Lash Adjustment Patents (Class 123/90.52)
  • Patent number: 11796296
    Abstract: A self-adjusting pushrod length checking tool for use in an internal combustion engine between the camshaft lifter and valve rocker arm, that determines the optimum pushrod length using a telescoping spring-loaded body upper rod and a lower rod assembly. The spring-loaded telescoping assembly self-adjusts and determines the optimum pushrod length when compressed and inserted between the camshaft and valve rocker arm, when the rocker arm pivot bolt is fully tightened down to the cylinder head. The telescoping assembly sections are then locked by a captive set screw, the assembly is removed from the engine, and accurate measurements of the assembly length are taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventor: Michael Scano
  • Patent number: 10927724
    Abstract: A valve train assembly includes a first exhaust valve, a second exhaust valve, and a valve bridge including a main body and a lever rotatably coupled to the main body, the main body configured to engage the first exhaust valve, and the lever configured to engage the second exhaust valve. An exhaust valve rocker arm assembly is configured to selectively open the first and second exhaust valves, the exhaust valve rocker arm assembly including an exhaust valve rocker arm with a hydraulic lash adjuster (HLA) assembly coupled thereto, the HLA assembly in contact with the valve bridge main body. An engine brake rocker arm assembly is configured to selectively open the second exhaust valve and including an engine brake rocker arm with a combined HLA and added motion capsule coupled thereto. The combined HLA and added motion capsule is configured to selectively engage and rotate the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas J. Nielsen, James E. McCarthy, Jr., Kshamta Bishnoi, Kiran Bairy, Majo Cecur
  • Patent number: 10774693
    Abstract: Variable-length assemblies, including lost motion assemblies eliminate hydraulic or pneumatic working fluids for operation in internal combustion engine valve trains and may be integrated into valve rocker arm pivots. An example piston and actuating plate are provided with working surfaces that interact when the actuating plate is rotated relative to the piston. The working surfaces include ramped transition portions and may include upper and lower flat portions. A shallow ramp angle prevents counter-rotation of the actuating plate under load. Actuating assemblies include an actuating solenoid includes a plunger that engages and pivots the actuating arm to cause rotation of the actuating plate relative to the piston and changes the state of the lost motion assembly from an “off” state, where motion may be absorbed, to an “on” state where the lost motion assembly is rigid and does not absorb motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: JACOBS VEHICLE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Justin D. Baltrucki, David M. Ferreira
  • Patent number: 10301979
    Abstract: The invention provides a hydraulic lash adjuster equipped with a cost effective dropout preventing mechanism for preventing a plunger from dropping out of a housing. The lash adjuster comprises: a cylindrical bottomed housing (3), a plunger (2), housed inside the housing (3), having an outer periphery in contact with the inner periphery of the housing (3), and a dropout preventing mechanism (14). The dropout preventing mechanism (14) comprises a first groove (11) formed in the inner circumferential periphery of the housing (3) and a second groove (12) formed in the outer circumferential periphery of the plunger (2) in opposition to the first groove (11), and a flexible linear member 4 disposed in the first and the second grooves (11) and (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yukio Kubota
  • Patent number: 10247154
    Abstract: A fuel pump for conveying fuel includes a conveying unit having a cylinder, a plunger received in the cylinder, a pump spring received in the cylinder, an inner sleeve connected to the plunger, an outer sleeve in contact with the pump spring and in contact with a roller of a cam mechanism, and a locking bolt configured to detachably connect the inner and outer sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Peer Christopher Lege
  • Patent number: 10215201
    Abstract: A column type hydraulic tappet includes a housing; a plunger correspondingly installed in the housing; and a high pressure chamber for a hydraulic medium formed between the bottom face of the plunger and the bottom of the housing and is sealed by a check valve opening toward the high pressure chamber. The housing includes an external circumferential groove on the outer diameter for passing the hydraulic medium and an inner circumferential groove on the inner diameter for passing the hydraulic medium. One or more housing oil holes are disposed between the outer circumferential groove and the inner circumferential groove. The plunger includes a sealed hemisphere head portion, a shaft portion and a body portion. An indent neck portion between the head and shaft portions of the plunger has a wall thickness 105%-120% of the wall thickness of the other portions of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: HANGZHOU XZB TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Na Xu
