Patents Examined by Jorge Leon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10125642
    Abstract: An improved length adjustable pushrod device for disposition in an internal combustion engine between a rocker arm and a cam shaft comprises a base rod section having a hollow interior extending between an inward seat within the hollow interior and an outward opening at one end of the base rod section and an extension rod section having one end thereof insertable telescopically through the outward opening at the one end of the base rod section and into the hollow interior thereof. The base and extension rod sections define a collective length of the pushrod device when assembled. At least one shim is provided for selective disposition in the hollow interior of the base rod section between the seat thereof and the one end of the extension rod section for selectively varying the collective assembled length of the base and extension rod sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Competition Cams, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Godbold, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10119490
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting engine operating conditions for mitigation of pre-ignition in one or more engine cylinder. In one example, a method may include, in response to indication of pre-ignition, manifold charge cooling may be increased by increasing the portion of fuel delivered to the engine via manifold injection relative to the portion to fuel delivered via one or more of port and direct injection, while maintaining engine operation at or around a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Mohannad Hakeem, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Calvin Trescott
  • Patent number: 10119499
    Abstract: An engine system is provided. The engine system may include an exhaust gas heat exchanger valve including an actuatable valve plate, a valve actuation assembly adjusting the position of the valve plate through operation of mechanical linkage coupled to the valve plate, and a flow reversal valve positioned in a coolant passage, the flow reversal valve configured to reverse the coolant flow in a flapper coolant conduit to trigger actuation of the mechanical linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chad Allan Baker, Gregory Patrick McConville, William Samuel Schwartz
  • Patent number: 10107229
    Abstract: A cylinder head with which exhaust manifolds are integrated includes a secondary air supply passage configured to include: a main passage disposed above combustion chambers of an engine, and extending along a cylinder line direction; and plural branch passages establishing individual communications between the main passage and corresponding exhaust ports. The respective plural branch passages are so disposed as to be inclined downward from the main passage toward the exhaust ports. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent corrosion of the cylinder head due to stagnation of condensed water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsutomu Wakiya
  • Patent number: 10107159
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a camshaft, a cylinder head, a head cover, a high-pressure pump, and a vacuum pump. The high-pressure pump includes a plunger that abuts against a cam provided on the camshaft. The high-pressure pump is configured to be driven by rotation of the cam such that oil that has lubricated abutting portions of the cam and the plunger collides with an inside wall of the head cover. The vacuum pump is mounted to the cylinder head. The vacuum pump is configured to draw in air from an inlet and discharge an oil mist with air from an outlet. The outlet is arranged such that the oil mist with air from the outlet is discharged into a space where an oil mist formed by a spray of oil that has collided with the inside wall of the head cover stagnates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsuya Kurosaka
  • Patent number: 10107151
    Abstract: This disclosure reliably causes transition to a locked state at the time of internal combustion engine deactivation and reliably causes transition to the locked state when a locking mechanism is not in the locked state at the time of internal combustion engine activation. A control valve spool is operable to a phase control position in which the supply/discharge of a fluid to/from an advance port and a retard port is controlled while the fluid is supplied to a lock releasing port, and to a lock transition position in which the supply/discharge of the fluid to/from the advance port and the retard port is controlled while the fluid is discharged from the lock releasing port. A communication path through which a portion of the fluid from a pump port is discharged to a drain port when the spool is operated to the lock transition position is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Mukaide, Shigemitsu Suzuki, Naoto Toma
  • Patent number: 10107148
    Abstract: A valve rotation includes: a first sheet member that extends toward a surrounding of a valve stem under a condition that a rotation action of the first sheet member is suppressed with respect to a cylinder head, and a second sheet member that faces to the first sheet member, that is capable of rotating with respect to the first sheet member and is subjected to a load for opening the valve; a force conversion structure that converts the load for opening the valve applied to the second sheet member into a rotation force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shouji Katsumata, Kenichi Harada, Toshihisa Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10107153
