Patents Examined by Jaime Corrigan
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Patent number: 6481401Abstract: A device for independent hydraulic actuation of phase and axial positions of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine with a phase adjuster and an actuating piston arranged on a common axis for axial displacement of the camshaft. In order to reduce the space needed and construction expenditure of the device, the phase adjuster also acts as the actuating piston for the camshaft.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2001Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler OhgInventor: Jens Schäfer
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Patent number: 6481402Abstract: A variable camshaft timing phaser (10; 110; 210) in which a rotor (12; 112;212) that is secured to a rotatable camshaft is selectively advanced or retarded in position relative to a surrounding rotatable housing (14; 114, 214), the rotor having at least one outwardly extending vane (20; 120; 220) that is received in an inwardly facing recess (18; 118; 218). Pressurized oil is selectively delivered to one of an advance portion or a retard portion of the recess, and simultaneously withdrawn from the other of the advance portion and the retard portion, by adjusting the axial position of an axially shiftable spool valve (22; 122; 222). The spool valve has a null position, and the relative positions of the rotor and the housing are positively locked in position when the spool valve is in its null position by a locking pin (48; 148; 248). The locking pin is resiliently biased towards a locking position by a spring (52; 152; 252), and is urged away from its locking position by pressurized oil from a source.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2001Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventors: Roger T. Simpson, Franklin R. Smith
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Patent number: 6474296Abstract: An actuator for adjusting a clearance between an end of a valve and an end of the actuator. The actuator has a piston therein having a central bore of which a portion is threaded. The piston has an end and has a flat defined near the end. The actuator has a stem member positioned therein. The stem member has a central portion which is threadedly positioned within the threaded portion of the central bore. The stem member defines a first end and a second end, and a threaded portion is located near the second end. The first end of the stem member and the end of the piston has a predetermined length which is adjustable. The predetermined length is adjusted by threadedly rotating the stem member relative to the piston. A locking device fixes the predetermined length during operation of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2000Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Sean O. Cornell, Scott A. Leman, David E. Martin, Ronald D. Shinogle, Virl R. Voights, Mingchun Dong
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Patent number: 6474278Abstract: A camshaft system for use with an internal combustion engine including a camshaft having a plurality of lobes to actuate valves in the internal combustion engine, a sprocket coupled to the camshaft to drive the camshaft, and a target wheel coupled to the camshaft, the target wheel having an irregular surface capable of providing process data for operation of a plurality of internal combustion engine configurations.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2000Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Jason Thomas Davis, Donald Clayton Warner, David Stewart Mathews
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Patent number: 6460499Abstract: A lifter assembly for an internal combustion engine, including an elongate sleeve having an upper radial wall portion provided with oil feed and oil bleed holes through which oil respectively enters and exits the lifter assembly. An elongate, hollow lifter body closed at one end is reciprocatingly disposed within the sleeve, and has a plunger reciprocatingly disposed therein. The plunger has an internal cavity at least partially defining a low pressure oil reservoir which is in at least periodic fluid communication with the oil feed hole. A high pressure oil reservoir is at least partially defined by the plunger and the lifter body closed end, and is in one-way fluid communication with the low pressure oil reservoir. A cap is reciprocatingly disposed within the sleeve and engaged with the plunger. Seals are provided which preclude oil from exiting the lifter assembly through the ends of the sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2001Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Tecumseh Products CompanyInventors: John R. Mason, David A. Koblic, Jason Janeczko
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Patent number: 6460498Abstract: It is aimed to prolong the life of a rocker arm in which rollers are housed in a full type form between a ring and a pin from a viewpoint completely different from the idea of improving the material. It is proposed to suitably control the relation between clearances in circumferential and radial directions for the rollers housed in a roller housing space formed between the outer peripheral surface of the pin and the inner peripheral surface of the ring.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2001Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: NTN CorporationInventors: Kazuyoshi Harimoto, Yoshiyasu Nakano, Nobuhiro Kasahara
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Patent number: 6446588Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an electromagnetic valve driving mechanism adjusts an amount of magnetizing current to be applied to the electromagnetic valve driving mechanism in accordance with a temperature or viscosity of a lubricant used in the electromagnetic valve driving mechanism. Accordingly, intake and exhaust valves can be driven with an electromagnetic force corresponding to a viscosity of the lubricant. Therefore, changes in opening-and-closing operation speeds of the intake and exhaust valves resulting from a temperature or viscosity of the lubricant that is supplied to a sliding portion of the electromagnetic valve driving mechanism can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2001Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomomi Yamada, Isao Matsumoto, Kazuhiko Shiratani, Shouji Katsumata, Keiji Yoeda, Hideyuki Nishida
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Patent number: 6442835Abstract: A camshaft used in an internal combustion engine which has reduced weight and added wear resistance at a lobe of the camshaft. The camshaft is provided to add increased wear resistance and reduced weight to the internal combustion engine for increased efficiency of the internal combustion engine. The camshaft includes wear resistant material at the surface of the lobe of the camshaft. The wear resistant material is distributed on the outer surface of the lobe and incorporated into the base material.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2000Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Thomas Majewski, Michael J. Pollard
