Camshaft Or Cam Characteristics Patents (Class 123/90.17)
  • Patent number: 11946395
    Abstract: A variable cam timing phaser includes a housing disposed about an axis and having an inner housing surface defining a housing interior. The variable cam timing phaser includes a rotor moveable between an advance position and a retard position. The rotor includes a hub and a vane, with the rotor and the housing defining a chamber. The vane further defines the chamber into an advance chamber and a retard chamber. The variable cam timing phaser also includes a control valve assembly including a valve housing and a control piston. The variable cam timing phaser also includes a chamber biasing assembly disposed in one of the advance and the retard chambers and configured to bias the rotor into a predetermined position between the advance and the retard positions. The chamber biasing assembly includes a chamber piston, a chamber biasing member, and a chamber check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Anand Barve, Timothy Wilton Kunz
  • Patent number: 11939892
    Abstract: A valve timing adjustment device includes: a driving rotating body that rotates with a crankshaft; a driven rotating body that rotates with a camshaft; a reduction mechanism configured to change a relative rotation phase of the driving rotating body and the driven rotating body by a driving force of an actuator; and a filter unit capable of capturing a foreign matter contained in lubricating fluid supplied into the reduction mechanism. The reduction mechanism includes: an internal gear portion having internal teeth formed inward in a radial direction, and an external gear portion having external teeth formed outward in the radial direction to mesh with the internal teeth. The driven rotating body has a supply hole penetrating in an axial direction. The filter unit has holes penetrating in the axial direction, and the holes are arranged in a flow path of the lubricating fluid connected to the supply hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahito Kamiya
  • Patent number: 11933200
    Abstract: A valve timing change device 2 comprises: a vane rotor 4; a housing 6 accommodating the vane rotor; a spring 8 contacting at one end portion 8b the housing and contacting at another end portion 8c the vane rotor to bias the vane rotor against the housing in a circumferential direction of the vane rotor; a first protruding portion 32 protruding from an end surface 6a of the housing on a first direction side of an axial direction of the vane rotor and contacting the one end portion of the spring so as to be biased by the spring; and a retaining portion 34 disposed on the first direction side of the one end portion of the spring and extending from the first protruding portion so as to restrict movement of the one end portion of the spring in the first direction. The first protruding portion and the retaining portion are formed integrally with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: MIKUNI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Riki Murasaka
  • Patent number: 11905862
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gear device for a motor vehicle, as is used, for example, for adjusting a camshaft in a combustion engine in order to influence the phase angle between crankshaft and camshaft. Such gear devices have to be constructed compactly and also have to have high resistance to wear, in particular upon reaching end stops during adjustment of the phase angle. For this purpose, the gear device has hydraulic end stop damping by the drive unit and the output unit having communicating cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Weber, Rainer Ottersbach, Resat Aras
  • Patent number: 11885245
    Abstract: An oil pressure actuated or torsion assisted phaser with a lock pin that has a position which shuts off communication between the advance and retard chambers and the front cam bearing and/or oil control valve, effectively acting as a shutoff valve and preventing leakage of oil from the advance and retard chambers. The prevention of leakage maintains oil in the phaser after engine shutdown. Additionally, by shutting off communication between the advance and retard chambers and the oil supply, the side load on the lock pin from the oil pressure torque on the rotor vanes during unlocking of the lock pin can be reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventor: Anand Barve
  • Patent number: 11852051
    Abstract: A single unit solenoid-controlled hydraulic fluid control valve (HFCV) configured to recirculate an exiting hydraulic fluid from a first hydraulic actuation chamber to a second hydraulic actuation chamber is provided. The HFCV includes a selectively movable spool having 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andrew Mlinaric, Gustavo de Oliveira Figueiredo
  • Patent number: 11821342
