Patents Examined by Kyle Riddle
  • Patent number: 6644257
    Abstract: An actuator which is displaced by a force in one end position and is displaced into the other end position by an adjusting device that is controlled using a pulse duration modulated signal. If a quasi-stationary condition is identified, in which despite repeated control intervention the actual position of the actuator lies outside a targeted range around the desired position, the retaining pulse duty factor which is used by the adjusting device to main the actuator in one position is modified based on the distance from the desired position. If drift is identified, the drift behavior is determined and the retaining pulse duty factor is modified according to said drift behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Franz Kunz, Wolfgang Stowasser
  • Patent number: 6640761
    Abstract: A control device for an intake valve of an internal combustion engine comprising an adjusting element and a control element. According to the invention, the adjusting element comprises a base body (2) and is displaceably arranged between the control element and the valve. The control element rotates during the operation of the control device. Rotating control element circumferential areas with contours that vary in the circumferential direction are provided as control cams throughout the rotating control element. Force introduction areas KEB (6, 7), which are positioned in a non-uniform manner, and a force transfer area KUB (3) are provided on the base body (2) of the adjusting element. Switching means for the alternately M contacting assignment of the KEB areas (6, 7) are provided on the different control cam areas of the control element The aim of the invention is to enable the largest possible number of different controls for an engine valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Mahle Ventiltrieb GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Dolderer, Volker Korte, Christoph Steinmetz, Martin Lechner
  • Patent number: 6640757
    Abstract: An improved arrangement for controlling the valve operation of an internal combustion engine wherein the control valves are mounted within perpendicularly extending bores formed in the cylinder head and camshaft bearing cap with the bores being deep enough so that the valves do not project significantly beyond the cylinder head. In addition, one or more of the connecting passages are formed by grooves in the mating surfaces of the cylinder head and bearing cap to avoid the necessity of drillings and particularly of drilling blind bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Uchida
  • Patent number: 6640756
    Abstract: A electromagnetic valve controller for an internal combustion engine selectively implements a normal operation mode for controlling all of the electromagnetic valves according to normal principles for implementing a four-cycle operation of the internal combustion engine, and a valve-stopped operation mode for controlling the electromagnetic valves according to rules for stopping at least one of the electromagnetic valves. In other words, execution of the valve-stopped operation mode is inhibited for a predetermined period after the internal combustion engine is started. Therefore, a failure of any one of the electromagnetic valves caused by the valve-stopped operation can be appropriately prevented from occurring, without degrading starting response characteristics of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Ogiso
  • Patent number: 6640760
    Abstract: A camshaft rearranging device for an internal combustion engine including a crankshaft and a camshaft having a longitudinal axis. The camshaft rearranging device includes first or internal part aligned with the longitudinal axis of the camshaft and jointed to the camshaft for rotating the camshaft; a second or external part aligned with the longitudinal axis of the camshaft and joined to the crankshaft for being rotated by the crankshaft; and a third or intermediate part aligned with the longitudinal axis of the camshaft and joining the first and second parts to one another for rotating the first part when the second part is rotated and for rotating the first part relative to the second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventor: Pedro A. Plasencia
  • Patent number: 6637387
    Abstract: Variable valve mechanisms utilize magnetorheological fluid (MRF) in lost motion devices for controlling lift and timing of engine valves and the like. The lost motion devices are designed with either of two operational modes, a direct shear mode and a valve mode. In the shear mode, the MR fluid is retained between relatively movable shear surfaces of a lost motion device and the relative motion is controlled by varying the shear strength of the fluid by a magnetic field applied to the MR fluid between the shear surfaces. In the valve mode, the flow rate of MR fluid through an orifice is controlled by varying the magnetic field to control the flow viscosity of the fluid passing through the orifice. The lost motion device units may be applied directly between an input cam and an output valve or may be applied to a pivot for a finger follower or another type of valve actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: General Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Burak Abdulkadir Gecim, Hamid Vahabzadeh, Andrew Leslie Bartos
  • Patent number: 6637386
