Patents Examined by Kyle M. Riddle
-
Patent number: 7513228Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, a variable lift and/or operating angle mechanism variably controls a lift and/or operating angle of an exhaust valve in accordance with a driving condition of the engine, a variable phase mechanism variably controls a phase of a lift center angle of the exhaust valve in accordance with the driving condition of the engine, a present position detecting section detects a present operating position of each of the variable lift and/or operating angle mechanism and variable phase mechanism, and a controlling section controls one of the variable lift and/or operating angle mechanism and the variable phase mechanism which operates normally in a direction in which an in-cylinder residual gas quantity becomes minimum when the other of the variable lift and/or operating angle mechanism and the variable phase mechanism has failed.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2006Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ryosuke Hiyoshi, Tsuyoshi Arinaga, Shin Ishizaki
-
Patent number: 7506623Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for the electrical adjustment of the relative rotary-angle position between a camshaft (2) and a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, with an adjusting gear (3) which has a driving part (4) fixed with respect to the crankshaft, a driven part (5) fixed with respect to the camshaft and an adjusting shaft (8) connected fixedly in terms of rotation to an adjustment-unit shaft (6) of an electrical adjustment unit (7). In order to achieve a simpler type of construction which, moreover, is distinguished by quiet running, there is provision, according to the invention, for the adjusting shaft (8) to be arranged in a radially floating manner.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2006Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Schaeffler KGInventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
-
Patent number: 7503296Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a cylinder block defining a plurality of cylinders at least half of which are selectively deactivatable by a plurality of switching hydraulic lifters. A source of pressurized oil is provided. Additionally, at least one solenoid-actuated hydraulic control valve operates to selectively communicate pressurized oil from the source of pressurized oil to actuate the plurality of switching hydraulic lifters thereby deactivating the selectively deactivatable cylinders. The number of the solenoid-actuated hydraulic control valves is fewer than the number of selectively deactivatable cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2006Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Frederick J. Rozario, William C. Albertson
-
Patent number: 7503298Abstract: A valve timing adjusting device includes: a first rotor rotating integrally with a crankshaft; a second rotor integrally secured to an intake or exhaust camshaft; and an engaging cavity provided in one of the first rotor and the second rotor. A lock pin is housed in a housing hole provided in the other of the first rotor and the second rotor, protruded by the energizing force of an energizing device at the time of hydraulic pressure reduction, to thus abut on the wall of the engaging cavity from an oblique direction to give a relative rotating force to the first rotor and the second rotor.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2005Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroyuki Kinugawa, Akira Sakata, Koji Yudate
-
Patent number: 7493878Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the variable actuation of the gas exchange valves of internal combustion engines, whereby a continuously revolving cam drives an intermediate member which carries out an oscillating, pure rotational movement and moves a drive member in accordance with the respective valve lift curve via a control cam. In order to modify the valve lift curve, the position of the rotational axis of the intermediate member can be modified along an advance curve. The rotational axis of the intermediate member is represented by a pin which is freely rotatable at its guide end and which carries cam plates that are linked therewith in a rotationally fixed manner. Said cam plates define either directly or indirectly the respective required position on the advance curve. The pin is rotated via a suitable joining element.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2004Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta TecCenter AGInventors: Helmut Schön, Kai-Uwe Keller, Peter Kuhn
-
Patent number: 7493879Abstract: An engine valve operating system is provided in which a rocker arm that swings by following a valve operating cam abuts against an engine valve via a hydraulic tappet, a receiving member (41) receiving the hydraulic tappet (12) being slidably fitted into the rocker arm (13), the hydraulic tappet (12) being fitted into the rocker arm (13), a restricting part (29) being provided so as to face the receiving member (41) from the side opposite to the hydraulic tappet (12), and an adjustment screw (44) for adjusting a clearance between the restricting part (29) and the receiving member (41) when the engine valve is in a valve-closed state being screwed into an engine main body (5) so that its position can be adjusted back-and-forth so as to abut against the receiving member (41) when the engine valve is closed.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2005Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Keiko Yoshida, Tomoya Fujimoto
-
Patent number: 7475662Abstract: A feed screw mechanism including a screwed shaft which moves linearly along with the control shaft, and a rotation spindle which rotates in a circumferential direction. The feed screw mechanism converts a rotational movement of the rotation spindle into a linear movement of the screwed shaft. A protrusion protrudes outwardly from the rotation spindle. An internal thread member engages with an outer wall surface of the rotation spindle. A motor stator generating a magnetic is positioned over the rotation spindle, and is sandwiched between the protrusion and the internal thread member in an axial direction of the rotation spindle.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2006Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignees: Denso Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuyoshi Suzuki, Hideo Inaba, Jouji Yamaguchi, Toshiki Fujiyoshi, Akira Tsunoda, Koichi Shimizu