  • Patent number: 10184581
    Abstract: A relief valve includes: a case; a valve seat provided in a channel; a poppet valve that opens and closes the channel by being seated on and separated from the valve seat; a spring that biases, at a first end, the poppet valve in a direction in which the poppet valve is seated on the valve seat; an adjusting screw that is threaded into the case and changes, in accordance with a threaded depth, a distance between the valve seat and a bearing surface, which is in contact with a second end of the spring; and a positioning plate that has an engaging hole with which a projected portion of the adjusting screw is engaged such that relative rotation is not allowed and that restricts rotation of the adjusting screw by being fixed to an end surface of the case and by being brought into contact with the adjusting screw only at a side surface of the projected portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9816626
    Abstract: A new valve assembly is provided that includes an actuator, a housing assembly, and a valve for diverting the flow of liquids through pipelines. Embodiments of the present invention include a yoke with transparent windows, a long valve stem, a bushing nut, an actuator shaft, a jam nut, a stem nut, a union nut to interconnect the valve stem to the actuator output shaft, a position indicator, an indicator plate, and a valve mounting bonnet and lock ring to interconnect the yoke to the valve. The housing assembly includes components to interconnect the actuator output shaft to the valve stem that reduce the side-to-side movement of the actuator output shaft, which in turn reduces the failure rate of the valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Davis & Davis Company
    Inventor: Dennis DeBlieck
  • Patent number: 9803518
    Abstract: In a lash adjuster used for a valve operating mechanism of an internal combustion engine, there is known a lash adjuster constituted by inserting a cylindrical sleeve into a plunger cap for preventing air from entering a high-pressure chamber located at a lower portion of the lash adjuster. However, in the conventional lash adjuster, since the plunger cap is formed with two side holes which are different in height in the axial direction of the plunger cap, it becomes complicated to regulate the side surface the plunger cap which corresponds to a sliding surface. Therefore, it is problems to be solved by the present invention to provide a lash adjuster in which the side surface of the plunger cap can be easily regulated without disturbing the inflow and outflow of oil and whose machining cost can be kept low. The above problems can be solved by a hydraulic lash adjuster in which two or more cap side holes 27c are provided and all of them are disposed in a plane perpendicular to a shaft center of the body 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Nittan Valve Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Kubota
  • Patent number: 9732638
    Abstract: A valve lash adjuster for vehicles may include a piston having a body and an opening/closing unit. The body has an open surface in a bottom and an oil passage extending from a rocker arm shaft to the open surface, such that oil flows through the oil passage. The opening/closing unit is disposed on the oil passage to selectively open the oil passage depending on a pressure of the oil. A cylinder accommodates the piston. The cylinder slides downward to form an oil chamber between an inner side surface thereof and the piston. The oil chamber contains the oil therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Seock Joong Yoon
  • Patent number: 9157338
    Abstract: A lash adjuster is configured that reduces the impact at the time when a pressure force is exerted on a pressure-receiving effector, and reliably opens a valve by the necessary amount. This lash adjuster includes, in a relatively movable manner, the pressure-receiving effector that receives the pressure force and a relay effector that performs an operation of opening an intake valve, a pressure receiving-side damper space is formed at an insertion portion thereof, and an orifice portion is formed that suppresses an outflow of oil in the pressure receiving-side damper space when the pressure-receiving effector and the relay effector move in approaching directions. An abutting portion is formed that directly transmits the pressure force of the pressure-receiving effector to the relay effector when the pressure-receiving effector and the relay effector approach each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Nunami, Hisashi Ono, Yuki Nishida
  • Patent number: 9016252
    Abstract: A system for diagnosing malfunctions in a variable valve actuation device is disclosed. The system has a rocker arm assembly that includes: a first arm, a second arm with the first and second arms attached at a first end, a hydraulically operated latch assembly that functions to secure the first arm to the second arm when latched. The rocker arm assembly pivots upon a hydraulic lash adjuster. It also includes a source of pressurized fluid connected to a hydraulic valve that provided fluid high or low pressure fluid to the hydraulically-operated latch. The latch may be operated by a remote device. A pressure transducer is positioned within the hydraulic lash adjuster (HLA) and is adapted to create a signal indicating the fluid pressure in the HLA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Austin Robert Zurface, Daniel Bennett Trudell, Brian Karl VanDeusen
