Patents Examined by Kyle M. Riddle
  • Patent number: 7513228
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, a variable lift and/or operating angle mechanism variably controls a lift and/or operating angle of an exhaust valve in accordance with a driving condition of the engine, a variable phase mechanism variably controls a phase of a lift center angle of the exhaust valve in accordance with the driving condition of the engine, a present position detecting section detects a present operating position of each of the variable lift and/or operating angle mechanism and variable phase mechanism, and a controlling section controls one of the variable lift and/or operating angle mechanism and the variable phase mechanism which operates normally in a direction in which an in-cylinder residual gas quantity becomes minimum when the other of the variable lift and/or operating angle mechanism and the variable phase mechanism has failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Hiyoshi, Tsuyoshi Arinaga, Shin Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 7506623
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for the electrical adjustment of the relative rotary-angle position between a camshaft (2) and a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, with an adjusting gear (3) which has a driving part (4) fixed with respect to the crankshaft, a driven part (5) fixed with respect to the camshaft and an adjusting shaft (8) connected fixedly in terms of rotation to an adjustment-unit shaft (6) of an electrical adjustment unit (7). In order to achieve a simpler type of construction which, moreover, is distinguished by quiet running, there is provision, according to the invention, for the adjusting shaft (8) to be arranged in a radially floating manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Patent number: 7503296
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a cylinder block defining a plurality of cylinders at least half of which are selectively deactivatable by a plurality of switching hydraulic lifters. A source of pressurized oil is provided. Additionally, at least one solenoid-actuated hydraulic control valve operates to selectively communicate pressurized oil from the source of pressurized oil to actuate the plurality of switching hydraulic lifters thereby deactivating the selectively deactivatable cylinders. The number of the solenoid-actuated hydraulic control valves is fewer than the number of selectively deactivatable cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Rozario, William C. Albertson
  • Patent number: 7503298
    Abstract: A valve timing adjusting device includes: a first rotor rotating integrally with a crankshaft; a second rotor integrally secured to an intake or exhaust camshaft; and an engaging cavity provided in one of the first rotor and the second rotor. A lock pin is housed in a housing hole provided in the other of the first rotor and the second rotor, protruded by the energizing force of an energizing device at the time of hydraulic pressure reduction, to thus abut on the wall of the engaging cavity from an oblique direction to give a relative rotating force to the first rotor and the second rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kinugawa, Akira Sakata, Koji Yudate
  • Patent number: 7493878
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the variable actuation of the gas exchange valves of internal combustion engines, whereby a continuously revolving cam drives an intermediate member which carries out an oscillating, pure rotational movement and moves a drive member in accordance with the respective valve lift curve via a control cam. In order to modify the valve lift curve, the position of the rotational axis of the intermediate member can be modified along an advance curve. The rotational axis of the intermediate member is represented by a pin which is freely rotatable at its guide end and which carries cam plates that are linked therewith in a rotationally fixed manner. Said cam plates define either directly or indirectly the respective required position on the advance curve. The pin is rotated via a suitable joining element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta TecCenter AG
    Inventors: Helmut Schön, Kai-Uwe Keller, Peter Kuhn
  • Patent number: 7493879
    Abstract: An engine valve operating system is provided in which a rocker arm that swings by following a valve operating cam abuts against an engine valve via a hydraulic tappet, a receiving member (41) receiving the hydraulic tappet (12) being slidably fitted into the rocker arm (13), the hydraulic tappet (12) being fitted into the rocker arm (13), a restricting part (29) being provided so as to face the receiving member (41) from the side opposite to the hydraulic tappet (12), and an adjustment screw (44) for adjusting a clearance between the restricting part (29) and the receiving member (41) when the engine valve is in a valve-closed state being screwed into an engine main body (5) so that its position can be adjusted back-and-forth so as to abut against the receiving member (41) when the engine valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Keiko Yoshida, Tomoya Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7475662
    Abstract: A feed screw mechanism including a screwed shaft which moves linearly along with the control shaft, and a rotation spindle which rotates in a circumferential direction. The feed screw mechanism converts a rotational movement of the rotation spindle into a linear movement of the screwed shaft. A protrusion protrudes outwardly from the rotation spindle. An internal thread member engages with an outer wall surface of the rotation spindle. A motor stator generating a magnetic is positioned over the rotation spindle, and is sandwiched between the protrusion and the internal thread member in an axial direction of the rotation spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuyoshi Suzuki, Hideo Inaba, Jouji Yamaguchi, Toshiki Fujiyoshi, Akira Tsunoda, Koichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7475663
