Individually Fulcrumed Patents (Class 123/90.41)
  • Patent number: 11828698
    Abstract: Provided are a method for assessing hydrogen environment severity of a rolling device during operation and a method for predicting likelihood that white structure damage occurs to the rolling device as a result of operation. A hydrogen environment severity assessment method is a method for assessing, among operating conditions of a rolling device including two rolling members coming into rolling contact with each other and having at least one of the two rolling members being a steel rolling member, hydrogen environment severity, the hydrogen environment severity being an index representing magnitude of influence exerted by hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Yamada, Atsushi Imai, Hideyuki Uyama
  • Patent number: 11326480
    Abstract: A rocker arm assembly including a rocker body having an upper wall arranged above a pivot axis, two ears extending from opposing sides of the upper wall and defining a pivot bore coaxial with the pivot axis, and a pad end wall and a socket end wall each extending from the upper wall and the ears. A pad having a convex pad surface is formed on the pad end wall for engaging a valve and a socket having a concave socket surface is formed on the socket end wall for engaging a pushrod. The rocker arm assembly further includes a trunnion body and a bearing, each disposed in the pivot bores and for facilitating pivoting movement between the rocker body and the trunnion body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: GT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: John E. Brune, Scott P. Smith, Dennis Landis
  • Patent number: 11225884
    Abstract: A rocker arm has two side walls and two webs which run transversely with respect to the side wall. The webs connect the side walls to one another on end-side sections, wherein a valve stem support is configured on one of the webs, and a spherical cap is configured on the other web. A cam roller is arranged in a roller pocket which is delimited by the webs and the side walls. The cam roller is mounted rotatably on a roller axle which is fixed in the side walls. Projections are arranged within the roller pocket such that they are spaced apart from the respective web to guide the cam roller. The projections extend from the side walls in the direction of the cam roller to form guide surfaces which interact with end surfaces of the cam roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Arben Haxhiu, Martin Lambert, Michael Schewe, Bernhard Kühnel, Matthias Thoelking
  • Patent number: 10215062
    Abstract: A switching rocker arm assembly constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure includes an outer arm, an inner arm, a bearing axle, and a first and second torsional bearing axle spring. The outer arm has a first outer side arm and a second outer side arm. The outer arm further includes a first tang extending from the first outer side arm and a second tang extending from the second outer side arm. The outer arm defines a first slot inboard of the first tang and a second slot inboard of the second tang. The first torsional bearing axle spring is mounted around a first torsional spring boss and has a first end nestingly received at the first slot and a second end engaged to the bearing axle. The first ends of the first and second torsional springs are laterally constrained by the respective first and second tangs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Luigi Lia
  • Patent number: 10167745
    Abstract: A variable valve mechanism of an internal combustion engine includes an outer arm, an inner arm, a switching device that switches between a coupled state and a non-coupled state, and a lost motion spring. The lost motion spring has an extending portion extending from the outside of the space to the inside of the space. The extending portion has a contact portion that is in contact with the inner arm in the space and being configured to swing in conjunction with swinging of the inner arm. A through-hole is formed in a vertically intermediate portion of the outer arm such that connecting portions are provided at vertically opposite sides of the through-hole, and a portion of the extending portion, a swinging amount of which is smaller than that of the contact portion, passes through the through-hole that allows the portion to swing therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: OTICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Suzuki, Akira Sugiura
  • Patent number: 9995183
    Abstract: Tools and methods for indenting and assembling a switching rocker arm assembly having an inner arm, an outer arm and a latch. The tools and methods are directed to eliminating requirements for matched sets of components of rocker arm assemblies so that the assembled indented parts have desired latch lash tolerances. The tools used include fixtures and clamps for indenting kidney-bean shaped passages in an outer arm that mount a pivot axle of the outer arm. The tools used may also include a fixture and clamps for indenting a latch shelf of the inner arm. Indenting the inner arm and outer arm using these methods and fixtures results in switching rocker arm assemblies that fit together, and when assembled into a valve, have a desired latch lash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: James R. Sheren, Anthony L. Spoor, Luigi Lia, Philip Michael Kline
