Rocker arm assembly for engine braking

1. An exhaust valve rocker arm assembly operable in a combustion engine mode and an engine braking mode, the exhaust valve rocker arm assembly comprising:

a rocker shaft that defines a pressurized oil supply conduit;

a rocker arm, configured to receive the rocker shaft, and configured to rotate around the rocker shaft, the rocker arm including a rocker arm oil supply passage defined therein;

a valve bridge configured to engage a first exhaust valve and a second exhaust valve;

a hydraulic lash adjuster assembly disposed in the rocker arm and including a first plunger body movable in a first direction between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the first plunger body extends rigidly for cooperative engagement with the valve bridge, the hydraulic lash adjuster assembly including an actuator configured to selectively release pressure in the hydraulic lash adjuster assembly; and

an accumulator assembly disposed in the rocker arm and including an accumulator piston that translates in a second direction within an accumulator piston housing between closed and open positions, the accumulator assembly configured to store a predetermined amount of oil when the first plunger body moves toward the first position, the second direction being transverse to the first direction,

wherein, in the engine braking mode, pressurized oil is communicated through the pressurized oil supply conduit, through the rocker arm oil supply passage, and against the actuator, such that the first plunger body occupies the first position and acts on the valve bridge during rotation of the rocker arm to a first angle, opening the first exhaust valve a predetermined distance while the second exhaust valve remains closed,

wherein the accumulator assembly further includes an accumulator spring configured to bias the accumulator piston toward the closed position,

wherein in the closed position, oil is inhibited from entering the accumulator piston housing,

wherein the accumulator assembly further defines a release hole formed in the rocker arm that fluidly connects with the accumulator piston housing, and

wherein oil is released from the accumulator piston housing through the release hole upon the accumulator piston translating a predetermined amount.

2. The exhaust valve rocker arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a needle having a disk portion, and

wherein the exhaust valve rocker arm assembly further comprises:

an oil discharge circuit configured to selectively depressurize oil under the disk portion of the needle.

3. The exhaust valve rocker arm assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:

a spigot disposed on the rocker arm,

wherein in the engine braking mode, subsequent to the opening of the first exhaust valve the predetermined distance, further rotation of the rocker arm causes the spigot to move the valve bridge and open the second exhaust valve while further opening the first exhaust valve.

4. The exhaust valve rocker arm assembly of claim 3 wherein the oil discharge circuit is collectively defined by a first connecting passage and an outlet passage defined in the rocker arm and a pass-through channel defined in the spigot.

5. The exhaust valve rocker arm assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first connecting passage connects a bore defined in the rocker arm that receives the disk portion with a spigot receiving passage that receives the spigot.

6. The exhaust valve rocker arm assembly of claim 5 , wherein the spigot is configured to translate relative to the rocker arm along the spigot receiving passage, and

wherein a predetermined rotation of the rocker arm will align the first connecting passage, the pass-through channel, and the outlet passage, and depressurize oil from under the disk portion of the needle.

7. The exhaust valve rocker assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic lash adjuster assembly further includes a second plunger body that is at least partially received by the first plunger body, and

wherein the second plunger body defines a valve seat.

8. The exhaust valve rocker assembly of claim 7 , further comprising:

a check valve, disposed on the rocker arm, including the actuator,

wherein the actuator comprises a needle including a longitudinal pin portion and a disk portion, and

wherein the check valve is disposed between the first and second plunger bodies, the check valve further including a check ball configured to selectively seat against the valve seat on the second plunger body.

9. An exhaust valve rocker arm assembly operable in a combustion engine mode and an engine braking mode, the exhaust valve rocker arm assembly comprising:

a rocker shaft that defines a pressurized oil supply conduit;

a rocker arm configured to receive the rocker shaft and configured to rotate around the rocker shaft, the rocker arm including an oil supply passage defined therein;

a valve bridge configured to engage a first exhaust valve and a second exhaust valve, the valve bridge translating in a linear direction upon rotation of the rocker arm;

a first plunger body movable in a first direction between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the first plunger body extends rigidly for cooperative engagement with the valve bridge;

a check valve disposed in the rocker arm and including an actuator configured to selectively release pressure acting on the first plunger body, the actuator comprising a needle having a longitudinal pin portion and a disk portion;

an accumulator assembly disposed in the rocker arm and including an accumulator piston configured to translate in a second direction within an accumulator piston housing between closed and open positions, the accumulator assembly configured to store a predetermined amount of oil when the first plunger body moves toward the first position, the second direction being transverse to the first direction; and

an oil discharge circuit configured to selectively depressurize oil under the disk portion of the actuator,

wherein, in the engine braking mode, the rocker arm is configured to rotate to (i) a first predetermined angle wherein pressurized oil is communicated through the pressurized oil supply conduit, through the rocker arm oil supply passage, and against the actuator such that the first plunger body occupies the first position and acts on the valve bridge opening the first exhaust valve a predetermined distance while the second exhaust valve remains closed, (ii) a second predetermined angle wherein the oil discharge circuit opens, releasing oil pressure from under the disk portion of the actuator, (iii) a third predetermined angle wherein the rocker arm oil supply passage disconnects from the pressurized oil supply conduit,

wherein the accumulator assembly further includes an accumulator spring configured to bias the accumulator piston toward the closed position,

wherein in the closed position, oil is inhibited from entering the accumulator piston housing,

wherein the accumulator assembly further defines a release hole formed in the rocker arm that fluidly connects with the accumulator piston housing, and

wherein oil is released from the accumulator piston housing through the release hole upon the accumulator piston translating a predetermined amount.

10. The exhaust valve rocker arm assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:

a spigot disposed on the rocker arm,

wherein, in the engine braking mode, subsequent to the opening of the first exhaust valve the predetermined distance, further rotation of the rocker arm causes the spigot to move the valve bridge and open the second exhaust valve while further opening the first exhaust valve.

11. The exhaust valve rocker arm assembly of claim 10 , wherein the oil discharge circuit is collectively defined by a first connecting passage and an outlet passage defined in the rocker arm and a pass-through channel defined in the spigot.

12. The exhaust valve rocker arm assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first connecting passage connects a bore defined in the rocker arm that receives the disk portion with a spigot receiving passage that receives the spigot.

13. The exhaust valve rocker arm assembly of claim 12 , wherein the spigot is configured to translate along the spigot receiving passage relative to the rocker arm and wherein a predetermined rotation of the rocker arm will align the first connecting passage, the pass-through channel and the outlet passage, and depressurize oil from under the disk portion of the needle.

14. The exhaust valve rocker assembly of claim 9 , wherein the hydraulic lash adjuster assembly further includes a second plunger body that is at least partially received by the first plunger body, and

wherein the second plunger body defines a valve seat.

15. The exhaust valve rocker assembly of claim 13 , wherein the check valve is disposed between the first and second plunger bodies,

wherein the check valve further includes a check ball configured to selectively seat against the valve seat on the second plunger body.

16. The exhaust valve rocker assembly of claim 13 wherein the spigot is configured to slidably translate along the spigot receiving passage prior to moving the bridge portion.