Patents Examined by Jorge L Leon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11319842
    Abstract: A valve bridge comprises a central body and at least first and second valve interface portions extending from the central body, each of the at least first and second valve interface portions defining a chamber configured to receive an engine valve and corresponding valve spring and spring retainer. Each chamber comprises a valve bridge control surface configured to selectively contact at least one of the corresponding valve spring and spring retainer, wherein each valve bridge control surface is a concave surface configured to extend downward around the corresponding valve spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: G. Michael Gron, Jr., Justin D. Baltrucki
  • Patent number: 11319844
    Abstract: A fully variable valve train with a rotary plunger for an internal combustion engine. A motor actuates a high-pressure oil injection pump; when a timing driven electromagnetic valve connected to an oil inlet is opened, high-pressure oil enters a hydraulic cylinder; and when the force applied to a plunger by the hydraulic oil is larger than the force of a valve returning spring, the plunger is pushed to move down, so that a valve is opened. When the valve is required to be return, the timing driven electromagnetic valve connected to the oil inlet is closed, and the timing driven electromagnetic valve connected to the oil inlet is opened; the valve moves up under the action of the valve spring, pushing the plunger to move up and thereby discharging the low-pressure oil out of the hydraulic cylinder, then the plunger and the valve return to the initial positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventors: Jie Guo, Zhuang Zhao, Wenping Zhang, Xinyu Zhang
  • Patent number: 11319840
    Abstract: A rocker arm assembly comprises a valve side rocker arm portion, a cam side rocker arm portion configured to selectively rotate relative to the valve side rocker arm portion, and a latch pin assembly disposed in the valve side rocker arm portion and in the cam side rocker arm portion. Portions of the latch pin assembly are configured to move so that when the cam side rocker arm portion selectively rotates, the valve side rocker arm portion switches among a full lift mode, a partial lift mode, and a lost motion lift mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Mark Van Wingerden, Douglas J. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11313253
    Abstract: A rocker arm can comprise a cam arm, a valve arm, a lost motion spring, and a pair of deactivatable latches configured to impede travel of the cam arm with respect to the lost motion spring and configured to enable the cam arm to collapse the lost motion spring. The cam arm can comprise a cam interface, a spring pressing area, a cam arm body, and a pivot axle connection. The valve arm can comprise a valve arm body, a rocker shaft bore, a latch socket, and lost motion spring mount. A pivot axle can connect the valve arm body to the cam arm body. Alternatively, a latch socket in a valve arm neck comprises a latch assembly whereby a deactivatable latch is configured to impede motion of the cam arm and to collapse so the cam arm can collapse the lost motion spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Mark Van Wingerden, Ryan Krieger
  • Patent number: 11306625
    Abstract: A valve rotating device has an annular main body, an annular cover body, and an annular axial spring element. The main body has multiple pockets of variable depth so that raceways are formed for balls situated therein, wherein tangential springs press the balls against ends of the pockets in the circumferential direction. The cover body is rotatable relative to the main body about an axis and is axially displaceable, and has an annular first support element, an annular second support element, and a connection, wherein the support elements are axially spaced apart from one another and the connection connects the support elements so that they are fixed relative to one another. The axial spring element at a first end rests on an annular stop surface of the main body, and at a second end rests on a surface of the first support element, wherein the axial spring element is situated between the first support element and the second support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Valvetrain GmbH
    Inventors: Antonius Wolking, Luthfi Arief, Florian Ringeling
  • Patent number: 11300014
    Abstract: A switching finger follower for an engine valve train utilizes an adjustable support assembly that eliminates potential for partial engagement during operation. A lever engagement member or latch is disposed for movement on the follower body and interacts with a lever to provide a constant contact geometry. The finger follower may be configured as a lost motion device and may include a biasing assembly and a travel limiter. The latch may support the lever in at least one precise position and may support the lever in a second position for partial lost motion, or permit the lever to pivot free of the latch for complete lost motion, as in cylinder deactivation applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John Mandell, Justin D. Baltrucki, Gabriel S. Roberts, Robb Janak
  • Patent number: 11300013
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a sliding member includes: a sliding surface against which an outer surface of a cam abuts; and a groove having a spiral shape or a plurality of grooves having an annular shape, which are provided on the sliding surface. The sliding surface includes a central region having a circular shape and including a center of the sliding surface, and a first annular region located outside the central region. A ratio RC of a width L2 of the groove to a pitch L1 of the groove in the central region is larger than a ratio RO1 of the width L2 of the groove to the pitch L1 of the groove in the first annular region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventor: Ikurou Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11300061
