Coupling Facilitates Relative Rotary Displacement Between Coupled Members Patents (Class 464/160)
  • Patent number: 8317642
    Abstract: A device for connecting a generator to a belt drive of an internal combustion engine is provided, which includes a belt pulley (1) that is guided so that it can rotate relative to a hub (2) set on a shaft (3). At least one spring element is arranged between the belt pulley (1) and the hub (2) and connects the belt pulley (1) and the hub (2) to each other elastically for transferring rotational motion and here sets a relative rotation between the belt pulley (1) and the hub (2) corresponding to an effective torsional stiffness. The at least one spring element is placed with a defined movement play (s) with respect to the belt pulley (1) and/or the hub (2), in order to allow relative rotation through the movement play (s) in a first region (I) with a low torsional stiffness, while, in a second region (2), a high torsional stiffness can be generated by the at least one spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernd Hartmann, Christian Hauck, Andrea Reichert
  • Patent number: 8302573
    Abstract: A hydraulic camshaft adjuster for an internal combustion engine. The hydraulic camshaft adjuster has a drive part that can be drive-connected to a crankshaft, an output part which has a central, first axial opening for the rotatably fixed connection to a first camshaft and is mounted such that it can be adjusted rotatably with respect to the drive part, a hydraulic actuating mechanism, by which a rotary angle position between the drive part and the output part can be adjusted, and a screw plug which is screwed to the drive part for closing the first axial opening. The screw plug is manufactured from a shaped part which is produced by a forming process without the removal of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Weber, Stefan Schelter
  • Patent number: 8297246
    Abstract: An adjustable camshaft sprocket assembly includes a hub and a sprocket body secured to the hub. A stud-receiving opening is defined in one of the hub flange and the sprocket body, and a tool-receiving opening is defined in the other of the hub flange and the sprocket body. The tool-receiving opening is aligned with the stud-receiving opening and is adapted to receive a body portion of an adjustment tool, and the stud-receiving opening is adapted to receive an eccentric stud of the adjustment tool. Either the stud-receiving opening or the tool-receiving opening is elongated. Rotation of the adjustment tool when its body is located in the tool-receiving opening and its eccentric stud is located in the stud-receiving opening causes relative angular movement between the hub and the sprocket body. One or more fasteners are used to immovably secure the sprocket body to the hub after adjustment. A tool includes cylindrical base, a driving head, and an eccentric stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Cloyes Gear and Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy R. Allen
  • Patent number: 8286602
    Abstract: A phase variable device for use with a car engine, capable of preventing the phase angle of the camshaft from varying relative to the first circular rotational body. The device includes: a first rotational body, an intermediate rotational bode integral with the camshaft of an engine, a second rotational body, all rotatably arranged on the same camshaft, the device adapted to control phase angle of the second rotational body, thereby varying the phase angle of the intermediate rotational body. The second rotational body is placed in substantial contact with the inside of the hollow cylindrical section of the intermediate rotational body. A circular eccentric cam, integral with the second rotational body and adapted to rotate about an eccentric center thereof, causes a cam guide plate to reciprocate in the direction perpendicular to the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Nittan Valve Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michihiro Kameda, Masayasu Nagadoh
  • Patent number: 8286601
    Abstract: A variable valve timing apparatus includes a stopper piston which has an equalizing passage in an axial direction. Even if the engaging hole is filled with the oil, the equalizing passage enables the oil flows from an engaging hole to a holding hole when the stopper piston enters into the engaging hole. It is possible to form a vane as narrow as possible, and to enlarge a variable angular range. In addition, the stopper piston has both end faces which are substantially identical in surface area. Even if pulsation arises in oil pressure, pressures acting on both end faces of the stopper piston can be substantially cancelled and position of the stopper piston can be stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hamaoka, Akihiko Takenaka, Takashi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8261704
    Abstract: A variable valve timing control apparatus is provided for an internal combustion engine that has a crankshaft, a camshaft, a hydraulic variable valve timing unit, a lock pin, and a hydraulic control valve. The hydraulic control valve is configured to control oil pressure that actuates the variable valve timing unit and the lock pin. The control apparatus switches a control, based on an operational state, between (a) a variable cam timing (VCT) phase control for controlling the VCT phase to a target phase and (b) a lock pin projection control for allowing the lock pin to project. The control apparatus executes, when an abnormality occurs, a foreign object release control for changing a control amount of the hydraulic control valve based on a predetermined pattern, wherein the control apparatus changes the predetermined pattern depending on the abnormality in the execution of the foreign object release control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Takemura
