Patents Examined by Jaime Corrigan
  • Patent number: 6523511
    Abstract: A valve timing adjusting apparatus including a locking hole 8 formed in the external peripheral surface P of the boss of a rotor 3, into which the end portion of a locking pin 7a of the locking mechanism 7 is fitted when the rotor 3 is at the most advanced position. A stepped portion 9 is formed in the external peripheral surface of the rotor in a continuing manner from the locking hole 8 at a position deviated from the locking hole either in the advancing direction or the retarding direction in such a manner that it is formed lower than the external peripheral surface P, yet higher than the bottom of the locking hole 8, having two tapers 10, 11 respectively at the border between the stepped portion 9 and the external peripheral surface P, and that between the stepped portion 9 and the locking hole 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirofumi Hase
  • Patent number: 6523514
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a rocker arm having such a shape as to avoid generation of defects in a producing process and to avoid increase in weight and design change of a finished shape. A valve fitting portion 11 of a body 5 is formed by wall-thickening one connecting wall 9 and recessing the connecting wall 9 upward. In the wall thickening, a periphery of the connecting wall 9 is pressurized and compressed from end face sides. As a result, defects such as cracking and sinking that occur in forcible guided-bending can be prevented and reduction of rigidity generated in compressing areas of the metal plate to be formed with side walls in wall thickness directions to reduce thickness of the areas as described in the description of the prior art can be avoided. Therefore, it is unnecessary to use a thick metal plate unlike in the prior art and to change design of the finished shape of the rocker arm body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobutsuna Motohashi
  • Patent number: 6523510
    Abstract: A valve drive mechanism includes a tappet assembly which comprises a center tappet, a pair of side tappets between which the center tappet is interposed so as to move relatively to the side tappets, and a locking/unlocking mechanism operative to mechanically couple the center tappet to both of the side tappets and to uncouple the center tappet from both of the side tappets so as to selectively transmit rotation of a high lift center cam and low lift side cams to twin valves such as twin intake valves and twin exhaust valves per cylinder. Locking/unlocking of the center tappet and each side tappet is performed in a position which is in a vertical plane including a center axis of each side tappet and intersecting perpendicularly to an axial direction of a camshaft and is offset from the center axis of the side tappet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Asanomi, Hirokazu Matsuura
  • Patent number: 6520131
    Abstract: A valve timing control system for accelerating activation of a catalytic converter in an internal combustion engine in a cold starting operation mode while enhancing control accuracy by learning a reference position of a cam angle. The system includes actuators (15; 16) coupled to cam shafts (15C; 16C), respectively, hydraulic pressure supply means (19; 20) for driving the actuators (15; 16), and a controller (21A) for controlling hydraulic pressure fed to the actuators (15; 16) in dependence on engine operation states to change phases of the cam shafts (15C; 16C) relative to a crank shaft (13C). The controller (21A) is so designed as to set a valve timing to a most advanced position or alternatively to a most retarded position in a cold-state idling operation mode for the purpose of learning a reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Takahashi, Morio Fujiwara, Koji Wada
  • Patent number: 6520133
    Abstract: The reciprocating engine comprises a rocker valve gear, pistons which are fastened to a connecting rod and connected by crankshaft journals to a crankshaft, a balancer, and a camshaft which is driven by the crankshaft and in turn actuates rockers, the mentioned elements being arranged in a crankcase having a cylinder head and cylinder head cover. The cylinder head is provided with integrally cast or screwed-on receivers serving for the attachment of the hollow camshaft without requiring separately fastened bearing blocks. Correspondingly, the cylinder-head comprises further integrally cast or screwed-on receivers which serve for the attachment of the hollow rockers without requiring separately fastened bearing blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Wenko AG Burgdorf
    Inventors: Urs Wenger, Hans-Rudolf Jenni
  • Patent number: 6516777
    Abstract: A method of controlling an internal combustion engine having an electromagnetically actuated intake valve for a cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Yano
  • Patent number: 6516766
    Abstract: A rocker arm is tilted by a cam so as to open and close a valve provided on a cylinder head. This arm comprises a pair of opposing wall portions which are made by folding a flat plate so that they oppose substantially in parallel and cylindrical expanding portions which are formed at tilting fulcrum shaft mounting portions located in a center of the opposing wall portions in the length direction thereof, the expanding portions being expanded in the direction of the tilting fulcrum shaft. The cylindrical expanding portions which are thicker than the opposing wall portions receive a load accompanied by the tilting motion so as to decrease bearing stress applied to the opposing wall portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Kotani, Kazuo Uchida
