With Means For Varying Timing Patents (Class 123/90.15)
  • Patent number: 11965438
    Abstract: A check valve part includes: a valve seat hole into which hydraulic oil flows; a valve seat formed around the valve seat hole; a lateral hole formed to have an axis intersecting an axis of the valve seat hole; and a valve body provided so as to be separated from the valve seat or abutted against the valve seat. The valve timing adjustment device further includes a back pressure oil passage that communicates a space opposite to the valve seat with respect to the valve body with the lateral hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuuki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 11967460
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuating device (10) has an energizable stationary spool element (1) having a stationary core area (2), an anchor unit (3) moveable relative to the spool elements (1) and the core area (2) and has permanent magnet elements (4) and a pestle (5) disposed on one end and having a free end section (5a) for engaging in an actuating partner, the anchor unit (3) being moveable along a longitudinal movement axis (L) in at least two actuating positions (A,B), and the actuator (10) having retaining elements (7) which are spaced apart from the core area, are permanent-magnetically flux-conductive and are formed in such a manner in a third actuating position (C) between the first and second actuating positions (A,B) for interacting with the permanent magnet elements (4) of the anchor unit (3) that the anchor unit is retained in a third actuating position (C) between the first and second actuating positions (A,B) and/or exerts a predefined force potential towards the actuating partner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: ETO MAGNETIC GMBH
    Inventors: Sebastian Bölling, Patrick Moll
  • Patent number: 11959425
    Abstract: A method for controlling a valve arrangement for an internal combustion engine, the valve arrangement including a piston arrangement comprising a piston having a piston end portion facing an inlet valve of the valve arrangement. The method includes receiving a signal indicative of a temperature level of an exhaust gas after treatment system and when the signal indicates a temperature level below a predetermined threshold level: advancing an exhaust event of the internal combustion engine; and controlling the piston arrangement for reducing the distance between the piston end portion and the inlet valve before the internal combustion engine assumes an air intake event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Per Persson, Martin Svensson
  • Patent number: 11946393
    Abstract: A camshaft for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with poppet valves, comprising a main body, which is rotatable with respect to a first rotation axis, a first disk and means of the hydraulic type for varying the timing of said first disk with respect to said main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: PIAGGIO & C. S.P.A.
    Inventor: Walter Mariotti
  • Patent number: 11927118
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a remote mount for an idler gear assembly, comprising: a gear mounting plate including a plurality of bores configured to receive a corresponding plurality of fasteners to mount a gear assembly to the gear mounting plate; and an attachment bracket including a plurality of mounting openings configured to receive a corresponding plurality of bolts to mount the remote mount to a cylinder head. The gear mounting plate supports the gear assembly such that a gear of the gear assembly rotates about an axis that is parallel to an axis of a crankshaft of an engine and the attachment bracket mounts to an upper surface of the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Barnes, Kevin C. Augustin, Sr.
  • Patent number: 11898472
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser for an internal combustion engine includes a stator defining a receptacle therein. The stator includes a ring and a plurality of webs extending radially inward from the ring. The camshaft phaser also includes a rotor rotatable with respect to the stator and received inside the receptacle. The rotor includes a center section and a plurality of vanes extending radially outward from the center section. The center section abuts the webs to define chambers circumferentially between the webs. Each of the vanes is positioned in one of the chambers and sealingly engaging an inner circumferential surface of the ring. At least one of the chambers is a locking chamber and at least one the vanes is a locking vane positioned in the locking chamber. The camshaft phaser also includes a locking valve in the locking vane configured to allow fluid to enter into the locking chamber and to prevent fluid from flowing out of the locking chamber to lock the rotor with respect to the stator in a locked orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andrew Mlinaric
  • Patent number: 11891925
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser, including: an input element arranged to receive a first rotational torque and rotatable about an axis of rotation; an output element rotatable about the axis of rotation, rotatable with respect to the input element, arranged to non-rotatably connect to a camshaft, and arranged to transmit the first rotational torque to the camshaft; and a trigger wheel non-rotatably connected to the output element, arranged to identify a rotational position of the output element around the axis of rotation, and including a magnetic material with at least one segment having a first magnetic charge, and with at least one segment having a second magnetic charge, opposite the first magnetic charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andrew Mlinaric
