Patents by Inventor Oliver Schnell

Oliver Schnell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230243280
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a switching element comprising an external part and an internal part, which is axially displaceable in a bore of the external part. At least one radially displaceable locking element is disposed within at least one receptacle of the internal part and includes a flattened portion on a radially outwardly directed end. At least one recess of the external part can be acted upon by a control pressure and the at least one locking element can thereby be radially displaced from the locking position into a release position. At least in a respective locking position, a chamber delimited by the at least one locking element is spatially separated from the at least one recess of the external part by a respective locking section. At least one bypass is designed, which indirectly fluidly connects the at least one recess of the external part and a respective chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Schnell, Michael Neumann, Peter Sailer, Frank Himsel, Johannes Roith
  • Patent number: 11459915
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a hydraulic support element for a switchable rocker arm of a valve train of an internal combustion engine. The hydraulic support element includes a cup-shaped cylinder, within which a hollow piston is arranged in an axially displaceable manner. The piston includes a filter cartridge which is in the form of a hollow body and can be charged from the outside with pressurized oil and an interior space of which is connected to an outlet opening of the contact head. An interior space of the piston has two pressurized oil chambers, including a first pressurized oil chamber above the piston head and connected to a first pressurized oil feed, and a second pressurized oil chamber formed under the contact head and connected to a second pressurized oil feed. The filter cartridge is tubular and located in the second pressurized oil chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Schnell, Peter Sailer, Oliver Witter
  • Publication number: 20200123936
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a hydraulic support element for a switchable rocker arm of a valve train of an internal combustion engine. The hydraulic support element includes a cup-shaped cylinder, within which a hollow piston is arranged in an axially displaceable manner. The piston includes a filter cartridge which is in the form of a hollow body and can be charged from the outside with pressurized oil and an interior space of which is connected to an outlet opening of the contact head. An interior space of the piston has two pressurized oil chambers, including a first pressurized oil chamber above the piston head and connected to a first pressurized oil feed, and a second pressurized oil chamber formed under the contact head and connected to a second pressurized oil feed. The filter cartridge is tubular and located in the second pressurized oil chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver SCHNELL, Peter SAILER, Oliver WITTER
  • Patent number: 10006318
    Abstract: A clip for securing a support element to a drag lever in a valve train of an internal combustion engine. The clip includes a first spring limb including an aperture configured to receive a support element of the valve train, a second spring limb including a concave pocket that includes a first bore configured to transmit lubrication oil from a channel of the support element through the second spring limb, and a bracket member connecting the first and second spring limbs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Sailer, Oliver Schnell
  • Patent number: 9816404
    Abstract: In a hydraulic compensation element for the valve train of an internal combustion engine, with a circular cylindrical housing (32) that has, in its bore (35), an axially movable pressure piston (36) with a reservoir (37) for oil as a hydraulic medium, a sleeve-like deflection element for oil is arranged in the interior of the pressure piston (36). The oil can be introduced through a radial feed hole of the housing (32), a rising channel (42), and an end-side opening (46) of the deflection element into the reservoir (37) of the pressure piston (36). The deflection element is constructed as a circular cylindrical inner sleeve (40) that has, on one axial end, an oversize dimension relative to the inner diameter of the pressure piston (36), and the inner sleeve (40) is fixed in the pressure piston (36) with a positive and non-positive fit connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Schnell, Peter Sailer
  • Patent number: 9638072
    Abstract: A tappet (1) for a reciprocating-piston combustion engine, which is situated within a tappet guide of a component fixedly attached to the engine, and having a bearing-mounted roller (8) guided on a pin (3), which roller is in active contact with a cam or an eccentric of a shaft of the reciprocating-piston combustion engine. The casing surface of the cam or eccentric is implemented axially parallel to the shaft and the roller (8) is guided so as to oscillate on the pin (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Sailer, Oliver Schnell
  • Patent number: 9617879
    Abstract: A switchable support element (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine is disclosed, including a housing (4), in the bore of which (5) an axially displaceable inner element (7) is located, wherein two coupling slides (9) run in a radial bore (8) of the inner element (7) and can be brought into engagement with a driver surface of the housing (4) in an axially extended position, wherein the extended position is limited by a height stop (10), which is formed of a circlip assembly, which runs peripherally on an annular shoulder (13) of the inner element (7) and which, in the event of contact, lies radially externally above the upper annular end (14) thereof in abutment against a lower annular edge (15) of an annular groove (16) of the housing (4) near the upper edge thereof (17), and wherein an outer casing (11) of the housing is enclosed by a rotationally fixed ring as an outer anti-twist mechanism (12) with an offset bore (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Schnell, Peter Sailer, Christian Geers, Ulrich Elgas, Rainer Pfeufer, Stefan Weidlich, Dieter Baumgarten, Armin Liebel