  • Patent number: 9551406
    Abstract: A device for securing a support element to an actuating lever of a valvetrain of an internal combustion. The actuating lever having a socket dome to accept a socket end of the support element and a roller pocket, with the securing device seated on the socket dome, extending through the roller pocket and splitting into two arms that extend on opposite ends of a circumferential groove below the socket end of the support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ljupco Trpcevski, Vanessa Woodiwiss, Rainer Schwinn
  • Patent number: 9512744
    Abstract: A rocker arm assembly including a rocker arm with an end portion including a socket portion on a top surface and a groove formed on the socket portion is provided. A clip having a generally C-shaped cross-section is provided. The clip includes a first leg with an opening that defines an inner edge that at least partially engages the groove on the socket portion of the rocker arm. The clip includes an intermediate leg including an opening through which a protrusion on the axial end of the rocker arm extends. The clip includes a second leg including first and second leg portions that engage the bottom surface of the rocker arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gail Braun
  • Patent number: 8955482
    Abstract: A driver that reciprocates has its reciprocation divided into a non-actuating portion and an actuating portion. The driver in one embodiment positions a carrier that has two pins, each pin being slidably mounted in its slot on a housing. One of the pins is an output pin that may be linked to operatively position a valve of an internal combustion engine. The two slots are configured such that each pin, during its motion range, does effect a capture of the other pin such that the captured pin is generally stationary. When the output pin is captured, the driver reciprocation causes the non-output pin to perform a lost-motion traverse of its slot. When the non-output pin is captured, the driver reciprocation actuates the output pin. A linked pair of such embodiments driven by a single driver can thus alternately actuate two valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Inventor: Ken Meyer
  • Publication number: 20140338621
    Abstract: A driver that reciprocates has its reciprocation divided into a non-actuating portion and an actuating portion. The driver in one embodiment positions a carrier that has two pins, each pin being slidably mounted in its slot on a housing. One of the pins is an output pin that may be linked to operatively position a valve of an internal combustion engine. The two slots are configured such that each pin, during its motion range, does effect a capture of the other pin such that the captured pin is generally stationary. When the output pin is captured, the driver reciprocation causes the non-output pin to perform a lost-motion traverse of its slot. When the non-output pin is captured, the driver reciprocation actuates the output pin. A linked pair of such embodiments driven by a single driver can thus alternately actuate two valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Ken Meyer
  • Patent number: 8887680
    Abstract: An engine assembly includes an engine block having a first bank defining a first cylinder bore and a second bank defining a second cylinder bore. A first cylinder head is coupled to the first bank and defines first and second ports in communication with the first cylinder bore. A second cylinder head is coupled to the second bank and defines a third port in communication with the second cylinder bore. A first valve is located in the first port and engaged with a first valve lift mechanism, a second valve is located in the second port and engaged with a second valve lift mechanism, and a third valve is located in the third port and engaged with a third valve lift mechanism. A first camshaft is engaged with the first and third valve lift mechanisms and a second camshaft is engaged with the second valve lift mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan W. Hayman, Rodney E. Baker
  • Patent number: 8789506
    Abstract: A rocker arm assembly may include a body, a cam follower and a lash adjustment member. The body may define a pivot region and a valve engagement region. The cam follower may be coupled to the body. The lash adjustment member may be coupled to the cam follower and may include a locking portion and an adjustment arm extending radially outward from the cam follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Fredrick R. Poskie
  • Patent number: 8763572