    Abstract: A method for engine braking on a type III valvetrain diesel engine comprises, on a first downstroke of a reciprocating piston, deactivating a normal intake lift profile on a first intake valve to implement a deactivated intake profile. Before a first upstroke of the reciprocating piston completes, a late intake valve closing lift profile is actuating on a second intake valve and beginning an engine brake lift profile on a first exhaust valve. On a second downstroke of the reciprocating piston, the engine brake lift profile on the first exhaust valve is completing and a normal exhaust lift profile is deactivating on a second exhaust valve to implement a deactivated exhaust profile on the second exhaust valve. Before a second upstroke of the reciprocating piston completes, a second engine brake lift profile is beginning on the first exhaust valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: James E. McCarthy, Jr., Dale Arden Stretch, Mihai Dorobantu
  • Patent number: 11300030
    Abstract: A decomposition chamber for an aftertreatment system includes: a body including: an inlet configured to receive exhaust gas; an outlet configured to expel the exhaust gas, a thermal management chamber in fluid communication with the inlet, the thermal management chamber configured to receive a first portion of the exhaust gas from the inlet, and a main flow chamber in fluid communication with the inlet, the main flow chamber configured to receive a second portion of the exhaust gas from the inlet and to receive the first portion of the exhaust gas from the thermal management chamber; and a diffuser positioned within the main flow chamber, the diffuser including: a diffuser inlet portion including a plurality of diffuser perforations, the diffuser inlet portion configured to receive the exhaust gas from the main flow chamber, and a diffuser flange portion configured to receive the exhaust gas from the diffuser inlet portion and provide the exhaust gas to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: CUMMINS EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Samuel Johnson, Ryan M. Johnson, Kartiki Jagtap, Enoch Nanduru, Mahendra Mittapalli, Udit Bhaveshkumar Shah, Suraj D. Khalate, Pradnya Chandrakant Joshi, Vinay Kumar Joshi, Vaidyanadan Sundaram
  • Patent number: 11300015
    Abstract: A valvetrain for a type II engine comprises a valve bridge, a switching rocker arm, a center capsule, a first auxiliary rocker arm, and a first auxiliary capsule. The selectively switching rocker arm is configured to switch configurations to transfer a first valve actuation profile from a first overhead cam lobe to the valve bridge center point and to transfer a second valve actuation profile from a second overhead cam lobe to the center point. The center capsule is configured to switch between an active state and a lost motion state. The first auxiliary rocker arm is configured to transfer a first auxiliary valve actuation profile from a third overhead cam lobe to the valve bridge first valve mounting area. The valvetrain can further comprise a second auxiliary rocker arm and a second auxiliary capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: James E. McCarthy, Jr., Mihai Dorobantu
  • Patent number: 11286896
    Abstract: The disclosure proposes a tappet with a housing which is composed of a drive-side and an output-side section. The drive-side section, at its outer end, has a roller and the output-side section, at its outer end, has a contact area for a follower part. The separate sections are axially spaced apart from one another and are connected to one another by a central rod piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Geyer, Franz Huschka
  • Patent number: 11280229
    Abstract: An actuation apparatus for actuating one or more components of a respective one or more switchable valve train devices of a first group of switchable valve train devices, and for actuating one or more components of a respective one or more switchable valve train devices of a second group of switchable valve train devices, the actuation apparatus including: a body rotatable by an actuation source about a rotation axis; a first shaft including a first set of one or more levers for actuating the one or more components of the first group of switchable valve train devices, the first shaft including a first element for contacting the body and moveable by the body in use to cause the first shaft to rotate; and a second shaft including a second set of one or more levers for actuating the one or more components of the second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Mirko Guaschino, Nicola Andrisani, Jan Kindermann, Yuriy Mysak
  • Patent number: 11268410
    Abstract: An actuation apparatus for actuating a component of a switchable valve train device of an internal combustion engine includes: a support body for mounting on a cylinder head cover of the internal combustion engine; an actuation lever mounted to the support body for pivotal movement of the actuation lever between a first position for actuation of the component and a second position for allowing de-actuation of the component; and a biasing means for urging the actuation lever from the second position towards the first position. In use, the biasing means becomes biased when an actuation source causes the actuation lever to pivot to the second position. When the actuation source attempts to actuate the component when the component is non-actuatable, the biasing means causes the actuation lever to pivot from the second position to the first position, thereby to actuate the component when the component becomes actuatable again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Yuriy Mysak, Nicola Andrisani, Emanuele Raimondi
  • Patent number: 11248503