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine (1) comprising a housing (2) having at least one opening (4) into its inside, which is preferably the engine-oil feed inlet, and with a camshaft (5), mounted inside the housing for rotation about its geometric shaft. The camshaft (5) and the housing (2) have means cooperating with each other and with a device for locking a turnable shaft (6) with respect to the housing, insertable through this opening. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the device consists of a rod (6), the cooperating means in the housing consist in a bore (7) for receiving an end of the rod (6), and the cooperating means on the cam shaft consist of a notch (9) made in the surface of the shaft, which cooperates with the rod. In this way, when there is a need to adjust, repair and/or replace engine (1) components, the rod (6) is inserted through the opening (4) and locked in this bore (7) of the housing (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Caetano M. A. Calviti, Fausto Luiz C. S. Neves, Joaquim Rodrigues Neto
  • Patent number: 7469669
    Abstract: A rotational cam can be disposed on a camshaft rotationally driven by a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. A swing cam can be swingable through the rotational cam. The swing cam has a rotational cam abutment portion which contacts the rotational cam and transmits driving force from the rotational cam to the swing cam. An abutment portion displacing mechanism can be provided for displacing the rotational cam abutment portion to change a relative distance between the rotational cam abutment portion and a center axis of the swing shaft. Changing the relative distance allows changing a lift and the like of a valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Fujita, Koichi Hatamura
  • Patent number: 7469668
    Abstract: In an engine in which a lift amount of a valve can be changed continuously, an engine valve operating system including a valve lift-changing mechanism is capable of increasing and decreasing the lift amount of the valve without changing an opening angle for the valve and capable of decreasing a tappet clearance in accordance with a decrease in lift amount of the valve. Thus, it is possible to prevent the ratio of the tappet clearance to the lift amount at a low valve lift from being increased to minimize the influence of the dispersion of the tappet clearance and to reduce the seating speed of the valve at the low valve lift to prevent the generation of a noise. It is also possible to prevent a reduction in performance of the engine at a high valve lift due to the dispersion of the tappet clearance and to decrease the seating noise of the valve at the low valve lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Akiyuki Yonekawa, Katsunori Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7467610
    Abstract: A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine includes cam followers which have cam abutment portions abutting against valve-operating cams provided on a camshaft and which are swingably carried in an engine body and operatively connected to engine valves biased in a closing direction by a valve spring. The cam followers are biased in a direction of abutment of the cam abutment portions against the valve-operating cams by a resilient biasing means different from the valve spring. A resilient biasing means includes a pull rod connected at one end thereof to the cam follower, and a compression coil spring interposed between the other end of the pull rod and the engine body to pull the pull rod to bias the cam follower in a direction of abutment of the cam abutment portion against the valve-operating cam. Thus, the resilient biasing means is constructed to be compact, leading to an increase in degree of freedom of the design of the structure of the valve-operating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Keiko Yoshida, Tomoya Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7467751
    Abstract: Devices and methods for depositing fluids on substrates in patterns of spots, lines, or other features use a nozzle, which is preferably configured similarly to a micropipette, having a piezoelectric crystal or other ultrasonic actuator coupled to one of its sides. The nozzle may be charged via capillary action by dipping it into a well containing the fluid to be deposited, and may then be positioned over a desired area of a substrate, at which point activation of the ultrasonic actuator at ultrasonic frequencies will eject the fluid onto the substrate. The needle may subsequently be dipped into a well of rinsing fluid for cleaning. Spots or lines on the order of 5 micrometers width may be generated, making the invention particularly suitable for use in biological applications such as microarray production and in microelectronics applications such as the printing of organic circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Bradley James Larson, Chung Hoon Lee, Amit Lal, Max G. Lagally
  • Patent number: 7464680
    Abstract: The invention proposes a switching element (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, particularly for valve deactivation, with a simple-to-implement measure for adjusting the coupling lash of its coupling means (8) in a receptacle (6) using two retaining rings (19, 20), one of which is stocked in a variety of thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Ina-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Norbert Geyer, Peter Sailer, Oliver Schnell