  • Patent number: 11879399
    Abstract: A method, for an internal combustion engine including an intake camshaft equipped with a variable intake valve timing device including an intake timing actuator and an exhaust camshaft equipped with a variable exhaust valve timing device including an exhaust timing actuator, of detecting inverted connection of the intake timing actuator with the exhaust timing actuator, including: measuring the angular position of the intake camshaft and the angular position of the exhaust camshaft; commanding one of the two timing actuators according to a setpoint and keeping the other of the two timing actuators immobile; measuring the angular positions of the intake camshaft and of the exhaust camshaft; and comparing: if the angular position of the camshaft corresponding to the timing actuator that's been commanded has not been modified, and if the angular position of the camshaft corresponding to the immobile timing actuator has been modified, inverted connection can be diagnosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Nicolas Oberti, Fabien Joseph
  • Patent number: 11859570
    Abstract: A toothed wheel forming a target for a camshaft position sensor includes a circular body provided with two opposite main faces and is provided on its circumference with teeth. The series of teeth includes eight teeth, each tooth having, for a given first direction of rotation of the wheel, a rising edge and a falling edge and two neighboring teeth being separated by a recessed part. The edges of a first type, rising or falling, are evenly distributed at the periphery of the toothed wheel. The angular length of the recessed parts is greater than or equal to arctan(Llow/R)°CAM, where R is the radius and Llow is the minimum distance between two teeth to detect a low level, except for one recessed part, and the angular length of a tooth is greater than arctan(Lhigh/R)°CAM, except for one tooth, where Lhigh is the minimum length of a tooth allowing detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Fabien Joseph, Stéphane Eloy
  • Patent number: 11859520
    Abstract: An electronic phaser system configured for use in an engine system is provided. The electronic phaser system comprises an intake camshaft, an electronic phaser and an engine control module (ECM). The intake camshaft has a plurality of camshaft lobes. The electronic phaser couples a gearbox to the intake camshaft. The electronic phaser is configured to rotationally advance the intake camshaft an amount of crank degrees to a desired rotational position. The ECM targets a desired cranking compression ratio based on one of an engine stop request and an engine start request. The ECM converts the desired cranking compression ratio into a camshaft lobe centerline position and commands the electronic phaser to rotate the intake camshaft to the desired rotational position that satisfies the camshaft lobe centerline position to achieve the desired cranking compression ratio. The desired cranking compression ratio is between 5:1 and 6:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Andrew L Morris, Craig A DeYoung
  • Patent number: 11821343
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises a crankshaft, at least one camshaft adjustable electromechanically by an actuating gearing, an engine control unit, and a camshaft control unit for controlling an actuating motor which operates the actuating gearing. The engine control unit is linked to a device for detecting the angular position of the crankshaft, and the camshaft control unit is linked to the engine control unit. A device for detecting a reference position of the camshaft and a device for detecting the angular position of the shaft of the actuating motor are provided as sole mechanisms for detecting the angular position of the camshaft. The camshaft control unit is designed to determine the phase angle of the camshaft in relation to the crankshaft on the basis of the information items provided by said devices in combination with the detected angular position of the crankshaft and the transmission ratio of the actuating gearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Tobias Riedl, Florian Holler, Christian Karbacher
  • Patent number: 11788480
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining which of an intake valve and an exhaust valve is to be deactivated first when an engine is operated in a variable displacement mode. In one example, an exhaust valve of the cylinder is deactivated before an intake valve of the cylinder when the engine is operated in a static variable displacement operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Rollinger, Adam Krach
  • Patent number: 11773756
    Abstract: There is provided a variable valve timing system including: a variable valve device; an oil control valve configured to control a hydraulic pressure with respect to the variable valve device; an external pipe connecting a main gallery and the oil control valve; and a hydraulic pressure sensor configured to detect a hydraulic pressure in an oil path formed at the crankcase. The oil control valve is disposed on one side surface of the engine in the vehicle width direction. One end portion of the external pipe is connected to one side of the main gallery in the vehicle width direction. In a bottom view of a vehicle, the one end portion of the external pipe overlaps with the crankcase, and the hydraulic pressure sensor overlaps with the crankcase on one side of the one end portion of the external pipe in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuto Takashiba