  • Patent number: 6513469
    Abstract: A variable valve operating system of an internal combustion engine includes a first variable mechanism capable of variably controlling a lift characteristic of an intake valve, and a second variable mechanism capable of variably controlling a valve-open and/or valve-close timing characteristic of the intake valve. A position detector detects current actual positions of the first and second variable mechanisms. A controller responds to a detected failure position of one of the first or second variable mechanisms by controlling movement of the other of the variable mechanisms within a predetermined range that avoids interference between the engine valve and a piston and between the intake and exhaust valves when the one variable mechanism fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignees: Unisia Jecs Corporation, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Nakamura, Naoki Okamoto, Shinichi Takemura
  • Patent number: 6513467
    Abstract: Disclosed is a control device comprising an IVWAV or EVWAV mechanism. The IVWAV mechanism varies a working angle of an intake valve and the EVWAV varies a working angle of an exhaust valve. An IVOPV mechanism varies an operation phase of the intake valve. An EVOPV mechanism varies an operation phase of the exhaust valve, and a control unit controls the IVWAV or EVWAV mechanism and the IVOPV and EVOPV mechanisms according to an operating condition of an engine. The control unit is configured to control the IVWAV or EVWAV mechanism and the IVOPV and EVOPV mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuneyasu Nohara, Takanobu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6513473
    Abstract: A device (1) for varying the valve timing of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engines, and the invention more particularly concerns a hydraulic camshaft adjusting device of a rotary piston type comprising a drive pinion (5) connected in driving relationship to a crankshaft, and a winged wheel (6) connected rotationally fast to a camshaft (4), the drive pinion (5) comprises a hollow space (10) defined by a circumferential wall (7) and two side walls (8, 9), a plurality of hydraulic working chambers being formed in the hollow space (10) by a plurality of limiting walls and the winged wheel (6) comprises a plurality of radial wings (14) that extend individually into the hydraulic working chambers (12) and divide these into first and second hydraulic pressure chambers (15, 16) which, when pressurized by a hydraulic pressure medium, effect a pivoting or a fixing of the winged wheel (6) relative to the drive pinion (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler oHG
    Inventor: Klaus Daut
  • Patent number: 6505591
    Abstract: A valve train with components connected by ball and socket joints is provided with projecting assembly guides adjacent the sockets of selected joints. The assembly guides include guide surfaces angling toward the sockets to guide the ball end of a push rod or other actuator into the socket of an associated rocker arm or other component. The guide surfaces may be generally conical or comprised of multiple spaced surfaces. The assembly guides facilitate assembly of valve trains, especially where components with multiple ball and socket joints are involved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Alan William Hayman, Terry Wayne Black
  • Patent number: 6505585
    Abstract: In a vane type valve timing control apparatus, when an amplitude of a rotation phase of a cam shaft with respect to a crank shaft is above a predetermined value, a target value for the rotation phase is forcibly changed to a maximum advance angle and a maximum delay angle, so that oil of an advance angle side hydraulic chamber and a delay angle side hydraulic chamber is discharged together with air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Machida, Satoru Watanabe, Osamu Fujita
  • Patent number: 6505586
    Abstract: A variable valve timing control apparatus is constructed so as to supply hydraulic pressure to an unlocking chamber for unlocking a lock pin only from a retarding chamber. In cranking an engine, a hydraulic pressure control valve is controlled so as to supply the hydraulic pressure only to an advancing chamber and so as not to apply the hydraulic pressure to the unlocking chamber. Thereby, the lock pin is prevented from being unlocked in cranking the engine in advance. After that, control current of a solenoid of the hydraulic pressure control valve is switched to hold current for holding the position of the camshaft phase at the point of time when a time necessary for enabling to supply the hydraulic pressure sufficient to control the camshaft phase from the completion of cranking to supply the hydraulic pressure equally to the both advancing and retarding chambers. Thereby, the hydraulic pressure is supplied also to the unlocking chamber from the retarding chamber and the lock pin is unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Sato, Motohiro Okada, Masaomi Inoue
  • Patent number: 6505592