  • Publication number: 20170067374
    Abstract: A clip for securing a support element to a drag lever in a valve train of an internal combustion engine. The clip includes a first spring limb including an aperture configured to receive a support element of the valve train, a second spring limb including a concave pocket that includes a first bore configured to transmit lubrication oil from a channel of the support element through the second spring limb, and a bracket member connecting the first and second spring limbs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter SAILER, Oliver SCHNELL
  • Publication number: 20160341078
    Abstract: In a hydraulic compensation element for the valve train of an internal combustion engine, with a circular cylindrical housing (32) that has, in its bore (35), an axially movable pressure piston (36) with a reservoir (37) for oil as a hydraulic medium, a sleeve-like deflection element for oil is arranged in the interior of the pressure piston (36). The oil can be introduced through a radial feed hole of the housing (32), a rising channel (42), and an end-side opening (46) of the deflection element into the reservoir (37) of the pressure piston (36). The deflection element is constructed as a circular cylindrical inner sleeve (40) that has, on one axial end, an oversize dimension relative to the inner diameter of the pressure piston (36), and the inner sleeve (40) is fixed in the pressure piston (36) with a positive and non-positive fit connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Schnell, Peter Sailer
  • Publication number: 20160090879
    Abstract: A switchable support element (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine is disclosed, including a housing (4), in the bore of which (5) an axially displaceable inner element (7) is located, wherein two coupling slides (9) run in a radial bore (8) of the inner element (7) and can be brought into engagement with a driver surface of the housing (4) in an axially extended position, wherein the extended position is limited by a height stop (10), which is formed of a circlip assembly, which runs peripherally on an annular shoulder (13) of the inner element (7) and which, in the event of contact, lies radially externally above the upper annular end (14) thereof in abutment against a lower annular edge (15) of an annular groove (16) of the housing (4) near the upper edge thereof (17), and wherein an outer casing (11) of the housing is enclosed by a rotationally fixed ring as an outer anti-twist mechanism (12) with an offset bore (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Schnell, Peter Sailer, Christian Geers, Ulrich Elgas, Rainer Pfeufer, Stefan Weidlich, Dieter Baumgarten, Armin Liebel
  • Publication number: 20150285104
    Abstract: A tappet (1) for a reciprocating-piston combustion engine, which is situated within a tappet guide of a component fixedly attached to the engine, and having a bearing-mounted roller (8) guided on a pin (3), which roller is in active contact with a cam or an eccentric of a shaft of the reciprocating-piston combustion engine. The casing surface of the cam or eccentric is implemented axially parallel to the shaft and the roller (8) is guided so as to oscillate on the pin (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Sailer, Oliver Schnell
  • Patent number: 9115654
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a piston in a cylinder, a cylinder head closing the cylinder, having intake and exhaust channels controlled by at least one intake and exhaust valve. The valves are actuable by a rocker arm or finger lever driven by a camshaft. A brake control device is provided having a hydraulic adjusting piston that opens the exhaust valve additionally and intermittently, a pressure source for hydraulic fluid is associated with the adjusting piston, and the supply to the adjusting piston is controlled by an electrically operable switching valve. A compression relief cam per cylinder/piston assembly is arranged on the camshaft, with the cam being operatively connected to a compression relief rocker arm or finger lever, and the adjusting piston is configured as a coupling pin for connecting the compression relief rocker arm or finger lever, to the rocker arm or finger lever of the exhaust valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Oliver Schnell
  • Patent number: 9103236
    Abstract: A cam follower for actuating at least one gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine is provided, including a cam contact roller that is supported by a plain bearing on a pin (13). A first sliding surface of the plain bearing faces the cam contact roller and a second sliding surface of the plain bearing faces the pin. The plain bearing has a lubricant reservoir, in order to provide at least one of the sliding surfaces of the plain bearing with lubricant, and the lubricant reservoir is arranged at a distance from the end sides of the plain bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Schnell, Peter Sailer
  • Patent number: 8944028
    Abstract: A valve drive of an internal combustion engine, having a finger lever which acts at one end on a gas exchange valve and which is seated at the other end on a head of a housing of a support element, which housing runs in an axially movable manner in a reception bore of a cylinder head, the finger lever is acted on by a cam from the base circle from which there projects in a fixed manner an additional cam piece for generating an additional lift of the gas exchange valve, a bore extends from a bottom of the housing in the direction of the head, in the lower portion of which bore there runs a pressure piston which is axially movable relative to the housing and via the lower face of which the support element is mounted on a base of the reception bore of the cylinder head, a high-pressure chamber for hydraulic medium is formed between an upper face of the pressure piston and a ring part situated above said upper face and which is fixed with respect to the housing, and to generate the additional lift, the high-press
