System and method for improving performance of hydraulic actuating system

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for supplying hydraulic fluid to a lost motion system in an internal combustion engine. The system may comprise a reservoir; a gallery circuit connected to the reservoir, wherein the gallery circuit is adapted to be connected to the one or more lost motion systems; and a control valve adapted to provide selective hydraulic communication between the gallery circuit and the one or more lost motion systems.

1 . A system for supplying hydraulic fluid to one or more lost motion systems in an internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 a reservoir;    a gallery circuit connected to said reservoir, wherein said gallery circuit is adapted to be connected to the one or more lost motion systems; and    a control valve adapted to provide selective hydraulic communication between said gallery circuit and the one or more lost motion systems.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an air bleed opening provided in said reservoir.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said gallery circuit is disposed relative to the one or more lost motion systems to facilitate the flow of hydraulic fluid from said gallery circuit to the one or more lost motion systems under the influence of gravity.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said reservoir is disposed relative to the one or more lost motion systems to facilitate the flow of hydraulic fluid from said reservoir to the one or more lost motion systems under the influence of gravity.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising means for selectively opening said control valve during an engine start up period.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a hydraulic fluid supply passage for supplying hydraulic fluid to the reservoir system.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said fluid supply passage connects to an inlet port in said reservoir.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the inlet port is disposed proximate the top of said reservoir.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said fluid supply passage connects to said gallery circuit.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 6 , a check valve disposed in said fluid supply passage.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lost motion system comprises: 
 a master piston;    a slave piston; and    a hydraulic passage operatively connecting said master piston to said slave piston.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said master piston is disposed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of said slave piston.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said master piston and said slave piston is inverted.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an accumulator piston disposed proximate said hydraulic passage.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the level of hydraulic fluid in said reservoir is above the level of said hydraulic passage.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a bypass passage providing hydraulic fluid bypass of said control valve; and    a check valve disposed in said bypass passage.    
   
   
       17 . A hydraulic actuating system in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, said system comprising: 
 a plurality of lost motion systems, wherein one lost motion system is provided for each cylinder in the multi-cylinder engine;    a reservoir;    a gallery circuit connected to said reservoir, wherein said gallery circuit is adapted to be connected to said plurality of lost motion systems; and    a control valve adapted to provide selective hydraulic communication between said gallery circuit and said plurality of lost motion systems.    
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising means for selectively opening said control valve during an engine start up period.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said gallery circuit is disposed relative to said lost motion systems to facilitate the flow of hydraulic fluid from said gallery circuit to said lost motion systems under the influence of gravity.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said reservoir is disposed relative to said lost motion systems to facilitate the flow of hydraulic fluid from said reservoir to said lost motion systems under the influence of gravity.  
   
   
       21 . A method of providing hydraulic fluid to a lost motion system during start up of an internal combustion engine, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing hydraulic fluid in a reservoir, the reservoir being disposed relative to the lost motion system to facilitate the flow of hydraulic fluid to the lost motion system under the influence of gravity;    blocking hydraulic communication between the reservoir and the lost motion system during application of at least an initial portion of an engine valve event motion to the lost motion system; and    providing hydraulic communication between the reservoir and the lost motion system during application of at least a later portion of the engine valve event motion to the lost motion system.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the engine valve event comprises a main exhaust event.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of venting air from the reservoir through an air bleed opening provided in said reservoir.