With Temperature Compensation Patents (Class 123/90.19)
  • Patent number: 11852048
    Abstract: A valve bridge to operatively interface with a rocker arm and a valve, and systems, assemblies, and methods thereof can comprise: a body, of the valve bridge, having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first leg of the valve bridge extending from the first side of the body, a second leg of the valve bridge extending from the first side of the body, and a third leg of the valve bridge extending from the first side of the body. A first pin can extend from an end of the first leg opposite the body, and a second pin can extend from an end of the second leg opposite the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Stephen Pipis, Jr., Selvakumar Selvaraj, Eric Lee Schroeder
  • Patent number: 10589200
    Abstract: In a gravity filtration system, upper and lower fluid reservoirs may be mated together. Unfiltered fluid may be supplied to the upper reservoir. One or more filters provide fluid communication between the upper and lower fluid reservoirs. Fluid may pass through the filters into the lower fluid reservoir. The weight of the fluid in the gravity filtration system may be monitored to maximize the fluid flow rate without loss of fluid by supporting the fluid reservoirs on a moveable platform interconnected to a stationary base by a force reactive linkage. Automatic fill components may be provided for automatically actuating a fluid supply valve connected to an unfiltered fluid source. As filtered fluid is withdrawn from the lower reservoir, actuation of the fluid supply valve to an open position may permit unfiltered fluid to be supplied to the upper reservoir. Supply of unfiltered fluid to the upper reservoir may be stopped upon actuation of the fluid supply valve to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Inventor: Joseph D Maresh
  • Patent number: 10494960
    Abstract: An engine roller lifter for use in a valve train of an internal combustion engine according to one example of the present disclosure includes a body and a groove formed in the body. The body has an outer peripheral surface configured for sliding movement in a bore provided in the engine. The bore is supplied by an oil passage communicating therewith. The body defines an axial pocket that receives a plunger therein. The groove is inset from the outer peripheral surface and formed about only a portion of a circumference of the body. The groove defines a first end and a second end. Only a portion of the first and second ends overlap with the oil passage to regulate the amount of oil supplied to the groove from the oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Leighton Roberts, Keith Eugene Kropf
  • Patent number: 9447707
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic support element for valve drive of a combustion engine, with a pot cylindrical casing and a hollow cylindrical piston guided axially movably therein, the inner end of which is supported via a spring on the bottom wall of the casing, whose outer end projects past the outer margin of the casing and is formed as a hemispherical bearing head, and whose inner space is subdivided by means of a partition element into an axially inner supply-pressure space and an axially outer switching-pressure space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Kretschmer, Peter Sailer, Wolfgang Christgen, Matthew Evans, David Kehr, Chad Lee
  • Patent number: 9371828
    Abstract: The present invention provides an external automatic control smart air pump, including a housing, an air blast device and an automatic control mechanism. By setting up the intake nozzle in such way that the second cavity is independently in communication therewith, the actual air pressure inside the inflatable object can be precisely measured. The fine motion switch is controlled with the coordination of the push button, rotating position limiting member, pressing member, air pressure sensing film, first restoring spring and second restoring spring, thereby realizing the auto stop control of the air pump. The structure of the present invention is simple, and the assembling process thereof is convenient. In addition, the present invention can be precisely controlled according to the actual air pressure inside the inflatable object, thereby bringing convenience for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: DONGGUAN TIGER POINT METAL & PLASTIC PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chun-Chung Tsai
  • Patent number: 8910617
    Abstract: If a relative rotational phase between a first rotor drivably connected to a crankshaft and a second rotor drivably connected to a camshaft is not an intermediate lock phase when an engine is started, a fuel injection starting timing is delayed more than that of the time when the relative rotational phase is the intermediate lock phase. The delay time is determined according to the working oil temperature of a valve timing mechanism during the engine start or the same oil temperature at the previous stop time of the engine, for example. As a result, the start of the engine can be completed as soon as possible while retaining the startability of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuu Yokoyama, Masaki Numakura
  • Patent number: 8820049
    Abstract: A method to control valves in a cylinder operating in a multi-stroke cylinder mode. Valves are controlled to improve engine emissions as operating conditions vary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Donald J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8620560