    Abstract: The mechanically operable variable timing device for use with a rocker arm pivot point that is able to adjust the valve timing and lift on a valve stem by adjusting the pivot point of the rocker arm. The mechanically operated variable timing device includes a cam that rotates independent of engine RPM in order to adjust the pivot point of the rocker arm, which in turn adjusts the lift and valve timing of the engine at any RPM. The mechanically operated variable timing device places the cam above a plunger, which is positioned over the respective rocker arm. The plunger is biased upwardly via a spring positioned between the ball fulcrum of the rocker arm and a bottom portion of the plunger. A pivot shaft is threadably engaged to a threaded hole located on a top surface of the engine block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventor: Anthony Dike
  • Patent number: 8590149
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lift transmitting component (2), particularly for a gas exchange valve train or a fuel pump drive of an internal combustion engine (1), is provided, The lift transmitting component includes a housing (6), a bearing pin (7) fixed in a reception bore (9) of the housing (6) and a roller (8) mounted through a sliding or a rolling bearing on the bearing pin (7). The bearing pin is core-hardened over an entire axial length to a core hardness of at least 650 HV, and pin ends (10) of the core-hardened bearing pin are radially widened relative to the reception bore for enabling a connection of the bearing pin to the housing (6) through positive engagement. The hardness of the bearing pin is at the most 780 HV, the radial widening of one of the pin ends being realized with a shaping die (11) which travels axially parallel to the bearing pin (7) and applies a force to the pin end in a transition region between a periphery and a front end surface of the bearing pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Marco Meisborn, Peter Kares
  • Patent number: 8567368
    Abstract: To achieve further reduction in size and weight of a cylinder head in a four-cycle engine having a connection surface formed on the cylinder head to connect a head cover set so as to follow along a plane that is inclined so as to be spaced further away from a cylinder block toward a first side wall. A camshaft holder is integrally formed on a cylinder head so as to protrude from a connection surface as viewed from an axial direction of a camshaft. An intake port is disposed in the first side wall such that an upstream end thereof is disposed at the same position as part of the bearing portion in a direction along an axis of a cylinder bore. An exhaust valve has a stem end disposed at a position protruding from the connection surface as viewed in a direction along the axial direction of a camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Tsubakino, Shinsuke Yasui, Isao Azumagakito
  • Patent number: 8448619
    Abstract: The bearing for a rocker arm assembly has rolling elements positioned between an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve for supporting the radial load between the support pin and the rocker arm and an inner and outer bearing wall that abut one another and supports the axial load in the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ross Gresley, Richard Baker, Marion Ince, Mike Turner
  • Patent number: 8434441
    Abstract: A connecting device for the pivotal and loss-prevention joining of an actuating lever (1) and a support element (6) of a valve operating mechanism of a combustion engine. The actuating lever (1) has, in a supporting section (3), a spherical cap-shaped cavity (5) inside of which the spherical end (7) of the supporting element (6) may be placed. A recess and/or undercut (8) is formed underneath the spherical end (7) in the supporting element (6). The actuating lever (1) has, in the supporting section (3), a spherical upper surface (4) above the spherical cap-shaped cavity (5). A securing element (9) joins the actuating lever (1) and the supporting element (6) to one another. This securing element (9) has a U-shaped cross-sectional shape with an upper and a lower limb (10, 11) that are joined to one another via a joining section (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Inventors: Manfred Günthner, Martin Jäkel, Stephen Ernstberger, Franz-Holger Woitowitz
  • Patent number: 8430072
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling valve displacement of an internal combustion engine comprises a rocker arm having a first arm portion and a second arm portion, said rocker arm being pivotable about a pivot interposed between said first and second arm portions. The apparatus further comprises an actuation arrangement adapted to actuate said first arm portion of said rocker arm and a valve arrangement adapted to be actuated by said second arm portion of said rocker arm. A damper arrangement is pivotably connected to said first arm portion and adapted for damping movement of said rocker arm around said pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sascha Burkhard, Udo Schlemmer-Kelling, Jurgen Nagel
  • Patent number: 8387575