    Abstract: Just after the start of an engine at cold start, an overlap in the opening time of an intake valve (7a) and an exhaust valve (7b) is controlled to include an intake stroke range, such that liquid fuel in an intake port (11) flows into a cylinder with the downward movement of a piston (16) without being directly exhausted to an exhaust side, so that the fuel can be combusted without fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Murata, Fumiaki Hiraishi, Kazuhiro Okuno, Hideo Nakai, Osamu Nakayama, Takashi Dogahara
  • Patent number: 6634329
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus has a variable valve timing actuator. The system advances the valve timing to at least a middle position before the engine is completely stopped. The middle position is appropriate to start the engine. Before stopping the engine, if the oil temperature is too high to maintain a viscosity, the system provides a control to assist the above-described advancing control. For instance, the system increases the engine speed to supply a sufficient amount and pressure of oil. The system slightly advances the valve timing while the engine is in an idling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Kusano, Hirohiko Yamada
  • Patent number: 6626137
    Abstract: A lash adjuster and a method for adjusting lash in an engine valve train are provided. A first component of the lash adjuster is formed from a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. A second component of the lash adjuster is formed from a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion greater than the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The second component has an exterior dimension that is greater than or equal to a corresponding interior dimension of the first component when the lash adjuster is heated to an operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: David E. Hackett
  • Patent number: 6626135
    Abstract: Intake valve drive shaft and exhaust valve drive shaft are arranged in parallel to each other and provided with sprockets, respectively, for receiving engine rotation from a crank shaft. A rocker cam is swingably mounted on the intake valve drive shaft to push the intake valve, and connected mechanically by a link mechanism with the intake valve drive shaft. The axis of the intake valve drive shaft is offset from the axis of the intake valve to one side. The rocker cam includes a cam nose which projects to the other side of the axis of the intake valve when the intake valve is in the closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Takemura, Shunichi Aoyama, Tsuneyasu Nohara, Takanobu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6622676
    Abstract: A cylindrical element having a first axis and at least one internal longitudinal passage, and a circular circumferential groove formed in an outer surface of the element and having a second axis. The groove eccentric of the element such that the groove intersects the wall of the longitudinal passage, forming thereby a rectangular opening therebetween. When a second longitudinal passage is present, it is similarly intersected by a second eccentric groove spaced apart axially from the first groove. The axis of the second groove is rotationally displaced about the element axis from the first groove, preferably by a large angle, for example 180°, such that the first eccentric groove does not intersect the second passage, nor does the second eccentric groove intersect the first passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Pierik, Dominic Borraccia
  • Patent number: 6622675
    Abstract: A remotely mounted 4-way valve (2) or two solenoid valves (12) (13) control a center mounted spool valve (28). In the 4-way valve embodiment, one control port (3) provides oil pressure to one end (26) of the spool valve (28) and the other control port (4) provides oil pressure to the other end (27) of the spool (25). In the embodiment with two solenoid valves, one solenoid valve control port (16) feeds oil to one end (26) of the spool (25) and another solenoid valve control port (17) feeds oil to the other end (27). For both of these control systems, the relationship of percent of control signal to percent of control pressure is mapped into the controller, and varies as the engine oil pressure and temperature changes. In a preferred embodiment, a position sensor (34) mounted to the spool valve position reduces this error by having a control loop controlling the position of the spool valve. There is also another loop to control the phaser angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Roger Simpson
  • Patent number: 6619251
    Abstract: A tappet is used in a valve-operating mechanism of an internal combustion engine. The tappet has a top wall and the upper surface of the top wall is engaged with a cam. The lower surface is engaged on a poppet valve which moves up and down. A downward projection which has a recess for storing lubricating oil is formed in the middle of the lower surface of the top wall of the tappet, thereby lubricating interfaces with the cam or valve to improve frictional or wear resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Oozx Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Kobayashi, Junichi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 6619246