    Abstract: The invention aims at providing an internal combustion engine control device 1 which can make suppression of a rise in the temperature of an engine control ECU 2, and fuel cut control of an engine compatible with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhito Imai, Ryuji Okamura
  • Patent number: 8387574
    Abstract: The present invention increases cold temperature oil flow through the variable cam timing (VCT) phaser to reduce the amount of time it takes to replace this oil with warmer low viscosity oil and thereby improve performance. Furthermore the oil flow through the VCT phaser is reduced once the oil temperature reaches the minimum operating temperature for the VCT phaser to operate and the VCT phaser is commanded to move from the park position. Therefore, the VCT phaser is charged with hot engine oil and is commanded to move from the parked position. The VCT phaser reduces oil flow through the phaser at high oil temperatures and low oil viscosity while adding the benefit of increased oil flow through the phaser at low oil temperatures and high oil viscosity to facilitate getting warmer oil into the VCT phaser sooner for increased VCT performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Chad McCloy, Franklin R. Smith, Timothy K. White
  • Patent number: 8276365
    Abstract: In a region where the engine load is less than a first predetermined value, only a second exhaust valve that opens and closes a second exhaust passageway that bypasses a turbine of a supercharger is opened. In a region where the engine load is greater than or equal to the first predetermined value and less than a second predetermined value, both the second exhaust valve and a first exhaust valve that opens and closes a first exhaust passageway that leads to the turbine are opened. In a region where the engine load is greater than or equal to the second predetermined value, only the first exhaust valve is opened. A predetermined value for the time of lean combustion is set lower than a predetermined value for the time of stoichiometric combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hokuto, Naoya Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8245675
    Abstract: A first overlap amount that is an overlap amount of overlap between an intake valve opening timing and an exhaust valve opening timing, is calculated based on rotation speed of an internal combustion engine, load on the engine, and temperature of a working fluid. A second overlap amount that is the overlap amount that is set so that the relative rotation phase of at least one of the intake-side camshaft and the exhaust-side camshaft relative to the rotation phase of the crankshaft is fixed when the engine stops, is calculated based on the temperature of the working fluid. The overlap amount is set to equal to the second overlap amount, if the first overlap amount is larger than the second overlap amount. The overlap amount is set to equal to the first overlap amount, if the first overlap amount is less than or equal to the second overlap amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Tomimatsu, Mamoru Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8191355
    Abstract: A method to control valves in a cylinder operating in a multi-stroke cylinder mode. Valves are controlled to improve engine emissions as operating conditions vary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Donald Lewis
  • Patent number: 8141342
    Abstract: In a region where the engine load is less than a first predetermined value, only a second exhaust valve that opens and closes a second exhaust passageway that bypasses a turbine of a supercharger is opened. In a region where the engine load is greater than or equal to the first predetermined value and less than a second predetermined value, both the second exhaust valve and a first exhaust valve that opens and closes a first exhaust passageway that leads to the turbine are opened. In a region where the engine load is greater than or equal to the second predetermined value, only the first exhaust valve is opened. A predetermined value for the time of lean combustion is set lower than a predetermined value for the time of stoichiometric combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hokuto, Naoya Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8089235
    Abstract: An electric driver unit for an electric valve timing adjusting apparatus is disclosed. The electric driver unit includes: a motor for driving the apparatus; a switching part for applying a drive voltage to the motor; a current information output part for providing current information associated with a current flowing in the switching part; a power distribution control part for controlling power distribution to the motor by controlling the switching part; and an oil temperature information output part for providing oil temperature corresponding value, which depends on temperature of oil that surrounds the apparatus. The power distribution control part controls the current based on the current information so that the current stays below a target value. The target value includes a normal value and a large value. The power distribution control part adopts the large value as the target value until the oil temperature corresponding value reaches a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Morino, Takaharu Kozawa
  • Patent number: 8055430