    Abstract: A cam phasing system is provided. In some non-limiting examples, the cam phasing system includes a planetary actuator having a first sun gear, a first set of planet gears meshed to and arranged circumferentially around the first sun gear, a first ring gear meshed with the first set of planet gears, and a second sun gear. The second sun gear is rotationally fixed. The planetary actuator further includes a second set of planet gears meshed to and arranged circumferentially around the second sun gear, a second ring gear meshed with the second set of planet gears, and an input shaft rotationally coupled to the first sun gear for rotation therewith. Rotation of the input shaft rotates the first ring gear relative to the second ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: HUSCO Automotive Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Curtis L. Van Weelden, Dean Wardle, Selena Boltik, Austin Schmitt
  • Patent number: 11815136
    Abstract: A rotational translation unit includes a rotation portion that rotates relative to a housing upon receiving an input of torque output from a speed reducer, and a translation portion that moves relative to the housing in an axial direction according to rotation of the rotation portion relative to the housing. A clutch is provided between a first transmission portion and a second transmission portion that are rotatable relative to the housing, and the clutch allows transmission of the torque between the first transmission portion and the second transmission portion in an engaged state of the clutch, and interrupts the transmission of the torque between the first transmission portion and the second transmission portion in a disengaged state of the clutch. A return spring is capable of urging the rotational translation unit in a direction away from the clutch relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Souichirou Hayashi, Takumi Sugiura, Akira Takagi
  • Patent number: 11808308
    Abstract: A sun gear of a speed reducer is provided coaxially with and integrally rotatably with a rotor of a prime mover. Multiple planetary gears are disposed in a circumferential direction of the sun gear, and are capable of revolving in the circumferential direction of the sun gear while rotating in a state of meshing with the sun gear. A carrier rotatably supports the planetary gears, and is rotatable relative to the sun gear. A first ring gear is fixed to a housing, and has a first ring gear tooth portion capable of meshing with the planetary gears. A second ring gear is rotatable integrally with a rotation portion, and has a second ring gear tooth portion capable of meshing with the planetary gears. The second ring gear tooth portion is different in number of teeth from the first ring gear tooth portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takumi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 11773755
    Abstract: There is provided a variable valve timing system, including: a camshaft rotatably supported by a support wall of an engine; a variable valve device configured to advance or retard the camshaft by a hydraulic pressure; and an oil control valve. A thrust stopper is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the camshaft. A bearing surface of the support wall is formed with an advance groove through which oil for advancing the camshaft is to pass, a retard groove through which oil for retarding the camshaft is to pass, and an accommodation groove configured to accommodate the thrust stopper. At the bearing surface, the retard groove is positioned on one wall surface side of the support wall, the accommodation groove is positioned on the other wall surface side of the support wall, and the advance groove is positioned between the retard groove and the accommodation groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuto Takashiba
  • Patent number: 11725547
    Abstract: A valve opening and closing timing control device includes a driving-side rotating body, a driven-side rotating body, a stopper configured to determine a mechanical limit of a displacement region of a relative rotation phase, a phase control mechanism configured to change the relative rotation phase, and a control unit configured to control the electric motor so as to displace the actual phase detected by a phase sensor. A limit phase at which the stopper reaches an abutting state is set in advance when rotation of the electric motor is stopped while the internal combustion engine operates. Upon executing stop control of stopping the internal combustion engine, except when the actual phase is already the limit phase, the control unit executes braking control of limiting the rotation of the electric motor by controlling an electric current to be supplied to the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shuhei Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11692463
    Abstract: An oil passage switching valve suitable for a valve timing changing apparatus includes: a valve body, opening or closing an oil passage of operating oil; an urging spring, urging to position the valve body to a position corresponding to the retard position in a pause state; and a switching element, positioning the valve body to a position corresponding to the retard position when a state quantity of the operating oil is in a first range, and switching a position of the valve body in response to the state quantity (pressure or temperature) of the operating oil while resisting an urging force of the urging spring to position the valve body to a position corresponding to the advance position when the state quantity of the operating oil is in a second range greater than the first range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: MIKUNI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chikara Oikawa, Kairi Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 11692464
