Including Attaching Means Patents (Class 123/188.13)
  • Patent number: 8647751
    Abstract: During engine operation, valve retainers and valve springs are constantly rubbing and impacting each other resulting in heat and wear. The purpose of this invention is to provide a surface coating onto the valve retainer to reduce the friction with the valve spring and thus improve durability. Specifically, this invention teaches a method to thermally apply coatings to the surface of the valve retainer. Although typically fabricated from steel, the usage of lighter weight titanium valve retainers is increasing for high performance, or racing engines. The reduced mass allows valves to move more readily and requires less spring pressure to operate, producing more power and a faster revving engine, however titanium is typically not as wear resistant as the steel it replaces. In one embodiment, a porous molybdenum or other oleophilic metal is applied to the surface of the valve retainer. In another embodiment, hard coatings of cermets, carbides, and super alloys are applied as coatings to valve retainers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Wide Open Coatings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Thomas Endicott, Randall John Wischhusen
  • Patent number: 8087393
    Abstract: A valve apparatus for an internal combustion engine, the valve apparatus including: a main part having a wall section defining a valve cavity extending along a longitudinal length of the main part and an opening located in the wall section of the main part, the opening flow connected to the combustion chamber; an outer part configured and arranged so as to be reciprocally located in the valve cavity, the outer part having a wall section defining an inner passage extending along a longitudinal axis thereof; an inner part having a first end situated outside of the cavity and a second end situated within the cavity and the inner passage of the outer part, the inner part having a wall section defining an inner passage, a first opening at the first end, and one or more openings in that part of the walled section which is situated within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Arrow Leads, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard Cascia
  • Publication number: 20100258073
    Abstract: During engine operation, valve retainers and valve springs are constantly rubbing and impacting each other resulting in heat and wear. The purpose of this invention is to provide a surface coating onto the valve retainer to reduce the friction with the valve spring and thus improve durability. Specifically, this invention teaches a method to thermally apply coatings to the surface of the valve retainer. Although typically fabricated from steel, the usage of lighter weight titanium valve retainers is increasing for high performance, or racing engines. The reduced mass allows valves to move more readily and requires less spring pressure to operate, producing more power and a faster revving engine, however titanium is typically not as wear resistant as the steel it replaces. In one embodiment, a porous molybdenum or other oleophilic metal is applied to the surface of the valve retainer. In another embodiment, hard coatings of cermets, carbides, and super alloys are applied as coatings to valve retainers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: WIDE OPEN COATINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Thomas Endicott, Randall John Wischhusen
  • Patent number: 7566046
    Abstract: A spring plate for a valve spring of an internal combustion engine, which spring plate can be connected directly to the valve stem of a charge changing valve while engaging an annular groove in the valve stem. An annular disc is arranged on the valve spring and two supporting tongues which are directed radially inwardly from the annular disc and whose inner ends, in a plan view of the spring plate, comprise recesses for engaging an annular groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Muhr und Bender KG
    Inventors: Thomas Muhr, Jochen Asbeck, Vladimir Kobelev, Karsten Westerhoff, Jörg Dieter Brecht, Andreas Hees
  • Patent number: 7458356
    Abstract: A bellows unit and a compression coil spring are located in series with each other between a first member and a second member. The bellows unit has an inner bellows, an outer bellows, and first and second end members. A sealed space is defined in the bellows unit. A compressed gas is sealed in the sealed space. The bellows unit is caused to extend and contract in the direction of an axis by the compressed gas. The sealed space contains an uncompressible liquid that can exchange heat with the gas. The liquid is an example of a heat exchange material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Iwata, Takeyoshi Shimbori, Koichiro Yamada, Noritoshi Takamura
  • Patent number: 6789790
    Abstract: A device for reducing the resonant vibrations of a helical valve spring of an internal combustion engine includes a member, such as a tension cable, attached between one end of the spring and a coil mid-section of the spring for limiting the movement of the coil mid-section away from the one end of the spring to about the distance between the coil mid-section and the one end of the spring when the spring is in a condition corresponding with a condition at which the spring is in static equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventors: Frank H. Speckhart, Brian David Mongold, Hyunjun Chun, Von M Tyler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6341588
    Abstract: A valve spring retainer is mounted to the upper end of a poppet valve via a pair of cotters in an internal combustion engine of an automobile. The valve spring retainer has an intermediate portion and an outer flange which is engaged with the upper end of a valve spring. The lower surface has a gap between the outer flange and the intermediate portion to decrease wear which is caused by engagement with the valve spring. There is also provided a valve operating mechanism which has a valve spring retainer which has a projection on the lower surface so as to prevent wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Oozx, Inc
    Inventors: Haruki Kobayashi, Makoto Abe, Takeshi Sassa
  • Patent number: 6338325
    Abstract: To operate a poppet valve in an internal combustion engine, a valve operating mechanism comprises a valve spring retainer which has a taper bore, a pair of cotters which is inserted in the bore to support the poppet valve, and a valve spring between the valve spring retainer and a cylinder head. There is provided means for preventing the cotters from falling out the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Oozx, Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Kobayashi, Tatsuo Kanzaki, Makoto Abe, Takeshi Sassa
  • Patent number: 6311661
    Abstract: A valve spring retainer is mounted to the upper end of a poppet valve via a pair of cotters in an internal combustion engine of an automobile. The valve spring retainer has an intermediate portion and an outer flange which is engaged with the upper end of a valve spring. The lower surface has a gap between the outer flange and the intermediate portion to decrease wear which is caused by engagement with the valve spring. There is also provided a valve operating mechanism which has a valve spring retainer which has a projection on the lower surface so as to prevent wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Oozx Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Kobayashi, Makoto Abe, Takeshi Sassa
  • Patent number: 6293240
    Abstract: A valve spring retainer is mounted to the upper end of a poppet valve via a pair of cotters in an internal combustion engine of an automobile. The valve spring retainer has an intermediate portion and an outer flange which is engaged with the upper end of a valve spring. The lower surface of the outer flange is radially and inclined towards the valve spring to decrease wear which is caused by engagement with the valve spring. There is also provided a valve operating mechanism which has a valve spring retainer which has a projection on the lower surface so as to prevent wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Oozx Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Kobayashi, Makoto Abe, Takeshi Sassa
  • Patent number: 6279526
    Abstract: A valve gear controls a gas exchange in an internal-combustion engine with a valve spring which holds a valve in its required position at all times and is clamped between a valve head and a valve-spring support. The valve spring support is adjustable in the direction of the valve axis. The adjustable valve-spring support includes two nested setting rings (2, 3) which are rotatable in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Deutchland GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Strzoda, Klaus Gebauer