Self-operating Patents (Class 123/90.53)
  • Patent number: 11680590
    Abstract: On-axis actuator system includes an actuator bracket formed with at least one bracket cavity. Actuator links couple open and close rollers. An actuator member coupled to close roller and disposed within an actuator housing. Moving the actuator member towards the actuator bracket presses the close roller against the bracket to rotate the bracket. A device coupled to the bracket rotates with the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Brandon J. Wiedemeier, Jeffrey M. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 10934897
    Abstract: Provided is a mechanical lash adjuster including a plunger, a housing put into thread engagement with the plunger in an axial direction to form a thread engagement portion, the plunger engaging member fixed and retained in a circumferential direction of the thread engagement portion, and a coil spring urging the plunger in a direction opposite to a urging-force acting direction of a coil spring. A lead and flank angles of threads forming the thread engagement portion are set such that when an axial load acts on the plunger in either of a plunger extension and contraction directions, the plunger is made self-sustaining, and when the plunger swings by an amount corresponding to a backlash due to a lateral load, the plunger slides and rotates at the thread engagement portion to move in an axial-load acting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michihiro Kameda, Hiroyuki Ozawa, Masaaki Inoue
  • Patent number: 9163531
    Abstract: Self-adaptive hydraulic variable valve timing system for an internal combustion diesel engine, comprising an electronic control unit, an oil pump, a pressure regulating reversing valve, an oil return tube, an oil line, an oil supply main tube, an oil supply branch tube, and a self-adaptive pushrod length changing assembly. When the engine's oil exceeds 70° C., and engine's rotational speed is greater than or equal to 1300 r/m, and engine's load is greater than or equal to 50%, the control unit is configured to send instructions to the pressure regulating reversing valve to switch oil flow direction towards the oil line which leads to the self-adaptive pushrod length changing assembly and thereby put the engine in an operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Inventors: Wanhua Su, Qiang Zhan, Yiqiang Pei, Erxi Liu, Songlin Wu
  • Patent number: 8555833
    Abstract: In a clearance compensating device for an internal combustion engine with an internal part movably arranged within a guide duct of an external part for adjusting a clearance of an associated valve of the internal combustion engine, a pressure chamber, and a storage chamber which is hydraulically connected to the pressure chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid are associated with the interior part. Between the two chambers a one-way valve is disposed for applying an actuating force to the interior part relative to the external part. A feeding device is hydraulically connected to a blocking chamber for supplying a hydraulic fluid to the blocking chamber in order to exert a blocking force to the internal part acting in a direction opposite the actuating force under the control of a timing device the blocking force being modified depending on a cycle of the timing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Josef Astner, Daniel Böhme, Marc Oliver Wagner, Harry Wolf
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110094467
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a lash adjuster is provided for minimizing stress on a valve train system in the event of its failure. Specifically, the present invention lash adjuster is for use in a valve train system having a cam for actuating the opening and closing of a valve, where the cam has a select size and shape for determining the velocity or acceleration of the valve's opening and closing. The present invention lash adjuster generally comprises a housing having a base and a plunger positioned within the housing at a select axial clearance from the base. This clearance is generally sized and shaped such that, in the event of lash adjuster failure, a select maximum velocity or acceleration of valve opening and closing is maintained, thereby minimizing stress on the valve train system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Robert T. MacVicar, Raji Rexavier
  • Publication number: 20100288219
    Abstract: A lash adjuster is provided of which the return spring is never compressed excessively when the adjusting screw is pushed into the nut member, and of which the external thread on the outer periphery of the adjusting screw can be formed easily by rolling. The lash adjuster 1 includes a nut member 12 having an internal thread 13, an adjusting screw 15 having an external thread 14 on its outer periphery which is in threaded engagement with the internal thread 13, and a return spring 17 biasing the adjusting screw 15 in the direction to protrude from the nut member 12. The adjusting screw 15 pivotally supports an arm 7 of a valve gear at its end protruding from the nut member 12. The adjusting screw 15 has at its portion protruding from the nut member 12 a stopper portion 23 having a larger diameter than the inner diameter of the nut member 12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Makoto Yasui, Katsuhisa Yamaguchi, Eiji Maeno
  • Publication number: 20100175643
    Abstract: The antirotational, mechanical lash control mechanism for two reciprocating bodies having opposing cylindrical surfaces uses a radial U-shaped groove in the outer surface of the outer housing; a radial cut in the leg of said U-shaped groove, that extends from the groove into said bore; a U-shaped clip adapted to fit the U-shaped groove, the U-shaped clip having a ledge on a leg of U-shaped clip, where the ledge extends through said cut and into said bore; and a first stop on the outer surface of the inner housing, such that the first stop abuts said ledge to control mechanical lash between the outer housing and the inner housing. To prevent rotation, the ledge has a flat surface that mates to a flat surface on the inner housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Matt Evans, Tracy Novinski
  • Patent number: 7469668