  • Patent number: 9010291
    Abstract: A lash adjuster includes a body formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape, a plunger movably inserted into the body and having a peripheral wall having an oil passage hole, and a partitioning member inserted into the plunger. The plunger defines a high-pressure chamber between the body and a plunger underside and includes a first threaded portion formed in an inner periphery of the peripheral wall. The partitioning member has an oil passage end located above the oil passage hole and an oil passage is defined between an outer surface of the partitioning member and the plunger peripheral wall. A low-pressure chamber is defined inside the partitioning member to reserve hydraulic fluid flowing through the oil passage hole. The hydraulic fluid is then supplied into the high-pressure chamber. The partitioning member has an outer periphery formed with a second threaded portion threadingly coupled with the first threaded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Otics Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Haga, Hiroki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9004032
    Abstract: A switch valve for a hydraulic unit, in particular a quick-acting valve for a hydraulic unit of a hydraulically variable valve gear of a reciprocating internal combustion engine, having a valve body, which is guided in an axially movable manner in a housing part and which is sealed with respect to the housing part by a seal, wherein the seal is designed as a flat seal element, which encloses the valve body in a sealing manner and which is operatively connected to an axial surface of the housing part in a sealing manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Calin Petru Itoafa
  • Patent number: 8919312
    Abstract: A valve assembly is provided herein. The valve assembly may include a valve stem coupled to a coil spring and an impact dampening tappet partially enclosing the spring and valve stem and in contact with a cam, the impact dampening tappet including an exterior metal layer having a cam contacting surface and an interior elastomeric layer traversing at least a portion of the interior surface of the exterior metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yitzong Chern, Chong Jack Chen, Stanley Berlinski
  • Publication number: 20140338622
    Abstract: A valve lift adjustment arrangement for a mechanically-controllable valve drive arrangement includes a bearing shaft, a first roller, a second roller arranged on the bearing shaft, a camshaft arrangement, a valve lift adjustment device comprising a rotatable eccentric shaft, an intermediate lever arrangement, and a device. The intermediate lever arrangement comprises an intermediate lever with a working curve. The intermediate lever is mounted via the first roller to be movable in a slotted-guide track and to be operatively connected to the camshaft arrangement and to the valve lift adjustment device. The device is configured so that the second roller is eccentrically mounted. The device comprises a tool engagement point which aligns the second roller and thereby the intermediate lever arrangement. The camshaft arrangement acts, via the first roller, on the intermediate lever arrangement. The rotatable eccentric shaft is acts, via the second roller, on the intermediate lever arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Rudolf Flierl, Frederic Lauer
  • Patent number: 8869763
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine housing defining a cylinder, and a first and a second gas exchange valve for the cylinder, positioned within the engine housing. The engine further includes a valve actuating mechanism having a first and a second valve lifter reciprocating within adjacent lifter bores to actuate the first and second gas exchange valves. Each of the first and second valve lifters includes an end cap having a misalignment limiting projection, limiting rotation of the valve lifter in response to dynamic perturbation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Satish Remala, Sathishkumar Raman
  • Patent number: 8869764
    Abstract: In a valve drive for an internal combustion engine, with a rocker arm (40) being arranged in its cylinder head pivotal by the cams of a camshaft and supported with one end at the valve shaft of a charge-cycle valve, while comprising at its other end a ball scraper (46), resting on the spherical end section (44) of a support element (42) embodied as a hydraulic valve clearance compensation element, a groove-shaped ventilation channel (57) is arranged according to the invention in the contact area between the ball scraper (46) of the rocker arm (40) and the spherical end section (44) of the support element (42) by which the oil reservoir (54) of the support element (42) is open towards the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Kretschmer, Wolfgang Christgen, Melanie Stark
  • Patent number: 8851038