    Abstract: A valve timing adjustment device includes: a housing member; a vane rotor that includes vanes and is securely coupled to a driven shaft and is rotatable relative to the housing member when the vane rotor receives a pressure of hydraulic oil introduced into hydraulic chambers; a fixing member that fixes the vane rotor to the driven shaft; and a bearing section that rotatably supports the housing member. The housing member includes a winding section that is formed at an outer peripheral surface of the housing member. A transmission member is wound around the winding section. The bearing section and the winding section at least partially overlap with each other when viewed in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Fukuyama, Tetsuro Mitsutani
  • Patent number: 11649741
    Abstract: A hydraulic oil control valve is coaxially disposed with a rotational axis of a valve timing adjustment device. The hydraulic oil control valve includes a sleeve and a spool sliding in an axial direction within the sleeve. The spool has an inner space serving as a drain passage through which the hydraulic oil discharged from a phase shifting portion flows. The spool defines a drain inlet that guides the hydraulic oil discharged from the phase shifting portion into the drain passage. At least one of the sleeve or the spool defines an opening through which the hydraulic oil in the drain passage is discharged from the hydraulic oil control valve. A protrusion is formed between the drain inlet and the opening to extend radially inward beyond the drain inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Futoshi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 11560813
    Abstract: A hydraulic fluid control valve (HFCV) configured to recirculate an exiting hydraulic fluid from a first hydraulic actuation chamber to a second hydraulic actuation chamber is provided. The HFCV includes a selectively movable spool having an outer annulus 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Steven Burke
  • Patent number: 11560834
    Abstract: A cam phaser is described for selectively engaging in a torque transmitting mode or an angle control mode. In the torque transmitting mode, torque from a camshaft is transmitted to an e-motor, which functions as a generator and provides electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ayushmoy Roy, Steven Burke
  • Patent number: 11542876
    Abstract: A method for advancing valve actuation during low load or idle diesel engine conditions to promote aftertreatment heat up comprises switching a cam phaser from a nominal lift position to an advance lift position to open an affiliated valve before nominal. Valve lift is actuated via the cam phaser. The valve is lowered towards nominal closure, and valve closure is interrupted by actuating a latch phaser. Valve closure is extended beyond nominal valve closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: James E. McCarthy, Jr., Matthew A. Vance
  • Patent number: 11542843
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an insertion piece for a camshaft phaser and the camshaft phaser. The insertion piece is configured to be partially inserted and mounted into a center hole of the rotor of the camshaft phaser. The insertion piece has a stepped cylindrical shape across its entirety and includes a first cylinder portion, a second cylinder portion, and a third cylinder portion, which are connected to each other and are coaxially arranged. The first cylinder portion extends along the axial direction; the second cylinder portion is located at one axial side of the first cylinder portion and extends along the axial direction; the third cylinder portion is located at one axial side of the second cylinder portion and extends along the axial direction; and a clamping connection portion for fixing the coil spring of the camshaft phaser is formed on the third cylinder portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Xiaona Liu
  • Patent number: 11530660
    Abstract: A phase diagnosis method and apparatus. When it is verified that the location of an engine is valid, an oil injector performs spraying at a top center compression position; if no acceleration is detected after spraying, it indicates that a fault occurs; in order to detect whether it is a fault of phase deviation of the camshaft by 180 degrees, the oil sprayer performs spraying at the top center exhaust position and detects whether there is an acceleration; if an acceleration is detected, it indicates that the situation of the phase deviation of the camshaft by 180 degrees exists. In this way, the problem in the prior art of being unable to detect phase deviation when the phase of a camshaft is deviated by 180 degrees is solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: WEICHAI POWER CO.. LTD.