    Abstract: In a variable valve apparatus, a second connector has a fifth side surface located below a fourth side surface and further away from a second side surface than is the fourth side surface, so that a width in a direction along a rocker shaft is narrower in a lower portion adjacent to an inlet valve than in an upper portion adjacent a slipper surface. A guide surface is provided in a lower portion of the fourth side surface and includes an arc that is shorter than a semicircle, and coaxial and equal in radius with an engaging hole. Thus, even when a connecting pin is advanced in a state of a through-hole and the engaging hole not being in precise alignment, the forward end of the connecting pin is guided through the guide surface into the engaging hole. An extended period can therefore be secured for advancing the connecting pin, to improve the certainty of connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiko Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20120304948
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine with an overhead valve configuration includes multiple integral bosses, an exhaust valve rocker stud including an upper portion and a lower portion, an intake valve rocker stud including an upper portion and a lower portion, a head plate supported by the integral bosses such that an air cooling passage is formed between the head plate and the cylinder head, where the head plate is fastened to the cylinder head by the lower portions of the exhaust valve rocker stud and the intake valve rocker stud, and a cover secured to the head plate such that the cover and the head plate enclose the upper portions of the exhaust valve rocker stud and the intake valve rocker stud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventor: John R. Schneiker
  • Publication number: 20120240889
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanical variable valve actuation (VVA) system for the control and actuation of the valves of an internal combustion engine. The system according to the present invention realizes the control of the valve lift by means of a fixed pivot part for an oscillating rocker suitable to actuate the valve, the oscillating rocker being actuated by means of an eccentric control element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Harald Fessler
  • Publication number: 20120174886
    Abstract: A switchable finger lever for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine having an interior lever encompassed by arms of an exterior lever, with a joint axle extending through the levers so they are relatively pivotal. A stub projects from the axle at each exterior side, with the respective stub being encompassed by a coil section of a pivot pin spring, having one leg acting upon the exterior lever and another leg acting upon the interior lever to pre-load the levers relative to each other, with the coil section encompassing a bush encasing an exterior casing of the stub. The bush encompasses the stub with a clearance fit and, for fixation of the axle, an annular groove with a safety ring is located inside the bush bore, and engages a radially inwardly located groove in the exterior casing of the stub allowing the axle to be disassembled without destruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Krause, Stefan Gemein, Ronny Günnel
  • Publication number: 20120097123
    Abstract: The invention proposes a finger lever (1) for actuating a gas exchange valve (4) of an internal combustion engine, said finger lever (1) being composed of side walls (11), a valve contacting element (12), a roller axle (8)/roller (9) and a joint socket element (13). According to the invention, the side walls comprise through-openings (15, 16) that are aligned to each other in pairs and in which each of the valve contacting element and the joint socket element are retained after the manner of a pin and bore connection by respective axle ends or axle stubs (18, 19) pointing in a transverse direction of the side walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Schulze, Xiuli Wang
  • Publication number: 20120037107
    Abstract: A deactivating rocker arm for use with a cam having at least one no-lift safety lobe is provided. Safety lobe contacting surfaces on the rocker arm are configured for contact with safety lobes during abnormal operation of the rocker arm. When the rocker arm is deactivated, the safety lobe contacting surfaces may come into contact with safety lobes when excessive pump-up of a lash adjuster brings the rocker arm undesirably close to the rotating cam. This contact limits the range of motion of the rocker arm during certain instances of abnormal operation, promoting more effective transition between deactivated and activated states and preventing damaging contact between the rocker arm and the cam lobe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kynan L. Church
  • Patent number: 8087391