    Abstract: The present invention may be used for vehicle engines having bores in which roller valve lifters reciprocate. A roller valve lifter may have a body with two opposed subtending spaced apart legs. A cam follower roller bearing having a press fit inner sleeve bushing may be rotatably mounted on the pin. Each of the legs may have an oil feed hole that traverses from an exterior surface to an interior surface adjacent to the inner sleeve bushing. The body in an upper portion may have a key device or an attached vertical guide bar to maintain proper orientation of the roller valve lifter to a cam lobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ed Iskenderian Racing Cams
    Inventor: Ronald Michael Iskenderian
  • Patent number: 8826875
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator of an electrohydraulic gas exchange valve drive of an internal combustion engine, comprising an actuator housing (4), which can be fixed in the internal combustion engine and which comprises a bore (9); a valve play compensation element (8) which is received in said bore in an axially movable manner and which comprises a compensating housing (12) for actuating the gas exchange valve (1); and an axial stop which limits the extending movement of the compensation housing out of the bore (9) and which comprises stopes (14, 15) that overlap each other radially. The stop (14) on the compensation housing-side is a collar of a sleeve (18) that surrounds the outer casing of the compensation housing said collar extending outwards in a radial manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Calin Petru Itoafa
  • Patent number: 8813706
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a housing defining a lifter bore, and a slot in communication with the lifter bore. A valve lifter assembly is positioned within the lifter bore such that a key pin of the valve lifter assembly extends into the slot. The key pin has a contoured outer surface contacting the engine housing within the slot at a first and a second rotational orientation of the valve lifter, to limit misalignment thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Satish Remala, Jonathan R. Chittenden
  • Patent number: 8800520
    Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster includes a body and a plunger assembly slideably mounted with respect to the body. A first chamber is defined by the body and the plunger assembly and is configured to contain a hydraulic fluid. A second chamber is configured to supply the hydraulic fluid to the first chamber through a valve disposed between the first and second chambers in response to a movement of the plunger assembly that increases the volume of the first chamber. An aperture opens into the second chamber. A stopper is insertable into the aperture during use of the hydraulic lash adjuster such that the stopper restrains the hydraulic fluid from exiting the second chamber through the aperture and enables air to exit the second chamber through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton SRL
    Inventor: Massimo D'Amore
  • Patent number: 8763576
    Abstract: The present invention provides a rocker arm with a lash adjuster which includes a rocker arm body portion including a circular fitting hole, a large-diameter hole, and a step portion at a boundary between the fitting hole and the large-diameter hole; a lash adjuster having a snap ring groove formed on an outer circumferential surface of the lash adjuster, and a snap ring fitted to the snap ring groove, wherein the lash adjuster is inserted in the fitting hole, the snap ring increases in diameter, hooks on the step portion, and prevents the lash adjuster from slipping off; and a diameter-reducing member that is assembled in the rocker arm body portion and that reduces the diameter of the snap ring by operation of the diameter-reducing member from an outside of the rocker arm body portion until the snap ring is not engaged with the step portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Otics Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Kato
  • Patent number: 8745866
    Abstract: A method of molding a valve lifter guide includes determining a flow path of injected material in the mold cavity by including a thin walled section in the formed guide. A leading edge of the material flow path forms a dam when crossing a thin walled section in the mold cavity to change a direction of a portion of the leading edge of the material flow path, until the leading edge meets a trailing edge of the material. The valve lifter guide includes a front wall, rear wall, a first radiused end wall, a second radiused end wall, and a bottom surface having an elongated socket. A tab extending from the valve guide support member has a first projection. The valve guide support member is disposed between the engine block and a cylinder head and the first projection is received in an opening of the engine block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventors: Rex Blakeman, Jim McLean
  • Patent number: 8739750
