System and method for providing hydraulic valve lash compensation for electrically actuated internal combustion engine poppet valves

Abstract

A system and method for assembling an electrical valve actuator to a cylinder head is described. The system and method provide for lower assembly cost, improved concentricity between valve actuator armatures and valve stems, as well enabling lower inertia valve actuators.

1 . A system for mounting an electrical valve actuator to an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
 an electrical actuator for operating a poppet valve that controls flow to a cylinder of an internal combustion engine;   a cylinder head having at least a poppet valve for directing flow into a cylinder of said internal combustion engine; and   a guide block located between said electrical actuator and said cylinder head, said guide block comprising a lash adjuster bore beginning at a first face of said guide block and ending at a location that is at least partially through said guide block, said lash adjuster bore diameter sized to allow the body of a hydraulic lash adjuster to slide through said lash adjuster bore in an axial direction, said lash adjuster bore aligned with a coaxially situated counter bore that extends from said lash adjuster bore to a second face of said guide block.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a hydraulic valve lash adjuster positioned in said lash adjuster bore to move in an axial direction. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein an annulus is formed in said lash adjuster bore of said guide block. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein an oil galley passes through said guide block to supply oil to said hydraulic lash adjuster. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein an armature return spring is located within said counter bore. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the diameter of said counter bore is substantially that of a spring guide. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said hydraulic lash adjuster is comprised of a plunger that contacts a stem of said armature, a cup forming a pressure chamber that contacts a stem of said poppet valve, and a tappet body that moves in an axial direction along said lash adjuster bore. 
   
   
       8 . A system for mounting an electrical valve actuator to an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
 an electrical actuator for operating a poppet valve that controls flow to a cylinder of an internal combustion engine;   a cylinder head having at least a poppet valve for directing flow into a cylinder of said internal combustion engine; and   a guide block located between said electrical actuator and said cylinder head, said guide block comprising a lash adjuster bore beginning at a first face of said guide block and ending at a location that is at least partially through said guide block, said lash adjuster bore diameter sized to allow the body of a hydraulic lash adjuster to slide through said lash adjuster bore in an axial direction, said lash adjuster bore aligned with a coaxially situated counter bore that extends from said lash adjuster bore to a second face of said guide block, said guide block fastened to said electrical actuator.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising fastening said electrical actuator to a cylinder head. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising a hydraulic valve lash adjuster positioned in said lash adjuster bore to move in an axial direction. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein an annulus is formed in said lash adjuster bore of said guide block. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 8  wherein an oil gallery passes through said guide block to supply oil to said hydraulic lash adjuster. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 8  wherein an armature return spring is located within said counter bore. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the diameter of said counter bore is substantially that of a spring guide. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said hydraulic lash adjuster is comprised of a plunger that contacts a stem of said armature, a cup forming a pressure chamber that contacts a stem of said poppet valve, and a tappet body that moves in an axial direction along said lash adjuster bore. 
   
   
       16 . A method for assembling an electrical valve actuator to an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
 attaching a guide block to a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine by aligning oil galleries of said cylinder head and of said guide block, said guide block comprised of a lash adjuster bore extending partially through said guide block, said guide block further comprised of counter bore extending from said lash adjuster bore to the extent of said guide block;   inserting a hydraulic lash adjuster through said counter bore and into said lash adjuster bore; and   fastening an electrical actuator having an armature return spring to said cylinder head by inserting said return spring into said counter bore and fastening said electrical actuator to said cylinder head or said guide block.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said oil galleries provide oil to said hydraulic lash adjuster. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said lash adjuster bore includes an annulus. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said guide block is fastened to said cylinder head before said electrical valve actuator is fastened to said cylinder head or said guide block. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said guide block counter bore is used to locate said electrical actuator to said cylinder head. 
   
   
       21 . A method for assembling an electrical valve actuator to an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
 producing an assembly by attaching a guide block to an electrical actuator, said guide block comprised of an oil gallery, a lash adjuster bore for housing a hydraulic lash adjuster, and a counter bore for housing an actuator return spring;   inserting said assembly into a cylinder head and aligning said oil gallery to an oil gallery located in said cylinder head; and   fastening said electrical actuator to said cylinder head.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said electrical actuator is fastened to said cylinder head by fasteners that extend at least partially through said electrical actuator. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said guide block is used to locate said electrical actuator to said cylinder head by fitting said guide block into said cylinder head before said electrical actuator contacts said cylinder head. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said lash adjuster bore includes an annulus.