Abstract: A variable valve actuation system to actuate and control the seating velocity of an internal combustion engine valve is disclosed. The system may comprise a rocker arm that includes first, second and third contact surfaces. The first contact surface may contact the engine valve. A hydraulic lost motion system may contact the rocker arm at the second contact surface, and a mechanical valve train element may contact the rocker arm at the third contact surface. The lost motion system may include a slave piston with a valve seating device incorporated therein. The lost motion system and the mechanical valve train element may be provided side by side at the end of the rocker arm opposite that of the engine valve.

Abstract: A signal generation system for flame ignition and sensing. The ignition signal generation is adaptive for improving flame ignition while eliminating excess energy usage. High voltage signals for flame sensing may also be provided. If more energy or speed is needed for ignition signal generation, then the flame sensing signal generation portion may be disabled to increase the amount of available energy. Adaptation for ignition signal generation may be guided by the results of flame sensing. The flame sensing voltage may be regulated based on the flame current strength. The flame current may be controlled within an optimum range to reduce rod contamination rate and yet provide reliable flame sensing when the rod contamination built up. The adaptation may be algorithmic-based with the facilitation of a microcontroller. The system may provide the high voltage signals from a low voltage power supply, such as that of 24 VAC.

Abstract: A valve drive of an internal combustion engine, which has a reciprocating poppet valve and a spring element which impinges the closed reciprocating poppet valve with force against the action of a valve seat. The force characteristics are substantially independent of the lift characteristics of the reciprocating poppet valve. The spring element is part of a snap-in locking device, which is stationarily mounted in the engine and surrounds the valve stem of the reciprocating poppet valve. The snap-in locking device has snap-in elements arranged in the power flux between the spring element and reciprocating poppet valve. The snap-in elements are supported in the direction of closure of the reciprocating poppet valve on a snap-in surface of the valve stem when the reciprocating poppet valve is closed and on a snap-in surface of the snap-in locking device when the reciprocating poppet valve is open.

Abstract: A variable valve lift apparatus of an engine includes: a control shaft; a driving arm rotatable around the control shaft by a cam of a camshaft; a first rocker arm rotatable around the control shaft, that is operated by the driving arm so as to drive a first valve through a first swing arm; a second rocker arm rotatable around the control shaft, that is operated by the driving arm so as to drive a second valve through a second swing arm; and a mediating device rotatable around the control shaft, that transmits a movement of the driving arm to the first and second rocker arms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a variable valve mechanism which includes a camshaft having a drive cam, a rocker shaft provided parallel to the camshaft, and a variable mechanism that is provided on the rocker shaft and interposed between the drive cam and a valve, and that changes an opening/closing amount of the valve. The variable mechanism includes a main arm that engages with the drive cam, a cam arm that has a cam surface pressing the valve, a control cam that is provided on the rocker shaft, and has an outer peripheral surface whose distance from a shaft center of the rocker shaft varies gradually, and a displacement member whose distance from the shaft center is changed by turning of the control cam. A relative phase between the main arm and the cam arm is displaced as the distance between the displacement member and the shaft center changes.

Abstract: A valve drive with a decompression brake for an internal combustion engine, which has a camshaft with a cam, a rocker arm for transmitting the cam stroke to a gas exchange valve, a pivot bearing supporting the rocker arm, and a hydraulic valve play compensating element arranged in force flow between the cam and gas exchange valve. The valve play compensating element is fixed in the engine and valve drive also has a secondary lever with a first and second lever section. The secondary lever is angularly connected, between the lever sections, to a lever support formed on the rocker arm, is supported with the first lever section on the valve play compensating element and actuates the gas exchange valve by the second lever section. The effective lever arm of the first lever section is considerably greater than the effective lever arm of the second lever section.

Abstract: A rocker arm includes a roller brought into contact with a cam to be rotated and an arm body having a storage portion for the roller. The storage portion has an opening edge including a part receiving lubricant oil flowing along an upper surface of the arm body. The part is formed with a receiving opening edge jutting out so that both widthwise ends are located away from a circumferential surface of the roller and so that a widthwise central portion comes closer to the circumferential surface of the roller. The arm body has a lubricant guide path formed by recessing the upper surface thereof and guiding the lubricant oil into the storage portion. The lubricant guide path has a width that is gradually rendered larger as the lubricant guide path gets close to the widthwise central portion of the receiving opening edge.

Abstract: The present invention provides a variable valve lift including a housing, a plurality of swing arms that are rotatably arranged at the housing, and a plurality of latching mechanisms for selectively latching the plurality of swing arms.

Abstract: A camshaft may include a first shaft, a bearing sleeve member located on and fixed to the first shaft, and a first lobe member located on the first shaft and displaceable between first and second positions. The first lobe member may be axially offset relative to the bearing sleeve member when in the first position to allow for machining of an outer surface of the bearing sleeve member and removal of machining debris from the outer surface. The first lobe member may be axially aligned with and bearingly supported on the bearing sleeve member when in the second position.

Abstract: A cam follower for actuating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine, which has a lifting body cold formed from sheet metal and that forms, on a valve-sided lifting section which has two lateral walls and a first base section connecting the walls, a cross-sectional profile which is open towards the gas exchange valve in a U-shaped manner, and on a joint-sided lifting section that has lateral walls and a second base section connecting the walls, a modifiable cross-sectional profile which is initially open towards the gas exchange valve in a U-shaped manner the U-shape adopting a trough shape that has a protruding annular cavity. The trough shape adjacent to an annular cavity on the side of the valve-sided lifting section is M-shaped and has two free recesses open towards the gas exchange valve and extend respectively between one of the lateral walls and the second base section.

