightly during the exhaust stroke via a piston. With this inventive combination, braking work can be performed not only in the exhaust stroke, but also in the compression stroke, so that the braking power can be increased by about 50 to 60%, and relative to conventional exhaust brakes by about 80 to 90%, and is increased to the order of magnitude of the effective engine power.

Abstract: An electronic microcomputer based engine brake control device and a method for controlling an engine compression brake is disclosed. An algorithm for enabling engine brake operation includes monitoring a brake enable switch, engine RPM, engine fueling rate, cruise control or power takeoff system activation state, throttle position, manifold pressure and clutch pedal position. Engine brake operation is fully automatic and operates in a safe manner according to the disclosed algorithm.

Abstract: An engine brake system for use in all types of diesel and gasoline engines, comprising a control means disposed, in the main embodiment of the invention, on the top of the line of valve rocker arms, seated on the supports of the rocker arms, and a dislodgement valve installed in the intake manifold of the engine, the valve remaining closed until the brake system is applied. An actuating device acts when the brake is applied, longitudinally displacing the control means, whereby the rocker arms of the exhaust valves are uncoupled from the corresponding tappet rods thereby impeding the exhaust valves to open, whereby the gases trapped in the cylinders put up resistance to the ascending movement of the pistons in their exhaust stroke. The discharge of the gases toward the environment, via the dislodgement valve, occurs when the opening of the intake valves begins at the start of the intake stroke of the pistons.

Abstract: An exhaust brake control ensures a shock less shift after the automatic transmission has been conditioned for engine brake running state by rendering an exhaust brake system inoperable temporarily for a predetermined period of time when the shift is in progress in the automatic transmission.

Abstract: A motor brake for an air-compressing internal combustion engine is provided. A hydraulic linkage system is disposed between a cam and an exhaust valve, and communicates via a connecting line with a high-speed solenoid valve and a linkage oil compensating system of an engine lubricating-oil circuit. A control valve is disposed in an exhaust manifold of the engine and upon actuation of the motor brake partially closes off the exhaust manifold along with activation of the solenoid valve. Via the interposition of a control unit, signals of at least one sensor are conveyed to a solenoid of the solenoid valve in such a way that, upon actuation of the motor brake during a specific time interval during lifting of a valve tappet via a projection of the cam in a compression phase, the solenoid valve is closed. The time interval is derived via processing of signals of the sensor formed from the cam position and camshaft speed.

Abstract: A cylinder of a diesel engine that is used to drive a vehicle is decompressed by opening its exhaust valve. When the engine brake of the vehicle is applied a first high pressure fluid is applied to one side of a shuttle valve moving it in one direction and applying the high pressure to open the exhaust valve. The driver may also decompress the engine, during starting of the engine, for example, by throwing a switch on the vehicle dashboard that starts a fluid pump that applies high pressure fluid to drive the shuttle valve in another direction and to open the exhaust valves. The shuttle valve isolates the two sources of high pressure fluid.

Abstract: An auxiliary braking system of the compression relief type in a vehicle having a diesel engine. The vehicle is provided with an accelerator pedal, a shift lever provided with a knob and a clutch pedal. The auxiliary braking system is armed by a switch means mounted, at least in part, on the knob of the shift lever. The arming switch means includes a microswitch mounted within the knob and a push-button activator protruding therefrom. The switch means may include a relay positioned elsewhere, contacts of which are in series with a series circuit arranged to deliver energizing current to means which enable the auxiliary braking system. The switch means may be in parallel with a principal arming switch which alternatively may be used to arm the sytem, the principal arming switch being positioned on the dashboard of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system incorporating a pivotally mounted control valve to selectively close the upper portion of an exhaust port in a two-cycle engine including a motor coupled with the valve for driving same. A speed determination means is provided to determine the engine speed relative to a specified value. A drive means rotates the motor in either direction based on the sensing by the speed determination means. A drive current control means detects the magnitude of change of the engine speed and increases or decreases the current supplied to the motor to increase or decrease the speed of change of the control valve.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a combustion chamber, an intake system having an intake valve and an intake passage leading through the intake valve to the combustion chamber for providing a supply of intake gas to the combustion chamber. A valve timing control device is provided for governing opening and closing timings of the intake valve so that the intake valve is closed at a controlled timing in the compression stroke, whereby a controlled amount of the intake gas is returned from the combustion chamber to the intake passage in the compression stroke to thereby control the effective charge to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A pressure relief system for an internal combustion engine compression relief engine brake is disclosed. The pressure relief system comprises a bi-stable ball relief valve associated with the high pressure hydraulic system together with damping means adapted to damp out rapidly the oscillations of the ball valve during the period of its opening so as to maximize the flow of hydraulic fluid through the bi-stable valve and minimize the time required to relieve the pressure in the high pressure hydraulic system of the compression relief engine brake. The damping means comprises a spring controlled ball valve guide which inhibits premature reseating of the bi-stable ball valve and maximizes the average opening of the valve during its operating period.