  • Patent number: 8251029
    Abstract: A valve timing controller is provided with a driving rotor rotating along with a crankshaft, a driven rotor rotating along with a camshaft, a planetary gear performing a planetary motion to adjust a rotational phase between the camshaft and the crankshaft, a motor shaft rotating for controlling the planetary motion, a cylindrical planetary carrier supporting the planetary gear and being connected with the control shaft so that the planetary gear performs the planetary motion, and a lubricating mechanism. The lubricating mechanism includes an introducing port which opens on a side surface of the second rotor axially confronting the planetary carrier. The introducing port extends across a supporting outer surface and a connecting inner surface. The lubricant is introduced into an interior of the first rotor through the introducing port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Kurisu, Taei Sugiura
  • Patent number: 8245679
    Abstract: A variable valve timing apparatus has a case, a rotor, and a magneto-rheological fluid. The magneto-rheological fluid gives variable braking force to the rotor. The rotor is connected with a phase adjusting mechanism. The phase adjusting mechanism adjusts a phase of an internal combustion engine according to braking force. A sealing device is disposed between the case and the rotor. In one embodiment, the sealing device has a magnet and a plurality of flux guide members. In other embodiment, a diaphragm which acts as a damper mechanism for absorbing an internal pressure change is disposed on a fluid chamber in which the magneto-rheological fluid is kept.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Morishima
  • Publication number: 20120204822
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster arrangement, which has a stator, a rotor, and a pressure accumulator, which is controlled by control vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Juergen WEBER
  • Patent number: 8240280
    Abstract: A device for camshaft adjustment in an internal combustion engine which has an inner rotor rotationally fixed to a camshaft. The inner rotor is rotationally adjustable relative to an outer rotor that is driveably connected to a crankshaft. At least one hydraulic chamber limited by side walls is introduced into the outer rotor and is divided into two partial chambers by an element extending radially outward from the inner rotor. To lock relative movement between the inner and outer rotor, two locking pins penetrating the inner rotor axially engage in two recesses of one of the side walls designed as a locking cover. To adjust the play of the locking pins in the recesses, at least one of the recesses has a stop surface for the locking pin, the position of which changes as viewed circumferentially with the radial distance from the axis of the inner rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Busse, Michael Weiss
  • Patent number: 8240279
    Abstract: An engine valve control device is applied to an engine valve control mechanism having a VVT (valve timing adjusting device), an OCV (control valve) that controls a flow of hydraulic oil supplied to the VVT, and an electromagnetic solenoid that controls an operation of the OCV according to a control duty (control command value). The engine valve control device calculates the control duty based on a holding duty, which occurs when an actual phase does not change but is held, and feedback correction values. The engine valve control device corrects the value of the holding duty in accordance with a steady-state deviation between the actual phase and a target phase to perform learning for storing and updating the holding duty value. If temperature of the hydraulic oil is low, the learning is prohibited even when the steady-state deviation is occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Wada
  • Patent number: 8235015
    Abstract: Each cylinder is provided with a first intake valve and a second intake valve, and a first intake cam for driving the first intake valve and a second intake cam for driving the second intake valve are coaxially pivotally supported on an intake camshaft. A first cam phase change mechanism which varies respective phases of the first and second intake cams relative to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine is combined with a second cam phase change mechanism which varies a phase of the second intake cam relative to the first intake cam. The second cam phase change mechanism is set to have a variable-phase angular range wider than that of the first cam phase change mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Murata
  • Patent number: 8225756
    Abstract: Disclosed is an adjusting mechanism for rotating the adjusting shaft of a variable valve control device for combustion engines, in which the crank of a crank-rocker mechanism or slider-crank mechanism is mounted on the camshaft and in which the rocker of the crank-rocker mechanism or the slider of the slider-crank mechanism can entrain the adjusting shaft in the desired direction of rotation by means of switchable freewheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta TecCenter AG
    Inventors: Helmut Schoen, Peter Kuhn, Gordon Koehne, Patric Hoecker
  • Patent number: 8220426