    Abstract: In an engine in which a lift amount of a valve can be changed continuously, an engine valve operating system including a valve lift-changing mechanism is capable of increasing and decreasing the lift amount of the valve without changing an opening angle for the valve and capable of decreasing a tappet clearance in accordance with a decrease in lift amount of the valve. Thus, it is possible to prevent the ratio of the tappet clearance to the lift amount at a low valve lift from being increased to minimize the influence of the dispersion of the tappet clearance and to reduce the seating speed of the valve at the low valve lift to prevent the generation of a noise. It is also possible to prevent a reduction in performance of the engine at a high valve lift due to the dispersion of the tappet clearance and to decrease the seating noise of the valve at the low valve lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Akiyuki Yonekawa, Katsunori Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7328676
    Abstract: A hydraulic valve play compensation element for an internal combustion engine is provided as a reverse-spring/free-ball element, with a cylindrical housing, a cylindrical piston (21) guided therein with sealing play and a control valve (20), which is arranged between a low-pressure chamber (22) of the piston (21) and a high-pressure chamber (24) of the housing, on a piston head (25) of the piston and which has a closing body (27), which can contact a valve seat (26) surrounding an axial bore hole (23) of the piston head (25) when carrying out a stroke (28) in the closing direction against the force of a control-valve spring (34) and which can contact a contact surface (29) of a valve cap (30) surrounding the closing body (27) when carrying out a stroke in the opening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Oliver Schnell, Christian Schaefer, Peter Sailer
  • Patent number: 7237520
    Abstract: A hydraulic valve-lash-adjusting element (HVA) for the valve train of an internal combustion engine, wherein: a housing (1) has a blind bore (2) in which a piston (3) is guided with sealing clearance and is in pressure contact with a valve-actuating element (6) and its cam; the piston (3), together with the blind bore (2), defines a high-pressure space (4) while a low-pressure space (5) is located above the piston (3); the pressure spaces (4, 5) are connected by at least one central axial bore in the piston (3), this axial bore being controlled by a control valve arranged in the piston (3), wherein the control valve is designed as an exchange valve (11), with a valve body (12) which is guided in a smooth-running manner in the interior of the piston (3), serves to control an upper and a lower central axial bore (14, 15) and the closing movement in both directions of which is the relative movement of the piston (3) in relation to the valve body (12), which is virtually at a standstill because of its mass mo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventor: Donald R. Haefner
  • Patent number: 6901896
    Abstract: For an arm type valve gear in which a lash adjuster is mounted between an arm pivoted by the rotation of a cam and a valve stem, it is a goal to reduce the axial length of the lash adjuster and to suppress wear at the contact portion with the valve stem. An engaging hole is formed in an arm pivoted by the rotation of a cam at a position corresponding to the top end face of a valve stem. A lash adjuster received in the engaging hole includes a nut member, an adjuster screw in threaded engagement with the nut member, an elastic body biasing the adjuster screw toward the valve stem, and a ball joint to reduce the axial length of the lash adjuster. Further, by bringing the bottom end face of the ball joint into surface contact with the top end face of the valve stem, wear at the contact portion is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Yamamoto, Eiji Maeno
  • Publication number: 20040144350
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connectable bucket tappet (1) whereby the ring shaped section (2) thereof is produced in a relatively simple and economical manner, dispensing with a receiving element for coupling means which was previously joined thereto in a single piece. According to the invention, a separate, sleeve-shaped component (14) is arranged near to the base (6) of the ring shaped section (2). Said component is used for sectionally accommodating a slider (10) as a coupling means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventor: Jens Artmann
  • Patent number: 6748914
    Abstract: Oil metering valve means in a hydraulic valve lifter configured such that a metering plate cooperates with a pushrod seat to meter the flow of oil in a forward direction. The metering means is also conducive to the flow of oil in the reverse direction, permitting an oil reservoir in the lifter to be filled by reverse oil flow, either after assembly of the lifter or upon engine shutdown. Embodiments of such oil metering valve means may include: a metering plate having one or more notches around its periphery to permit oil to flow past the plate and a feature supporting the plate; a metering plate having one or more apertures to permit oil to flow through the plate; a metering plate having one or more nonplanar areas along the edges of the plate to prevent sealing of the plate against the supportive feature; and a metering-plate supportive feature having one or more irregularities, such as grooves, bumps, or undulations to permit flow around the edge of the plate past the irregularities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Spath, Carl R. Kangas
  • Publication number: 20040074462
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lash adjuster body, comprising A lash adjuster body, comprising an outer surface, enclosing a cavity, wherein the cavity includes an inner surface configured to accommodate an insert and a spring; and the cavity is fabricated through forging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Dhruva Mandal, Carroll Williams
  • Patent number: 6718940