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Patent number: 6443121Abstract: An engine comprises a housing that defines a hollow piston cavity that is separated from a gas passage by a valve seat. The housing further defines a biasing hydraulic cavity and a control hydraulic cavity. A gas valve member is also included in the engine and is movable relative to the valve seat between an open position at which the hollow piston cavity is open to the gas passage and a closed position in which the hollow piston cavity is blocked from the gas passage. The gas valve member includes a ring mounted on a valve piece and a retainer positioned between the ring and the valve piece. A closing hydraulic surface is included on the gas valve member and is exposed to liquid pressure in the biasing hydraulic cavity.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2000Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Thomas S. Carroll, Gregory O. Taylor
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Patent number: 6439195Abstract: A valve actuation device for an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion cylinder, a piston positioned within said cylinder for reciprocal motion therein; a pressurized hydraulic fluid gallery in a closed lubrication system; at least one valve in gas exchange communication for either intake or exhaust, said valve equipped with a valve spring and a seat and moveable between an open and closed position as controlled by said valve actuation device, a cam shaft with a cam for actuating said valve synchronously with said piston motion, said valve actuation device comprising: a cam configured for primary and secondary valve motion; a cam follower to transmit cam movement through a hydraulic circuit in fluid communication with said hydraulic fluid gallery into the valve between an open and closed position, and a fixed stroke accumulator selectively hydraulically controlled in said hydraulic circuit for loosing a portion of cam follower motion and to effect valve motion; an electro-hydraulic controlType: GrantFiled: July 30, 2000Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: Detroit Diesel CorporationInventor: Oliver Allen Warner
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Patent number: 6439180Abstract: A cylinder head for a valve-controlled internal combustion engine with a cylinder head housing, in which there are bearing blocks for the inlet or outlet camshaft. At least one camshaft has a camshaft adjuster, by way of which the position of the drive wheel of the camshaft can be changed relative to the axis of rotation of the camshaft. At least the bearing block, which is provided next to the camshaft adjuster and is intended for the camshaft, exhibits a segment, whose width is reduced owing to a recess for the screw connection of the cylinder head housing. The bearing site, arranged next to the camshaft adjuster, provides a bearing sleeve for the camshaft, in such a manner that the segment of the bearing block that is provided with a reduced bearing block width is expanded to the actual bearing block width. The sleeve exhibits openings to supply oil for the camshaft adjuster.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2001Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AGInventors: Klaus Groeger, Dietmar Schwarzenthal
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Patent number: 6439175Abstract: In control apparatus and method for an internal combustion engine having variably operated engine valves, a target vacuum pressure is calculated on the basis of an engine driving condition and an opening angle of an electronically controlled throttle valve is disposed in an intake air passage to achieve the target vacuum pressure. A target air quantity to be sucked within an engine cylinder on the basis of the engine driving condition is calculated and a valve closure timing of an intake valve of, e.g., an electromagnetic operation type is controlled to achieve the target air quantity. At this time, in accordance with the target vacuum pressure TBOOST(or in accordance with an actual vacuum pressure BOOST detected by means of a vacuum pressure sensor), the target air quantity to calculate the valve closure timing of the intake valve calculated on the basis of target air quantity is corrected or the intake valve closure timing IVC per se is corrected by a correction value of &Dgr;IVC.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2000Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro Arai, Takao Kawasaki
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Patent number: 6435150Abstract: A tappet is provided including a foot having a cam contact surface and an axial bore formed therein; a tappet body having a body portion with an axially extending hub for reception in the axial bore of the foot; and a bearing assembly positioned between the foot and the tappet body, the bearing assembly operating to reduce friction as the foot separately rotates axially about a centerline of the tappet body.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2000Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Neil W Loughlin, David James
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Patent number: 6431134Abstract: A plurality of modular camshaft follower assemblies of substantially identical construction and configuration are positively connected to a camshaft supporting structure of an internal combustion engine and adjustable to position a plurality of camshaft following lever arms at a proper timing location relative to a camshaft. Conduits in sealed serial communication with shafts pivotally supporting the camshaft following lever arms of the modular camshaft following assemblies deliver fluid flow from an engine block of the internal combustion engine to the camshaft following lever arms. The plurality of modular camshaft follower assemblies are each mounted on the engine through access openings in a side wall of the engine block.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2001Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Ruediger Hass
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Patent number: 6432087Abstract: A hypodermic syringe with a selectively retractable includes an elongate barrel having an open proximal end and a distal end that defines a receiver with an inwardly projecting shoulder. The syringe has a hollow elongate plunger with an open proximal end and a closed distal end. There is an elongate plug extending distally into the hollow plunger from the open proximal end forming an enclosed cavity within the plunger. The syringe has an elongate hub having a passageway therethrough, a distally extending stem, and a proximal flange with an engagement for engaging said barrel. The syringe has an elongate needle having a fluid path therethrough, a sharpened distal end and a proximal end. The needle is mounted in the passageway so that the sharpened distal end projects. The syringe has an elongate spring disposed about the stem of the hub that is compressed between the flange and the inwardly projecting shoulder of the receiver to provide a bias.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2000Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Roger Hoeck, Charles L. Bush, Jr.