  • Patent number: 11761356
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle includes a crankshaft, a camshaft, a cylinder, a piston movably disposed in the cylinder and coupled to the crankshaft for driving the crankshaft, a first gas exchange valve which is assigned to the cylinder, a first valve clearance compensation device, where via the first valve clearance compensation device the first gas exchange valve is displaceable between a first open position and a first closed position by a first cam of the camshaft, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to align the camshaft such that the first valve clearance compensation device is pressure-loaded in the idle state of the crankshaft by a plateau area assigned to the first cam to hold the first gas exchange valve in the first open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Johannes Ernst, Franz Huber, Jochen Hufendiek, Christian Lorenz, Tilmann Roemheld, Frank Strauss, Ruediger Weiss, Hardy Weymann
  • Patent number: 11754004
    Abstract: A control method for an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine including a valve timing control mechanism on at least an intake side and configured to control an operation of the valve timing control mechanism on the intake side during acceleration, the method including, calculating a relational expression between an intake valve timing, the intake valve timing being an operation timing of an intake valve, and a cylinder air charge amount in a range in which the intake valve timing can be advanced or retarded within a predetermined calculation cycle from a current value, calculating a target air charge amount, the target air charge amount being a target value of the cylinder air charge amount during the acceleration, based on an operating state of the internal combustion engine, calculating a target value of the intake valve timing corresponding to the target air charge amount from the relational expression for each calculation cycle, and setting a command signal for the valve timing contr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Miyauchi, Michio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11753971
    Abstract: A continuously variable valve duration (CVVD) system includes a controller configured to determine whether a learning value existing in the CVVD system is required to be verified during one of a hardware abnormality, a learning value abnormality, and a motor voltage abnormality. In particular, the controller performs a learning value verification control using a rotation detection value and switches from a learning value verification control to a re-learning control when re-learning is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bon-Chang Koo
  • Patent number: 11754008
    Abstract: One embodiment is a system comprising an engine including a dedicated EGR cylinder configured to provide EGR to the engine via an EGR loop, a non-dedicated cylinder, a plurality of injectors structured to inject fuel into the dedicated EGR cylinder and the non-dedicated EGR cylinder, and an electronic control system operatively coupled with the fueling system and the ignition system. The electronic control system is configured to evaluate engine operating parameters including an engine load and an engine speed. The electronic control system is responsive to variation of the engine operating parameters to control operation of the fueling system to vary combustion in the at least one dedicated cylinder between rich of stoichiometric and stoichiometric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Stroh, Kartavya Neema, Anthony Kyle Perfetto, Shashank Tamaskar
  • Patent number: 11746859
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a captive sprocket system for an engine, comprising: a sprocket including a first sprocket gear, a second sprocket gear and a retaining disc having a diameter and a thickness; a cylinder block having a bore with a central opening and a plurality of threaded bosses, the plurality of threaded bosses together forming an axial support surface and a radial location surface, the axial support surface and the radial location surface being sized to receive the retaining disc of the sprocket to support and locate the sprocket; and a plurality of captivation screws configured to be received by the plurality of threaded bosses, each captivation screw having a head with a lower surface which, when the captivation screw is received by a threaded boss, overlies the retaining disc and retains the sprocket in the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: James A. Dods, Michael J. Cooper, Paul A. Leggott, Graham Dowson
  • Patent number: 11739685
    Abstract: A camshaft includes, as a cam that opens and closes an exhaust valve and an intake valve, a ball cam whose protrusion amount changes according to rotation of the camshaft, wherein the camshaft has a double structure consisting of an inner shaft and an outer shaft provided in a manner that the inner shaft is helically displaced with respect to the outer shaft around an axis of the camshaft according to a rotation speed of the camshaft, and the ball cam is accommodated movably in a guide groove provided in the inner shaft and protrudes from the outer shaft, and a protrusion amount of the ball cam from the outer shaft changes when the ball cam moves in the guide groove due to the helical displacement of the inner shaft with respect to the outer shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Inventors: Fukuei Sawada, Shigeru Sato