-
Patent number: 7475663Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine (1) comprising a housing (2) having at least one opening (4) into its inside, which is preferably the engine-oil feed inlet, and with a camshaft (5), mounted inside the housing for rotation about its geometric shaft. The camshaft (5) and the housing (2) have means cooperating with each other and with a device for locking a turnable shaft (6) with respect to the housing, insertable through this opening. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the device consists of a rod (6), the cooperating means in the housing consist in a bore (7) for receiving an end of the rod (6), and the cooperating means on the cam shaft consist of a notch (9) made in the surface of the shaft, which cooperates with the rod. In this way, when there is a need to adjust, repair and/or replace engine (1) components, the rod (6) is inserted through the opening (4) and locked in this bore (7) of the housing (2).Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2004Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLCInventors: Caetano M. A. Calviti, Fausto Luiz C. S. Neves, Joaquim Rodrigues Neto
-
Patent number: 7469669Abstract: A rotational cam can be disposed on a camshaft rotationally driven by a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. A swing cam can be swingable through the rotational cam. The swing cam has a rotational cam abutment portion which contacts the rotational cam and transmits driving force from the rotational cam to the swing cam. An abutment portion displacing mechanism can be provided for displacing the rotational cam abutment portion to change a relative distance between the rotational cam abutment portion and a center axis of the swing shaft. Changing the relative distance allows changing a lift and the like of a valve.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2005Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideo Fujita, Koichi Hatamura
-
Patent number: 7469668Abstract: In an engine in which a lift amount of a valve can be changed continuously, an engine valve operating system including a valve lift-changing mechanism is capable of increasing and decreasing the lift amount of the valve without changing an opening angle for the valve and capable of decreasing a tappet clearance in accordance with a decrease in lift amount of the valve. Thus, it is possible to prevent the ratio of the tappet clearance to the lift amount at a low valve lift from being increased to minimize the influence of the dispersion of the tappet clearance and to reduce the seating speed of the valve at the low valve lift to prevent the generation of a noise. It is also possible to prevent a reduction in performance of the engine at a high valve lift due to the dispersion of the tappet clearance and to decrease the seating noise of the valve at the low valve lift.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2004Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Akiyuki Yonekawa, Katsunori Nakamura
-
Patent number: 7467610Abstract: A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine includes cam followers which have cam abutment portions abutting against valve-operating cams provided on a camshaft and which are swingably carried in an engine body and operatively connected to engine valves biased in a closing direction by a valve spring. The cam followers are biased in a direction of abutment of the cam abutment portions against the valve-operating cams by a resilient biasing means different from the valve spring. A resilient biasing means includes a pull rod connected at one end thereof to the cam follower, and a compression coil spring interposed between the other end of the pull rod and the engine body to pull the pull rod to bias the cam follower in a direction of abutment of the cam abutment portion against the valve-operating cam. Thus, the resilient biasing means is constructed to be compact, leading to an increase in degree of freedom of the design of the structure of the valve-operating system.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2006Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Keiko Yoshida, Tomoya Fujimoto
-
Patent number: 7467751Abstract: Devices and methods for depositing fluids on substrates in patterns of spots, lines, or other features use a nozzle, which is preferably configured similarly to a micropipette, having a piezoelectric crystal or other ultrasonic actuator coupled to one of its sides. The nozzle may be charged via capillary action by dipping it into a well containing the fluid to be deposited, and may then be positioned over a desired area of a substrate, at which point activation of the ultrasonic actuator at ultrasonic frequencies will eject the fluid onto the substrate. The needle may subsequently be dipped into a well of rinsing fluid for cleaning. Spots or lines on the order of 5 micrometers width may be generated, making the invention particularly suitable for use in biological applications such as microarray production and in microelectronics applications such as the printing of organic circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2005Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Bradley James Larson, Chung Hoon Lee, Amit Lal, Max G. Lagally
-
Patent number: 7464680Abstract: The invention proposes a switching element (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, particularly for valve deactivation, with a simple-to-implement measure for adjusting the coupling lash of its coupling means (8) in a receptacle (6) using two retaining rings (19, 20), one of which is stocked in a variety of thicknesses.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2003Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Ina-Schaeffler KGInventors: Norbert Geyer, Peter Sailer, Oliver Schnell