    Abstract: A valve train for a twin cam engine has three valves per cylinder, including a pair of side-by-side intake valves and a single exhaust valve on an opposite, exhaust side of the combustion chamber. Dual camshafts in a V-type engine separately drive the intake and exhaust cams through a single dual arm intake rocker arm and a single exhaust rocker arm per cylinder, which provides much improved inlet port airflow for improved specific output compared to a single inlet valve engine. The single exhaust valve provides better catalytic converter performance due to lower exhaust heat loss than in four-valve engines of the same output capability. The intake and exhaust valve trains provide coplanar action of the push rods, rocker arms and valve stem axes, yielding an efficient and simplified valve train with a high flow combustion chamber. Additional features and advantages are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Alan William Hayman, James Joseph Mazzola, III
  • Patent number: 6502538
    Abstract: A cam with a bore that has a funnel-shaped core-insertion section. To ensure that the cam will rest more securely against the core and remain more precisely centered, the section (5) comprises at least two mutually aligned conical extents (6 & 7), each expanding outward at a different apical angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Thyssen Krupp Automotive AG
    Inventor: Rudolf Leuthold
  • Patent number: 6499449
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a variable cam timing mechanism in cooperation with a plurality of deactivatable cylinders and corresponding intake valves includes the steps of scheduling a transition mode of the engine, determining a desired engine torque during the transition mode, determining a VCT phase angle based on the desired engine torque and operating the variable cam timing mechanism in accordance with the VCT phase angle to provide the desired engine torque during the transition mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Ottavio Michelini, Stephen Lee Cooper, Shunsuke Okubo
  • Patent number: 6497205
    Abstract: A valve control system for controlling an electromagnetic valve unit is arranged to execute an initialization control for moving a movable member to a start position by alternatively energizing valve opening and closing electromagnets according to a natural frequency of a vibration system of the electromagnetic valve unit. The valve control system detects amplitudes of oscillation of the movable member during the initialization control and calculates an increase-degree of the detected amplitudes. Further, the valve control system estimates a friction quantity of the vibration system on the basis of the calculated increase-degree and controls electric current supplied to the electromagnets on the basis of a control parameter reflecting the estimated friction quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kumaki, Ikuhiro Taniguchi, Taketoshi Kawabe, Shigeru Nakajima
  • Patent number: 6488664
    Abstract: A clamp for a tube having particular application to a nose trumpet for use with a transnasal TEE probe. The clamp includes a generally circular band for encircling the tube and a tongue disposed on one end of the band and a pair of jaws disposed on the other end. The tongue is adapted to penetrate the space between the pair of jaws. Teeth disposed on the upper surface of the tongue are adapted to mesh with teeth disposed on the lower surface of the upper jaw to prevent withdrawal of the tongue. A pair of handles extend outwardly away from the interior of the band and are adapted to be pushed toward one another to cause penetration of the tongue and into the jaws. An arm hinged to the band is affixed to the upper jaw and upon pivoting of the arm, the upper jaw is lifted away from the tongue to disengage the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Koninklijke Phillips Electronics
    Inventors: Rodney J. Solomon, Roger A. Dugas
  • Patent number: 6487997
    Abstract: A springless poppet valve system is provided. The system includes a poppet valve movable between an open position and a closed position. The system includes an open cam and a close cam. An open rocker arm is provided which engages the open cam. The open rocker arm is operatively connected to the poppet valve so as to move the valve from the closed position to the open position. A close rocker arm is provided which engages the close cam. The close rocker arm is operatively connected to the poppet valve so as to move the valve from the open position to the close position. An open hydraulic lifter is pivotally connected to the open rocker arm. A close hydraulic lifter is pivotally connected to the close rocker arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventor: Chris Palumbo
  • Patent number: 6484681
    Abstract: An outboard motor, which is improved for higher output energy, lower fuel consumption, and also simplified in layout of oil paths and facilitating maintenance of hydraulic control valves, includes an engine with a crank shaft, an engine body mounted to a mount case, and a valve driving mechanism for opening and closing intake valves and exhaust valves. The valve driving mechanism includes a valve operating characteristics variable mechanism of an hydraulic type, which changes operating characteristics of the intake and/or exhaust valves in accordance with the revolution speed of the engine. A hydraulic oil path for supplying the valve operating characteristics variable mechanism with hydraulic oil branches from a lubricant oil path for supplying bearing portions of a crank shaft and the valve driving mechanism with lubricant oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuya Kuroda