Patents Examined by Ching Chang
  • Patent number: 9631523
    Abstract: A device for adjusting a motor vehicle valve train includes at least one camshaft with at least four cam elements arranged in an axially displaceable manner. In each case two of the cam elements that are adjacently situated are formed as a cam element group to be switched together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Matthias Eppinger, Kai Lehmann, Marc Maronde, Bernd Neubauer, Tilmann Roemheld, Thomas Stolk, Alexander Von Gaisberg-Helfenberg
  • Patent number: 9624796
    Abstract: A valve-timing control apparatus includes an electric motor; a speed-reduction mechanism configured to reduce a rotational speed of the output shaft of the electric motor; a slip ring provided on a surface of a tip portion of the electric motor; a cover member provided to cover at least a part of the surface of the tip portion of the electric motor; a power-feeding brush disposed in the cover member and being in contact with the slip ring; and an angle sensing mechanism configured to sense a rotational angle of the output shaft of the electric motor. The angle sensing mechanism includes a detected portion attached to the output shaft of the electric motor, and a detecting portion attached to the cover member and opposed to the detected portion. The power-feeding brush is located so as not to overlap with the detected portion in a vertically-upper direction from the detected portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Mikihiro Kajiura, Yosuke Iwase
  • Patent number: 9611920
    Abstract: A tensioner force assembly is provided for applying tension to an engine timing chain that changes the direction of the force acting on a chain tensioning arm such that the tensioner piston is oriented in parallel with the long axis of the crankshaft. The tensioner assembly includes a crankshaft sprocket attached to the crankshaft, a cam shaft sprocket attached to the cam shaft, and a timing chain engaging the sprockets. A timing chain tensioner is pivotally attached to the engine block. A chain tensioner mechanism is provided that takes up timing chain slack. The chain tensioner mechanism includes a pivotable force transfer mechanism, a cylinder body having a long axis parallel to the long axis of the crankshaft, and a reciprocating tensioner piston in the body and engaged with the transfer mechanism for moving the transfer mechanism to apply required tension to the timing chain through the timing chain tensioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Suchecki
  • Patent number: 9611767
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine comprising two or more engine valves that receive valve actuation motions from a valve actuation motion source via a valve train, which valve train comprises a hydraulic lash adjuster, an apparatus for valve actuation comprises a valve bridge and a lost motion assembly disposed therein. The lost motion assembly comprises a first piston disposed in a first piston bore formed in the valve bridge. The first piston is configured to operatively connect with a component of the valve train. A biasing element is configured to bias the first piston out of the first piston bore with a first force that is greater than a second force applied to the first piston by the hydraulic lash adjuster. A travel limiter is configured to limit travel of the first piston out of the first piston bore to be no greater than a maximum lost motion distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin Baltrucki
  • Patent number: 9605566
    Abstract: An adjustment shaft actuator. The adjustment shaft actuator includes an adjustment shaft arranged parallel to a camshaft of a valve train and having a lever unit with a lever arm, a cam unit that has a cam and that is connected to the camshaft in a non-rotatable manner, whereby the lever unit is arranged so as to be axially movable on the adjustment shaft or the cam unit is arranged so as to be axially movable on the camshaft, and an adjustment unit provided in order to effectuate axial movement between the at least one lever unit and the at least one cam unit, by way of which the at least one lever arm can be brought into effective contact with the cam in order to bring about a rotation of the adjustment shaft by rotating the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: IAV GMBH INGENIEURGESELLSCHAFT AUTO UND VERKEHR
    Inventors: Heiko Neukirchner, Andreas Werler, Uwe Richter
  • Patent number: 9598983
    Abstract: A cam of a variable valve device is provided with a change region, which is a region with which a roller abuts when a control shaft is displaced in an axial direction to change a maximum lift amount and in which a cam surface is inclined such that a diameter of the cam gradually increases toward one side in a rotation direction. The cam is provided with a retainer region with which the roller abuts when a position of the control shaft in the axial direction is retained to retain the maximum lift amount. An inclination angle of the cam surface in the retainer region is smaller as the maximum lift amount when the action member abuts with the retainer region is larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takamasa Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9598987