    Abstract: A mechanical bucket tappet (1) for a valve driver of an internal combustion engine having a hollow cylinder-shaped wall (2) which is delimited at one frontal area (3) by a disk-like bottom (4) whose top side (5) is provided as a cam stop face and which comprises a central, funnel-like recess (6), wherein a dome-like one-piece catch (8) aligned with the recess (6) projects from a lower side (7) of the bottom (4), the underside (9) of said catch being used for putting on a valve stem and wherein the funnel-like recess (6) is sealed near or at the top side (5) of the bottom (4), so that the bottom (4) comprises a central encasement (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Geers, Wolfgang Christgen, Manfred Straetz
  • Patent number: 8695551
    Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster includes a body defining an axial bore and having an open end and a closed end. A hollow piston is telescopically received within the axial bore and defines a fluid reservoir. The hollow piston has a first end disposed within the axial bore and a second end extending outwardly beyond the open end of the body. A high pressure volume is defined by the axial bore and the first end of the hollow piston. The hydraulic lash adjuster also includes a valve mechanism positioned through an opening of the hollow piston and including a valve member having an open position defining a fluid path from the fluid reservoir to the high pressure volume. The valve member also has a closed position in which the fluid reservoir is fluidly blocked from the high pressure volume at the opening. The hollow piston includes a band of radial recirculation openings defining recirculation paths from the high pressure volume to the fluid reservoir along an exterior of the hollow piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin Henry Langewisch, Ashwin A. Hattiangadi
  • Patent number: 8689754
    Abstract: An assembly for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine, which has a hydraulic support element and a cam follower connected by way of a clamp. The follower rests on one end via a cap on a spherical head of a pressure piston of the support element. The piston extends in a bore of a housing of the support element. The clamp flanks the cap with holding strips along the sides. The inner sides run in a guide zone on the outer shell of the piston. The housing has an opening for hydraulic fluid that can be conducted between the housing and the piston through at least one passage in the piston to a storage chamber. The guide zone on the piston is also designed as an anti-rotation mechanism therefore. The piston is installed in a defined manner and is torsionally oriented in relation to the cam follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Christgen, Peter Sailer, Frank Himsel
  • Patent number: 8651079
    Abstract: A valve operating mechanism includes a pin housing housed in a lash adjuster and a lash adjustment chamber. A sync pin is slidably received within the housing between an activating position and a deactivating position. A ball valve assembly is provided within the housing for communication with the chamber, and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The valve operating mechanism is operable in an active mode and a deactive mode. In the active mode, the sync pin is in the activating position, a valve is in an active state and the valve operating mechanism is configured to adjust valve lash. In the deactive mode, the sync pin is in the deactivating position and the valve is in a deactive state. The valve operating mechanism is configured to generate valve lash to allow the operating mechanism to move between the active mode and the deactive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Phillip Aquino
  • Patent number: 8646426
    Abstract: A valve lash setting method for setting a predetermined lash in a valve assembly for internal combustion engines. The method includes generating a torque curve and using a linear regression calculation to define a zero crossing point from which a predetermined final lash position of an adjusting screw can be set and secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Tools & Assemble Systems LLC
    Inventor: Mark Allen Finkenbiner
  • Patent number: 8640664
    Abstract: An engine includes a hydraulic pressure lash adjuster (HLA) pivotally supporting an end of a swing arm and having a valve supporting the other end of the swing arm, wherein the hydraulic pressure lash adjuster includes a housing, a plunger of which one end portion thereof may be slidably inserted into the inside of the housing, the other end portion of which extends outwards and supports the end of the swing arm by selectively moving upwards or downwards in a length direction of the housing, a stopper pin slidably mounted in a chamber of the plunger so as to selectively lock the plunger to the housing such that the plunger cannot move in the housing, and a hydraulic pressure supply portion that selectively supplies one side of the stopper pin with a hydraulic pressure in the chamber of the plunger to move the stopper pin toward the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Youngsoo Lee
  • Patent number: 8635981