    Inventors: Dawei Song, Xuebin Wang, Peng Huang
  • Patent number: 11519306
    Abstract: A check valve is made of a resilient body wound in a ring form and is located in an annular flow passage. A displacement limiter includes: a limiter main body that is located on an outer side of the check valve and is configured to limit displacement of the check valve in a diameter increasing direction of the check valve; and a limiter flow passage that communicates between one side and the other side of the limiter main body in an axial direction to enable hydraulic oil to flow between the one side and the other side of the limiter main body through the limiter flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Hamada, Makoto Otsubo, Tetsuro Mitsutani, Kinya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11492933
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, first and second rotating members, one for the intake valve and one for the exhaust valve rotate next to the outside of an engine cylinder on opposite sides thereof when driven by a drive gear attached to the end of the engine's crankshaft. Each rotating member may include a ring gear having a valve port or aperture near its perimeter that cyclically aligns with a corresponding valve port formed through the cylinder wall near the top of the cylinder. A method of controlling valve timing comprises the steps of causing the rotating member containing the second valve port to periodically align in synchronism with the first port to control the passage of an air/fuel mixture and exhaust gases through the combustion cycles of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: Allen Eugene Looney
  • Patent number: 11466595
    Abstract: A slide element for displacement of a cam segment in an axial direction along a camshaft may include a slide sleeve, which has a longitudinal toothing formed at least sectionally along an inner wall of the slide sleeve and has a latching section formed on the inner wall and serving for interaction with a latching means. The latching section comprises a latching means receiving part, which comprises at least two latching grooves formed adjacently in an axial direction and at least one latching elevation formed between the latching grooves of the latching means receiving part and directed inward. The latching elevation may be partially hardened exclusively in a latching means transfer region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA TECCENTER AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Rene Kargl
  • Patent number: 11466597
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electromechanical camshaft adjuster comprising an electric motor and an adjusting gear, which has a housing with two housing parts that are sealed off with respect to each other by means of a static seal and with respect to the electric motor and a cylinder head by means of two dynamic seals. A first housing part of the adjusting gear has a pot shape that tapers in a stepped manner towards a housing bottom of the housing part, said pot shape having three different inner diameter regions. In the region closest to the bottom with the smallest inner diameter, a stop plate that acts in the circumferential direction is held. In the region with the middle inner diameter, an output ring gear is mounted with play, and in the region with the largest inner diameter, an input ring gear is secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Weber, Peter Zierer
  • Patent number: 11459916
    Abstract: A drive-side rotor is rotated synchronously with a crankshaft. A driven-side rotor is rotated integrally with a camshaft. An internal gear section is formed at the driven-side rotor. An Oldham coupling includes: a driven Oldham flange that is formed at the drive-side rotor; a drive Oldham flange that is formed at the planetary rotor; and an Oldham intermediate that is configured to synchronize rotation of the driven Oldham flange and rotation of the drive Oldham flange while permitting eccentricity between the driven Oldham flange and the drive Oldham flange. There is satisfied a relationship of ?2<?1 where: ?1 is a maximum tilt amount of the planetary rotor relative to the driven Oldham flange; and ?2 is a maximum tilt amount of the planetary rotor in a clearance formed at the Oldham coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Otsubo, Kenichi Tomomatsu, Shuhei Yamamoto, Hiroki Takahashi, Soichi Kinouchi
  • Patent number: 11454140
    Abstract: An electrically-actuated variable camshaft timing (VCT) assembly including an electric motor for controlling the VCT assembly having a rotor and a motor output shaft; a gearbox assembly having an input coupled to the motor output shaft and an output configured to be coupled with a camshaft of an internal combustion engine; and a torque-limiting assembly coupled to the motor output shaft that prevents angular displacement of the motor output shaft relative to the rotor and includes a spring that releasably engages the rotor to the motor output shaft to prevent angular displacement of the rotor relative to the motor output shaft at or below a torque limit and permits angular displacement of the rotor relative to the motor output shaft above the torque limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Chad M. McCloy, Daniel Scales