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved assembly for operating at least one exhaust valve and at least one intake valve in a cylinder in an engine. The assembly includes a rocker shaft, an intake rocker arm pivotally mounted on the rocker shaft for operating at least one intake valve of the engine cylinder, an exhaust rocker arm pivotally mounted on the rocker shaft for operating at least one exhaust valve of the engine cylinder. The improved assembly includes a lash adjusting assembly for adjusting a lash between at least one of the intake rocker arm and the at least one intake valve, and the exhaust rocker arm and the at least one exhaust valve. The improvement further includes a fluid supply assembly for supplying fluid to the lash adjusting assembly to operate the lash adjusting assembly. The improved assembly further includes a control assembly for controlling the operation of the supply assembly in response to predetermined engine operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
    Inventor: James N. Usko
  • Publication number: 20030089324
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanical valve play compensation element for a valve drive on a piston combustion engine, comprising a first pressure part (1) which is axially displaceable in relation to a second pressure part (2) and which is fixed in such a way that it can turn about the axis of displacement; a torsion spring element (10) which acts between the first pressure part (1) and the second pressure part (2) and is axially flexible at least to a certain extent; and at least one helical surface (9.1) on the first pressure part (1), to which a corresponding helical surface (9.2) on the second pressure part (2) is allocated, these forming a pair of helical surfaces (9). The surfaces of the helical surface pair (9) are configured as a rough surface and are pressed against each other by the torsion spring element (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventor: Markus Duesmann
  • Publication number: 20030015158
    Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster has a plunger assembly the outer end of which can be moved inwardly until the inner end abuts a seal and closes a high pressure chamber, thus preventing further movement. This accommodates any necessary movement of a valve towards its closing position to ensure proper closure. Consequently, net-shaped cams wherein the base circle is not necessarily accurately concentric may be used. A leaf sprung ensures opening of the chamber when the base circle of the cam is next reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Majo Cecur, Umberto Nicoli
  • Publication number: 20020096136
    Abstract: Oil metering valve means in a hydraulic valve lifter configured such that a metering plate cooperates with a pushrod seat to meter the flow of oil in a forward direction. The metering means is also conducive to the flow of oil in the reverse direction, permitting an oil reservoir in the lifter to be filled by reverse oil flow, either after assembly of the lifter or upon engine shutdown. Embodiments of such oil metering valve means may include: a metering plate having one or more notches around its periphery to permit oil to flow past the plate and a feature supporting the plate; a metering plate having one or more apertures to permit oil to flow through the plate; a metering plate having one or more nonplanar areas along the edges of the plate to prevent sealing of the plate against the supportive feature; and a metering-plate supportive feature having one or more irregularities, such as grooves, bumps, or undulations to permit flow around the edge of the plate past the irregularities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Mark J. Spath, Carl R. Kangas
  • Publication number: 20020066428
    Abstract: The invention relates to a variable valve train (1) for a cam-actuated lifting valve (13) of an internal combustion engine, which valve (13) is loaded by a closing spring (13a) acting against the direction of opening, with an approximately cylindrical force application element (2) located between a cam (14) and the valve (13), whose length can be adjusted hydraulically and whose exterior cylindrical wall face (3) is slidable in a fixed guide cylinder (4), said element (2) being provided with a pressure piston (6) longitudinally slidable in a cylinder (5), which piston (6) is adjacent to a pressure chamber (7) into which opens a pressure channel (8) departing from a port (9) in the wall face (3) of the force application element (2), a fixed pressure line (11) opening into the guide cylinder (4) in the area of the port (9), which line (11) can be subjected to hydraulic high pressure (pH) permitting hydraulic activation of the valve (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas Kammerdiener, Peter Herzog, Peter Christian Meurer
  • Publication number: 20020020380
    Abstract: A valve drive mechanism includes a generally cylindrically shaped tappet assembly (24) comprising a center tappet (41 ) and a side tappet (42). The center tappet (41 ) has a circular-arcuate side walls (41c) formed with vertical side shrouds (41d) at opposite sides of each side wall (41c) which overlap and slide contact with opposite end guide walls (42h) of the side tappet (42), respectively. When the tappet assembly (24) is in an unlocked state so as to transmit rotation of the side cams (25, 27), the vertical side shroud (41d) of the center tappet (41 ) slide on the vertical side walls (42h) of the side tappet 42 so as thereby to guide slide movement of the center tappet (41 ) relative to the side tappet (42).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Setsuo Harada, Hiroyuki Oda, Hirokazu Matsuura, Kouji Asanomi, Masayuki Saiki
  • Publication number: 20010037778
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator for the actuation of the intake or exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine, in which an oscillating arm has a first end hinged on a support frame secured to the head of the engine and a second end in abutment on the upper end of the stem of the intake or exhaust valve; two electromagnets being provided in order to move, on command, the oscillating arm so as axially to displace this valve between a closed position and a position of maximum opening; the frame being connected to the head of the engine so as to be able to oscillate about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of movement of the intake or exhaust valve and the electromagnetic actuator further being provided with a device for adjusting the position of the frame with respect to the head, which is adapted to rotate, on command, the frame about the axis of rotation so as to maintain the mechanical play between the second end of the oscillating arm and the upper end of the stem of the valve at a predetermined
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Massimo Marchioni, Nicola Morelli