Patents Examined by Daniel Bernstein
  • Patent number: 9169746
    Abstract: A main angle-limiting mechanism mechanically limits a relative movement between a vane rotor and a housing within a main angular range. When a rotational phase difference between the vane rotor and the housing becomes out of the main angular range, for example, due to a breakage of the main angle-limiting mechanism, an electronic control unit sets a target value for the rotational phase difference. The target value is set at such a value within a restricted angular range, which is smaller than the main angular range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Hayashi, Tomonori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9163532
    Abstract: A cam phaser for transferring rotational energy from a crankshaft (16) to a camshaft (12) of an internal combustion engine (2), having a stator (20) for torque-proof connection to one of the shafts (12, 16) and a rotor (22) received rotationally in the stator (20) for torque-proof connection to the other shaft (12, 16), with first and second chambers being formed in the stator (20), engaged by first and second vanes (26) of the rotor (22). A bore (42) is provided in the first vane (26), in which a locking element (40) can be received for blocking a rotary motion of the rotor (22) relative to the stator (20). Here in an impact position of the second vane (26) at a wall (30) of the second chamber, the first vane (26) is arranged spaced apart from a wall (30) of the first chamber (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jurgen Weber
  • Patent number: 9157342
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes: a first passage which is formed in the vane rotor, which extends in the radial direction at a position apart from the first lock member and the second lock member in the circumferential direction, which includes an opening portion located in an outer end portion of the first passage, and which receives a hydraulic pressure different from a hydraulic pressure within the advance angle hydraulic chambers and a hydraulic pressure within the retard angle hydraulic chambers; a second passage which is connected to the first passage and hydraulic pressure receiving portions of the first lock member and the second lock member; and a seal member which is press-fit in the opening portion of the outer end portion of the first passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 9151187
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus including a vane rotor, a torsion spring having one end portion fixed to the vane rotor, and a front plate having a cylindrical sleeve portion and a cutout portion formed in the sleeve portion, the cutout portion having an end wall surface with which the other end portion of the torsion spring is engaged and a side wall surface opposed to the end wall surface, the cutout portion being formed such that a first straight line extending through the end wall surface toward a radial inside of the sleeve portion is located closer to a central axis of the sleeve portion than a second straight line extending through the side wall surface toward the radial inside of the sleeve portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9140150
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser (1), having a drive element (2), an output element (3), and a cover element (4), the cover element (4) being joined in latching-type, form-locking engagement with the drive element or output element (2, 3), and the cover element (4) having play-eliminator that eliminates a play in the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Christian Boesel
  • Patent number: 9140197
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes a temperature sensing member which expands at a main lock phase when a temperature of an engine is higher than or equal to a predetermined temperature so as to prohibit a main lock component from moving out of a main lock hole to a guide slot. The temperature sensing member shrinks at the main lock phase when the temperature of the engine is lower than the predetermined temperature so as to allow the main lock component to move out of the main lock hole toward the guide slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya Nakata, Kazuhiro Sasao, Takashi Ooga, Takehiro Tanaka, Kosei Takagi, Yuusuke Yasuki, Shuhei Oe
  • Patent number: 9133735
    Abstract: A variable valve timing apparatus, and internal combustion engine incorporating the same, that allows the timing of the opening and/or closing of intake and/or exhaust cylinder valves to be altered relative to a reference timing. As a result, the timing of the valve event can be adjusted relative to a phase of the crankshaft and/or the cycle of the pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Inventors: Terrence M. Rotter, Kevin C. Bruso, Steven P. Lewis
  • Patent number: 9133737
    Abstract: A mechanically controllable valve drive includes a gas exchange valve on which a transmission arrangement acts via a working contour. The transmission arrangement comprises a first wheel element comprising a toothing which is connected to a camshaft, and a second wheel element comprising a toothing which acts on the gas exchange valve. The transmission arrangement is mounted to move in a cylinder head via a bearing, and is operatively connected to the camshaft and to a valve stroke adjusting device comprising an adjusting shaft. The first and second wheel elements are each mounted to rotate on the adjusting shaft and to be in a geared connection with each another via their respective toothing so that a rotation of the adjusting shaft effects a phase shift between the first and second wheel elements and so that a rotary fixing generates an oscillating movement of the first and second wheel elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: KOLBENSCHMIDT PIERBURG INNOVATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Breuer, Karsten Grimm