  • Patent number: 11454141
    Abstract: An electrically-actuated variable camshaft timing (VCT) assembly includes a gearbox assembly including an input; an electric motor having a rotor, a stator, and a motor shaft that is coupled with the input of the gearbox assembly, wherein the motor shaft includes etchings, on an outer surface of the motor shaft, that releasably couple the motor shaft to the rotor at a center aperture of the rotor when an amount of torque exerted on the motor shaft via the gearbox assembly is less than or equal to a predetermined torque value, and the etchings are further configured to decouple the motor shaft from the rotor when the amount of torque exerted on the motor shaft is greater than the predetermined torque value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Shawn Blackmur, Anthony Mattord, Glen Kozeli, John R. Smerczak, Daniel Brown
  • Patent number: 11441500
    Abstract: An engine torque estimating apparatus having a processor and a memory accessed by the processor. The processor performs a torque estimating that calculates time series data of an estimated indicated torque, based on a crank angle having been extracted from an output of a crank angle sensor of an engine including a plurality of cylinders; an estimated indicated torque-related value extracting that extracts an estimated indicated torque-related value, for each of the cylinders, from the time series data of the estimated indicated torque, for each of the cylinders; and average indicated torque correct value acquiring that converts, for each of the cylinders, the estimated indicated torque-related value into an average indicated torque correct value having been calculated based on a cylinder internal state of the engine in correspondence to the estimated indicated torque-related value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TRANSTRON INC.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Ogawa, Hiromitsu Soneda
  • Patent number: 11434787
    Abstract: A valve timing adjustment device includes a driving-side rotatable body and a driven-side rotatable body. The driving-side rotatable body is configured to be rotated about a rotational axis synchronously with a drive shaft and includes a sprocket portion and a housing portion. The sprocket portion is configured to receive a drive force transmitted from the drive shaft. The housing portion is shaped in a tubular form and is formed separately from the sprocket portion. The driven-side rotatable body is configured to be rotated about the rotational axis synchronously with a driven shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahito Kamiya
  • Patent number: 11421608
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing hydrocarbon emissions from an engine. In one example, a method may include adjusting timing profiles of a first and a second exhaust valve to selectively allow pneumatic communication between a cylinder and exhaust ports of an exhaust manifold during an engine cold start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaogang Zhang, Steven Wooldridge, Brad VanDerWege
  • Patent number: 11408309
    Abstract: A valve opening and closing timing control device includes: a drive-side rotary body rotating synchronously with a crankshaft; a driven-side rotary body arranged coaxially with the drive-side rotary body and rotating integrally with a valve opening and closing camshaft; a fluid pressure chamber defined between the drive-side and driven-side rotary bodies; advance and retard chambers defined by partitioning the fluid pressure chamber; an intermediate lock mechanism selectively switches between a lock state and a lock release state; advance and retard flow paths allowing a flow of the working fluid to be supplied to and discharged from the advance and retard chambers; a control valve including a spool; and a phase control unit moving a position of the spool by controlling a power supply amount to the control valve to supply and discharge the working fluid to and from the advance and retard chambers to displace a relative rotation phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Ueda, Yuji Noguchi, Masaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11408336
    Abstract: An example embodiment of an all-stroke-variable internal combustion engine may include a piston slidably positioned within an engine cylinder for asymmetrical reciprocation and a primary crankshaft and a half-speed crankshaft to be operatively engaged for rotation of the half-speed crankshaft at half of a speed of the primary crankshaft, wherein the rotation of the half-speed crankshaft at half of the speed of the primary crankshaft to result in the asymmetrical reciprocation of the piston so as to produce a stroke length that is independently variable over four distinct strokes of a full cycle of the all-stroke-variable internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Inventor: Robert P. Hogan