  • Patent number: 11732620
    Abstract: A combined plug-sensor wheel for a camshaft is disclosed. The combined plug-sensor wheel includes a pin projecting in an axial direction of the camshaft. The pin, when inserted into the camshaft, seals the camshaft in a fluid-tight manner. According to an implementation, the combined plug-sensor wheel and the camshaft are incorporated into an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventors: Frank Dautel, Peter Mantler, Christoph Steinmetz
  • Patent number: 11724686
    Abstract: A method of reducing cold start emissions in a series mode hybrid electric vehicle, including an internal combustion engine with an exhaust duct having a catalyst and a downstream oxygen sensor, an output of the combustion engine being connected to an electric generator with a power output of at least 10 kW that is connected to an electric motor which is coupled to a drive shaft of two or more wheels. The method includes detecting a cold start condition, injecting fuel into the engine such that combustion at a lambda value, ?, is achieved for which ?>1, running the engine at a speed of 1000 rpm or higher, determining if the efficiency of the catalyst reaches a first level, setting ? to about 1 after the predetermined efficiency level of the catalyst has been reached, and reducing the speed to working conditions when the catalyst efficiency reaches a second level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Göran Almkvist, Markus Ekström
  • Patent number: 11725546
    Abstract: A phaser which has an offset or remote pilot valve added to the hydraulic circuit to manage a hydraulic detent switching function, in order to provide a mid-position lock for cold starts of the engine, either during cranking or prior to complete engine shutdown. The mid-position locking of the phaser positions the cam at an optimum position for cold restarts of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventor: Brian Kenyon
  • Patent number: 11686225
    Abstract: A harmonic drive (1) comprises three connection elements (2, 9, 13), namely an input element (2), an output element (13) and an adjusting element (9), and an anti-twist mechanism (15) operates between the connection elements (2, 9, 13), the anti-twist mechanism comprising an anti-twist element (18), which is concentric to the connection elements (2, 9, 13) and interlockingly cooperates with one of the connection elements (9) and frictionally cooperates with one other connection element (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Heise, Marco Hildebrand, Bastian Hain
  • Patent number: 11668261
    Abstract: A method and system is provided of controlling a pump having a pumping element comprising: determining, by a controller, a suspension of one or more fuel delivery events for a pumping element of the at least one pumping element; subsequent to determining the suspension of the one or more fuel delivery events, providing, by the controller, a first command to open an inlet valve of the pumping element to remove a portion of residual fluid within a pumping chamber based on pressure within the pumping chamber of the pumping element; and subsequent to providing the first command, providing, by the controller, a second command to close the inlet valve of the pumping element based on a top dead center (TDC) position of the pumping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Benson
  • Patent number: 11649745
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for an oil piston cooling jet valve of an oil pressure system of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, including: Driving the OPCJ valve for detecting oil pressure diagnostic data if multiple enabling conditions have been met, the multiple enabling conditions including: Presence of a stationary operation of the internal combustion engine; presence of a predetermined operating range; presence of an oil temperature within a predetermined oil temperature range; prevention of a scheduled driving of the OPCJ valve for regular piston cooling; and prevention of an error of the oil pressure system. The diagnostic method further including: Determining whether an oil pressure measuring point is within a predefined oil pressure measuring point range. The invention further relates to a diagnostic device, a control unit and a motor vehicle, which are each suitable or configured for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Julian Gens, Christian Ledwig
  • Patent number: 11643950
    Abstract: A method includes determining a value of an operational motor current limit and setting a value of a startup current limit equal to a predetermined value in excess of the value of the operational motor current limit if a set of predetermined conditions is satisfied. The method includes determining that operation of the engine has been interrupted, operating the electric motor of the variable valve timing mechanism with a current having a magnitude that is less than or equal to the startup current limit after determining that operation of the engine has been interrupted, determining that operation of the engine has resumed, and operating the electric motor of the variable valve timing mechanism with a current having a magnitude that is less than or equal to the operational motor current limit after determining that operation of the engine has resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Morris, Jiju Alexander, Daniel Brown