    Abstract: A camshaft adjusting device for an internal combustion engine including: a rotor that can be rotationally fixed to a camshaft of the internal combustion engine; a pot-shaped stator that encompasses the rotor and can be driven by a crankshaft; and an annular chamber situated between the stator and the rotor and subdivided into multiple pressure chambers by stator ribs that are located on the stator and that extend up to the rotor. Each pressure chamber is subdivided into two working chambers (A,B) by vanes provided on the rotor. The device also includes a central valve (1) which has a displaceable valve body (2), by which a pressure medium that is fed via a pressure medium pump (P) from a pressure medium reservoir (T) can be selectively introduced into the working chambers (A,B) on one side of the vanes and can be fed back from the working chambers (A,B) on the other side of the vanes to the pressure medium reservoir (T), depending on a position of the valve body (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ali Bayrakdar
  • Patent number: 9593601
    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: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yitzong Chern, Chong Jack Chen, Stanley Berlinski
  • Patent number: 9593720
    Abstract: A motor includes a motor body, a pin, a core, and an input cam. The motor body includes a housing and an output shaft. The pin is arranged in the output shaft to extend in a direction orthogonal to a rotation axis of the output shaft. The core is pivotally supported by the pin and rotates coaxially with the output shaft. The input cam is annular and surrounds an outer circumference of the core. The input cam rotates integrally with the core. An end surface of the core closer to the housing includes a first deviated surface. The core includes an insertion portion into which the pin is inserted. When a center axis of the core is coaxial to the rotation axis of the output shaft, the first deviated surface is located at a position farther from the housing than the insertion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignees: ASMO CO., LTD., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu Inoue, Nobuhiro Matsumoto, Masanori Ozaki, Hirokazu Tajima, Masaru Irie, Taei Sugiura
  • Patent number: 9593603
    Abstract: A camshaft phase adjuster assembly is provided that includes at least one helical groove for adjusting a phase position between a camshaft and a drive sprocket. The camshaft phase adjuster assembly includes a camshaft including at least one helical groove extending between a bore and a radially outer surface of a sprocket support portion, and the helical groove includes circumferentially offset first and second ends. A drive sprocket includes at least one axially extending drive sprocket groove on a radially inner surface of the drive sprocket arranged facing the at least one helical groove. An actuator selectively moves an actuator pin axially such that a radially extending rotation pin slides within the helical groove and the drive sprocket groove from a first phase position to a second phase position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Eric Berndt
  • Patent number: 9587530
    Abstract: A switchable finger follower having two lift modes for a valve train of an internal combustion engine. The follower includes a primary lever with a valve stem support at the first end and a support recess at the second end. A secondary lever is pivotably mounted to the primary lever at the first end, including a coupling surface. A coupling device is located on the primary lever having a coupling pin moveable between a first locking position, in which the secondary lever is locked to the inner lever, and an unlocked position, in which the secondary lever is pivotable relative to the primary lever. The coupling pin includes a ramp surface that engages the coupling surface, and a locking arrangement locks the coupling pin in the first locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Debora Manther
  • Patent number: 9587531
    Abstract: A variable valve lift apparatus may include: an outer body selectively making a lever motion according to rotation of a cam, a first inner body disposed in the any one inside space of the outer body and adapted, a second inner body disposed in the other one inside space of the outer body, a connecting shaft disposed to penetrate the one end of the outer body, the one end of the first inner body, and the one end of the second inner body and connect the outer body with the first and second inner bodies, a first lost motion spring to return the first inner body relatively rotated with the outer body around the connecting shaft, and a second lost motion spring to return the second inner body relatively rotated with the outer body around the connecting shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Myungsik Choi, Won Gyu Kim, Young Hong Kwak
  • Patent number: 9587529
    Abstract: An engine includes a side wall, a head cover, and a cam cover. The cam cover is disposed obliquely relative to the side wall. The cam cover has a seal line that seals up a gap between the head cover and the cam cover. The engine further includes a cam cap fixed to an upper surface of the side wall to support a camshaft so as to be rotatable between the side wall and itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kawakami, Hayato Sugimura, Toshihiko Oka, Kazuki Yagi
  • Patent number: 9581052