    Abstract: One possible embodiment of the invention is essentially an apparatus and methodology for mounting a rocker arm assembly to a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine comprising of at least a unitary stanchion to which multiple rocker arms may be moveably connected. In least one embodiment, the unitary stanchion may comprise a base from which project multiple rows of pedestals. Two of more of these rows may be set in essentially parallel orientation, which further defines a primary space in which a portion of the rocker arm is located. The unitary stanchion may be secured to the cylinder head thorough multiple rows of fasteners. The footprint of the base of unitary stanchion could allow the unitary stanchion to possibly act as generally efficient external buttress for generally providing greater support across the top of the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventors: Lawrence S. Tores, Bradley A. Rounds
  • Patent number: 8079336
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder barrel internal combustion engine includes a valve actuation mechanism having generally L-shaped rockers for actuating valves in the engine. The rockers are arranged in pairs each pivotally coupled to a common rocker support. The pair of rockers actuate respective valves of an adjacent pair of cylinders in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Thomas Engine Company, LLC
    Inventor: Anton Polt
  • Patent number: 7980210
    Abstract: A valve drive device for an engine include a valve for opening or closing an opening of a port to a combustion chamber, a valve drive member for opening or closing the valve and a drive shaft for driving the valve drive member. The device also includes a variable valve timing mechanism for continuously changing a working angle of the valve corresponding to an operation state of the engine by changing a state of drive force transmission from the drive shaft to the valve drive member. A variable valve clearance mechanism is configured such that a valve clearance that is defined as a gap between the valve and the valve drive member can be set at a first value during a first condition in which the working angle of the valve is large to a second different value during a second condition in which the working angle of the valve is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Fujita, Koichi Hatamura
  • Patent number: 7878166
    Abstract: A device for retaining a valve bridge is disclosed. The valve bridge is engaged with a plurality of valves. The device has a first base member. The first base member is configured to engage at least one of the plurality of valves. The device also has a first latching member. The first latching member extends from the first base member. The first latching member is configured to engage and retain the valve bridge in engagement with the plurality of valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventors: James Dougall Wotherspoon, Patrick Kirk Harris, Michael Robert Stott
  • Patent number: 7861680
    Abstract: A multiple-cylinder internal combustion engine having a camshaft-driven valvetrain with a camshaft disposed within an engine block includes at least two intake and/or exhaust valves with multiple valves operated by a common lifter and pushrod that engages a follower having multiple independent lash adjusters coupled to associated rocker arms. The lifter contacts the common camshaft lobe and a corresponding pushrod that engages a reciprocating bucket follower with a compliant coupling to corresponding rocker arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Byrne Diggs
  • Patent number: 7797830
    Abstract: According to the present invention, an outer lever (1) of a finger lever (2) that can be switched to different lifts for at least one gas exchange valve is made by a deep drawing method. A salient feature of the invention is that through a special trimming operation of the cup-shaped base body (16) that is formed in a first step of the method, running contact surfaces (14, 15) for cams, preferably high-lift cams, are generated on upper sides (12, 13) of arms (4, 5) of the outer lever (1). Through the deep drawing method of the invention, only relatively low fabrication costs are to be expected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Bodo Rörig, Peter Spitzer
  • Patent number: 7779804
    Abstract: A rocker arm assembly for a valve train of an internal combustion engine which has a rocker arm that pivots on a support pin about an axis where a push rod contacts one end of the assembly and a valve shaft of a gas exchange valve contacts the other end of the assembly. A rocker arm is mounted on a support pin through a radial roller bearing for handling radial forces. An outer bearing support wall is attached to the rocker am and covers both ends of the support pin. Between the ends of the support pin and the outer bearing wall is a thrust washer for handling axial forces in the rocker arm assembly. The radial bearing assembly can have an outer bearing shell and an inner bearing shell where the outer bearing shell has a generally U-shaped configuration that covers the end wall of the support pin. The bottom wall of the outer bearing shell forms the outer bearing support wall for the thrust washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Richard Baker, Ross Gresley, Marion Ince
  • Patent number: 7631425