Abstract: A valve lift may be continuously varied by an apparatus that includes: an input cam provided on an input shaft; a mediating lever that moves upwards or downwards by the input cam and is formed with an output cam; a valve unit operated by the output cam; and a control device that is coupled to the mediating lever and is capable of changing a contact point between valve unit and the output cam of the mediating lever.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a valve assembly includes a housing. The housing can define a first fuel input and a second fuel input. The housing can further define a first flow path, a second flow path, a third flow path, and a fourth flow path. The assembly can include a fluid flow controller configured to selectively permit fluid communication between the first fuel input and either the first flow path or the second flow path, and configured to selectively permit fluid communication between the second fuel input and either the third flow path or the fourth flow path. The assembly can further include a first nozzle member defining an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the first nozzle member can be in fluid communication with the first flow path. The assembly can further include a second nozzle member defining an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the second nozzle member can be in fluid communication with the second flow path.

Abstract: A device (10) for variably adjusting control times of gas exchange valves (9a, 9b) of an internal combustion engine (1) is provided, having an external rotor (22) and an internal rotor (23) that is arranged such that it can rotate in relation to the external rotor. One of the components is drivingly connected to the crankshaft (2) and the other component is drivingly connected to the camshaft (6, 7). At least one pressure chamber (33) is provided and each of the pressure chambers (33) is divided into two counter-working pressure chambers (35, 36). One of the pressure chambers (35, 36) of each pressure chamber (33) acts as an advance chamber and the other pressure chamber (35, 36) as a trailing chamber. At least two rotation angle limiting devices (42, 43) are provided, each of the rotation angle limiting devices (42, 43) being able to assume an unlocked state and locking state.

Abstract: An oil gallery for a variable valve timing apparatus of a cylinder head includes an advance oil supply passage that fluidly connects an oil control valve hole and a variable valve timing journal, a retard oil supply passage that fluidly connects the oil control valve hole and the variable valve timing journal, and an oil chamber in at least one of the oil supply passages. The oil chamber may have a slanted ceiling that may slant upward toward an outlet opening of the oil chamber. The uppermost point of the ceiling may be positioned at the oil outlet. The lowermost point of the outlet opening may be above the bottom surface of the oil chamber.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a frame with an upper section for holding a pot and a lower section for resting upon an underlying support surface. The frame has a burner element that can be a nozzle tube having a commercially available burner nozzle for generating a cooking flame during use. The nozzle can be fueled with propane, butane or the like using a commercially available tank, regulator and supply hose. The frame can include an upper ring, lower rings, the upper ring providing legs, pot support bars or members for holding the bottom of a pot. A heat shield is comprised of multiple specially configured sections that overlap and connect to the frame. The shield is positioned below the flame during use to lessen heat transfer from the flame to the underlying support surface.

Abstract: A spring retainer can reduce the set height and mass of a coil spring. The spring retainer has a retainer body attached to a stem end of a valve and a circumferential plate-like spring part having an inner circumferential part supported by the retainer body and resiliently supporting an end of the valve spring. A spring constant of the plate-like spring part is made higher than a spring constant of the valve spring, so that the plate-like spring part deflects after the valve spring is compressed, to provide a two-step load characteristic and reduce the set height, compressed height, and mass of the valve spring. It can also reduce the height and mass of the spring retainer. A spring system formed by combining the spring retainer and valve spring with each other will be compact and lightweight.

Abstract: Heat generation is not caused by friction in a phase varying apparatus for use with a vehicle engine. A phase varying apparatus for use with a vehicle engine varies the opening/closing timing of an intake valve or an exhaust valve. The phase varying apparatus includes a rotary drum (44A) screwed to an intermediate member (30); an electromagnetic clutch (42) including a plurality of magnets (80) that are fixedly arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction of the rotary drum and that are magnetized alternately in opposite directions and a coil wound around an iron core (60); and ferromagnetic-material-made magnetic flux induction members (82, 84) having a plurality of claws (82B, 84B) close to magnetic poles of a magnet, having a slight gap between the iron core and the magnetic flux induction member, and forming a magnetic path (85) made up of the iron core and the magnets. The magnetic flux induction member is fixed to an outer cylinder part (10) or to an inner cylinder part (20).

Abstract: A variable valve lift apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a low lift cam, a high lift cam in parallel with the low lift cam, a low lift tappet body that selectively contacts the low lift cam, a high lift tappet body disposed within the low lift tappet body and constantly contacting the high lift cam, a guide portion that is connected with a valve and selectively connects the low lift tappet body and the high lift tappet body, and a lost motion spring that is disposed between the guide portion and the low lift tappet body and supplies restoring force to the low lift tappet body.

Abstract: A variable valve lift apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an outer body connected with a valve for opening and closing the valve, an inner body that is reciprocally disposed within the outer body and contacts a first input cam configured to an input shaft, a lost motion spring disposed between the outer body and the inner body, a connecting portion selectively connecting the outer body and the inner body, a hydraulic pressure supplying portion supplying hydraulic pressure to the connecting portion, and a lubrication circuit supplying lubricant to a contacting portion of the first input cam and the inner body.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an electromagnetic valve actuator having an armature between upper and lower electromagnets with a stem extending through one electromagnet and guided by a bushing with increased clearance about at least a portion of the inner circumference in at least a middle portion of the bushing to reduce oil shear length and associated viscous friction in the actuator. A two-piece intake/exhaust valve guide includes a lower half with a stepped outer diameter cooperating with a counter-bored hole in the cylinder head to provide a positive stop. The upper and lower halves of the valve guide have increased clearance relative to the valve stem around at least a portion of the inner circumference to reduce oil shear length and associated viscous friction. Reducing viscous friction of the actuator and associated valve guide improves system robustness by decreasing the system sensitivity to temperature.