  • Patent number: 11401842
    Abstract: A camshaft phase adjuster, which includes first and second oil holes and a locking pin hole formed in the rotor inner core, the first oil hole connecting an engine fluid passage and the first chamber, the second oil hole connecting the first and second chambers, and the first and second oil holes both passing through the locking pin hole. The locking pin is switchable between first and second positions. A one-way valve is provided at the second oil hole; when the locking pin is in the first position, the first oil hole is unblocked, the one-way valve is switched off and the second oil hole is blocked; and in the second position, the first oil hole is blocked, the one-way valve is switched on, and the second oil hole is unblocked. This allows an intermediate locking function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Xin Li
  • Patent number: 11396831
    Abstract: A phaser which has three camshaft start positions at start-up during cranking before the engine can fire. By having three possible start positions of the phaser, there is an increase in flexibility of the cam position at startup during cranking. The three start positions can also be achieved in open loop, reducing the complexity of the control system needed at cranking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventor: Anand Barve
  • Patent number: 11384662
    Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling an apparatus for camshaft timing adjustment being driven by a hydraulic pump, having a valve body with a first control port, a second control port, a high pressure port and a low pressure port, the valve assembly having a first state for enabling a flow of a hydraulic fluid from the high pressure port to the first control port and from the second control port to the low pressure port, respectively, and a second state for enabling a flow of the hydraulic fluid from the high pressure port to the second control port and from the first control port to the low pressure port, respectively. The valve body has central actuating through-hole extending axially through the valve body defining an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Hagen Mueller
  • Patent number: 11352917
    Abstract: An apparatus for camshaft timing adjustment, having a drive disc and a hub rotationally supported relative to each other and defining a common rotational axis wherein the hub is arranged within the drive disc or vice versa, a vane being accommodated in an adjusting chamber defined by the drive disc and the hub and separating the adjusting chamber into a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber, wherein the vane is attached to the hub or the drive disc, a hydraulic pump having a high pressure pump chamber, a low pressure pump chamber and a pump for pumping a hydraulic fluid from the low pressure pump chamber to the high pressure pump chamber, each pump chamber being fluidly connected to the first sub-chamber and the second sub-chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Hagen Mueller, Theodor Hueser
  • Patent number: 11352916
    Abstract: A mechanical cam phasing system includes a stator, a cradle rotor, a first locking mechanism having a first locking feature and a second locking feature, a cage, and a second locking mechanism rotationally coupled to the cradle rotor and selectively moveable between a locking state and a phasing state. In the locking state, a clearance is provided between the cradle rotor and the cage to allow the cradle rotor to rotate relative to the cage and lock the first locking feature or the second locking feature. In the phasing state, the clearance between the cradle rotor and the cage is reduced to ensure rotational coupling between the cradle rotor and the cage in at least one direction, which displaces the first locking feature or the second locking feature relative to the cradle rotor and enables the cradle rotor to rotate relative to the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: HUSCO Automotive Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Michael Kujak, Austin Schmitt, Alexander Schlarmann
  • Patent number: 11352913
    Abstract: Some embodiments of a present disclosure provide a variable valve lift device. The variable valve lift device includes a main shaft, a sleeve, an oil cylinder and a valve mechanism. The sleeve is provided on the main shaft in a sleeve manner, can be driven by the main shaft to rotate together with the main shaft, and can further linearly move relative to the main shaft along an axis direction of the main shaft. A cam assembly is disposed on the sleeve, and includes at least two cams with different projection heights. The oil cylinder includes a cylinder barrel and a piston disposed in the cylinder barrel, the cylinder barrel is fixed onto the main shaft, the piston is fixedly connected to the sleeve. Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide an automobile having the above variable valve lift device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU AUTOMOBILE GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhen Lu, Hainian Lian, Liang Chen, Qizhou Zhang