  • Patent number: 11629659
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine that is started via expansion stroke combustion are described. In one example, the method increases air flow through the engine during an engine stopping process so that a larger amount of air may be trapped in a cylinder that is on its expansion stroke so that greater amounts of engine torque may be provided during engine starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Banker, Jeffrey Doering, Chris Glugla
  • Patent number: 11629619
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster is produced that includes a stator and a rotor, which is rotatable relative to the stator, wherein the stator and the rotor are produced with first planar surfaces on a first end face and with second planar surfaces on a second end face, which is formed to be opposite the first end face when viewed in an axial direction and wherein the rotor and/or the stator is or are produced according to a powder-metallurgical method, The first planar surfaces and the second planar surfaces of the stator and the rotor are ground or finished, and the lateral surface of the stator and the lateral surface of the rotor are left uncalibrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Miba Sinter Austria GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Mueller, Markus Schauer, Karl Dickinger
  • Patent number: 11591939
    Abstract: A compression release mechanism including a camshaft, a cam provided on the camshaft and protruding outward in a radial direction of the camshaft, a lever, of which a portion is disposed in the camshaft, a support shaft supporting the lever such that the lever is swingable between a first position and a second position relative to the camshaft, and a spring attached to the camshaft, to urge the lever toward the first position. The lever includes a cam portion configured to protrude out from the camshaft with the lever at the first position, a centrifugal weight for moving the lever toward the second position in accordance with rotation of the camshaft, and an abutment portion configured to be in abutment with an inner peripheral surface of the camshaft with the lever at the first position, and be located away from the inner peripheral surface with the lever at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinori Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 11566569
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for identifying abnormal exhaust valve performance of an internal combustion engine may include receiving exhaust passage temperature signals from a plurality of exhaust passage temperature sensors, each exhaust passage being fluidly connected to one or more exhaust valves of the internal combustion engine, the exhaust passage temperature signals being indicative of respective exhaust passage temperatures. The method may further include comparing one or more of the exhaust passage temperatures, identifying a caution exhaust passage temperature, from one or more of the exhaust passage temperatures, that deviates from one or more of the other one or more exhaust passage temperatures, and outputting an abnormal exhaust valve performance indication based on identifying the caution exhaust passage temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Kennedy, Nathan Ankersen, Ryan A. Rush
  • Patent number: 11560814
    Abstract: A hydraulic fluid control valve (HFCV) configured to recirculate an existing hydraulic fluid from a first hydraulic actuation chamber to a second hydraulic actuation chamber is provided. The HFCV includes a selectively movable spool assembly having an outer annulus, at least one one-way valve arranged within the outer annulus, and an inner fluid chamber configured to receive and deliver the exiting hydraulic fluid to one or both of either a sump or one of the first or second hydraulic actuation chambers. The at least one one-way valve moves in an axial direction and the outer annulus serves as an axial motion stop for the at least one one-way valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gustavo de Oliveira Figueiredo, Andrew Mlinaric
  • Patent number: 11560815
    Abstract: An electrically-controlled variable camshaft timing (VCT) system including a sun gear, having an inner axial surface, configured to communicate torque from an output shaft of an electric motor to a gearbox assembly; and a collet sleeve having at least one slot configured to engage the output shaft of the electric motor and a relief section permitting radial-inward compression and an outer axial surface that releasably engages the inner axial surface of the sun gear such that the outer axial surface of the collet sleeve is engaged with the inner axial surface of the sun gear while an amount of torque applied to the sun gear by the output shaft is below a predetermined torque threshold and the sun gear and the collet sleeve are angularly displaced relative to each other when an amount of torque applied to the sun gear by the output shaft is at or above the predetermined torque threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventor: Chad M. McCloy
  • Patent number: 11560816