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and a device for electrically controlling a valve actuator in a two-stroke or four-stroke combustion engine where the actuator comprises a solenoid (A), a plunger (5) and a spring (6), wherein the engine has at least one cylinder (1) with at least one freely controllable engine valve disc (10) with corresponding valve stem (11) and a valve spring (4), where a distance (7) is provided between the lower end of the plunger and the upper end of the valve stem and where air is supplied, or exhaust gases are evacuated from, a combustion chamber (3) past a lower part of the valve stem with the valve disc via at least one channel (2) in the cylinder, wherein the valve actuator is activatable to open the engine valve. The invention is characterized in that the opening of the engine valve is initiated after activation of the solenoid, wherein the following acceleration of the plunger brings its lower end to strike the upper end of the valve stem for initial opening of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Hedman Ericsson Patent AB
    Inventor: Mats Hedman
  • Patent number: 11242776
    Abstract: A valve open-close timing control device includes a driving rotator, a driven rotator, a phase adjusting mechanism, a sensor unit, a storage configured to store the plurality of divided regions consecutively provided, as a plurality of divided length information pieces corresponding to divided lengths of the divided regions, and an actual phase acquisition unit configured to start acquisition of the crank angle signal and the cam angle signal along with start of actuation control of actuating the internal combustion engine, specify one of the divided regions by referring to the divided length information pieces stored in the storage in accordance with the crank angle signal at timing set in accordance with the cam angle signal, and acquire the relative rotation phase as an actual phase in accordance with the crank angle signal corresponding to the boundary of the divided region thus specified and the reference crank angle signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Iwaya, Masahiro Okado, Toi Suzuki, Toshiki Miyake, Takano Nakai, Kenichiro Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Kamoyama, Toru Hirota
  • Patent number: 11236645
    Abstract: A valve timing controller includes: a driving-side rotation member synchronously rotating with respect to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; a driven-side rotation member disposed coaxially with a rotation axis of the driving-side rotation member, and rotating integrally with a camshaft of the engine; a phase setting mechanism setting a relative rotation phase between the driving-side and driven-side rotation members; a brushless motor driving the phase setting mechanism; a control portion controlling the brushless motor by electrifying an inverter having three sets of arm portions having high-side and low-side switching elements connected to each other in series between a first power supply line and a second power supply line connected to a potential lower than a potential of the first power supply line; and a command information acquisition section acquiring holding command information indicating a command for holding a rotor of the brushless motor in a non-rotating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11236644
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an engine are provided. The engine includes a straight rocker shaft passing through each of a first rocker arm and a second rocker arm, the first rocker arm being shaped differently from the second rocker arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Powerhouse Engine Solutions Switzerland IP Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Sandeep Kamble, Dattatraya Somnath Bhagoji
  • Patent number: 11230950
    Abstract: An electrically-actuated variable camshaft timing (VCT) phaser is employed for use with an internal combustion engine (ICE). The electrically-actuated VCT phaser includes a gear set assembly and a fixture. The gear set assembly has an input gear and an output gear, among other possible components. The input gear receives rotational drive input from an engine crankshaft, and the output gear transmits rotational drive output to an engine camshaft. The fixture is secured in the gear set assembly. Amid installation of the electrically-actuated VCT phaser on the ICE, the fixture constrains rotational movement of the gear set assembly. After installation, the fixture can be removed from the gear set assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: BORGWARNER, INC.
    Inventors: Chad McCloy, Mark Wigsten
  • Patent number: 11231000
    Abstract: A roller tappet, in particular for a high-pressure fuel pump, is provided that is guided in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof in a housing receptacle and is driven translatably in the longitudinal direction by cams of a camshaft. The roller tappet has a tappet body. This tappet body has a tappet skirt, a pump piston contact point (9), and a rotatably mounted roller (4), by which the roller tappet is supported on the camshaft. The tappet body has a guide cylinder (1), which is mounted in the housing receptacle and on which the roller (4) is supported, and a cup-shaped sleeve (7) having the pump piston contact point (9), which cup-shaped sleeve is supported in the guide cylinder (1) by a radial ring (8). A cylindrical constriction (5) is formed in the guide cylinder (1) in the region of the radial ring support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Norbert Geyer
  • Patent number: 11215088
    Abstract: A preassembled module for a variable-lift valve drive of an internal combustion engine is provided for installation into a cylinder head. The module has a base plate with an electric linear actuator which lies on an upper side of the base plate. A guide plate, which lies on the upper side, has an outer side wall arranged to guide a slide piece. The guide piece extends below the base plate two downwardly pointing actuating fingers. Each respective actuating finger has a contact surface for moving a transverse coupling slide of a switchable rocker arm. The slide piece has a bracket which protrudes over the guide plate with a contact landing arm which runs transversely relative to the electric linear actuator. An actuator-side end of the contact landing arm is in contact with an actuating pin of the electric linear actuator to move the slide piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Biermann, Benedikt Noe, Martin Steigerwald, Michael Pribek, Frank Himsel