  • Patent number: 11313448
    Abstract: A harmonic drive including a housing component (4) and a drive element (18) which is held on the housing component, can be deformed by a wave generator (14), is in the form of a flanged bushing and has a toothing region (17) having a cylindrical basic shape and a disc section (19) which adjoins the toothing region (17). Adjoining the disc section (19) there is a bushing section (20) which is concentric to the toothing region (17), overlaps the latter in the axial direction and is held interlockingly between a cylindrical edge section (21), which is thick-walled in comparison with the bushing section (20), of the housing component (4) and an intrinsically rigid component (22) which is likewise solid in comparison with the flanged bushing (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jurgen Weber, Marco Hildebrand, Daniel Heise
  • Patent number: 11313256
    Abstract: An Oldham coupling includes an engagement arm. At least either a driving-side rotor or an input gear has an engagement portion engaged with the engagement arm and is connected to the Oldham coupling. The engagement arm has a pair of arm flat surface portions perpendicular to a rotational direction of the driving-side rotor. The engagement portion has a pair of engagement flat surface portions that the arm flat surface portions face in a sliding contact manner. Each arm flat surface portion is, within a range where the arm flat surface portion slides against a facing engagement flat surface portion, always in contact with an overlapping portion of the engagement flat surface portion with the arm flat surface portion when viewed from a direction perpendicular to a sliding direction of the Oldham coupling and in which the arm flat surface portion and the engagement flat surface portion overlap each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime Sano, Hiroki Mukaide, Kenji Ikeda, Tomoharu Otake, Kenta Koide
  • Patent number: 11306628
    Abstract: A continuously variable valve duration apparatus includes a camshaft, a cam unit on which a cam is formed, a guide bracket including an upper guide boss, an internal wheel configured to transmit rotation of the camshaft to the cam unit, a wheel housing in which the internal wheel is rotatably inserted, wherein a guide thread is formed in a portion of the wheel housing, and of which a guide shaft is formed to be movably inserted into the upper guide boss, a worm wheel to which an internal thread engaging with the guide thread is formed in the worm wheel, and to which an external thread is formed thereon, a control shaft on which a control worm engaged with the external thread is formed, and an upper bushing mounted on a lower portion of the upper guide boss to support the guide shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hyeon Woo Kim, Kyoung Pyo Ha, Back Sik Kim, Jong Gu Kim
  • Patent number: 11300017
    Abstract: A hydraulic valve for a cam phaser, the hydraulic valve including a bushing including a piston that is movable in a bore along a longitudinal direction; a supply connection configured to feed a hydraulic fluid; a first operating connection and a second operation connection; and a first tank drain connection and a second tank drain connection configured to drain the hydraulic fluid; and a first check valve associated with the first operating connection and a second check valve associated with the second operating connection, wherein the first operating connection and the second operating connection are connectable through at least one of the first check valve and the second check valve alternatively with each other or with the supply connection or with one of the first tank drain connection and the second tank drain connection by moving the piston, wherein the hydraulic valve includes five switching positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ECO Holding 1 GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Diederichs, Michael Brumm
  • Patent number: 11280228
    Abstract: A variable camshaft timing (VCT) assembly includes an independent VCT device that can couple with a first camshaft and change an angular position of the first camshaft relative to the angular position of a crankshaft. The independent VCT device has a stator and an output fixedly coupled with the first camshaft. The VCT assembly also includes a dependent VCT device that angularly adjusts a second camshaft in response to angular adjustment of the first camshaft. The dependent VCT device has a camshaft link coupled with the output of the independent VCT device; the camshaft link has a slot positioned radially outwardly from an axis of camshaft rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: BORGWARNER, INC.