    Abstract: A spring retainer for a camshaft phaser is provided that includes an axially extending portion and a disk portion. The disk portion has an axially extending retention tab that is formed integrally therewith. The axially extending portion includes a torsional fixing region configured to torsionally attach a bias spring to the spring retainer. In a first installed position, the retention tab is spaced apart from a straight side of the bias spring. In a second rotationally slipped position, the retention tab is configured to be engaged with the straight side of the bias spring. The spring retainer can be utilized as a timing wheel that is configured to cooperate with a camshaft position sensor to provide an angular position of a camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Renato de Oliveira Ghiraldi, Gilson Arima, Jeffrey Harris
  • Patent number: 11549407
    Abstract: The valve timing control unit includes a valve timing control mechanism that includes a driving rotary body, a driven rotary body, an electric motor and a deceleration gear each for setting the relative rotational phase of the driving rotary body and the driven rotary body, and a phase sensor unit that detects the actual phase of the driving rotary body and the driven rotary body. The valve timing control unit includes a controller that controls the electric motor to reduce a phase difference between the actual phase and a target phase, and the controller includes a swing controller that swings the target phase in vicinity of the target phase when the target phase is maintained and the actual phase having a fluctuation amount is held in a holding region, in which the fluctuation amount is less than a preset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: AISIN CORPORATION, MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenya Fujimoto, Yoshinari Tokunaga, Shigehiro Tanabe, Takano Nakai, Yoshiyuki Kamoyama, Hiroshi Takahashi, Toru Hirota
  • Patent number: 11536169
    Abstract: A controller for a vehicle that includes an internal combustion includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry obtains a predicted temperature outside the vehicle and estimates the viscosity of a lubricating oil based on the oil pressure and the oil temperature of the lubricating oil when the internal combustion engine satisfies a specific operation condition. When the processing circuitry determines that there is a likelihood of a cranking failure occurring in the internal combustion engine on condition that the predicted temperature is less than a threshold value that is based on the viscosity, the processing circuitry outputs a notification signal indicating that that there is a likelihood of a cranking failure occurring in the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Higashi
  • Patent number: 11536166
    Abstract: A hydraulic camshaft adjuster (1), in which the locking system (7, 8) includes a first and a second control element (7, 8). In order to approach the middle position easily, the first control element (7) has a first and a second switching position, wherein in the first switching position a fluidic connection between the hydraulic pump (P) and a first of the two sub-chambers (B) and a fluidic connection between the other, second sub-chamber (A) and the tank (T) can be established, and in the second switching position a fluidic connection between the hydraulic pump (P) and the second of the two sub-chambers (A) and a fluidic connection between the other, first sub-chamber (B) and the tank (T) can be established, and the second control element (8) is free from different switching positions and has no influence on the flow of hydraulic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ali Bayrakdar
  • Patent number: 11530636
    Abstract: A heat management system for air-cooled engines suitable to power yard care equipment or vehicles. The system may generally comprise an engine, a blower configured to blow ambient cooling air across the engine, and an exhaust system comprising an exhaust header and a muffler. The exhaust header has an inlet end which receives heated exhaust gas from the engine and an outlet end fluidly coupled to the muffler. An air control baffle is configured to redirect a portion of the cooling air from the blower towards the exhaust header and the muffler to enhance cooling the exhaust system. The system may further include an outermost protective shield exposed to equipment operators and an inner heat barrier or shield located between the muffler and protective shield. The system is designed to ameliorate both radiative and convective sources of heat transfer to maintain the protective shield at temperatures below established industry standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Inventors: Robert A. Griswold, David Hasler, Brittany Nicole Tremblay, Sean Leroy Winter, Christopher Wolf, Alexander Anthony Yosick
  • Patent number: 11506134
    Abstract: Closing timing of an intake port is changed without using a variable valve timing mechanism. An electric vehicle includes an engine for electricity generation in which closing timing of an intake port maximizes intake air charging efficiency in a specific revolution speed region, a sensor which outputs a signal related to a revolution speed of the engine, a controller which drives the engine at a revolution speed based on the signal of the sensor, a requested electricity generation amount being satisfied at the revolution speed, and a motor which applies a positive or negative torque to the engine. When the engine is driven in a revolution speed region other than the specific revolution speed region, the controller uses the motor to apply a positive or a negative torque to the engine in an intake stroke to change the closing timing of the intake port to increase intake air charging efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 11497084