    Abstract: A valve characteristic controller including an oil pump, a valve timing varying mechanism, and a valve timing control unit is disclosed. The valve timing varying mechanism varies the valve characteristic value of intake valves in an engine based on the hydraulic pressure of hydraulic oil supplied from the oil pump. The valve timing control unit includes a storage and a detector. The storage stores computation maps used to calculate a target value for the valve characteristic value based on a plurality of engine control values. The detector detects the temperature of the hydraulic oil. The computation maps include a first map and a second map. The varying amount of the valve characteristic amount corresponding to a change in the engine control value in a low speed range of the engine speed is set to be smaller in the second map than the first map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Miyanoo
  • Patent number: 8033098
    Abstract: A throttle operation is performed after an internal combustion engine is started. Then, temperature of a catalyst is obtained based on a signal output from a temperature sensor fitted to the catalyst. It is then determined whether the temperature obtained is equal to or higher than the activation temperature. If it is determined that the temperature of the catalyst has not reached the activation temperature, the throttle operation continues. On the other hand, if it is determined that the temperature of the catalyst is equal to or higher than the activation temperature, the non-throttle operation is performed instead of the throttle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Manabu Tateno
  • Patent number: 7650745
    Abstract: A method to control valves in a cylinder operating in a multi-stroke cylinder mode. Valves are controlled to improve engine emissions as operating conditions vary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Donald J. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20090241872
    Abstract: A method of operation for an engine including an electrically actuated engine valve in a cylinder head, with at least an actuator coupled to the valve, the method including applying a potential to generate a current indicative of temperature in the actuator at least partially during a substantially non-moving condition of the actuator and adjusting a timing of the application of the potential based on valve location in the cylinder head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yan Wang, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Vladimir V. Kokotovic, Allan Roy Gale, Philip Thomas Koneda, Allan Joseph Kotwicki, Marvin Paul Kraska
  • Patent number: 7559318
    Abstract: An apparatus for achieving internal EGR in a four-stroke internal combustion engine which, for each cylinder, has at least one inlet valve and at least one exhaust valve for controlling the connection between combustion chambers in the cylinder and an inlet system and exhaust system respectively. A rotary camshaft with a cam curve is designed to interact with a follower member and has a first lobe portion for generating the normal exhaust valve lift of the engine. The camshaft is provided with a second lobe portion, which has a height measurement over and above its basic curve which falls short of the measurement for normal exhaust valve clearance when driving at low load and accompanying low heat development in the engine. As a result of thermal expansion in the valve mechanism, the height measurement exceeds the measurement for normal exhaust valve clearance when driving at high load and accompanying high heat development in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventor: Ivar Sahlén
  • Patent number: 7380528
    Abstract: In an hydraulic actuator, a movement of an actuating element of the actuator is effected in that a working chamber of the actuator, with the aid of a valve device, is able to be selectively connected to, and disconnected from, a fluid reservoir in which pressurized hydraulic fluid is stored. The lift of the actuating element of the actuator is a function of a fluid volume present in the working chamber. It is provided that, to ascertain an instantaneous operating performance of the actuator, the working chamber is briefly connected to the fluid reservoir, the corresponding pressure drop in the fluid reservoir is recorded, and the corresponding lift is determined from the pressure drop with the aid of known geometrical variables of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Gaessler, Ulf Pischke, Hubert Schweiggart, Christian Grosse
  • Publication number: 20070241302
    Abstract: There is provided a valve assembly including: a valve attached to a cylinder head in a movable manner along its axial line direction so as to selectively fluidly connect or close between a combustion chamber and a gas line; a plate-like holding member provided at the valve in a relatively immovable manner along the axial line direction; and a coil spring externally inserted around the valve in a state where its proximal end is directly or indirectly engaged to an external surface of the cylinder head, the coil spring being configured so that its distal end has a diameter smaller than that of the proximal end, wherein the holding member has an engaging surface facing one side along the axial line direction to hold the distal end of the coil spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Ryuji Kishihara, Keiichiro Teratoko, Tadashi Saito, Takao Suzuki, Shinichi Tamura
  • Patent number: 7246586
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a wear-resistant coating and to a wear-resistant coating on predetermined surfaces of machine or engine parts, in particular for internal combustion engines, which are exposed to frictional wear, comprising at least one nanocrystalline functional layer (4) made up of at least two CrNx phases for reducing friction and increasing the wear resistance of the predetermined surface (2) of the machine or engine part (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: INA - Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Tim Matthias Hosenfeldt, Karl-Ludwig Grell
