Type iii cam side cylinder deactivation

Abstract

A rocker arm assembly includes a rocker arm configured to rotate about a rocker shaft and having a valve side end configured to selectively engage an engine valve, and a cam side end configured to be selectively engaged by a camshaft. A cylinder deactivation (CDA) capsule is coupled to the cam side end and includes an outer body having at least one slot formed therein, the outer body configured to be coupled to the rocker arm, and an inner plunger at least partially received within the outer body and having at least one outwardly extending tab. The inner plunger is configured to translate within the outer body, and the at least one outwardly extending tab is received within the at least one slot and a groove formed in the rocker arm to facilitate preventing rotation of the inner plunger and outer body relative to the rocker arm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cylinder deactivation (CDA) capsule for a valvetrain assembly having at least one rocker arm, the CDA capsule comprising:
 an outer body having at least one slot formed therein, the outer body configured to be coupled to the rocker arm; and   an inner plunger at least partially received within the outer body and having at least one outwardly extending tab, the inner plunger configured to translate within the outer body,   wherein the at least one outwardly extending tab is received within the at least one slot to facilitate preventing rotation of the inner plunger relative to the outer body, and   wherein the CDA capsule is movable between an activated position where the CDA capsule is configured to transfer motion from a camshaft, and a deactivated position where the CDA capsule is configured to absorb the motion from the camshaft.   
     
     
         2 . The CDA capsule of  claim 1 , further comprising a latching mechanism operably associated between the outer body and the inner plunger, the latching mechanism selectively movable between a latched position that facilitates preventing relative movement between the plunger and the outer body, and an unlatched position that facilitates movement between the plunger and the outer body. 
     
     
         3 . The CDA capsule of  claim 2 , wherein the latching mechanism includes a pair of opposed pins and a biasing mechanism disposed therebetween. 
     
     
         4 . The CDA capsule of  claim 3 , wherein each opposed pin includes a pin shoulder configured to abut against a shoulder of the outer body when the latching mechanism is in the latched position. 
     
     
         5 . The CDA capsule of  claim 3 , wherein the outer body includes a fluid port configured to provide a supply of fluid to the opposed pins to move the latching mechanism from the latched position to the unlatched position. 
     
     
         6 . The CDA capsule of  claim 5 , wherein the outer body includes a fluid communication groove formed therein, the fluid communication groove in fluid communication with the fluid port. 
     
     
         7 . The CDA capsule of  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing mechanism disposed between the plunger and the outer body, the biasing mechanism configured to absorb motion of the plunger within the outer body when the latching mechanism is in the unlatched position, to thereby provide a lost motion feature. 
     
     
         8 . The CDA capsule of  claim 7 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a first spring and a second spring. 
     
     
         9 . The CDA capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot comprises a pair of diametrically opposed slots, wherein the at least one outwardly extending tab comprises a pair of diametrically opposed outwardly extending tabs, and wherein the outwardly extending tabs are received within the slots to prevent relative rotation between the inner plunger and the outer body. 
     
     
         10 . A rocker arm assembly for a valvetrain assembly, the rocker arm assembly comprising:
 a rocker arm configured to rotate about a rocker shaft and having a valve side end configured to selectively engage an engine valve, and a cam side end configured to be selectively engaged by a camshaft; and   a cylinder deactivation (CDA) capsule coupled to the cam side end and movable between an activated position where the CDA capsule transfers motion from the camshaft to the engine valve, and a deactivated position where the CDA capsule absorbs the motion from the camshaft without transferring said motion to the engine valve.   
     
     
         11 . The rocker arm assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the rocker arm valve side end includes a mechanical lash adjuster assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The rocker arm assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the CDA capsule comprises:
 an outer body having at least one slot formed therein; and   an inner plunger at least partially received within the outer body and having at least one outwardly extending tab, the inner plunger configured to translate within the outer body,   wherein the at least one outwardly extending tab is received within the at least one slot to facilitate preventing rotation of the inner plunger relative to the outer body.   
     
     
         13 . The rocker arm assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the CDA capsule is at least partially disposed within a bore formed in the rocker arm cam side end. 
     
     
         14 . The rocker arm assembly of  claim 13 , wherein a groove is formed in an inner wall of the rocker arm that defines the bore, and wherein the at least one outwardly extending tab is received within the groove to further facilitate preventing rotation of the inner plunger and the outer body within the bore relative to the rocker arm. 
     
     
         15 . The rocker arm assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one slot comprises a pair of diametrically opposed slots, wherein the at least one outwardly extending tab comprises a pair of diametrically opposed outwardly extending tabs, and wherein the outwardly extending tabs are received within the slots to facilitate preventing relative rotation between the inner plunger and the outer body. 
     
     
         16 . The rocker arm assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a latching mechanism operably associated between the outer body and the inner plunger, the latching mechanism selectively movable between a latched position that facilitates preventing relative movement between the plunger and the outer body, and an unlatched position that facilitates movement between the plunger and the outer body. 
     
     
         17 . The rocker arm assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the latching mechanism includes a pair of opposed pins and a biasing mechanism disposed therebetween, and wherein each opposed pin includes a pin shoulder configured to abut against a shoulder of the outer body when the latching mechanism is in the latched position. 
     
     
         18 . The rocker arm assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the outer body includes a fluid port configured to provide a supply of fluid to the opposed pins to move the latching mechanism from the latched position to the unlatched position, and wherein the outer body includes a fluid communication groove formed therein, the fluid communication groove in fluid communication with the fluid port. 
     
     
         19 . The rocker arm assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a biasing mechanism disposed between the plunger and the outer body, the biasing mechanism configured to absorb motion of the plunger within the outer body when the latching mechanism is in the unlatched position, to thereby provide a lost motion feature. 
     
     
         20 . A rocker arm assembly for a valvetrain assembly, the rocker arm assembly comprising:
 a rocker arm configured to rotate about a rocker shaft and having a valve side end configured to selectively engage an engine valve, and a cam side end configured to be selectively engaged by a camshaft; and   a cylinder deactivation (CDA) capsule coupled to the cam side end and comprising:   an outer body having at least one slot formed therein, the outer body configured to be coupled to the rocker arm; and
 an inner plunger at least partially received within the outer body and having at least one outwardly extending tab, the inner plunger configured to translate within the outer body, 
   wherein the at least one outwardly extending tab is received within the at least one slot and a groove formed in the rocker arm to facilitate preventing rotation of the inner plunger and outer body relative to the rocker arm, and   wherein the CDA capsule is movable between an activated position where the CDA capsule is configured to transfer motion from the camshaft to the engine valve, and a deactivated position where the CDA capsule is configured to absorb the motion from the camshaft.