Sign In to Follow Application
View All Documents & Correspondence

Engine Valve Assembly With Valve Can Mountable To An Engine Cover

Abstract: An engine valve assembly (10) is provided with a valve housing (12) configured to promote easy fastening and removal of the valve assembly from an engine cover (37) . The housing has a first wall (14) and a side wall (18) that extends therefrom to partially define an interior cavity with a cavity opening opposite the first wall. In some embodiments, the first wall has a generally teardrop- shaped surface. The first wall has a valve opening (24) and a fastener opening (26) that is spaced from and aligned with the valve opening along the first wall. A valve body (17) is supported by the valve housing (12) at least partially within the interior cavity, and may be press-fit therein. The valve housing (12) mounts to the engine cover (37) with the fastener (38) inserted through the fastener opening to extend through the interior cavity and fasten to the engine cover, with the valve body extending into the engine cover.

Get Free WhatsApp Updates!
Notices, Deadlines & Correspondence

Patent Information

Application #
Filing Date
25 January 2011
Publication Number
15/2011
Publication Type
INA
Invention Field
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Status
Email
Parent Application

Applicants

EATON CORPORATION
EATON CENTER, 1111 SUPERIOR AVENUE, CLEVELAND, OHIO 44114-2584 U.S.A.

Inventors

1. KELLER, ROBERT, DEAN
4785 ORMOND ROAD, DAVISBURG, MI 48350 U.S.A.
2. BOYOHUK, ROBERT, J.
STERLING HEIGHTS, MI U.S.A.

Specification

ENGINE VALVE ASSEMBLY WITH VALVE CAN MOUNTABLE TO AN ENGINE COVER CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/083,663, filed July 25, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to an engine valve assembly mountable to an engine cover. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION An electro-hydraulic system of valves typically controls inlet and exhaust from engine cylinders, as well as the amount of valve lift, in a modern automotive engine. Multiple valves are typically mounted to an engine cam cover. The cover is often of complex topography and must accommodate a variety of other components. An electro- hydraulic valve for an engine that fastens to the cam cover without interference from other components and in an ergonomic manner is desired. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An engine valve assembly is provided with a valve housing, also referred to as a can or cover, that is configured to promote easy access to a fastener used for fastening and removing the valve assembly from an engine cover. The valve assembly may be a solenoid-type oil control valve assembly or other type of engine valve that mounts to an engine cover, and the engine cover may be a cam cover, or any portion of an engine block. The can has a first wall and a side wall that extends therefrom to partially define an interior cavity with a cavity opening opposite the first wall. In some embodiments, the first wall has a generally teardrop-shaped surface, as described in detail herein. The first wall has a valve opening as well as a fastener opening that is spaced from and aligned with the valve opening along the first wall. A valve body is supported by the valve housing at least partially within the interior cavity, and may be press-fit therein, in alignment with the valve opening. The valve housing is configured to mount to the engine cover with the fastener inserted through the fastener opening to extend through the interior cavity and fasten to the engine cover, with the valve body extending into the engine cover. Separation of the fastener opening from the face of the engine cover by the side wall makes the fastener more accessible for insertion and removal, especially if the engine cover has unusual surface geometry or adjacent components that would make access to a fastener opening closer to the engine cover surface more difficult. Cans that have a teardrop-shaped surface may more easily fit in available packaging space on the engine cover due to the tapered nature of the teardrop shape. [(10851 Some embodiments of the can have an opening in the sidewall, also referred to as a window, through which an electrical connector connects with a valve coil and extends for easy access with a mating connector. The window may be offered in different positions on the sidewall for different embodiments, depending on specific application needs. Different electrical connectors may be connected on cans with like windows, as the window may permit connectors of various orientations. [Q006f The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1A is a schematic perspective illustration of a first embodiment of an engine oil control valve assembly having a first embodiment of a valve can; FIGURE IB is a schematic top view of the valve can of Figure 1 A; FIGURE 2 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of the valve assembly with valve can of Figure I, taken at the lines 2-2 of Figure 1 A; FIGURE 3 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of the valve assembly with valve can of Figure 1A, taken at the lines 3-3 of Figure 1A and shown with a fastener mounting the valve to an engine cam cover; FIGURE 4 is a schematic perspective illustration of an alternative valve can for use with the valve body of Figures 1A-3, including a window for electrical connector access; FIGURE 5 is schematic perspective illustration of a second embodiment of an engine oil control valve assembly with the can of Figure 4 and a first embodiment of an electrical connector extending laterally through the window; FIGURE 6 is a schematic perspective illustration of a third embodiment of an engine oil control valve assembly with the can of Figure 4 and a second embodiment of an electrical connector extending at a skewed angle through the window; FIGURE 7 is a schematic perspective illustration of a fourth embodiment of an engine oil control valve assembly with the can of Figure 4 and a third embodiment of an electrical connector extending through the window and vertically; FIGURE 8 is a schematic perspective illustration of a fifth embodiment of an engine oil control valve assembly with a third embodiment of a can and a fourth embodiment of an electrical connector extending through the window and vertically; FIGURE 9 is a schematic perspective illustration of a sixth embodiment of an engine oil control valve assembly with a fourth embodiment of a can and a fifth embodiment of an electrical connector extending through the window and vertically; and FIGURE 10 is a schematic perspective illustration in fragmentary view of the valve assembly of Figure 5 mounted to a second embodiment of an engine cam cover. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components, Figure 1A shows an engine oil control valve assembly 10 including a valve housing 12, also referred to as a can or cap, with a first wall 14 having a generally teardrop-shaped faee 16. A v^lve body 17 extends from the can 12. The valve can 12 includes a side wall 18 extending from a periphery 20 of the first wall 14, generally perpendicularly to the face 16. The valve body 17 is press-fit into an interior cavity 19 formed by the face 16 and side wall 18 (shown in Figure 2), through a cavity opening al terminal end 21 of the side wall 18. The periphery 20 is shown most clearly in Figure IB. A pole piece cover 22 shown in Figure 1A is removed in Figure IB to reveal a valve opening 24 in the first wall 14. A fastener opening 26 is displaced laterally from the valve opening 24 along the face 16. [0JM-9] Referring to Figure 1B, the teardrop-shaped face 16 is determined by the periphery 20, which has a first portion 28 extending from point A to point B that is characterized by a first radius Rl centered at a center CI of the valve opening 24. The periphery 20 also has a second portion 30 extending from point C to point D that is characterized by a second radius R2 centered at a center C2 of the fastener opening 26. A third portion 32 of the periphery connects the first portion 28 with the second portion 30, as does an opposite fourth portion 34. [1)020] Although the teardrop-shaped face 16 is established by the periphery 20 described above, other teardrop-shaped faces as well as faces that are not teardrop-shaped and are established by different peripheries, are within the scope of the claimed invention. In general, a "teardrop-shaped" face is a generally planar face with a periphery that generally tapers from a larger rounded portion to a smaller rounded portion. [902-lf As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 and as further described below, the can 12 of the engine oil control valve assembly 10 enables ease in fastening to an engine cover, and more specifically, a cam cover 37 (shown in Figure 3) via a threaded fastener 38. As used herein, an engine cover may be a cam cover. Referring to Figure 2, the engine oil control valve assembly 10 includes an electrical coil 40 surrounded by a coil support portion 42 (also referred to as a bobbin) of the valve body 17 and encapsulated in a coil cover 43. The valve body 17 defines an armature chamber 44 in which a pole piece 46 is press-fit. An armature 48 is movable in the armature chamber 44 in response to energizing of the coil 40. A main spring 49 biases the armature 48 away from the pole piece. A flux collator SO (also referred, tp as a flux bracket) is supported adjacent the coil 40 and armature 48 by a base portion 51 of the valve body 17. Electrical wiring for energizing of the coil 40 may be connected with the coil 40 through wiring openings 41, shown in Figures 1A and IB. Alternatively, an electrical connector may be mounted in a fixed position to the side wall 18, accessing the coil 40 through the side wall 18. [