  • Patent number: 7222595
    Abstract: A valve system of an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle comprises a valve characteristic varying mechanism for controlling valve operation characteristics of an engine valve, and an electric motor of the valve characteristic varying mechanism is disposed in the exterior of a valve chamber defined by the cylinder head. The cylinder head is provided with a duct, for guiding a running airflow therethrough, between a combustion chamber and the valve chamber. The electric motor is laid out at a position which is adjacent to the valve chamber in the radial direction with respect to the cylinder axis and at which the running airflow having flowed in via an inlet portion and having passed through the duct collides on the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Inomoto, Kosuke Tsunashima
  • Patent number: 7107950
    Abstract: A lift and operating angle varying mechanism is arranged to vary an intake valve operation angle and an intake valve lift of the engine continuously by rotating a control shaft with an actuator disposed at an end of the control shaft which is rotatably supported by a plurality of bearings. A lubricating oil is supplied to the bearings so as to reduce nonuniformity in temperature distribution of the control shaft in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Arinaga, Takanobu Sugiyama, Mitsuo Gunji, Shin Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 7107946
    Abstract: A method is presented to control engine valve selection of an internal combustion engine. Electromechanical valves are selected in a manner to reduce fuel consumption and improve engine drivability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, John O. Michelini
  • Patent number: 7093574
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rocker arm shaft for an automobile engine, which is effectively capable of offsetting the length change of the rocker arm shaft, which caused by heat. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a rocker arm shaft can be divided into at least two shafts. An elastic member, such as a coil spring, is positioned between the shafts. When the length change of the shafts is changed by heat, the elastic member offsets the changed length of the shafts. The rocker arm shaft is divided into a hollow first shaft and a hollow second shaft. A one end of the second shaft of the rocker arm shaft forms a receiving groove for inserting the elastic member. With this structure, the rocker arm shaft for an automobile engine does not bend nor get twisted by offsetting the changed length of the shafts by means of the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: GM Daewoo Auto & Technology
    Inventor: Jae-Ook Oh
  • Patent number: 6918362
    Abstract: A system and method for utilizing a humidity sensor with an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is described. Specifically, information from the humidity sensor is used to adjust a desired air-fuel ratio to reduce engine misfire while improving vehicle fuel economy. Further, such information is also used to adjust timing and/or lift of the valve in the engine cylinder. Finally, diagnostic routines are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Cullen
  • Patent number: 6885976
    Abstract: A fault determining apparatus for a variable valve timing mechanism is provided for shortly and accurately determining a fault even at low oil temperatures. The mechanism is driven by an oil pressure to change a cam phase of an intake cam and/or an exhaust cam with respect to a crank shaft of an internal combustion engine, thereby controlling the actual cam phase to reach a target cam phase. The apparatus has a fault determining routine executed by an ECU (electric control unit) for determining that the mechanism is faulty when a cam phase difference between the target cam phase and the actual cam phase is not within a predetermined range, an oil temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the working oil, and a correcting routine executed by the ECU for correcting the predetermined range in an increasing direction when the detected oil temperature is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Yoshiki, Yukio Miyashita, Hideyuki Oki, Takashi Isobe, Tetsuya Ohno, Kojiro Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 6823661
    Abstract: A device for purifying exhaust gas of a diesel engine equipped with a continuous regeneration type diesel particulate filter arranged in the exhaust gas passage of the engine. The device includes an intake air shutter arranged in the intake air passage of the engine, an exhaust gas temperature region detector for detecting an exhaust gas temperature region of the engine, a controller for controlling the opening degree of the intake air shutter when the exhaust gas temperature region of the engine, detected by the exhaust gas temperature region detector, is lower than a predetermined temperature region, and an exhaust valve-operating mechanism equipped with an exhaust gas introduction mechanism for opening the exhaust valve of the engine for a short period of time during the intake stroke of a cylinder of the diesel engine, to introduce exhaust gas into the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Toshitaka Minami
  • Patent number: 6736093