    Abstract: A heater device includes a heat generation layer that has a heat generation portion configured to generate heat when energized, a pair of electrodes disposed on one side of the heat generation layer and being spaced from each other, a detection portion configured to generate an electric field between the pair of electrodes and detect an object around the pair of electrodes, and a controller configured to control the amount of electric power supplied to the heat generation portion based on a detection result by the detection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Seki, Kimitake Ishikawa, Hirokazu Yamadaki, Yusuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11486277
    Abstract: A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine of a work vehicle includes an engine oil sump and a pump unit fluidly connected to the engine oil sump to receive engine oil therefrom. The pump unit, in turn, includes a first oil pump comprising a variable displacement pump, a second oil pump, a drive line mechanically coupled to the first oil pump and the second oil pump that drives each of the pumps, and a manifold that directs engine oil from the engine oil sump to the first and second oil pumps. A first oil circuit is fluidly coupled to the first oil pump to direct a first flow of engine oil to piston spray jets in the engine and a second oil circuit is fluidly coupled to the second oil pump to direct a second flow of engine oil to one or more oiled engine components in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Jeffrey Alan Buttjer
  • Patent number: 11486273
    Abstract: A variable valve driving mechanism of an engine includes a rocker arm configured to control open and close of a valve and a servo rocker arm arranged in parallel to the rocker arm. A swing end of the servo rocker arm extends to the top of the swing end of the rocker arm. A valve adjustment gap provided in the swing direction of the servo rocker arm and the rocker arm is formed between the servo rocker arm and the rocker arm. A gap compensating device telescopically filling the valve adjustment gap and configured to adjust the valve to be delayed to close or open in advance when extending to the valve adjustment gap is provided between the servo rocker arm and the rocker arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: WEICHAI POWER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fei Wang, Cheng Xu, Zhongsheng Ren, Baojun Wang, Deshi Xu, Gang Wang
  • Patent number: 11466640
    Abstract: A four-stroke internal combustion engine comprising an inlet cam configured to open and close an inlet valve, a No. 1 exhaust cam configured to open and close an exhaust valve, a No. 2 exhaust cam configured to open and close the same exhaust valve, wherein the No. 2 exhaust cam is angularly adjustable relative to the No. 1 exhaust cam in response to input from an operator, so that the No. 2 exhaust cam is able to be selectively engaged; wherein the No. 1 exhaust cam is configured to open and close the exhaust valve during the compression stroke, so that a selected quantity of air drawn in during the intake stroke is expelled during the compression stroke; and wherein the No. 2 exhaust cam is configured to optionally close the exhaust valve when engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventor: James Domenic Krajancich
  • Patent number: 11441509
    Abstract: A technique for fuel system protection for an internal combustion engine comprises determining direct fuel injector temperature as a function of engine operating parameters; and advancing intake valve timing when the temperature rises above a first predetermined value such that the temperature is maintained below a second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: WESTPORT FUEL SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Ning Wu, Mark E. Dunn
  • Patent number: 11434836
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises a plurality of cylinders, including at least one de-activatable cylinder having at least one deactivator assembly operatively connected to the at least one valve train for the de-activatable cylinder. In such an internal combustion engine, a method for actuating engine valves comprises operating at least one cylinder of the plurality of cylinders to provide positive power generation according to the main valve actuations and, additionally, placing the at least one deactivator assembly for a de-activatable cylinder of the at least one de-activatable cylinder in a deactivation state. While the at least one deactivator assembly for the de-activatable cylinder is in the deactivation state and while the at least one cylinder is operating to provide positive power generation according to main valve actuations, the method further comprises performing at least one secondary valve event via at least one engine valve for the de-activatable cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin D. Baltrucki
  • Patent number: 11401838
