Bridgeless, single output, coupled hydraulic rocker arm

Abstract

A rocker arm for actuating at least two engine valves in an internal combustion engine comprises a unitary body configured to span at least two engine valves and a motion source interface supported by the body and configured to receive main valve actuations and auxiliary valve actuations from a motion source. The rocker arm further comprises a hydraulic control circuit supported by the body and configured to receive hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic fluid source, and a valve interface operatively supported by the body and operatively connected to the hydraulic control circuit, wherein the valve interface is configured and selectively operable via the hydraulic control circuit to convey the main valve actuations to the at least two engine valves and to convey the auxiliary valve actuations to at least a first engine valve of the at least two engine valves.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rocker arm for actuating at least two engine valves in an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 a unitary body configured to span the at least two engine valves;   a motion source interface supported by the body and configured to receive main valve actuations and auxiliary valve actuations from a motion source;   a hydraulic control circuit supported by the body and configured to receive hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic fluid source; and   a valve interface operatively supported by the body and operatively connected to the hydraulic control circuit, the valve interface being configured and selectively operable via the hydraulic control circuit to convey the main valve actuations to the at least two engine valves and to convey the auxiliary valve actuations to at least a first engine valve of the at least two engine valves.   
     
     
         2 . The rocker arm of  claim 1 , wherein the motion source comprises a first cam and the motion source interface comprises a first roller configured to align with the first cam. 
     
     
         3 . The rocker arm of  claim 2 , wherein the motion source comprises a second cam and the motion source interface comprises a second roller configured to align with the second cam. 
     
     
         4 . The rocker arm of  claim 1 , wherein the valve interface comprises a hydraulically controlled lost motion component aligned with the first engine valve. 
     
     
         5 . The rocker arm of  claim 4 , wherein the valve interface comprises a stroke limited contact member aligned with a second engine valve of the at least two engine valves. 
     
     
         6 . The rocker arm of  claim 5 , further comprising a spring configured to bias the stroke limited contact member into contact with the second valve and to bias the motion source interface toward the motion source. 
     
     
         7 . The rocker arm of  claim 5 , wherein the stroke limited contact member is configured to cause a reset of the hydraulically controlled lost motion component based on position of the rocker arm. 
     
     
         8 . The rocker arm of  claim 4 , further comprising a reset component in hydraulic communication with the hydraulically controlled lost motion component and configured to cause a reset of the hydraulically controlled lost motion component based on position of the rocker arm. 
     
     
         9 . The rocker arm of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic control circuit comprises a control valve configured to receive the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid source and to provide the hydraulic fluid to a hydraulically controlled lost motion component aligned with the first engine valve. 
     
     
         10 . The rocker arm of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring operatively connected to the body and configured to bias the motion source interface toward the motion source. 
     
     
         11 . A valve actuation system comprising:
 the motion source providing the main valve actuations and auxiliary valve actuations; and   the rocker arm in accordance with  claim 1 .   
     
     
         12 . The valve actuation system of  claim 11 , wherein the motion source comprises a first cam and the motion source interface comprises a first roller configured to align with the first cam. 
     
     
         13 . The valve actuation system of  claim 12 , wherein the first cam comprises a main lobe configured to provide the main valve actuations and at least one auxiliary lobe configured to provide the auxiliary valve actuations. 
     
     
         14 . The valve actuation system of  claim 12 , wherein the motion source comprises a second cam and the motion source interface comprises a second roller configured to align with the second cam. 
     
     
         15 . The valve actuation system of  claim 14 , wherein the first cam comprises a main lobe configured to provide the main valve actuations and the second cam comprises at least one auxiliary lobe configured to provide the auxiliary valve actuations.