Variable valve lift rocker arm assembly

Abstract

A variable valve lift rocker arm assembly includes a latching axle assembly, an outer body comprising at least one valve end, an outer bore shaft, and an outer axle bore for receiving the latching axle assembly, an inner body comprising an inner bore shaft and an inner axle bore for receiving the latching axle assembly, and a roller operatively coupled to the latching axle assembly and the inner body. The outer body is operatively coupled to the inner body by the latching axle assembly. The outer body is configured to selectively rotate relative to the inner body via the rocker shaft. The latching axle assembly comprises a roller latch assembly operatively coupled to the inner body and to the roller. A first latch receiver assembly is operatively coupled to the outer body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A variable valve lift rocker arm assembly, comprising:
 a latching axle assembly;   an outer body comprising at least one valve end, an outer bore shaft, and an outer axle bore for receiving the latching axle assembly;   an inner body comprising an inner bore shaft and an inner axle bore for receiving the latching axle assembly; and   a roller operatively coupled to the latching axle assembly and the inner body,   wherein the outer body is operatively coupled to the inner body by the latching axle assembly,   wherein the outer body is configured to selectively rotate relative to the inner body via the rocker shaft,   wherein the latching axle assembly comprises a roller latch assembly operatively coupled to the inner body and to the roller, and   wherein a first latch receiver assembly is operatively coupled to the outer body.   
     
     
         2 . The variable valve lift rocker arm assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the roller latch assembly comprises a first latch pin, and wherein the first latch pin is configured to engage with the first latch receiver assembly to move between a latched position and an unlatched position. 
     
     
         3 . The variable valve lift rocker arm assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first latch pin engages with the first latch receiver assembly to lock the relative rotation between the inner body and the outer body, and wherein the first latch pin disengages from the first latch receiver assembly to allow relative rotation between the inner body and the outer body. 
     
     
         4 . The variable valve lift rocker arm assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the roller latch assembly comprises a second latch pin, and   the outer body comprises a second latch receiver assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The variable valve lift rocker arm assembly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first latch pin and the second latch pin are configured to engage with the first latch receiver assembly and the second latch receiver assembly in an unlatched position, in which the first latch pin disengages from the first latch receiver assembly and the second latch pin disengages from the second latch receiver assembly to allow relative rotation between the inner body and the outer body.   
     
     
         6 . The variable valve lift rocker arm assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the roller comprises a main roller of a main roller and a secondary roller of the variable valve lift rocker arm assembly, and wherein the roller latch assembly is seated within the main roller. 
     
     
         7 . The variable valve lift rocker arm assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first latch receiver is configured to selectively press on the roller latch assembly to selectively unlatch the inner body from the outer body. 
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a variable valve lift rocker arm assembly, comprising:
 a latching axle assembly; 
 an outer body comprising at least one valve end, an outer bore shaft, and an outer axle bore for receiving the latching axle assembly; 
 an inner body comprising an inner bore shaft and an inner axle bore for receiving the latching axle assembly; and 
 a roller operatively coupled to the latching axle assembly and the inner body, 
 wherein the outer body is operatively coupled to the inner body by the latching axle assembly, and 
 wherein the outer body is configured to selectively rotate relative to the inner body via the rocker shaft. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the latching axle assembly comprises a roller latch assembly operatively coupled to the inner body and to the roller. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a first latch receiver assembly is operatively coupled to the outer body. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the roller latch assembly comprises a first latch pin, and wherein the first latch pin is configured to engage with the first latch receiver assembly to move between a latched position and an unlatched position. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first latch pin engages with the first latch receiver assembly to lock the relative rotation between the inner body and the outer body, and wherein the first latch pin disengages from the first latch receiver assembly to allow relative rotation between the inner body and the outer body. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the roller latch assembly comprises a second latch pin, and   the outer body comprises a second latch receiver assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first latch pin and the second latch pin are configured to engage with the first latch receiver assembly and the second latch receiver assembly in an unlatched position, in which the first latch pin disengages from the first latch receiver assembly and the second latch pin disengages from the second latch receiver assembly to allow relative rotation between the inner body and the outer body.   
     
     
         15 . A variable valve lift rocker arm assembly, comprising:
 a latching axle assembly;   an outer body comprising at least one valve end, an outer bore shaft, and an outer axle bore for receiving the latching axle assembly;   an inner body comprising an inner bore shaft and an inner axle bore for receiving the latching axle assembly; and   a roller operatively coupled to the latching axle assembly and the inner body,   wherein the outer body is operatively coupled to the inner body by the latching axle assembly, and   wherein the outer body is configured to selectively rotate relative to the inner body via the rocker shaft.   
     
     
         16 . The variable valve lift rocker arm assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the latching axle assembly comprises a roller latch assembly operatively coupled to the inner body and to the roller. 
     
     
         17 . The variable valve lift rocker arm assembly of  claim 15 , wherein a first latch receiver assembly is operatively coupled to the outer body. 
     
     
         18 . The variable valve lift rocker arm assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the roller latch assembly comprises a first latch pin, and wherein the first latch pin is configured to engage with the first latch receiver assembly to move between a latched position and an unlatched position. 
     
     
         19 . The variable valve lift rocker arm assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the first latch pin engages with the first latch receiver assembly to lock the relative rotation between the inner body and the outer body, and wherein the first latch pin disengages from the first latch receiver assembly to allow relative rotation between the inner body and the outer body. 
     
     
         20 . The variable valve lift rocker arm assembly of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the roller latch assembly comprises a second latch pin,   the outer body comprises a second latch receiver assembly, and   the first latch pin and the second latch pin are configured to engage with the first latch receiver assembly and the second latch receiver assembly in a latched position, in which the first latch pin engages with the first latch receiver assembly and the second latch pin engages with the second latch receiver assembly to lock the relative rotation between the inner body and the outer body.