-
Patent number: 7458348Abstract: In a V-type engine provided with a variable valve timing mechanism and variable valve lift mechanism for an intake valve, a torque difference between respective banks is obtained. In a region in which an opening area of the intake valve is larger than a threshold, valve timing of the intake valve by the variable valve timing mechanism is corrected so as to reduce the torque difference, whereas in a region in which the opening area of the intake valve is smaller than the threshold, lift characteristics of the intake valve by the variable valve lift mechanism is corrected so as to reduce the torque difference.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2006Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kenichi Machida, Hidekazu Yoshizawa
-
Patent number: 7458352Abstract: A switchable valve drive element of an internal combustion engine can be actuated hydraulically. A valve tappet which can be displaced axially in a bore of the machine housing by the cam of a camshaft. A switching duct adjoins the valve tappet and is filled with a hydraulic oil. A connection on the valve drive element between the switching duct and a space with a lower pressure level compared to the pressure in the switching duct. The connection can be produced between the switching duct and the space with a lower pressure level by means of the valve tappet. The space may be inside the tappet.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2005Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: INA Schaeffler KGInventors: Peter Sailer, Oliver Schnell, Jochen Tovar
-
Patent number: 7444967Abstract: A variable valve device includes a camshaft which is rotatably provided in an internal combustion engine while having a cam, a rocker shaft which is arranged next to the camshaft, a valve which is driven by the cam, a cam follower rocker which is rotatably provided in the rocker shaft, and is rocked by following the cam, a valve drive rocker which is rotatably provided in the rocker shaft next to the cam follower rocker, and drives the valve, and a switching portion which be able to switch the valve drive rocker between a drive state and a non-drive state. Either a body of the cam follower rocker or a body of the valve drive rocker is made of an iron-based metal material, and the other body is made of a material different from the iron-based metal material, heat treatment being not required in the different material.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2007Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Kido, Shinichi Murata, Masaru Mori, Kenta Kotsuji
-
Patent number: 7444969Abstract: In the case where an intake valve has its phase in a first region between a most retarded angle and CA(1), the rotational speed of relative rotation between an output shaft of an electric motor and a sprocket is reduced at a reduction gear ratio R(1) to change the phase of the intake valve. In the case where the intake valve has its phase in a second region between CA(2) and a most advanced angle, the rotational speed of relative rotation is reduced at a reduction gear ratio R(2) to change the phase of the intake valve. As long as the rotational direction of relative rotation is the same, the phase of the intake valve is changed in the same direction for both of the first region between the most retarded angle and CA(1) and the second region between CA(2) and the most advanced angle.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2006Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.Inventors: Yasumichi Inoue, Zenichiro Mashiki, Noboru Takagi, Yoshihito Moriya, Haruyuki Urushihata, Akihiko Takenaka, Eiji Isobe, Takayuki Inohara
-
Patent number: 7431001Abstract: A rail used as a torsional stop for the valve train of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The rail includes spaces (10) which are arranged in a row spaced apart at a distance from one another within the rail (8) and accommodate inserted valve lifters provided as roller tappets (9). Two parallel torsional stop areas (15) are configured on the outer surface of each roller tappet (9) in the form of planar flattened zones in order to secure the roller tappet (9) against rotation about the central longitudinal axis thereof. The torsional stop areas (15) rest against guide areas of the rail (8), which are located inside the associated accommodating space (10).Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2007Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Schaeffler KGInventors: Hermann Keller, Roland Krapp
-
Patent number: 7431002Abstract: A camshaft has contrarotating cams for automotive engines, in which an inside shaft and an outside shaft are arranged concentrically so they are contrarotating, at least one cam has at least one main cam element that can be placed radially on the outside shaft and is supported there so it can rotate. The main cam element is connected to the inside shaft in a manner that is rotationally locked via a fastener passing through a recess in the outside shaft. Further features include a fastener, a main cam element and a locking means. The fastening of the main cam element to the inside shaft is provided by widening the outside diameter of the fastener by the locking means with a resulting tightly seated connection between the fastener and the inside shaft, and the fastener and the locking means.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2006Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: MAHLE International GmbHInventors: Hermann Hoffmann, Martin Lechner, Falk Schneider
-
Patent number: 7424873Abstract: Disclosed is a variable valve mechanism 10 for changing the lift amount and operating angle of an internal combustion engine valve disc 12.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2004Date of Patent: September 16, 2008Assignee: Toyota, Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuichi Ezaki, Toshiaki Asada, Manabu Tateno