Patents Examined by Sean O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6474282
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rocker arm having a pivoting clevis mounted to a second end of the rocker arm that engages a valve stem or a bridge that activates dual valves. The clevis has a substantially flat contacting surface and an internal recess created by two upwardly extending walls and an upwardly facing cam surface or receiving the second end of the rocker arm. The clevis is attached to the second end of the rocker arm by an attachment pin that extends through the upwardly extending walls of the clevis and through the second end of the rocker arm. The second end of the rocker arm has a downwardly extending portion that mates with the upwardly facing cam surface of the clevis to allow the clevis to pivot about the attachment pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Toledo Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley J. Pryba, Scott P. Smith
  • Patent number: 6474280
    Abstract: A valve timing control system has a tubular housing; a cam shaft having an external periphery formed with a drive cam; a phase variation mechanism disposed in the tubular housing, and varying a rotational phase of the sprocket portion relative to the cam shaft in accordance with oil pressure supplied to the phase variation mechanism; and an oil pressure control measures for controlling the oil pressure supplied to the phase variation mechanism. The tubular housing has a housing body having a density, and a sprocket portion for receiving a drive force transmitted from a crank shaft of an engine by way of a chain. The sprocket portion is disposed integrally to the tubular housing, and has a density higher than the density of the housing body. The tubular housing is so mounted to the cam shaft as to make a rotation relative to the cam shaft when so required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventors: Akinobu Maeyama, Tomoya Tsukada
  • Patent number: 6474276
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electromagnetic actuator for a cylinder valve in a piston-type internal combustion engine with the actuator being operatively connected to the cylinder valve and moveable back and forth between two electromagnetics, counter to the force of at least one restoring spring. The current supplied to the electromagnetics is controlled with the aid of a sensor arrangement and via an engine control unit such that the current supply to the catching electromagnet, i.e., the electromagnet being approached by the moveable armature of the actuator, is controlled so as to move the armature slowly toward the respective pole face. Moreover, in order to regulate the valve play during the closing movement of a cylinder valve, the current supply to the catching electromagnet is controlled such that the valve initially touches down softly on its seat and that following the valve play, the armature touches down softly on the pole face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Günter Schmitz, Christian Boie, Frank Van Der Staay, Lutz Kather
  • Patent number: 6470840
    Abstract: A cylinder head includes a carrier member 50 integrally formed with a vertical wall portion 53 for supporting a camshaft 15, 16, a tappet guide 54 for containing a tappet 24 and a tappet-lubricating oil receiving portion 51 slanted around the tappet guide 54. An operation-oil supply passage 203, 209, 210 extends in the longitudinal direction of the carrier member 50 inside the tappet guide 54.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hidesaku Ebesu, Hiroyuki Oda, Kouji Asanoumi, Hiroaki Deguchi, Setsuo Harada, Hirokazu Matsuura
  • Patent number: 6467441
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator for the actuation of the intake or exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine in which an oscillating arm has a first end hinged on a support frame secured to the engine head and a second end in abutment on the upper end of the stem of the intake or exhaust valve; two electromagnets being provided in order to move, on command, the oscillating arm in order axially to displace the valve between a closed position and a position of maximum opening, the oscillating arm comprising a central plate positioned in the space between the polar heads of the two electromagnets, a cylindrical tubular member rigid with a lateral edge of the central plate and a projection extending in a projecting manner from the central plate on the side opposite the cylindrical tubular member, the central plate being formed by a pack of sheets of ferromagnetic material stacked on one another and seam welded on the outer lateral surface of the cylindrical tubular member and by a stiffening rib welded to the p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Magnetti Marelli, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marcello Cristiani, Massimo Marchioni, Nicola Morelli
  • Patent number: 6463897
    Abstract: A mechanical assist actuation bracket for use with a roller finger follower. The roller finger follower includes a locking pin assembly having a trigger pin. The mechanical assist actuation bracket includes a face configured for being affixed to the roller finger follower. An arm extends from the face. The arm is configured for translating an actuating arm of an actuating device associated with the roller finger follower in a direction toward and away from the trigger pin during pivotal movement of the roller finger follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hermes A. Fernandez, Ryan D. Fogarty, Jongmin Lee, Wayne S. Harris, Nick J. Hendriksma
  • Patent number: 6453858
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for varying valve timing of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, particularly a hydraulic camshaft adjusting device of a rotary piston type, said device comprising a drive pinion (2) connected in driving relationship to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and a winged wheel (3) connected rotationally fast to a camshaft of the internal combustion engine. The drive pinion (2) comprises a hollow space formed by a circumferential wall (4) and two side walls (5, 6), at least one hydraulic working chamber (10) being formed in the hollow space by at least two limiting walls (8, 9). The winged wheel (3) comprises at least one radial wing (12), and with each wing (12) it divides one hydraulic working chamber (10) into two hydraulic pressure chambers (13, 14) which, when pressurized by a hydraulic pressure medium effect a pivoting or a fixing of the winged wheel (3) relative to the drive pinion (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: INA Walzlager Schaeffler oHG
    Inventors: Martin Scheidt, Andreas Strauss, Michael Haag