    Abstract: A valve timing control device is provided with an electric motor (4) generating a magnetic retaining torque (Th) and a motor torque (Tm) in a motor shaft (102) based on a power supply. A power supply control system (6) controls the motor torque (Tm) by controlling the power supply supplied to the electric motor (4). A phase control mechanism (8) transmits a cam torque (Tca) that can alternate between a positive and a negative direction in response to rotation of a cam shaft, to the motor shaft (102) and controls a relative phase between the crank shaft and the cam shaft in accordance with a torque balance in the motor shaft (102). The power supply control system (6) eliminates the motor torque (Tm) that is balanced with the magnetic retaining torque (Th) and the cam torque (Tca) after a stop of the internal combustion engine (S105).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Motoki Uehama, Yasushi Morii
  • Patent number: 8215272
    Abstract: In a variable valve timing control apparatus, a hydraulic variable valve timing device adjusts valve timing by changing a VCT phase. In a lock mode, the lock pin is allowed to be displaced in a lock direction for locking the VCT phase, and the VCT phase is slightly shifted in a lock-mode VCT phase shift direction corresponding to one of an advance direction and a retard direction. A lock control unit shifts the VCT phase in a direction opposite from the VCT phase shift direction if the VCT phase is located on a lock-mode VCT phase shift direction side of the intermediate lock position when the engine becomes equal to or less than a first rotational speed, and otherwise the lock control unit allows the lock pin to be displaced in the lock direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Takemura, Minoru Wada
  • Patent number: 8210142
    Abstract: A valve opening/closing timing control apparatus includes a phase displacing mechanism for displacing relative phase between a drive-side rotational member and a driven-side rotational member rotatable in unison with a cam shaft, a locking mechanism capable of locking the relative phase to an intermediate locking phase suitable for starting and releasing this lock by a work fluid when needed and an urging mechanism configured to provide an urging function for urging the phase displacing mechanism toward an advancing side in a restricted range between an intermediate restricting phase located more on the retarding side than the intermediate locking phase and a most retarding phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigemitsu Suzuki, Naoto Toma, Yoji Kanada, Hiroki Mukaide
  • Patent number: 8205587
    Abstract: In an engine with a cam phase change mechanism which is disposed on one end portion of an intake camshaft and variably changes a phase of a drive cam of an intake valve relative to a crankshaft, the cam phase change mechanism is configured so that two vane-type hydraulic actuators of which variable-phase torques produced at the same supplied oil pressure are different are arranged axially relative to the intake camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Murata
  • Patent number: 8205585
    Abstract: In a variable valve gear for an internal combustion engine provided with a camshaft phase change mechanism for variably controlling opening and closing timings of an intake valve, the camshaft phase change mechanism and a variable valve lift mechanism are controlled so that the closing timing of the intake valve is advanced beyond a predetermined range T1 including a bottom dead center when a load L of the internal combustion engine is less than a first predetermined value L1 and that the closing timing of the intake valve is delayed beyond the predetermined range T1 when the load L of the internal combustion engine is not less than the first predetermined value L1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Toda, Masayuki Takagaki, Satoshi Yoshikawa, Shinichi Murata, Nobuaki Murakami
  • Patent number: 8191521
    Abstract: The camshaft phaser is affixed to one end of a concentric camshaft. The phaser is a vane-type camshaft phaser where the stator and the sprocket are fixed to the outer camshaft and the trigger wheel and rotor are fixed to the inner camshaft. The torsion spring is mounted on an outer wall of the stator, between the stator and the trigger wheel. The phaser is a compact unit with a high degree of reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Kandolf, Jesse Myers, Greg Muller
  • Patent number: 8181612
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of: detecting engine speed NE (S100); and stopping power supply to an electric motor of an intake VVT mechanism (S104), if engine speed NE is equal to or lower than a threshold value NE (0) (YES at S102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Zenichiro Mashiki, Yasumichi Inoue, Noboru Takagi, Yoshihito Moriya, Haruyuki Urushihata
  • Patent number: 8176886
    Abstract: A camshaft adjusting device for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The camshaft adjusting device has a stator which is driven via a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and a rotor which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the camshaft. The rotary angle position of the rotor can be varied with respect to the stator by way of a piston which can be displaced in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Viktor Lichtenwald
  • Patent number: 8171904
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, includes a housing body, a vane rotor, a first plate, and a second plate. The housing body is formed integrally with a shoe at an inside periphery of the housing body, wherein the shoe projects inwardly in a radial direction of the housing body, and wherein the housing body is formed with a sealing recess at an axial end of the housing body. The vane rotor is rotatably mounted in the housing body, wherein the vane rotor includes a vane, wherein the vane and the shoe define advance and retard chambers adapted to supply and drainage of fluid. The first plate is fixedly inserted in the sealing recess of the housing body, the first plate sealing the axial end of the housing body. The second plate seals another axial end of the housing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Atsushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8166935