    Abstract: The invention relates to a camshaft adjustment device for an internal combustion engine, having a chamber housing, an actuating rotor which is received in the chamber housing and which can be pivoted about an axis which is concentric with respect to the circumferential axis of the chamber housing, wherein the actuating rotor has a plurality of dividing flanks which rise up radially over a cylindrical base surface of the actuating rotor, and in each case divide pressure chambers which are formed in the chamber housing into a first chamber section and a second chamber section. Sealing strips are inserted into the actuating rotor. The sealing strips form a fluid passage path. The latter can be blocked via a check valve device in such a way that the fluid passage is possible only in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Olaf Boese, Jochen Thielen
  • Patent number: 10107155
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus of an internal combustion engine may include a driving rotational body to which torque is transmitted from a crankshaft, a driven rotational body fixed to a camshaft to which torque is transmitted from the driving rotational body, an electric motor disposed between the driving rotational body and the driven rotational body and relatively rotating the driving rotational body and the driven rotational body when electric power is applied thereto, and a deceleration mechanism that decelerates a rotational speed of the electric motor and transmits the decelerated rotational speed to the driven rotational body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong Wook Lee, Bonghoon Han, Jaechun Kim, Hyung Ick Kim, Yoshihiko Yamada, Manabu Katayama, Seiji Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 10107208
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling operation of deactivated engine cylinders are presented. In one example, intake valve timing of deactivated engine cylinders is advanced to reduce amplitudes of intake pressure pulsations while exhaust valves of the deactivated engine cylinders are held closed. Further, intake valve timing of deactivated cylinders may be advanced responsive to output of an intake manifold pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Gerow, John Eric Rollinger, Adam J. Richards
  • Patent number: 10100685
    Abstract: A hydraulic supply device for a valve stopping mechanism includes: a specific hydraulic oil supply passage which constantly supplies hydraulic oil, a valve stopping mechanism incorporated in a cylinder head, and configured to stop at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve, a valve stopping oil passage which supplies hydraulic oil to the valve stopping mechanism, a control valve which controls the supply of hydraulic oil to the valve stopping oil passage, and a communication oil passage which communicates between the valve stopping oil passage and the specific hydraulic oil supply passage, and provided with a restrictor therebetween. The specific hydraulic oil supply passage is connected to an oil supply portion for a portion to be lubricated or for a portion to be cooled in the engine at a position downstream of a connection position with respect to the communication oil passage in an oil supply direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nishimoto, Yasushi Nakahara, Hiroshi Takahashi, Yohei Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10094252
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster including a drive element, a first output element and a second output element all having a plurality of vanes; the two output elements can be braced relative to one another in the peripheral direction using an expanding spring located between the output elements; only the first output element is designed in such a way as to be connectable to a camshaft; a locking mechanism can lock the two output elements together and unlock same such that the two output elements are jointly or separately rotatable relative to the drive element; a vane of the second output element is in contact with a vane of the drive element, and the expanding spring puts a vane of the first output element at a distance from the vane of the drive element, so the first output element is in an angular position relative to the drive element which lies within the angle adjustment range between the first output element and the drive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Holger Brenner
  • Patent number: 10094251
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster (1) is provided for an internal combustion engine of the vane cell type, having a stator (2) and a rotor (3) which can be rotated relative to the stator (2) and consists of a plurality of rotor parts (4, 5, 6) which are connected to one another, wherein the rotor (3) can be connected fixedly to a camshaft (7) of the internal combustion engine so as to rotate with it, and a first rotor part (4) is configured in such a way that the camshaft (7) is supported with contact on the first rotor Part (4) in an operating state, wherein the first rotor part (4) is produced by a sintering process, and at least one first supporting surface (9), supporting the camshaft (7), of the first rotor part (4) is set geometrically by a chipless machining operation, and to a method for producing a rotor (3) for a camshaft adjuster (1) of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Juergen Weber
  • Patent number: 10094250
    Abstract: A valve bridge is disclosed for use with an internal combustion engine. The valve bridge may include a body with a central cavity formed in a center portion of the body for receiving a hydraulic lash adjuster, and opposing first and second lateral extensions on opposite sides of the central cavity. The valve bridge may further include a first bore in the first extension for receiving a first valve stem, and a second bore in the second extension for receiving a second valve stem. The valve bridge may also include a first internal groove in a wall of the central cavity configured to receive fluid, as well as a first internal passage in the body that extends from the first internal groove toward the first bore. In addition, the first internal passage may extend from a higher gravitational point within the body to a lower gravitational point within the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Adarsh Gopinathan Nair, Laura E. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 10094248