    Abstract: A device for controlling at least one gas-changing valve (10) of an internal combustion engine includes a valve adjuster (20) with an adjusting piston (16) limiting two pressure chamber (17, 18). The lower pressure chamber (18) is permanently acted upon by fluid pressure and the upper pressure chamber (17) can be interchangeably pressurized or depressurized with the fluid pressure. The braking of the adjusting piston (16) before reaching its upper end position affecting the closing position of the gas-changing valve, the return (22) of the upper pressure chamber (17) is divided into at least two axially spaced run-off openings (221, 222), of which the lower run-off opening (222) can be closed by the adjusting piston (16) and the upper run-off opening (221) is connected with the lower run-off opening (222) via a throttle opening (23) controllable in an opening cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Hammer, Bjoern Schuetz
  • Patent number: 6647712
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for posttreatment of exhaust gases of internal combustion engines after an engine operation includes an intake system and an exhaust gas treatment system with an exhaust gas catalytic converter. Secondary air that originates in an air source can be delivered to the exhaust gas treatment system at a first secondary air inlet. After an engine operation, with the exhaust gas catalytic converter at operating temperature, the throttle device in the intake system is closed. After the engine operation, the engine is shut off in a phase relationship in which inlet/outlet valves of at least one combustion chamber of the engine are open. By means of the air source, an air flow is generated, which discharges at a further inlet point in the intake system of the engine and flows through or bathes the components in the direction of the exhaust gas catalytic converter at operating temperature in the exhaust gas treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Burkhard Hiller, Andreas Glenz
  • Patent number: 6626137
    Abstract: A lash adjuster and a method for adjusting lash in an engine valve train are provided. A first component of the lash adjuster is formed from a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. A second component of the lash adjuster is formed from a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion greater than the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The second component has an exterior dimension that is greater than or equal to a corresponding interior dimension of the first component when the lash adjuster is heated to an operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: David E. Hackett
  • Patent number: 6530350
    Abstract: In an internal-combustion engine with a hydraulic system for variable operation of the engine valves, there is envisaged at least one supplementary reservoir bled off to the atmosphere, communicating with the low-pressure circuit for compensating for the variations in volume of the hydraulic fluid that derive from the variations in temperature and for thus preventing air bubbles from forming in the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Stefano Chiappini, Andrea Pecori, Francesco Vattaneo
  • Patent number: 6520132
    Abstract: A valve timing control system of an internal combustion engine has: a drive force conveyer; a cam shaft; a housing rotating integrally with one of the drive force conveyer and the cam shaft; a vane rotor housed in the housing, the vane rotor rotating integrally with the other of the drive force conveyer and the cam shaft; an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber housed in the housing, and turning the vane rotor with an oil pressure; an oil pressure supply-drain measure; a lock gear; and an unlock gear. A large diameter section of a lock pin and an inner periphery of a pin hole define a first clearance while a small diameter section of the lock pin and the inner periphery of the pin hole define a second clearance, such that the first clearance is larger than the second clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventor: Tamotsu Todo
  • Patent number: 6446588
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an electromagnetic valve driving mechanism adjusts an amount of magnetizing current to be applied to the electromagnetic valve driving mechanism in accordance with a temperature or viscosity of a lubricant used in the electromagnetic valve driving mechanism. Accordingly, intake and exhaust valves can be driven with an electromagnetic force corresponding to a viscosity of the lubricant. Therefore, changes in opening-and-closing operation speeds of the intake and exhaust valves resulting from a temperature or viscosity of the lubricant that is supplied to a sliding portion of the electromagnetic valve driving mechanism can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomomi Yamada, Isao Matsumoto, Kazuhiko Shiratani, Shouji Katsumata, Keiji Yoeda, Hideyuki Nishida
  • Patent number: 6415753
    Abstract: A variable valve apparatus of an internal combustion engine is capable of realizing more precise valve characteristic control by reducing the error in-detection of the amount of movement of a camshaft caused by a difference in the rate of thermal expansion. The variable valve apparatus has a camshaft that is supported so as to be rotatable and slidable in a direction of an axis thereof and that has three-dimensional cams whose cam profile continuously changes in the direction of the axis. The apparatus also has an actuator for moving the camshaft in the direction of its axis. The apparatus further has a camshaft position sensor provided in a cylinder head, a detected portion provided in the camshaft, and a camshaft movement amount detection portion for detecting the amount of movement of the camshaft in the direction of the axis. The camshaft movement amount detection portion is provided near a camshaft reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Nagaosa, Yoshihiko Masuda, Yoshihito Moriya, Shuuji Nakano, Shinichiro Kikuoka