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Patent number: 6431133Abstract: A chain drive of a V-engine with overhead camshafts includes chains which are driven by a crankshaft. In each case the overhead cam shafts are driven by a separate chain. Tensioner blades swivellably assigned to a respective slack run of the chains are acted upon by hydraulic chain tensioners of the same type of construction. The chain tensioners are arranged in an accessible manner on the exterior side on the V-engine and interact with sloped contact ramps on the tensioner blades. The chain tensioners of the same construction are arranged transversely to one another on the V-engine and are configured for a reliable venting in each installed position by including two mutually independently operating leakage devices.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2000Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Rudolf Brandl, Leonhard Halmanseger
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Patent number: 6425361Abstract: A rocker arm, which opens and closes a valve when tilted by a cam and is provided on a cylinder head, has a body made of sheet metal. The body is constituted in such a manner that one metal plate blank is bent into a substantially U shape so that a pair of opposed side walls and connecting walls for connecting the side walls are provided. A convex valve fitting section is provided on the connecting walls of the body by press working including a non-uniform cross section process producing plastic flow of material.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2000Date of Patent: July 30, 2002Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.Inventor: Nobutsuna Motohashi
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Patent number: 6425356Abstract: The present invention relates to a piston-type internal combustion engine comprising gas-exchange valves which can be driven in a completely variable manner by a motor control (2) and which communicate with an air supply channel (4) provided with a device (6) for generating a negative pressure using the energy components of the air flowing through said air supply channel (4). This device is provided with means that can be driven for adaptation to the modifications in the flow energy which are inherent to the operation, and communicates with at least one negative-pressure user (8, 9, 10) through at least one negative-pressure duct (7).Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2000Date of Patent: July 30, 2002Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbHInventors: Martin Pischinger, Markus Duesmann, Enno Lohse, Michael Schebitz, Wolfgang Salber
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Patent number: 6418896Abstract: A variable valve timing system have a rotor member relatively rotatably mounted into a housing member and forming an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber at a vane portion in the housing member. In the system, a lock member of a lock mechanism is not caught between the rotor member and the housing member when a volume of either the advanced angle chamber or the retarded angle chamber shifts from an initial volume to a target volume. The hydraulic pressure within the system is shifted from an initial condition in which the volume is maintained at the initial volume and locked by the lock mechanism, to another condition in which the volume is varied to the target volume after passing a transition in which the volume is maintained at the initial volume and the lock mechanism is being unlocked during a predetermined time.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2001Date of Patent: July 16, 2002Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazumi Ogawa
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Patent number: 6415753Abstract: A variable valve apparatus of an internal combustion engine is capable of realizing more precise valve characteristic control by reducing the error in-detection of the amount of movement of a camshaft caused by a difference in the rate of thermal expansion. The variable valve apparatus has a camshaft that is supported so as to be rotatable and slidable in a direction of an axis thereof and that has three-dimensional cams whose cam profile continuously changes in the direction of the axis. The apparatus also has an actuator for moving the camshaft in the direction of its axis. The apparatus further has a camshaft position sensor provided in a cylinder head, a detected portion provided in the camshaft, and a camshaft movement amount detection portion for detecting the amount of movement of the camshaft in the direction of the axis. The camshaft movement amount detection portion is provided near a camshaft reference position.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2000Date of Patent: July 9, 2002Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideo Nagaosa, Yoshihiko Masuda, Yoshihito Moriya, Shuuji Nakano, Shinichiro Kikuoka