  • Patent number: 9115610
    Abstract: A variable engine valve timing control system has a cam phase actuator, with first and second actuator ports, to adjust a rotational phase of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft. A first control valve selectively couples the first actuator port to either an engine oil pump or a first valve port. A second control valve selectively couples the second actuator port to either the engine oil pump or a second valve port. Separate check valves prevent oil flow backwards through the first and second control valves from the cam phase actuator to the engine oil pump. In one implementation, the first valve port and second valve port are connected to a fluid reservoir. In another implementation, the first valve port is connected by another check valve to the second actuator port, and the second valve port is connected by a further check valve to the first actuator port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: HUSCO AUTOMOTIVE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Allen Tewes, Austin Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9115611
    Abstract: A variable valve operating apparatus including an electric motor including a motor housing with a permanent magnet, and a speed reducing mechanism having a casing, the motor housing and the casing of the speed reducing mechanism being coupled to each other by a plurality of bolts, wherein the motor housing includes a convex portion formed in a portion of the motor housing which is opposed to one axial end of the permanent magnet, the convex portion having a threaded hole into which a tip end portion of each bolt is screwed, and a projection formed on an axial end surface of the convex portion in alignment with the threaded hole in an axial direction of the threaded hole, and wherein the axial end surface of the convex portion is located further spaced from the one axial end of the permanent magnet than the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamanaka, Ryo Tadokoro, Hiroyuki Nemoto, Isao Doi
  • Patent number: 9109473
    Abstract: A valve-timing control apparatus includes a phase change mechanism configured to change a valve timing, a cover member provided near a front end side of the phase change mechanism; slip rings provided to one of a front end portion of the phase change mechanism and a facing surface of the cover member which faces the phase change mechanism; a pair of brushes provided to another of the front end portion of the phase change mechanism and the facing surface of the cover member to be axially slidable. One end portion the pigtail harness is connected with the corresponding brush. Another end portion of the pigtail harness is connected with a connector terminal under a deflected state, at a location radially shifted from an axis of the corresponding brush. The another end portions of the pair of pigtail harnesses are separated from each other by a partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kawada, Ryo Tadokoro, Hiroyuki Nemoto, Atsushi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9109468
    Abstract: Valve actuation systems are disclosed herein that allow valve opening timing to be varied using a cam phaser and that allow valve closing timing to be varied using a lost-motion system. In one embodiment, an actuation system is provided that has a locked configuration in which a bearing element is held in place between a cam and a rocker to transmit cam motion to an engine valve. The actuation system also has an unlocked configuration in which the bearing element is permitted to be at least partially ejected from between the cam and rocker, such that cam motion is not transmitted to the engine valve. The actuation system is switched to the unlocked configuration by draining fluid therefrom through a main valve which is piloted by a trigger valve. The actuation system also includes integrated autolash and seating control functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Scuderi Group, LLC
    Inventors: Riccardo Meldolesi, John A. Schwoerer, Ian P. Gilbert, Clive Lacy, Glenn Wendel
  • Patent number: 9103238
    Abstract: A continuous variable valve lift device includes a rotatable input shaft, an input cam rotating with the input shaft, a control shaft rotatably disposed parallel to the input shaft, an input rocker mounted to, and rotatable round, the control shaft so as to be in contact with the input cam to have a torque forwarded thereto from the input cam, a control link mounted to the control shaft eccentrically, an input link having one end connected to the input rocker, a connecting rod connected between the other end of the input link and the control link, and a valve operating unit mounted to rotate as one unit with the control shaft for operating the valve, the valve operating unit having a control long hole for movably inserting the connecting rod therein, for improving the fuel consumption at a low load operation range of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Kyoung Pyo Ha, Dae Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 9103241
    Abstract: A valve timing controller includes a housing, a vane rotor, and a stopper pin. The stopper pin regulates a relative rotation position of the vane rotor relative to the housing. A boss part of the vane rotor has a plurality of metal plates layered with each other in an axial direction. At least one metal plate of the plurality of metal plates has a hole in which the stopper pin is inserted, and a nail projected from an inner wall of the hole toward the stopper pin so as to hold the stopper pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Hayashi, Tomonori Suzuki, Kenshin Yokose