  • Patent number: 7458348
    Abstract: In a V-type engine provided with a variable valve timing mechanism and variable valve lift mechanism for an intake valve, a torque difference between respective banks is obtained. In a region in which an opening area of the intake valve is larger than a threshold, valve timing of the intake valve by the variable valve timing mechanism is corrected so as to reduce the torque difference, whereas in a region in which the opening area of the intake valve is smaller than the threshold, lift characteristics of the intake valve by the variable valve lift mechanism is corrected so as to reduce the torque difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Machida, Hidekazu Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 7458352
    Abstract: A switchable valve drive element of an internal combustion engine can be actuated hydraulically. A valve tappet which can be displaced axially in a bore of the machine housing by the cam of a camshaft. A switching duct adjoins the valve tappet and is filled with a hydraulic oil. A connection on the valve drive element between the switching duct and a space with a lower pressure level compared to the pressure in the switching duct. The connection can be produced between the switching duct and the space with a lower pressure level by means of the valve tappet. The space may be inside the tappet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: INA Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Peter Sailer, Oliver Schnell, Jochen Tovar
  • Patent number: 7444967
    Abstract: A variable valve device includes a camshaft which is rotatably provided in an internal combustion engine while having a cam, a rocker shaft which is arranged next to the camshaft, a valve which is driven by the cam, a cam follower rocker which is rotatably provided in the rocker shaft, and is rocked by following the cam, a valve drive rocker which is rotatably provided in the rocker shaft next to the cam follower rocker, and drives the valve, and a switching portion which be able to switch the valve drive rocker between a drive state and a non-drive state. Either a body of the cam follower rocker or a body of the valve drive rocker is made of an iron-based metal material, and the other body is made of a material different from the iron-based metal material, heat treatment being not required in the different material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Kido, Shinichi Murata, Masaru Mori, Kenta Kotsuji
  • Patent number: 7444969
    Abstract: In the case where an intake valve has its phase in a first region between a most retarded angle and CA(1), the rotational speed of relative rotation between an output shaft of an electric motor and a sprocket is reduced at a reduction gear ratio R(1) to change the phase of the intake valve. In the case where the intake valve has its phase in a second region between CA(2) and a most advanced angle, the rotational speed of relative rotation is reduced at a reduction gear ratio R(2) to change the phase of the intake valve. As long as the rotational direction of relative rotation is the same, the phase of the intake valve is changed in the same direction for both of the first region between the most retarded angle and CA(1) and the second region between CA(2) and the most advanced angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasumichi Inoue, Zenichiro Mashiki, Noboru Takagi, Yoshihito Moriya, Haruyuki Urushihata, Akihiko Takenaka, Eiji Isobe, Takayuki Inohara
  • Patent number: 7431001
    Abstract: A rail used as a torsional stop for the valve train of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The rail includes spaces (10) which are arranged in a row spaced apart at a distance from one another within the rail (8) and accommodate inserted valve lifters provided as roller tappets (9). Two parallel torsional stop areas (15) are configured on the outer surface of each roller tappet (9) in the form of planar flattened zones in order to secure the roller tappet (9) against rotation about the central longitudinal axis thereof. The torsional stop areas (15) rest against guide areas of the rail (8), which are located inside the associated accommodating space (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Hermann Keller, Roland Krapp
  • Patent number: 7431002
    Abstract: A camshaft has contrarotating cams for automotive engines, in which an inside shaft and an outside shaft are arranged concentrically so they are contrarotating, at least one cam has at least one main cam element that can be placed radially on the outside shaft and is supported there so it can rotate. The main cam element is connected to the inside shaft in a manner that is rotationally locked via a fastener passing through a recess in the outside shaft. Further features include a fastener, a main cam element and a locking means. The fastening of the main cam element to the inside shaft is provided by widening the outside diameter of the fastener by the locking means with a resulting tightly seated connection between the fastener and the inside shaft, and the fastener and the locking means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Hoffmann, Martin Lechner, Falk Schneider
  • Patent number: 7424873
    Abstract: Disclosed is a variable valve mechanism 10 for changing the lift amount and operating angle of an internal combustion engine valve disc 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota, Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Ezaki, Toshiaki Asada, Manabu Tateno