    Abstract: Valve clearance compensation element (1) with mechanical, automatic readjustment for internal combustion engines, with an adjusting bolt (3) that is supported in a sleeve (2) arranged on a component of the internal combustion engine by a thread against the force of a spring (8), with a transfer element that is in active connection with a support head (4) of the adjusting bolt (3) and is further supported on a spring-loaded gas-exchange valve and on a cam of a camshaft driven by the internal combustion engine. The adjusting bolt (3) has two parts, the support head (4) and a threaded bolt (5), which are fastened to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Mathias Boegershausen
  • Patent number: 8607754
    Abstract: The invention concerns a roller tappet (1) for a high pressure fuel pump, said roller tappet (1) comprising a housing (2) comprising on a drive side front end (3), a slide-mounted roller (4) serving as a running surface of a cam, said housing (2), as viewed in housing direction, comprising a bridge member (5) arranged below the roller (4), said bridge member (5) comprising on a front end (7) turned towards a driven side front end (6) of the housing (2), a support (8) for a tappet follower member, wherein a shell member (11) like a semi shell or a one-third shell separated out of a rolling bearing ring is seated in a cylindrical cavity (9) of a further drive side front end (10) of the bridge member (5), and the roller (4) extends for sliding displacement directly in said shell member (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Dorn, Norbert Geyer, Karsten Kucht
  • Patent number: 8573171
    Abstract: A valve control device for an internal combustion engine with an engine valve and a camshaft having a cam profile including a first lift profile is disclosed. The device includes a first body and second body. The device is configurable in first and second configurations. When in the first configuration, relative movement between the first and second body, caused when said first lift profile engages a cam engagement surface, inhibits a valve actuating linkage from actuating said engine valve. Embodiments of the device include a means which, when in the second configuration, prevents relative movement between the first and second bodies when the first lift profile engages the cam engagement surface to enable the valve actuating linkage to actuate said engine valve, and when the device is in the second configuration, the means may be arranged so substantially all of the force exerted as the valve is actuated is compressive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton SRL
    Inventors: Majo Cecur, Fabiano Contarin, Nicola Andrisani, Marco Querio
  • Patent number: 8555842
    Abstract: A cold-formed flat top plunger blank is provided for use in a hydraulic lash adjuster. An end wall at the first end of the plunger body defines a flat top surface that is cold-formed to final dimensions or net shape. The flat top surface at the first end of the plunger body is configured to engage a flat surface within the mating bore of an engine cylinder head. By configuring the plunger body to have a flat top surface that engages a flat surface disposed within the mating bore of an engine cylinder head, the force applied to the engine block by the lash adjuster is distributed more evenly, minimizing wear. The external flat top plunger is a unitary component cold-formed to near net shape, including cold-forming to final dimensions the flat top surface and a counterbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Gary Janowiak
  • Patent number: 8544435
    Abstract: A hydraulic valve lifter apparatus including a seal at the interface of a pushrod seat and a pushrod is provided herein. In one form, the hydraulic valve lifter apparatus includes a body, a piston slidably disposed within the body including a pushrod seat for contacting a pushrod, and a seal located between the pushrod seat and the pushrod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventor: Gregory P. Prior
  • Publication number: 20130233266
    Abstract: The present invention provides a shim for a valve drive mechanism which is interposed between a pad surface of a rocker arm and a stem end surface of a valve. The shim includes a ship top surface that is contacted by the pad surface. The shim top surface is rotated about a center thereof to be cut, is provided with a center hole at the center thereof, and is shaped such that the pad surface does not contact an intersection line between an inner peripheral surface of the center hole and the shim top surface when the rocker arm is swung.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: OTICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazunori KAWAHARA, Masateru Kishi
  • Patent number: 8528509
    Abstract: A variable valve lift apparatus may include a variable valve lift housing, a master piston which is slidably disposed in the variable valve lift housing and contacts a cam, a slave piston which is slidably disposed in the variable valve lift housing, defines an oil chamber with the master piston therebetween, and opens a valve connected to the slave piston according to reciprocative motion of the master piston, and a lift control portion which supplies oil to the oil chamber or exhausts oil in the oil chamber selectively to control a relative distance between the master piston and the slave piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hosung Cho, Jin Gyu Yang, Myung Rae Cho, Hong Wook Lee, Seong Hyuk Kang, Taewon Park, Jinwoo Yang, Wootae Kim, Myungsik Choi, Eui Chul Choi, Sung Han Kang, Won Gyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8505510
