Variable intake valve closing using through axle rocker arm

1. A method of designing a through axle switching rocker arm comprising an outer arm, an inner arm and a roller axle, the inner arm pivotally coupled to the outer arm about a pivot axle and having an inner bushing that supports an inner roller, the inner bushing defining an inner diameter, the roller axle extending through the outer arm and supporting a pair of outer rollers, the roller axle extending through the inner bushing and defining an outer diameter, wherein the inner diameter of the inner bushing engages the outer diameter of the roller axle thereby inhibiting further pivoting of the inner arm relative to the outer arm defining a rocker arm travel constraint, the method comprising:

designing first and second cam profiles based on the through axle switching rocker arm such that a difference in lift between the first and second cam profiles is held within the rocker arm travel constraint while still having capacity to achieve either of an early intake valve closing EIVC valve actuation strategy and a late valve closing LIVC valve actuation strategy; and

configuring the through axle switching rocker arm for selective and alternative operation in (i) a first arrangement with a first cam having the first cam profile that implements an (EIVC) valve actuation strategy and in (ii) a second arrangement with a second cam having the second cam profile that implements an (LIVC) valve actuation strategy.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first cam profile corresponds to a lift profile typifying a parabolic shape and the second cam profile corresponds to a lift profile typifying a parabolic shape and having a closing tail portion that increases a duration of valve lift.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first cam profile corresponds to a lift profile typifying a parabolic shape the second cam profile corresponds to a lift profile typifying a parabolic shape and having an opening lead portion that increases a duration of valve lift.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first cam profile corresponds to a lift profile typifying a parabolic shape and the second cam profile corresponds to a lift profile typifying a parabolic shape and having both of an opening lead portion and a closing tail portion that both increase a duration of a valve lift.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein forming the first and second cam profiles comprises forming a first cam having an early intake valve closing profile and a second cam having a high power intake profile.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein forming the first and second cam profiles comprises forming a first cam having an early intake valve closing profile and a second cam having a late intake closing profile.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the second cam includes a high power intake closing profile.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

configuring the switching rocker arm for selective and alternative operation (i) on a first valve having a first short duration close angle and a first long duration close angle; and configuring a second switching rocker arm for selective and alternative operation (ii) on a second valve having a second short duration close angle and a second long duration close angle.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising configuring two switching rocker arms for concurrent use on a four valve per cylinder engine to attain three available valve opening durations.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing the through axle switching rocker arm wherein the inner diameter of the inner bushing is greater than the outer diameter of the roller axle.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the inner diameter of the inner bushing and the outer diameter of the roller axle have a difference of 2.4 mm.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the inner diameter of the inner bushing and the outer diameter of the roller axle have a difference of 3 mm.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising providing a latch pin that moves between (i) a latched position wherein the outer and inner arms rotate together about the pivot axle; and (ii) an unlatched position wherein the inner arm pivots relative to the outer arm about the pivot axle.

14. A method of designing a through axle switching rocker arm comprising an outer arm, an inner arm and a roller axle, the inner arm pivotally coupled to the outer arm about a pivot axle and having an inner bushing that supports an inner roller, the inner bushing defining an inner diameter, the roller axle extending through the outer arm and supporting a pair of outer rollers, the roller axle extending through the inner bushing and defining an outer diameter, wherein the inner diameter of the inner bushing engages the outer diameter of the roller axle thereby inhibiting further pivoting of the inner arm relative to the outer arm defining a rocker arm travel constraint, the method comprising:

designing first and second cam profiles based on the through axle switching rocker arm such that a difference in lift between the first and second cam profiles is held within the rocker arm travel constraint;

forming the first and second cam profiles such that a difference in lift between the first and second cam profiles is held within the rocker arm travel constraint, the first cam profile having an early intake valve closing profile, the second cam profile having a late intake closing profile; and

configuring the through axle switching rocker arm for selective and alternative operation in (i) a first arrangement with a first cam having the first cam profile that implements an early intake valve closing (EIVC) valve actuation strategy and in (ii) a second arrangement with a second cam having the second cam profile that implements a late intake valve closing (LIVC) valve actuation strategy.

15. A method of designing a through axle switching rocker arm comprising an outer arm, an inner arm and a roller axle, the inner arm pivotally coupled to the outer arm about a pivot axle and having an inner bushing that supports an inner roller, the inner bushing defining an inner diameter, the roller axle extending through the outer arm and supporting a pair of outer rollers, the roller axle extending through the inner bushing and defining an outer diameter, wherein the inner diameter of the inner bushing engages the outer diameter of the roller axle thereby inhibiting further pivoting of the inner arm relative to the outer arm defining a rocker arm travel constraint, the method comprising:

designing first and second cam profiles based on the through axle switching rocker arm such that a difference in lift between the first and second cam profiles is held within the rocker arm travel constraint, wherein the first cam profile corresponds to a lift profile typifying a parabolic shape and the second cam profile corresponds to a lift profile typifying a parabolic shape and having both of an opening lead portion and a closing tail portion that both increase a duration of a valve lift; and

configuring the through axle switching rocker arm for selective and alternative operation in (i) a first arrangement with a first cam having the first cam profile that implements an early intake valve closing (EIVC) valve actuation strategy and in (ii) a second arrangement with a second cam having the second cam profile that implements a late intake valve closing (LIVC) valve actuation strategy.