    Abstract: A control system of an internal combustion engine changing an operating timing of a valve in an internal combustion engine where a valve drive cam (13) and a pump drive cam (150) are both provided on a valve camshaft (1) is provided. That control system has a device inhibiting the operating timing from being returned in a direction reverse to the direction of the target operating timing during change of the operating timing. Further, in the control system, the relative rotational phases of the valve drive cam and the pump drive cam are set considering utilization of the composite reaction torque of the valve operation drive reaction torque and the fuel pump drive reaction torque acting on the valve camshaft for changing the operating timing in the direction of the target operating timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Eiraku, Jouji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8166936
    Abstract: A valve timing adjusting apparatus includes a housing, a vane rotor, and a spiral spring. The spiral spring has a most radially inward part engaged with a rotational shaft of the vane rotor in a state, where the most radially inward part is wound around the rotational shaft. The rotational phase has an intermediate position defined between a full retard position and a full advance position of the rotational phase. The spiral spring has a radially outward segment that is located radially outward of the most radially inward part. When the rotational phase is in a range on a retard side of the intermediate position or on an advance side of the intermediate position, the radially outward segment is engaged with the stopper such that the spiral spring urges the vane rotor in the advance direction or in the retard direction relative to the housing, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiki Fujiyoshi
  • Patent number: 8156906
    Abstract: When a spool is positioned in a lock range including a stroke end in a first direction, an advance port and a lock port are respectively connected to a supply port and a discharge port. When the spool is positioned in an advance range deviating from the lock range in a second direction, the advance port and the lock port are fluidly connected to the supply port. While a driving source generates a driving force to move the spool in the second direction, a biasing member biases the spool in the first direction. When the spool is positioned at a limit position of the advance range, a biasing force biasing the spool in the first direction is stepwise varied by a specified variation width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Takenaka
  • Publication number: 20120085304
    Abstract: A cam shaft adjuster for adjusting the angle-of-rotation positions of a cam shaft relative to a crankshaft. The cam shaft adjuster has at least two operating chambers to which pressure oil can be supplied to change the angle-of-rotation position. At least one of the operating chambers can be deactivated depending on an operating parameter by blocking the pressure oil supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Heintzen, Matthias Friedrichs
  • Patent number: 8146550
    Abstract: A variable valve timing control apparatus for an engine includes a variable valve timing unit, a lock pin, a hydraulic control unit, and a lock control unit. The lock control unit causes the lock pin to lock the camshaft phase at an intermediate lock phase when a lock request is issued. When the lock request is issued, the camshaft phase is shifted in a reference direction to go beyond the intermediate lock phase while the lock pin is urged in a lock direction. When the camshaft phase stops around the intermediate lock phase, the lock control unit changes a control amount of the hydraulic control unit by a certain amount to shift the camshaft phase. The lock control unit determines that the camshaft phase has been locked at the intermediate lock phase when the camshaft phase is not shifted even after the lock control unit changes the control amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Takemura
  • Patent number: 8141529
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes a locking mechanism having a locking member disposed in an accommodating portion formed in one of a drive-side rotor and a driven-side rotor and projectable into and retractable from the other rotor than the one rotor having the accommodating portion and a locking groove defined in the other rotor for receiving and retaining the locking member projecting therein, the locking mechanism for restraining a relative rotational phase when the locking member is retained within the locking groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8132549
    Abstract: A method for determining a wear value of a transmission element between a crankshaft and a camshaft of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, in particular a timing chain or toothed belt, is provided. The camshaft is driven by the transmission element via a drive part, for example a camshaft gearwheel. In each case, at least one measurement value for the phase position of the drive part relative to the crankshaft is determined at time intervals during which the crankshaft drives the camshaft, and the wear value is determined from the difference between the measurement values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heiko Dell, Jens Schafer, Thomas Pfund
  • Patent number: 8127725