    Abstract: Abrasion resistance is further enhanced in a sliding member used in an internal combustion engine. With respect to a valve lifter 6 used in an internal combustion engine 100, hard particles having higher hardness than the valve lifter 6 are dispersed onto the top face 61 of the valve lifter 6, and a nitriding treatment is conducted on the top face 61 dispersed with the hard particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd, Tanaka Seimitsu Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Maekawa, Atsushi Murakami, Takaaki Harasaki
  • Patent number: 8490590
    Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster capable of retaining a Large amount of hydraulic oil in a reservoir communicated with a high-pressure chamber when the engine is stopped. The hydraulic lash adjuster including: a cylindrical body (24) having an upper open end, a closed bottom, and a second oil supply hole (27a) formed in the sidewall of the cylindrical body; and a plunger having a top end serving as a plunging end, a sidewall, a bottom end, a high pressure chamber (29) at the lower bottom, and a first oil supply hole (24b) formed in the sidewall, the plunger being slidabic on the inner wall of the body. The plunger has a reservoir (28) that communicates with an external oil supply line (32) via the first oil supply hole (24b) and the second oil supply hole (27a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Nittan Valve Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Kubota, Akifumi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20130174799
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator of an electrohydraulic gas exchange valve drive of an internal combustion engine, comprising an actuator housing (4), which can be fixed in the internal combustion engine and which comprises a bore (9); a valve play compensation element (8) which is received in said bore in an axially movable manner and which comprises a compensating housing (12) for actuating the gas exchange valve (1); and an axial stop which limits the extending movement of the compensation housing out of the bore (9) and which comprises stopes (14, 15) that overlap each other radially. The stop (14) on the compensation housing-side is a collar of a sleeve (18) that surrounds the outer casing of the compensation housing said collar extending outwards in a radial manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co.KG
    Inventor: Calin Petru Itoafa
  • Patent number: 8474426
    Abstract: A roller lifter assembly has a lifter body with a leg extending outwardly therefrom, a bar having a elongated slot formed therein, a first rivet having a head and a shank, a button affixed to the shank of the rivet so as to sandwich the bar between the button and the leg of the lifter body. The head of the rivet has a surface adjacent to the shank that bears against a curved inner surface of the leg of the lifter body so as to prevent the rivet from rotating. The shank extends through the hole in the leg and through the elongated slot of the bar. The rivet is positioned so as to as to be non-rotatable during the movement of the lifter bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventors: William Gaterman, Brad A. Miller
  • Patent number: 8474427
    Abstract: A tappet (1) for a high-pressure fuel pump having a housing (2), the drive input side (7), which serves as a cam run-on face. The housing (2) incorporates a roller (8), wherein the drive output side (3), which serves as a contact surface for a tappet follower part, of said housing (2) bears against an underside (4) of a bridge piece (6) which projects through an inner casing (5) of the housing (2), and a rotation prevention device (11) which projects beyond the outer casing (10) of the housing (2) extends in a window (9) of the housing (2). The rotation prevention device (11) is formed by a radial elongation of the bridge piece (6). A projection extends from the inner casing (5) of the tappet (1) only on a portion situated diametrically opposite the window (7), which projection is integrally connected and is produced by a punching and embossing process and rises in a wedge shape in a direction of the drive input side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Dorn, Norbert Geyer, Karsten Kucht
  • Patent number: 8464678
    Abstract: The present invention may be used for vehicle engines having bores in which roller valve lifters reciprocate. A roller valve lifter may have a body with two opposed subtending spaced apart legs. A cam follower roller bearing having a press fit inner sleeve bushing may be rotatably mounted on the pin. Each of the legs may have an oil feed hole that traverses from an exterior surface to an interior surface adjacent to the inner sleeve bushing. The body in an upper portion may have a key device or an attached vertical guide bar to maintain proper orientation of the roller valve lifter to a cam lobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Ed Iskenderian Racing Cams
    Inventor: Ronald Michael Iskenderian
  • Patent number: 8453613