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing according to the present invention includes a step of obtaining a bent workpiece 13 with prepared apertures 21 and 21, wherein the bent work piece 13 includes a pair of side walls 20 and 20 disposed in parallel with each other and connecting walls 30 and 40 for connecting the side walls 20 and 20, the pair of side walls 20 an d20 each having a prepared aperture 21, and a step of forming a roller supporting shaft fixing aperture 25 by inserting a sizing punch 60 into the prepared aperture 21, wherein the sizing punch 60 has a tapered push enlarging portion 61 at a tip end portion, a basal end side of the push enlarging portion being larger than the prepared aperture 21 in diameter, and a tip end side of the push enlarging portion 61 being smaller than the prepared aperture 21 in diameter, whereby the push enlarging portion 61 causes plastic flow of an inner peripheral portion of the prepared aperture to finish the inner peripheral surface of the prepared aperture to thereby obtain a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Nakanishi Metal Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiyuki Kamiji, Yoshio Kawatake
  • Patent number: 7600498
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine with selectively deactivated intake and/or exhaust valves includes a fulcrum plate having a through hole with a slidable plunger supporting a pivot ball that engages an associated rocker arm. A solenoid positioned above the rocker arm cover is directly coupled to a latching mechanism that either allows or prevents sliding movement of the plunger to selectively deactivate associated intake/exhaust valves. When in the valve activated position, the rocker arm pivots about the pivot ball and opens the valve. When in the valve deactivated position, the plunger retracts at least partially into the fulcrum plate so that the rocker arm motion is insufficient to open the associated valve. A lost motion torsional spring acts on the plunger to provide an opposing force to the rocker arm and to return the plunger to the valve activated position during the base circle portion of camshaft rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Diggs
  • Patent number: 7584732
    Abstract: The present invention is a shaft-mounted rocker arm arrangement for an internal combustion engine which provides simplified assembly and disassembly by allowing individual rocker arms to be added or removed separately and without removing the rocker shaft. The present invention utilizes a rocker shaft and a rocker arm rotatably coupled to the rocker shaft. The rocker shaft includes a flat portion arranged to receive the rocker arm. The rocker arm includes a body portion and a curved arm portion arranged to match a curvature of the rocker shaft, and arranged to engage more than 180 degrees of the rocker shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventor: Alan G. Falkowski
  • Patent number: 7533642
    Abstract: The invention concerns a finger lever (1) of a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said finger lever comprising two side walls (3, 4) connected through a transverse portion (2). The finger lever (1) further comprises on one end (6) of an underside (5) of the transverse portion (2), a complementary cavity (7) for a head of a support element and additionally comprises on this one end (6), a reception (8) for a coupling element (8a) for optionally coupling the finger lever (1) to a further lever (9) for achieving different cam lifts. According to the invention, the two portions (7, 8) are made in the form of a single assembled unit as a separate component. This is advantageous from the manufacturing point of view particularly if the levers (1, 9) are made of sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Markus Proschko, Peter Spitzer, Gerhard Eichner
  • Patent number: 7444972
    Abstract: A lever for a valve control of a piston engine is provided, which is embodied as a rocker arm, rocker lever or finger lever. A roller (6) is rotationally mounted on a support pin (7) in an intermediate space of the lever. The lateral sides (1, 2) are tapered (8, 9, 10, 16) in a region of a bore (14) which receives the support pin (7), whereby the sum of the widths (12, 13) of the lateral parts (1, 2) is smaller than a total width (11) of the intermediate space (5) enabling a counter perforation of the bore (14) to be possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Christof Faria, Frank Himsel
  • Patent number: 7424876
    Abstract: A multiple-cylinder internal combustion engine having a camshaft-driven valvetrain with a camshaft disposed within an engine block includes at least two intake and/or exhaust valves with multiple valves operated by a common lifter and pushrod that engages a follower having multiple independent lash adjusters coupled to associated rocker arms. The lifter contacts the common camshaft lobe and a corresponding pushrod that engages a reciprocating bucket follower with a compliant coupling to corresponding rocker arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Diggs
  • Patent number: 7418936