    Abstract: A system for controlling actuation of an engine valve comprises a pivot and a torsion spring having first and second legs operatively connected to the pivot. A lever arm is adjustably affixed to and extending away from the pivot, and is further rotatable about a pivot axis of the pivot between a retracted position and an extended position and vice versa relative to a motion conveying component. Furthermore, a housing is provided having a pivot bore formed therein with the pivot rotatably disposed in the pivot bore. The housing further comprises a first and second openings intersecting with the pivot bore such that the first and second legs extend out of the first opening and the lever arm extends out of the second opening. When a first force is applied by the motion conveying component to the lever arm, such first force maintains the lever arm in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: G. Michael Gron, Jr., Jacob Moore, Justin D. Baltrucki, Eric J. Hodgkinson, Timothy P. Neal, Bruce A. Swanbon, Robb Janak, Matei Alexandru
  • Patent number: 11384701
    Abstract: A method for calculating the mass of an overlap gaseous flow (MOVL), wherein the exhaust pressure is higher than the intake pressure, or in the case of scavenging (SCAV), wherein the intake pressure is higher than the exhaust pressure. The overlap gaseous flow (MOVL) is the flow which flows, in overlap conditions, through the intake valve and the exhaust valve of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. At least one intake valve is driven so as to vary the lift (H) of the intake valve in controlled manner. The overlap condition is a condition in which the intake valve and the exhaust valve are both at least partially open. The method comprises calculating the mass of the gaseous flow (MOVL) which flows through the intake valve and the exhaust valve on the basis of the relation: MOVL=PERM*?(P/P0,n)*P0/P0_REF*(T0_REF/T0)1/2/n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: MARELLI EUROPE S.p.A.
    Inventor: Marco Panciroli
  • Patent number: 11378021
    Abstract: The variable compression ratio internal combustion engine 1 comprises: a variable compression ratio mechanism 6 able to change a mechanical compression ratio; an exhaust promotion mechanism 50, 55 able to reduce cylinder residual gas after an exhaust stroke of cylinders; and a control device 80 configured to control the mechanical compression ratio by the variable compression ratio mechanism and control an operation of the exhaust promotion mechanism. The control device is configured to operate the exhaust promotion mechanism in at least a partial time period of a time period from when it is demanded that the mechanical compression ratio be raised to when the mechanical compression ratio finishes being changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naruto Yamane
  • Patent number: 11365654
    Abstract: A bushing member includes: a large diameter portion which is inserted on a radially inner side of a coiled segment of an assist spring and includes a straight portion which extends in an axial direction; and a small diameter portion which is located on a radially inner side of a housing and has an outer diameter that is smaller than an outer diameter of the large diameter portion. The coiled segment includes a contact portion that contacts the straight portion at a radially inner surface of the contact portion. In an axial direction, a location of an end of the straight portion, which is located on one axial side where a driven shaft is placed, coincides with a location of an end of the contact portion located on the one axial side, or is on the one axial side of the location of the end of the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 11351982
    Abstract: Provided are a driving force control method and device for a hybrid vehicle, each capable of effectively absorbing torque fluctuation of an engine while suppressing deterioration in energy efficiency. The driving force control device for a hybrid vehicle comprises a PCM configured to: identify a speed reduction ratio in a driving force transmission mechanism; estimate an average torque output by an engine; estimate a torque fluctuation component of the torque output by the engine; set a countertorque for suppressing the estimated torque fluctuation component; and control an electric motor to output the set countertorque, wherein the PCM is operable, under a condition that the average torque output by the engine and an engine speed are constant, to set the countertorque such that, as the speed reduction ratio becomes smaller, the absolute value of the countertorque becomes larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Wataru Yamamoto, Hirofumi Nishimura, Tsuyoshi Goto, Kentaro Furusho, Yuta Enokizono
  • Patent number: 11352918
    Abstract: This invention describes a variable valve timing mechanism which may be fitted to an internal combustion engine to provide precise control over timing of the valve opening and closing events of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft. Various methods for its application are described to provide settable valve timing at either predetermined angle selected by the operator, or automatic variable valve timing as governed by parameters of the operating engine. Said mechanism comprised of oppositely located idler rollers, whereas not bound to a single yoke or carrier, are driven by a cam to achieve independent movement of the rollers, which bear against both tension and slack sides of the belt between the crankshaft and camshaft pulleys causing predictable and repeatable variation in valve timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Inventor: Anthony John Peila