    Abstract: A variable valve actuation system to actuate and control the seating velocity of an internal combustion engine valve is disclosed. The system comprises: a housing having a bore formed therein; an outer piston slidably disposed in the bore, the outer piston having an orifice formed therein; a catch piston slidably disposed in the outer piston; and an cone-shaped extension extending from the inner piston, wherein the cone-shaped extension is adapted to provide a variable flow area through the outer piston orifice to provide improved engine valve seating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhou Yang, Ryan C Noss, Brian Ruggiero, John A. Schwoerer, Neil Fuchs
  • Patent number: 8413622
    Abstract: There are provided first and second extending oil passages supplying operational oil to intake-side and exhaust-side lash adjustors, a first connection oil passage interconnecting one end portions of the oil passages, and an oil-pressure control valve selecting a first state in which the first extending oil passage does not connect to a drain oil passage or a second state in which the first extending oil passage connects to the drain oil passage. An orifice is provided in an oil passage which is located on the side of the first connection oil passage relative to a supply portion of the operational oil supplied to the lash adjustor and located on the side of the first connection oil passage relative to another supply portion of the operational oil supplied to the lash adjustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Noda, Tomoya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8413626
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lash adjuster including a ball retainer having a generally conical chamber for situating a ball near the base of the lash adjuster housing. The chamber has both an external and internal shoulder for engaging a plunger spring and a ball spring, respectively. The chamber may further define at least one aperture near its apex and at least one aperture near its base to facilitate oil flow through the lash adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Electro-motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert T. MacVicar
  • Patent number: 8397689
    Abstract: A cylinder head including a dam defining a reservoir surrounding the periphery of the fuel pump tappet/roller follower mounting hole is provided. The cylinder head includes a tappet/roller follower mounted in the tappet/roller follower mounting hole and in communication with a cam and a fuel pump. The fuel pump is located on the high side of the head and oil drainage occurs in a direction away from the mounting hole. The dam and reservoir are configured to retain lubricant in the mounting hole and the sliding interface between the mounting hole and the tappet/roller follower. The dam and reservoir are configured to retain a minimum level of oil in the mounting hole when the head is in vehicle position. A method is provided for retaining lubrication in the tappet/roller follower hole by forming a dam defining a reservoir in the head and passively providing lubricant to the tappet/roller follower hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rodney E. Baker, James B. Hicks, Brian W. Geiser
  • Patent number: 8375909
    Abstract: A reciprocating lever for a valve train assembly is provided, including a receiving portion and at least one retaining feature. The receiving portion is for selectively receiving a member that is actuated by the reciprocating lever. An actuation direction is also included and is defined by an actuation axis, wherein the reciprocating lever selectively actuates the member. The at least one retaining feature is located at the receiving portion of the reciprocating lever. The at least one retaining feature is configured to selectively engage with and limit relative movement of the member with respect to the reciprocating lever along the actuation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Andrei D. Radulescu, James R. Sheren, Brian K. Vandeusen
  • Patent number: 8375910
    Abstract: An anti-rotation device (1) for a coupling piston (2) in a switchable component (3) of a valve train of an internal combustion engine is provided, with the component (3) including two parts (4, 5) that are movable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Becker, Robert Heinemann
  • Patent number: 8371258
    Abstract: A lash adjuster includes a cylindrical body, a cylindrical plunger, a low pressure chamber defined in the plunger, a high pressure chamber defined in a hollow lower interior of the body and filled with an operating fluid, a check valve allowing the operating fluid to flow into the high pressure chamber when in a valve-opened state and cutting off flow of the operating fluid from the high pressure chamber into the low pressure chamber when in a valve-closed state. A retainer of the check valve includes a base plate and a cylindrical portion extending upward from an outer circumferential edge of the base plate so as to surround the valve element. The base plate includes a central portion on which the valve element is placed and which has an upper surface formed with a swollen portion. The cylindrical portion has a plurality of openings formed through it circumferentially equiangularly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: OTICS Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Fujii, Kimihiko Todo