    Abstract: In one example, a method is described for an engine with a hydraulically actuated phaser for adjusting cam timing. The phaser is controlled by a hydraulic spool valve, for example, having a de-energized position that results in hydraulic force urging the phaser to a base timing. When it is desired to operate the cam timing at base timing, rather then leave the spool valve in a de-energized position that can generate leakage, the spool valve is adjusted to near a null position to reduce the hydraulic pressure drop across the cam journal and thus reduce oil leakage. In this way, it is possible to maintain base timing, while also reducing leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Denis Crowe, Jamie Charles Hanshaw
  • Patent number: 8127728
    Abstract: A vane-type camshaft phaser for varying the timing of combustion valves including a first torsional bias spring disposed on a cover plate spring guide and grounded to the cover plate and to a slot in a spring retainer to urge the rotor toward an intermediate locking position from any position retarded of the locking position. A second torsional bias spring also anchored to the cover plate and spring retainer urges the rotor in the advance direction over the full range of phaser authority to compensate for added camshaft torque loads imposed by non-valve actuating functions such as driving a mechanical fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Fischer, Daniel G. Gauthier
  • Patent number: 8127729
    Abstract: A driven-side rotator is rotatable synchronously with a camshaft and is supported between a gear member and a sprocket member of the driving-side rotator in an axial direction. A stopper portion of the driven-side rotator is adapted to contact the driving-side rotator in a rotational direction to limit a change in a relative phase between the crankshaft and the camshaft. The stopper portion radially outwardly projects from a small diameter portion provided at one end part of the driven-side rotator. A large diameter portion is provided at the other end part of the driven-side rotator and has a radial size that is measured from a rotational axis to a radially outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion and is equal to or larger than that of the stopper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Takahashi, Akio Imai
  • Patent number: 8113159
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster for a concentric camshaft assembly of an internal combustion engine is provided. The adjuster includes a stator that is connected to the timing gear, and a rotor located within the stator having a plurality of vanes that extend into spaces created between inwardly directed projections of the stator to define chambers on each side of the vanes. Front and rear sidewalls are connected to the stator and form the front and rear walls of the chambers. An outer cover connects to the stator to the inner camshaft via a drive adapter, and the rotor is connected to the outer camshaft. Radial loads acting on the timing gear are transmitted from the stator to the rotor and into the outer camshaft. The drive adapter includes an open cylindrical body having first and second ends. The first end includes a slot or recesses in which a timing feature of the cover engages. The second end has a keyed portion configured to matingly engage a corresponding portion of the inner camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jesse Myers, Joseph Moon
  • Patent number: 8104439
    Abstract: Traditional camshaft adjusters are connected to a lubricant circuit of an internal combustion engine. Lubricant flows which are too large flood the drive of the camshaft adjuster, which leads to needless churning losses in the drive and needless losses of the pump capacity of the lubricant for other structural components of the internal combustion engine. According to the invention, a flow element (59), which includes a throttle element or screen in the flow channel (26), is used. According to another embodiment of the invention, the throttle element or screen can be used in various ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mike Kohrs, Jens Schafer
  • Patent number: 8096273
    Abstract: A magneto-rheological fluid controlled camshaft phaser is provided having a stator with inwardly directed projections which define working spaces therebetween. The stator is adapted to be connected to the crankshaft via a timing gear and chain. A rotor is located radially inside the stator and is connected to the camshaft. Rotor lugs extend radially outwardly from the rotor into the working spaces, dividing them into first and second chambers on each side of the rotor lugs. A magneto-rheological fluid is located in the chambers, and the chambers on each side of each rotor lug are connected via a clearance space between the radially outer surface of the lugs and the inner surface of the stator located between the projections. The rotor is connected to the camshaft. An electromagnetic assembly is mounted adjacent to the stator and includes at least one electromagnet along with at least one ferrous focusing piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jesse Myers, Roger Meyer
  • Patent number: 8091524
    Abstract: A valve timing control device includes a driving side rotational member, a driven side rotational member, a fluid pressure chamber, a parting portion dividing the fluid pressure chamber into an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber, a restriction member, a restriction recessed portion for restricting a displacement of a relative rotational phase within a range between a most advanced angle phase or a most retarded angle phase and a predetermined phase when the restriction member is inserted into the restriction recessed portion, and a restriction cancellation passage, wherein a communication between the accommodation portion and one of the advanced angle chamber and the retarded angle chamber via the cancellation passage is interrupted at least when the restriction member contacts one of end portions of the restriction recessed portion, and the restriction member is restricted so as not to move over the other one of the end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Ozawa, Yuki Nishida, Masaki Kobayashi, Yoshihiro Kawai