  • Patent number: 9080471
    Abstract: A cam torque actuated variable cam timing phaser can include a rotor (20) enclosed by an endplate (64) within a housing (10). The housing (10) can have at least one cavity (10a) to be divided by a vane (22) rigidly attached to the rotor (20). The vane (22) can divide the cavity (10a) into a first chamber (16) and a second chamber (18). Passages (26, 28, 56, 58) can connect the first and second chambers (16, 18) facilitating oscillation of the vane (20) within the cavity (10a). A detent valve (50) can move between an open position and a closed position. When in the open position, the detent valve (50) can connect portions of a detent passage (56, 58) extending through the rotor (20) and through the endplate (64) allowing pressurized actuating fluid flow with respect to the first and second chambers (16, 18) in response to a relative angular position of the rotor (20) with respect to the endplate (64). A lock pin (60) can move between a locked position and a released position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Pluta, Mark Wigsten, Braman Wing
  • Patent number: 9074498
    Abstract: An arrangement of a camshaft phaser (1) which has a drive element (2) and at least two driven elements (3, 4), whereby the drive element (2) and the driven elements (3, 4) have several radially oriented vanes (6) that cover the lateral surfaces (9) of the adjacent element in the axial direction (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Strauss
  • Patent number: 9068482
    Abstract: A spool valve for controlling a twin phaser for coupling a drive member to two driven members and to enable the phase of the two driven members to be varied independently includes a bore operably associated with the twin phaser, fluid channels opening into the bore, and a spool. The spool is received in and is moveable relative to the bore so as to selectively open and close the fluid channels in a predetermined manner, thereby providing a fluid communication between the spool and the twin phaser, and varying a phase of output members relative to an input member. The spool and the fluid channels are configured so that an axial displacement of the spool relative to the bore serves to control a phase of a first output member, and a rotation of the spool relative to the bore serves to control a phase of a second output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: MECHADYNE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Ian Methley
  • Patent number: 9062574
    Abstract: A device for actuating outlet valves that are acted on via a valve bridge of a valve-controlled internal combustion engine for motor vehicles includes a first piston-cylinder unit in the force flow between a cam of a driving camshaft and one of the outlet valves. When one of the outlet valves opens under the action of exhaust-gas counterpressure, play compensation in the valve drive can be produced in order to hold the one of the outlet valves open by the first piston-cylinder unit. A second, coaxial piston-cylinder unit interacts with a positionally fixed counter bracket and controls a discharge duct out of the pressure chambers of the two piston-cylinder units. The piston of the first piston-cylinder unit is preloaded in a readjustment direction by a spring. To reliably obtain a lack of play in the valve drive in particular during engine braking operation, the readjustment spring acts, without being supported in the valve bridge, on the pistons of both piston-cylinder units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: MAN TRUCK & BUS AG
    Inventors: Robert Wiemann, Georg Maget
  • Patent number: 9057292
    Abstract: Provided is a timing adjustment system having improved control for achieving a target rotational phase. The valve timing adjustment system includes a displacement mechanism unit that displaces a rotational phase of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; a locking mechanism unit that locks the rotational phase at an intermediate locked phase positioned within a displacement range of the rotational phase; a hydraulic pathway that hydraulically drives the displacement mechanism unit and the locking mechanism unit; and a control unit including a control system that controls operations of the hydraulic control valve. The control unit changes a temporal responsiveness of the control system based on a displacement force that displaces the rotational phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Kokubo, Yuji Kakuda, Kenji Ikeda, Yuuki Ohta, Masaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9038587
    Abstract: A variable valve lift apparatus may include a rocker arm coupled with a rocker arm shaft, a valve bridge disposed to be pressed by one end portion of the rocker arm, the valve bridge including a piston insertion hole and at least one pin insertion hole connecting to the piston insertion hole, a valve disposed to be pressed by the valve bridge, and a variable lift unit disposed in the valve bridge and variably controlling an amount that the rocker arm presses the valve bridge. The variable lift unit includes a variable piston of which the lower portion is inserted into the piston insertion hole, and a check pin disposed in the pin insertion hole to be selectively inserted into the pin groove formed on a side surface of the variable piston according to the hydraulic pressure supplied to the piston oil passage formed in the variable piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seock Joong Yoon, Kyung Mo Kim