Documents

Application Documents

# Name Date
1 388-KOLNP-2011-AbandonedLetter.pdf 2017-10-08
1 abstract-388-kolnp-2011.jpg 2011-10-06
2 388-KOLNP-2011-FER.pdf 2016-12-29
2 388-kolnp-2011-specification.pdf 2011-10-06
3 388-kolnp-2011-pct request form.pdf 2011-10-06
3 388-kolnp-2011-abstract.pdf 2011-10-06
4 388-kolnp-2011-pct priority document notification.pdf 2011-10-06
4 388-kolnp-2011-claims.pdf 2011-10-06
5 388-kolnp-2011-international search report.pdf 2011-10-06
5 388-kolnp-2011-correspondence.pdf 2011-10-06
6 388-kolnp-2011-international publication.pdf 2011-10-06
6 388-kolnp-2011-description (complete).pdf 2011-10-06
7 388-kolnp-2011-gpa.pdf 2011-10-06
7 388-kolnp-2011-drawings.pdf 2011-10-06
8 388-kolnp-2011-form-5.pdf 2011-10-06
8 388-KOLNP-2011-FORM 18.pdf 2011-10-06
9 388-kolnp-2011-form-1.pdf 2011-10-06
9 388-kolnp-2011-form-3.pdf 2011-10-06
10 388-kolnp-2011-form-2.pdf 2011-10-06
11 388-kolnp-2011-form-1.pdf 2011-10-06
11 388-kolnp-2011-form-3.pdf 2011-10-06
12 388-KOLNP-2011-FORM 18.pdf 2011-10-06
12 388-kolnp-2011-form-5.pdf 2011-10-06
13 388-kolnp-2011-drawings.pdf 2011-10-06
13 388-kolnp-2011-gpa.pdf 2011-10-06
14 388-kolnp-2011-description (complete).pdf 2011-10-06
14 388-kolnp-2011-international publication.pdf 2011-10-06
15 388-kolnp-2011-correspondence.pdf 2011-10-06
15 388-kolnp-2011-international search report.pdf 2011-10-06
16 388-kolnp-2011-claims.pdf 2011-10-06
16 388-kolnp-2011-pct priority document notification.pdf 2011-10-06
17 388-kolnp-2011-abstract.pdf 2011-10-06
17 388-kolnp-2011-pct request form.pdf 2011-10-06
18 388-KOLNP-2011-FER.pdf 2016-12-29
18 388-kolnp-2011-specification.pdf 2011-10-06
19 abstract-388-kolnp-2011.jpg 2011-10-06
19 388-KOLNP-2011-AbandonedLetter.pdf 2017-10-08

Search Strategy

1 searchstrategy388kolnp2011_28-11-2016.pdf