  • Patent number: 8061310
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, including a drive rotary member that is rotated by the crankshaft, a driven rotary member that transmits rotational force input from the drive rotary member, to the camshaft, and an electromagnetic mechanism that acts to vary a relative rotational phase between the drive rotary member and the driven rotary member. After an ignition switch is turned off and the engine is stopped, the electromagnetic mechanism acts to produce detent torque and hold the relative rotational phase between the drive rotary member and the driven rotary member in a predetermined phase position by the detent torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8056516
    Abstract: A system for controlling a variable valve lift system of an engine comprises a delay module that estimates a total delay based on at least one of a measured and an estimated delay of the variable valve lift system. A variable valve control module commands one of a first transition from a variable valve low-lift profile to a variable valve high-lift profile and a second transition from a variable valve high-lift profile to a variable valve low-lift profile based on the total delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble, Alexander J. Roberts, Vimesh M. Patel
  • Patent number: 8056519
    Abstract: A vane-type camshaft phaser for an internal combustion engine, in which an intermediate locking pin and seat are provided for locking the camshaft phaser at a position intermediate of its full advanced and retard positions, one of the locking pin and seat having a non-circular cross section, and the cross-sectional shapes of the locking pin and seat being substantially dissimilar to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Richard Cuatt, Michael James Fox, Thomas Huntington Fischer
  • Patent number: 8051818
    Abstract: A dual independent phasing system (DIPS) phaser assembly for coaxial camshafts having two axially stacked, thin phasing subassemblies which are each conventional vane-cell type phaser assemblies is provided. These phasers are preassembled together as a unit to make one DIPS phaser assembly. The rotor of the rear phaser is attached to the outer camshaft of the coaxial cam, and the rotor of the front phaser is attached to the inner camshaft. The radial force from the timing chain or belt is transmitted to the outer camshaft via a chain ring or pulley connected to the stator of the rear phaser. In order to provide for ease of mounting, the DIPS phaser assembly (including the front and rear phasers) is attached to the outer camshaft via mounting bolts which are passed through openings in the rotor of the front phaser in order to attach the rear phaser rotor to the outer camshaft. A central mounting bolt is used to connect the front phaser rotor to the inner camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jesse Myers, Joseph Moon, Roger Meyer
  • Patent number: 8047171
    Abstract: A device for setting the relative rotational position of a camshaft (2, 3) of an internal combustion engine (11) relative to a crankshaft (1) driving the camshaft (2, 3), having a traction mechanism drive (4) wrapping around the crankshaft (1) and the camshaft (2, 3), which includes a loaded traction-mechanism section (8, 9) and a non-loaded traction-mechanism section (7), and a tensioning device (5, 6, 10) for changing the length of the loaded traction-mechanism section (8, 9). The tensioning device (5, 6, 10) is supported on the internal combustion engine (11) and has an adjustment device (20) that can be fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Strauss, Joachim Dietz, Boris Putz
  • Patent number: 8042507
    Abstract: A rotary component with a rotor having a plurality of teeth arranged around the perimeter of the rotor. Each tooth has a crown and each pair of adjacent teeth has a valley therebetween. The crowns of the teeth lie on a curved envelope forming the perimeter of the rotor. The perimeter of the rotor has a non-circular profile with at least two protruding portions alternating with receding portions, in which the distance between the midpoints of the crowns of each pair of adjacent teeth is substantially the same, the profile of the valley between each pair of adjacent teeth is substantially the same, and the distance between the midpoint of each crown and the axis of the rotor varies around the perimeter to produce the said non-circular profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Litens Automotive Partnership
    Inventor: Witold Gajewski
  • Patent number: 8042504
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having two cylinder banks and adjustable camshaft timing is disclosed in which the camshafts in one cylinder bank are adjusted so that there is no net flow from the cylinders to effectively disable the cylinder bank. In particular, exhaust valve timing is advanced so that the maximum valve lift occurs approximately at bottom center between expansion and exhaust strokes and intake valve timing is advanced so that maximum valve lift occurs approximately at bottom center between intake and compression strokes. Also disclosed is an engine in which an intake and an exhaust camshaft on a single bank are coaxial with valve timings adjusted by rotating the inner of the two camshafts with respect to the outer of the two camshafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Tecnologies, LLC
    Inventor: Alvin Henry Berger
  • Patent number: 8028667