    Abstract: A variable valve device includes: a drive shaft member rotating synchronously with a crankshaft provided in an internal combustion engine; a cam shaft member including a cam lobe and rotatably provided about the drive shaft member; a drive arm portion provided in the drive shaft member and rotating together with the drive shaft member; a control sleeve provided with an eccentric hole into which the drive shaft member is inserted, and arranged to vary a position of a central axis of the eccentric hole; and a first rotary member including a first member connected to the drive arm portion and a second member connected to the cam shaft member, and rotating along an inner circumferential wall surface of the eccentric hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Maehara
  • Patent number: 9581092
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine includes a controller. The controller controls the relative rotation phase of the exhaust camshaft in accordance with the relative rotation phase of the intake camshaft. When a request for locking the relative rotation phase of the intake camshaft at an intermediate phase is generated, the controller controls the relative rotation phase of the exhaust camshaft such that the relative rotation phase of the exhaust camshaft is changed to a phase corresponding to the intermediate phase independently from the relative rotation phase of the intake camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yamamoto, Toyokazu Nakashima
  • Patent number: 9574463
    Abstract: A switchable finger follower having at least two lift modes includes a primary lever and a secondary lever mounted for pivoting movement to the primary lever, the secondary lever includes a cam contact surface, and a lost motion contact projection. A coupling device on the primary lever includes a coupling pin that moves between a locking position, in which the secondary lever is locked to the primary lever in a lift position, and an unlocked position, in which the secondary lever is pivotable relative to the primary lever. A first lost motion idler arm is pivotally connected to the primary lever and has a distal end that contacts the lost motion contact projection. A first lost motion spring is located between the primary lever and the first lost motion idler arm that maintains a preload on the secondary lever via the first lost motion idler arm in the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Debora Manther, Allen Hale
  • Patent number: 9574464
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a camshaft (1) for an internal combustion engine with a drive wheel (4) arranged on a longitudinal end side, in particular with a chain wheel or belt pulley, and with at least one first bearing (2) arranged in the region of the drive wheel (4) and a second bearing (3) arranged in the further course of the camshaft (1). Here it is substantial to the invention that at least the first bearing (2) is designed as a rolling bearing and has an inner diameter of 24 mm<di<30 mm, wherein the inner diameter di is larger than the outer diameter da of the camshaft (1) on the second bearing (3). Because of this, the camshaft (1) can be configured more compact and lighter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Flender, Michael Kreisig, Falk Schneider
  • Patent number: 9574681
    Abstract: A variable valve timing control apparatus includes a driving-side rotation member, a driven-side rotation member, an intermediate lock mechanism including first and second lock members, first and second recess portions, and a guide groove, a sensor, and a control portion. The control portion performs a control so that the relative rotation phase is changed until a first stop state is established in a state where the relative rotation phase is in an unlocked state and one of the first and second lock members is positioned relative to one of the first and second recess portions at which the guide groove is formed at a side opposite from a side where the guide groove is formed. The control portion reverses a change direction of the relative rotation phase after the first stop state is established so that the relative rotation phase is changed until a second stop state is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9574467
    Abstract: A continuous variable valve duration apparatus may include a cam rotatably mounted on a cam carrier, a camshaft disposed within the cam and relatively rotatable with respect to the cam, in which a rotation center of the camshaft is variable with respect to a rotation center of the cam, a connecting link disposed between the cam and the camshaft, in which the connecting link is pivotally connected to at least one of the cam and the camshaft, and transmits rotation of the camshaft to the cam, and a control portion selectively changing the rotation center of the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kyoung Pyo Ha
  • Patent number: 9574468
    Abstract: A control method and apparatus for a variable engine valve operating control mechanisms which move the engine valves to a safe lift/timing position with respect to a piston to minimize the potential for valve to piston contact during valve surge. At least one engine operating conditions is selected and provided with a threshold triggering a control to move the valves to a safe position in a calibrated, predictive manner in advance of any potential valve to piston contact. The control method and apparatus can be integrated into the existing engine control and variable valve operating control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Dante T. Boutell