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lash adjuster body for use in a lash adjuster assembly can include forming a lash adjuster body to an as-formed condition including an outer cylindrical surface and an inner cylindrical surface. The inner cylindrical surface can have a leak down portion and a blind bore. The method can also include imparting a wear resistant surface layer to at least the leak down portion of the inner cylindrical surface with a sub-critical temperature process. The method can also include preserving the leak down portion in the as-formed condition during imparting of the wear resistant surface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Prasanna Kumar Gudaloor, John Page Chapman, Gary Lynn Janowiak
  • Patent number: 10094302
    Abstract: A hydraulic camshaft adjuster for changing the control times of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, designed as a vane cell camshaft adjuster. A control device inserted in the vane selectively opens and interrupts a flow connection between the working chambers. A locking device prevents relative motion between the rotor and the stator in that the rotor is fastened to the stator at a vane position. A switching valve, which has three working ports, a P port and a T port, can be moved into different control positions by an adjusting element,—wherein in the control position, the P port communicates with the working chambers via the A port, the B port is blocked at the switching valve, and the T port communicates with the control device of the vanes via the C port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Busse
  • Patent number: 10087880
    Abstract: An intake cam is positioned between first and second shaft supports that support an intake camshaft. An exhaust cam is positioned between third and fourth shaft supports that support an exhaust camshaft. An ignition plug unit extends between the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft and inward of the intake cam and the exhaust cam with a cylinder axis defining a reference position. A cylinder head includes a joint plane that is joined to a cylinder body. In a case where a virtual plane is defined by the joint plane and is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the cylinder axis, a distance between a portion, closest to the virtual plane, of the intake camshaft and the virtual plane is less than a distance between a portion, farthest from the virtual plane, of the intake port and the virtual plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Manabu Miyata
  • Patent number: 10077686
    Abstract: A pushrod assembly for an internal combustion engine comprises a pushrod having a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to receive valve actuation motions from a valve actuation motion source and the second end being configured to impart the valve actuation motions to a valve train component. The pushrod includes a resilient element engagement feature. The pushrod assembly includes a fixed support and a resilient element operatively connected to the resilient element engagement feature and the fixed support. The resilient element is configured to bias the pushrod, via the resilient element engagement feature, toward the valve actuation motion source. An internal combustion engine may comprise the pushrod assembly described herein. A follower assembly may be provided to maintain contact between second end of the pushrod and the valve train component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Baltrucki, G. Michael Gron, Dong Yang
  • Patent number: 10072535
    Abstract: A lash compensator for a valve train component of an internal combustion engine is provided that includes an end-cap arranged within a reverse-spring control valve assembly of an axially moveable piston. The piston has a first reservoir and an inner radial wall configured with a through-aperture. The reverse-spring control valve assembly has a control valve housing, a bias spring, an end-cap, and a closing body. The end-cap is configured with a cupped end; an inner side of the cupped end receives a second lower end of the bias spring, and an outer side of the cupped end engages an upper portion of the closing body. The end-cap minimizes or eliminates the variation in flow resistance caused by a variation in end-coil geometry of the second lower end of the bias spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: John Stallmann
  • Patent number: 10066516
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bucket tappet for an internal combustion engine, having a tappet housing with a hollow cylindrical bucket skirt and a bucket base which closes one side of the bucket skirt and on which the bucket skirt is formed by cold forming a steel blank without cutting. The outside of the bucket base is used as a contact surface for an internal combustion engine cam which transfer a stroke movement to the bucket tappet, and the outside of the bucket skirt is used as a contact surface for an internal combustion engine guide bore which supports the bucket tappet in the stroke direction. The aim of the invention is to develop a bucket tappet of the aforementioned type and a method for producing same with respect to reduced production costs. This is achieved in that the unmachined and uncoated cam contact surface of the bucket base is machined using a brushing tool and no additional mechanical machining of the cam contact surface is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gunter Eisenhardt, Manfred Stratz