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a plurality of intake and/or exhaust valves associated with each cylinder includes a valvetrain having a fulcrum with a plurality of pivot ball sockets each associated with a rocker arm and pivot ball disposed between the fulcrum and the rocker arm with the fulcrum extending through apertures of the rocker arms and having a plurality of slots, each slot having generally parallel opposing lateral surfaces for receiving and guiding both sides of an associated rocker arm so the rocker arm pivots about the pivot ball in a plane of the rocker arm. The fulcrum can accommodate at least two rocker arms that may operate in non-parallel planes relative to one another and can include bearing and locating surfaces integrally formed to finish dimensions to eliminate machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Byrne Diggs, Jeff D Fluharty
  • Publication number: 20080196682
    Abstract: Connecting element (10) retains cam follower (2), which actuates gas-exchange valve (4) of an internal combustion engine, on support element (6). Support element (6) has spherical end (7) on cylindrical section (22) and on which cam follower (2) is mounted, so as to be pivotably movable in the direction of gas-exchange valve (4) about center of rotation (9). Connecting element (10) has elastically deformable projections (21), which proceed from central webs (19), parallel to the pivot axis of cam follower (2) such that connecting element (10) is connected to cylindrical section (22) in a frictionally-engaging manner. Projections (21) are embodied as lugs (20) which angle away from central webs (19) and extend in a direction pointing away from cam follower (2), so that projections (21) are elastic in shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Stephan Moeck, Helmut Engelhardt
  • Patent number: 7398752
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved rocker arm system for actuating poppet valves in high performance internal combustion engines. The rocker arm provides trunnion journals extending from each side fitted to outboard bearing mounts to guide the motion of the rocker arm. An I-beam rocker arm having high stiffness and low mass is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventor: Robert R. Weaver
  • Publication number: 20080163839
    Abstract: A rolling bearing for a rocker arm includes an outer ring in rolling contact with a cam of an engine, an outer-ring shaft placed inside the outer ring and fixed to the rocker arm, and a plurality of rollers provided between the outer ring and the outer-ring shaft. At least one of the outer ring, the outer-ring shaft and the rolling elements has a nitrogen-rich layer, an austenite crystal grain size number in a range exceeding 10, and a surface hardness Hv of at least 653. Thus, the life can be extended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Watanabe, Akihiko Katayama
  • Patent number: 7367301
    Abstract: There is provided a cam follower in which a surface roughness of an outer surface of a roller of a cam follower which is in rolling contact with a cam of an engine is obtained individually in an axial direction and a circumferential direction, a skewness Rsk of a profile is formed to be negative, a core roughness depth Rk is made to be 0.3 or less, a reduced valley depth Rvk is made to be 0.3 or less, and a ratio Rk/Rt of the Rk to a maximum height Rt of the profile is made to be 0.19 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Waseda, Shinya Ochi
  • Patent number: 7367299
    Abstract: A variable ratio rocker assembly for increasing the amount of air entering a combustion cylinder. The rocker assembly includes a rocker arm adapted to move a valve between a closed position and an open position, a radiused follower adapted to interact with a portion of the rocker arm, and a push rod for moving the follower in response to a camshaft. The follower causes the rocker arm to move the valve between the closed position and the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Inventor: David N. Vaseleniuck
  • Publication number: 20080098971
    Abstract: A rocker arm assembly for a valve train of an internal combustion engine which has a rocker arm that pivots on a support pin about an axis where a push rod contacts one end of the assembly and a valve shaft of a gas exchange valve contacts the other end of the assembly. A rocker arm is mounted on a support pin through a radial roller bearing for handling radial forces. An outer bearing support wall is attached to the rocker am and covers both ends of the support pin. Between the ends of the support pin and the outer bearing wall is a thrust washer for handling axial forces in the rocker arm assembly. The radial bearing assembly can have an outer bearing shell and an inner bearing shell where the outer bearing shell has a generally U-shaped configuration that covers the end wall of the support pin. The bottom wall of the outer bearing shell forms the outer bearing support wall for the thrust washer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Richard Baker, Ross Gresley, Marion Ince
  • Patent number: 7350490
