Engine braking apparatus with mechanical linkage and lash adjustment

1. Apparatus for modifying engine valve lift to produce an engine valve event in an internal combustion engine, the engine including at least one exhaust valve and an exhaust valve lifter for cyclically opening and closing the at least one exhaust valve, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an actuator for operating the at least one exhaust valve to produce said modified engine valve lift, said actuator having an inoperative position and an operative position; in said inoperative position said actuator being disengaged from the operation of the at least one exhaust valve, and in said operative position said actuator opening the at least one exhaust valve for said engine valve event; said actuator comprising a mechanical linkage for transmitting a load generated by said engine valve event, said actuator further comprising a lash adjusting system for setting a lash between said actuator and the at least one exhaust valve, and

(b) a controller for moving said actuator between said inoperative position and said operative position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said engine valve event comprises an engine braking event.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said actuator further comprises a motion limiting device for controlling the movement of said actuator between said inoperative position and said operative position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said mechanical linkage includes a rotatable device; and wherein said rotatable device contains a first surface commensurate with said operative position and a second surface commensurate with said inoperative position; said first surface and said second surface having a height difference, and said height difference minus the lash set by said lash adjusting system determining said modified engine valve lift for said engine valve event.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said mechanical linkage includes a slidable device; and wherein said slidable device comprises a plunger, said plunger being slidably disposed in said lash adjusting system between said inoperative position and said operative position; said inoperative position and said operative position having a height difference, and said height difference minus the lash set by said lash adjusting system determining said modified engine valve lift for said engine valve event.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said mechanical linkage includes a ball-locking device; and wherein said ball-locking device comprises a plurality of balls, a ball-locking piston, a braking piston, and a spring; said braking piston being slidable in said lash adjusting system between said inoperative position and said operative position; in said inoperative position, said ball-locking device being retracted to an unlocked position; in said operative position, said ball-locking device being extended to a locked position; said extended position and said retracted position having a height difference, and said height difference minus the lash set by said lash adjusting system determining said modified engine valve lift for said engine valve event.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said mechanical linkage includes a toggle device; and wherein said toggle device comprises a couple of pins, at least one pin-locking piston, a braking piston, and a spring; said braking piston being slidable in said lash adjusting system between said inoperative position and said operative position; in said inoperative position, said toggle device being retracted to an unlocked position; in said operative position, said toggle device being extended to a locked position; said extended position and said retracted position having a height difference, and said height difference minus the lash set by said lash adjusting system determining said modified engine valve lift for said engine valve event.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a valve bridge, wherein said mechanical linkage is disposed in said valve bridge between said inoperative position and said operative position; wherein said inoperative position and said operative position have a height difference, and wherein said height difference minus the lash set by said lash adjusting system determine said modified engine valve lift for said engine valve event.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a rocker arm, wherein said mechanical linkage is disposed in said rocker arm between said inoperative position and said operative position; wherein said inoperative position and said operative position have a height difference, and wherein said height difference minus the lash set by said lash adjusting system determine said modified engine valve lift for said engine valve event.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said operative position and said inoperative position comprise two surfaces, said two surfaces having a height difference, and said height difference minus the lash set by said lash adjusting system determining said modified engine valve lift for said engine valve event.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said operative position and said inoperative position are on one surface, said one surface providing a lift when said actuator is moved from said inoperative position to said operative position, and said lift minus the lash set by said lash adjusting system determining said modified engine valve lift for said engine valve event.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a lift profile for said at least one exhaust valve, said lift profile comprising a predetermined valve seating ramp for reducing impact load between said actuator and said at least one exhaust valve, and said predetermined valve seating ramp starting before the at least one exhaust valve contacts said actuator.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said controller comprises at least one system selected from the group consisting of: a hydraulic system, mechanical system, electric system, magnetic system, and combined system thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said combined system comprises an electromechanical system, said electromechanical system comprising an electric motor, and said electric motor moving said actuator between said inoperative position and said operative position with a predetermined motion.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said combined system further comprises an electrohydromechanical system; said electrohydromechanical system comprising a fluid circuit formed in said actuator and said engine, a flow controller for supplying and cutting off fluid flow to said actuator through said fluid circuit, and a flow actuating device for moving said actuator; said flow controller comprising a three-way solenoid valve or a two-way solenoid valve plus a bleeding orifice, and said flow actuating device comprising fluid and mechanical interaction.

16. A method of modifying engine valve lift to produce an engine valve event in an internal combustion engine, the engine including at least one engine valve and an engine valve lifter for cyclically opening and closing the at least one engine valve, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an actuator having an inoperative position and an operative position, wherein in said inoperative position said actuator is disengaged from the operation of the at least one engine valve; said actuator comprising a mechanical linkage for transmitting a load generated by said engine valve event, said actuator further comprising a lash adjusting system for setting a lash between said actuator and the at least one engine valve;

(b) providing a controller for moving said actuator between said inoperative position and said operative position;

(c) opening the at least one engine valve to produce said modified engine valve lift for said engine valve event; and

(d) transmitting a load from said engine valve event by said mechanical linkage.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a motion limiting device incorporated into said actuator;

(b) setting a lash between said actuator and said engine valve by said lash adjusting system;

(c) controlling the movement of said actuator between said inoperative position and said operative position through said motion limiting device; and

(d) generating said modified engine valve lift from said movement and said lash.