    Abstract: A valve timing adjusting apparatus includes a driving-side rotor, a driven-side rotor, and a bias mechanism. The bias mechanism includes a projection portion that is rotatable synchronously with the one of the driving-side and driven-side rotors and that contacts a contact part of the other one of the driving-side and driven-side rotors. The contact part includes a receiver part that is configured to increase the restoring force of the resilient member when the other one of the driving-side and driven-side rotors is rotated relative to the one of the driving-side and driven-side rotors in the advance direction or in the retard direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8025035
    Abstract: A device for selectively changing phase relationship between first and second rotating shafts in an internal combustion engine where the first shaft is secured for rotation with a worm carrier assembly and the second shaft is secured for rotation with a worm gear includes first and second worms disposed for rotation within the worm carrier assembly and having torsional preloads with opposite hands of rotation and meshing with the worm gear. An actuator turns the first and second worms in a first direction to advance rotation of the second shaft relative to the first shaft and turns the first and second worms in a second direction to retard rotation of the second shaft relative to the first shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Alvin Henry Berger
  • Patent number: 8021071
    Abstract: A compliant joint capable of achieving passive compliance for a robot in order to prevent an injury to a human by collision with the robot. The compliant joint includes a housing, a cam member rotatably mounted in the housing, a roller spring device mounted to the cam member to be compressed and extended, a guiding member formed in the housing to guide compression and extension of the roller spring device in accordance with rotation of the cam member, and a receiving recess formed at the guiding member to engage the housing and the cam member with each other by receiving the roller spring device and release the engagement by separating from the roller spring device. Accordingly, robustness of the robot can be maintained when an impact less than a predetermined magnitude is applied, while being suddenly decreased when an impact greater than the magnitude is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Bo Shim, Ja Woo Lee, Youn Baek Lee, Jeong Hun Kim, Kyung Shik Roh, Hyun Kyu Kim, Hyun Seok Yang, Dong Jun Hyun
  • Publication number: 20110220047
    Abstract: A cam phaser assembly may include a first stator, a first rotor, a second stator and a second rotor. The first stator may be driven by an engine crankshaft. The first rotor may be coupled to a first end of a concentric camshaft and located within the first stator. The first rotor and the first stator may cooperate to define a first set of fluid chambers. The second stator may be fixed for rotation with the first rotor and the first shaft. The second rotor may be coupled to the first end of the concentric camshaft and fixed for rotation with the second shaft and located within the second stator. The second rotor and the second stator may cooperate to define a second set of fluid chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: JOSEPH J. MOON, TIMOTHY L. NEAL
  • Patent number: 7997241
    Abstract: In a spark ignition type internal combustion engine that includes a variable compression ratio mechanism capable of changing the mechanical compression ratio, and a variable valve mechanism capable of changing valve characteristics of an intake valve or an exhaust valve, the variable valve mechanism is mechanically coupled to the variable compression ratio mechanism, and the variable valve mechanism is controlled in accordance with the compression ratio-changing operation amount of the variable compression ratio mechanism. The variable valve mechanism is coupled to the variable compression ratio mechanism without intervention of an electronic control unit. Therefore, the possibility of the interference between a piston and an intake valve resulting from an abnormality in a control system that includes an electronic control unit as an intervening unit can be eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiichi Kamiyama, Yukihiro Nakasaka, Daisuke Akihisa
  • Patent number: 7987827
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus for controlling valve timing includes a first rotor, a second rotor, and a controller. The second rotor and the first rotor defines therebetween an advance chamber and a retard chamber. The controller includes a supply passage, at least one drain passage, a spool valve, at least one connection passage, and at least one check valve. The at least one connection passage connects the supply passage to the at least one drain passage when a spool of the spool valve is moved to one of the advance and retard positions. The at least one check valve is respectively provided in the at least one connection passage. The check valve allows working fluid to flow in a direction from the at least one drain passage toward the supply passage and limits working fluid from flowing in an opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Fujiyoshi, Osamu Sato
  • Patent number: 7975663
    Abstract: A cam phaser assembly may include a drive plate assembly, a cavity plate, and a driven plate assembly. The drive plate assembly may include a drive plate and a first vane fixed for rotation with the drive plate. The cavity plate may be rotationally driven by the drive plate and may define first and second chambers. The first vane may extend into the first chamber. The driven plate assembly may be rotationally driven by the drive plate assembly and may include a driven plate and a second vane fixed for rotation with the driven plate that extends into the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Richard Stephen Davis