  • Patent number: 6367437
    Abstract: There is provided a valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of suitably controlling a hydraulic pressure control valve 10 for control of a cam phase irrespective of a temperature condition of a coil 100 of the control valve 10, thereby enhancing the accuracy of feedback control of the cam phase. The control valve 10 drives a cam phase change mechanism 8 according to an amount of current flowing through the coil 100. An ECU 2 feedback-controls a provisional duty factor DOUTVT for controlling the amount of current such that an actual cam phase CAIN becomes equal to a desired cam phase CAINCMD. The ECU 2 sets a desired current amount VTCIOBJ based on the provisional duty factor obtained by the feedback control. The ECU 2 feedback-controls an output duty factor DDOUT for control of the amount of current supplied to the control valve 10 such that an actual current amount VTCIACT becomes equal to a desired current amount VTCIOBJ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nakamura, Yoshiharu Sudani
  • Patent number: 6330869
    Abstract: A controller for an internal combustion engine has a hydraulic valve characteristic changing mechanism for changing valve operating characteristics of suction and exhaust valves; a valve system provided with a hydraulic valve phase variable mechanism that changes the phase; a map that stores a fuel injection quantity and an ignition timing in response to the valve operating characteristics; and delay time setting means for setting a delay time required to complete changeover of the valve operating characteristics, based on operating oil properties detected from behavior of a valve phase variable mechanism, to change the map after the delay time has elapsed. Thus, a valve operating characteristic changing timing coincides with a map changing timing to thereby achieve an improved performance of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Yoshiki, Keiji Tsujii
  • Patent number: 6325032
    Abstract: When a rotor and a case are formed from different materials, deformation and early wear due to insufficient strength of an engagement hole of a lock means which locks the relative rotation of the rotor and the case can be prevented. Furthermore it is possible to maintain a clearance between the sliding faces of the rotor and the case in response to temperature variations. A second rotating body 6 is formed from a material with a smaller linear expansion coefficient than a first rotating body 2, and an engagement hole 121 is provided in the second rotating body 6 and which engages and disengages the lock mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mutsuo Sekiya, Katsuyuki Numoto
  • Patent number: 6276322
    Abstract: When a rotor and a case are formed from different materials, deformation and early wear due to insufficient strength of an engagement hole of a lock means which locks the relative rotation of the rotor and the case can be prevented. Furthermore it is possible to maintain a clearance between the sliding faces of the rotor and the case in response to temperature variations. A second rotating body 6 is formed form a material with a greater linear expansion coefficient than a first rotating body 2, and an engagement hole 21 which stores a lock means 20 in a second rotating body 6 and which engages and disengages a lock means 20 is provided in the first rotating means 2. The second rotating body 6 and the locking means 20 are formed form a material with approximately the same linear expansion coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mutsuo Sekiya, Katsuyuki Numoto
  • Patent number: 6216652
    Abstract: A method of operating an actuator for electromagnetically controlling a valve in an internal combustion engine involves supplying a heating current to the operating coils of the actuator before starting the internal combustion engine from a cold start condition. Thereby, the operating coils, the components surrounding them, and the lubricant are heated to ensure proper viscosity of the lubricant and thus proper operation of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG Stuttgart
    Inventors: Matthias Gramann, Michael Nagel, Reinhard Orthmann, Hans-Peter Schoener, Holger Steffen, Werner Wiedemann, Rudolf Wilczek
  • Patent number: 6196174
    Abstract: A valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine capable of accurately accomplishing valve timing control irrespective of variation of the oil pressure to be applied to an hydraulic actuator. The apparatus comprises an hydraulic actuator for changing an operating angle of a cam of a cam shaft to advance or retard a valve timing in the internal combustion engine, a pump for sending a lubricating oil under pressure to the hydraulic actuator, an oil supply quantity adjusting valve for adjusting a quantity of the lubricating oil to be supplied to the hydraulic actuator, and a control unit for estimating a driving force of the hydraulic actuator on the basis of an oil pressure of the lubricating oil on the downstream side of the pump. The controlled variable for the oil supply quantity adjusting valve is determined on the basis of the estimated value of the driving force of the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Wada, Atsuko Hashimoto