    Abstract: A device for actuating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine or gas generator comprises an armature which is operatively connected to the valve stem of a valve member and which is disposed in a chamber between opposed pole faces of a valve closing electromagnet and a valve opening electromagnet. A gas pressure source is connected by a supply line to the chamber. When the electromagnet is energized, it is effective to act on the armature to move the valve member to the closed position. The arrangement is such that reduction of the electromagnetic force exerted on the armature by the electromagnet is effective to enable the gas pressure from the source to move the valve member to the open position. This opening movement of the valve member may be assisted by energizing the opening electromagnet. Movement of the valve member from the open to the closed position may be assisted by a return spring. The valve actuator minimizes the electric power consumption for the electromagnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Keith Gordon Hall
  • Patent number: 6615780
    Abstract: A solenoid assembly includes a solenoid having a magnetic circuit comprising stationary primary and secondary pole pieces and a moveable armature. The primary pole piece includes an inner cylindrical wall operable to define, with the armature, a fixed radial gap for the passage of magnetic flux, and a tapered outer wall operable to increase the mass of the pole piece through which flux may pass, as the armature moves axially within cylindrical inner wall, the primary pole piece further includes an inwardly tapered, conical portion that extends toward the armature which operates, with an associated conical portion on a periphery of the moveable armature, to substantially maintain the axial opening force on the armature by establishing a secondary gap for the passage of magnetic flux as the armature approaches the conical tapered portion of the cylindrical wall to compensate for the saturation of magnetic flux through the fixed air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yingjie Lin, Conrado Carrillo
  • Patent number: 6615783
    Abstract: The invention proposes a switchable tappet (1) for the direct transmission of a cam lift to a tappet push rod. A coiled compression spring (15), used as a lost motion spring, for loading the inner element (4) is shifted axially out of a housing (2). For this purpose, the inner element (4) comprises an extension (15a) that projects out of the housing (2) and is surrounded by the coiled compression spring (15). This measure contributes to minimizing the total mass of the switchable tappet (1) because the overall length of the housing (2) is shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Ina Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Michael Haas, Henning Karbstein, Martin Rauch, Dieter Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6615776
    Abstract: In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine in which, for fuel saving purposes during part-load operation, some of the cylinders (2) can be cut off by an interruption of the fuel supply to the respective cylinders and by the shutdown and closing of their inlet valves (6) and outlet valves (7) until the refiring of the cylinders (2) when higher operating loads of the internal combustion engine (1) are required, a smooth operating behavior of the internal combustion engine (1) during the changeover between the fired and the cut-off operation of the cylinders (2) is achieved by an additional compensating opening of the outlet valves (7) irrespective of the gas-exchange control times of the valves for fired cylinder operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventor: Stephen Von Andrian-Werburg
  • Patent number: 6612274
    Abstract: An open-close characteristic of an intake valve is controlled so that a target intake air amount for an engine can be obtained, and also a retarded angle limitation of closing timing of an exhaust valve is set based on opening timing of the intake valve, to control an open-close characteristic of the exhaust valve so that the closing timing of the exhaust valve becomes a more advance angle side than the retarded angle limitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi Unisia Automotive, Ltd.
    Inventors: Isamu Iizuka, Satoru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6612277
    Abstract: A rocker arm assembly for a valve train includes a hydraulic lash adjuster for accommodating slack in the valve train. There is also a lost-motion connection preferably between the axle of a roller which is operated upon by a cam and the rocker arm itself. Excessive expansion of the lash adjuster will not prevent closing of the valve because the closing movement is accommodated by the lost-motion connection. A spring is provided to maintain the lost-motion connection despite the tendency of the hydraulic lash adjuster to expand. Greater tolerance in the cam base circle radius is allowed, permitting the use of net-shaped cams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: David G. Genise
  • Patent number: 6612276
    Abstract: The rocker arm (2), obtained from a shaped element (30) made of metallic material, comprises surfaces (15,18) for engagement with a tappet (3) and with a stem (20) of a valve, respectively, and a portion (7) for mounting of a rotatable roller (8) able to co-operate with a cam-type actuating member (4). According to the invention, the surface (15) is formed in an insert (25) produced separately and fixed to the rocker arm. This constructional solution is particularly advantageous when the design constraints, determined by the position of the other elements of the valve train, require a substantial alignment between the center (A) of the surface (15) engaging the tappet, the center (B) of the roller and the contact (C) surface engaging the valve stem (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Majo Cecur