    Abstract: A connection element (9, 10) is provided for the captive mounting of a lever-type cam follower (1), which is used to actuate a gas-exchange valve (5) of an internal combustion engine, on a support element (2). Said support element (2) has a spherical end (7) on which the cam follower (1) is pivotably mounted by a concave molding (6). The connection element (9, 10) is made from a flat material and is arranged, with a central section (11), on a bottom side (12) of a base (13) facing the support element (2). The base surrounds the concave molding (6) and connects to the side walls (27) of the cam follower (1). The central section forms, with two limbs (14) that are spaced apart from each other and a web (15) connected with the limbs, a U-shaped recess (16), which extends in a longitudinal direction of the cam follower (1) and which surrounds, in an essentially play-free manner, an annular groove (8) below the spherical end (7) in a fork-like manner and orthogonal to a pivoting direction of the cam follower (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Stephan Mock, Helmut Engelhardt
  • Patent number: 7311073
    Abstract: A continuous variable valve lift (CVVL) apparatus adjusting a valve lift, duration of valve opening and closing, and a valve timing includes a cam rotating by a cam shaft, a first shaft having a first radius, a second shaft having a second radius smaller than the first radius and coupled in the first shaft such that the first and second shafts are non-concentric, a roller moving upward and downward by a rotation of the cam and connected to the first shaft to be moved on the basis of a position of the first shaft, a first arm rotatably connected to the second shaft to be moved by the roller, and a second arm rotatably secured to a third shaft to open and close the valve by an operation of the first arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dae Sung Kim, WooTae Kim, Back Sik Kim, Hyung Ick Kim, In Gee Suh, Dong Hee Han
  • Publication number: 20070277756
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for shutting down at least one cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The device (1) is connected to a rocker lever (2) which actuates an intake/exhaust valve (6) of the respective cylinder. In active cylinder operation, the rocker lever (2) executes an oscillating tilting movement about a pivot axle (10) which is situated in the area of the connection to the cylinder head (9), whereas when the respective cylinder is deactivated, the rocker lever (2) is lifted by the cylinder head (9) and therefore its pivot axle (10) is shifted in the direction of the connection of the rocker lever (2) to the valve of the respective cylinder. It is essential to the invention here that the device (1) is arranged essentially between the rocker lever (2) and the cylinder head (9) and the device has a guide element (11), a pivot axle element (12) displaceably mounted on the guide element (11) and a spring (15) stretched between two abutments (13, 14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Hale, Jonathan Hall, Hermann Hoffmann, Mark Potts
  • Patent number: 7302924
    Abstract: A switchable drag lever (1) of a valve timing mechanism of an internal combustion engine having an outer lever (2), and inner lever (5) extending in the cut-out (3) of the said outer lever (2) between its side walls (4), the drag lever (1) having a rest (9) for a gas exchange valve on an underside (7) at one end (8) and a pivoting bearing (11) for supporting element at the other end (10) with the levers (2,5) extending at the end (8) on a common pin (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Bodo Roerig, Stefan Gemein, Nicola Morelli
  • Publication number: 20070266973
    Abstract: A mechanism for actuating an engine poppet valve includes two rotatable cams, a first rocker mounted on a pivot shaft and acting between a first of the two cams and the stem of the valve, and a second rocker mounted for rotation about a fixed axis and acting between the second of the two cams and the pivot shaft of the first rocker to raise and lower the pivot axis of the first rocker cyclically in synchronism with the rotation of the second cam, whereby the valve is operated in dependence upon the instantaneous sum of the lifts of the two cams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Timothy Mark Lancefield, Ian Methley, Mark Andrew Richard Walton
  • Publication number: 20070227485
    Abstract: A rocker arm is mounted to an eccentric shaft. The shaft has a pair of ends which are mounted to corresponding supports. The shaft has a rocker arm seat portion which is eccentric to the end portions, whereby when the position of the shaft is changed by rotating it, the position of the rocker arm changes. The shaft ends are mounted to riser blocks which are connected to a support structure. The shaft ends may be clamped in a fixed position relative to the riser blocks, or unclamped to permit the shaft to be rotated. When rotated, the position of the rocker arm may be changed up or down relative to the support structure and a valve stem which the rocker arm is intended to engage, thereby adjusting valve clearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Lawrence S. Tores, Brad Rounds