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Schnell, Peter Sailer, Oliver Witter
  • Publication number: 20140245981
    Abstract: A cam follower for actuating at least one gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine is provided, including a cam contact roller that is supported by a plain bearing on a pin (13). A first sliding surface of the plain bearing faces the cam contact roller and a second sliding surface of the plain bearing faces the pin. The plain bearing has a lubricant reservoir, in order to provide at least one of the sliding surfaces of the plain bearing with lubricant, and the lubricant reservoir is arranged at a distance from the end sides of the plain bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Schnell, Peter Sailer
  • Patent number: 8813719
    Abstract: An internal combustion piston engine based on a four-stroke process, including a crankcase in which at least one cylinder/piston assembly is arranged, the piston being guided by a connecting rod connected to a crankshaft. At least one cylinder head closes the cylinder, each of whose intake and exhaust channels are controlled by at least one intake valve and one exhaust valve (13, 13a). The intake and exhaust valves (13, 13a) are actuable by a rocker arm (5) or a finger lever driven by a camshaft (1) through intake and exhaust cams (2). The rocker arms or finger levers are guided on at least one axle (6). A brake control device is provided which includes, in the region of the base circle of the exhaust cam (2), at least one additional cam (1) for an additional opening of at least one of the exhaust valves (13, 13a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Sailer, Oliver Schnell, Oliver Witter
  • Publication number: 20130319358
    Abstract: A valve drive of an internal combustion engine, having a finger lever which acts at one end on a gas exchange valve and which is seated at the other end on a head of a housing of a support element, which housing runs in an axially movable manner in a reception bore of a cylinder head, the finger lever is acted on by a cam from the base circle from which there projects in a fixed manner an additional cam piece for generating an additional lift of the gas exchange valve, a bore extends from a bottom of the housing in the direction of the head, in the lower portion of which bore there runs a pressure piston which is axially movable relative to the housing and via the lower face of which the support element is mounted on a base of the reception bore of the cylinder head, a high-pressure chamber for hydraulic medium is formed between an upper face of the pressure piston and a ring part situated above said upper face and which is fixed with respect to the housing, and to generate the additional lift, the high-press
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Oliver Schnell, Peter Sailer, Oliver Witter
  • Patent number: 8408174
    Abstract: A rocker arm for a tappet pushrod valve train, which has a contact surface for a gas exchange valve on an underside at one end and a first bore in which a hydraulic lash adjusting element is arranged at another end. A second bore extends transverse through the rocker arm, between the ends. From the second bore, a passage leads to the first bore. A venting passage extends from a bottom of the bore at the another end and has an outlet aligned with the primary passage. A secondary passage branches from the venting passage and has an opening that extends to an upper side of the rocker arm and is situated in a longitudinal channel. The channel extends along the upper side and into a region on the one end. From the region, the hydraulic medium can be routed through an end passage to the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Oliver Schnell
  • Patent number: 8387590
    Abstract: A four-stroke internal combustion engine, having a brake controller by which pressure is built up in the exhaust system and/or at least one exhaust valve is additionally opened is provided. A hydraulic valve clearance compensation element is incorporated in at least one transmission element between the camshaft and at least one intake and exhaust valve and has at least one piston (3), a cylinder housing part (2) that interacts with the piston (3), a return spring (16) disposed therebetween, a check valve (4), and an actuatable locking device is provided which limits the movement of the piston (3) relative to the cylinder housing part (2) and/or limits the movement of the cylinder housing part (2) relative to an exterior housing (1) connected to one of the transmission elements or relative to a transmission element at least in one direction of movement, and the piston (3) is supported on a stop element (5) connected to the exterior housing (1) or the transmission element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Bolte, Stefan Hubel, Oliver Schnell, Peter Sailer, Franz Huschka
  • Patent number: RE44864
    Abstract: In a switching element (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine for switching to different valve lifts, said switching element (1) comprising an outer element (2) having an inner element (4) arranged for axial displacement therein, each of the outer and the inner element (2, 4) comprising a reception (11, 9) aligned to each other in a relative position, at least one piston (10) being arranged in at least one of the receptions (11, 9) for sliding toward the other of the receptions (9, 11) to couple the inner element (4) to the outer element (2) in said relative position, and a high-position stop for defining said relative position being arranged between the inner and the outer element (4, 2), at least one part of the high-position stop is configured as an adjustable, separate element (13). This element (13) cooperates through a preferably conical section (15) of its outer periphery with a complementary chamfer (18) on one end (17) of a guide (16) in the outer element (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ina Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Hermann Wenisch, Mario Kuhl, Peter Sailer, Oliver Schnell