    Inventor: Chad McCloy
  • Patent number: 11268412
    Abstract: A cam phaser mechanism includes an inner ring (rotor), and outer ring (stator), and a face plate. The inner ring that is wider than outer ring. The face plate is contoured such that it is thinner in a region in contact with the inner ring and thicker in a region in contact with the outer ring, thus compensating for the different widths of the inner ring and outer ring. The stator is fastened to the face plate by a plurality of bolts which are threaded into the face plate. The greater width of the face plate in this region provides sufficient thread engagement without increasing the overall width of the cam phaser mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Techologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Shannon Bell
  • Patent number: 11268603
    Abstract: A harmonic drive (1), including a wave generator (8), a flexible, externally toothed gear component (14), in particular in the form of a flex ring, which can be deformed by said wave generator, and at least one internally toothed gear component (4, 5) that meshes with the flexible, externally toothed gear component (14). The flexible, externally toothed gear component (14) has a non-circular basic shape in relation to its mechanically non-loaded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Jochen Thielen
  • Patent number: 11242775
    Abstract: A valve timing adjustment device includes a drive-side rotating body that rotates in conjunction with a crankshaft, a driven-side rotating body that rotates integrally with a camshaft, a speed reduction mechanism that transmits rotation while allowing relative rotation between the drive-side rotating body and the driven-side rotating body. The driven-side rotating body includes a fastening portion fastened to the end portion of the camshaft by a center bolt, a bearing portion that is located radially outward of the fastening portion and that axially supports the drive-side rotating body, and a fitting outer surface that is fitted to a regulating member on a side where an outer diameter of an axial contact surface with the other member on one side and the other side in the axial direction of the driven-side rotating body is large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanobu Aochi, Hitoshi Maegawa, Tomohiro Hayashi, Hiroki Takahashi, Kenji Tada
  • Patent number: 11230950
    Abstract: An electrically-actuated variable camshaft timing (VCT) phaser is employed for use with an internal combustion engine (ICE). The electrically-actuated VCT phaser includes a gear set assembly and a fixture. The gear set assembly has an input gear and an output gear, among other possible components. The input gear receives rotational drive input from an engine crankshaft, and the output gear transmits rotational drive output to an engine camshaft. The fixture is secured in the gear set assembly. Amid installation of the electrically-actuated VCT phaser on the ICE, the fixture constrains rotational movement of the gear set assembly. After installation, the fixture can be removed from the gear set assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: BORGWARNER, INC.
    Inventors: Chad McCloy, Mark Wigsten
  • Patent number: 11193398
    Abstract: A friction member is clamped between a driven shaft of an internal combustion engine and a vane rotor and includes an oil passage hole. The oil passage hole communicates between a first oil passage of the driven shaft a second oil passage of the vane rotor. Each of positioning arrangements includes a primary engaging portion of the vane rotor and a secondary engaging portion of the friction member. The positioning arrangements are configured to limit relative rotation between the vane rotor and the friction member in a communicating state where the first oil passage and the second oil passage are communicated with each other through the oil passage hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hamaoka, Tomoyuki Fukuyama
  • Patent number: 11193399
    Abstract: A variable camshaft timing (VCT) assembly for controlling angular positions of concentric camshafts. The VCT assembly includes an independent VCT device and a dependent VCT device. The independent VCT device is hydraulically- or electrically-actuated. The independent VCT device is coupled with a first concentric camshaft and has a first component that rotates during phasing movements. The first component has a first set of slots therein. The dependent VCT device is coupled with a second concentric camshaft. The dependent VCT device has a second component that lacks rotation during phasing movements, and has multiple phase lugs. The second component has a second set of slots therein. The phase lugs are received in the first set of slots and are received in the second set of slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: BORGWARNER, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Keefover, Brian Thomas Kenyon
  • Patent number: 11187115
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a camshaft adjusting device with a dry belt, a central valve arranged within a camshaft adjuster, and an actuator acting on the central valve. An oil-tight wet space is formed by the camshaft adjuster and the actuator or a component supporting the actuator, and oil present in the wet space can be evacuated by means of an oil path. A portion of this oil path extends axially through the output element of the camshaft adjuster. This oil path can pass the end-side contact face between the output element and camshaft, opening out into an axial bore of the camshaft which is distanced radially from the axis of rotation of the camshaft adjusting device. The axial bore runs beneath an oil feed connection formed on the outer surface of the camshaft for feeding oil to the central valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ali Bayrakdar
  • Patent number: 11174761
    Abstract: A variable camshaft timing (VCT) phaser assembly and control valve are employed for use in an internal combustion engine. The VCT phaser assembly has a housing and a rotor. The control valve is installed at a location that is remote of the housing and rotor, and apart from a center bolt site of the housing and rotor. The control valve has a valve housing and a spool located in the valve housing. The valve housing has different ports for fluid communication with a source, an advance line, and a retard line. One or more recirculation paths can be established at various times between the valve housing and the spool, depending upon the position of the spool in the valve housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: BORGWARNER, INC.
    Inventors: Augusto Fanzani, Davide Caldirola