Abstract: The present invention increases cold temperature oil flow through the variable cam timing (VCT) phaser to reduce the amount of time it takes to replace this oil with warmer low viscosity oil and thereby improve performance. Furthermore the oil flow through the VCT phaser is reduced once the oil temperature reaches the minimum operating temperature for the VCT phaser to operate and the VCT phaser is commanded to move from the park position. Therefore, the VCT phaser is charged with hot engine oil and is commanded to move from the parked position. The VCT phaser reduces oil flow through the phaser at high oil temperatures and low oil viscosity while adding the benefit of increased oil flow through the phaser at low oil temperatures and high oil viscosity to facilitate getting warmer oil into the VCT phaser sooner for increased VCT performance.

Abstract: In a variable valve apparatus, a second connector has a fifth side surface located below a fourth side surface and further away from a second side surface than is the fourth side surface, so that a width in a direction along a rocker shaft is narrower in a lower portion adjacent to an inlet valve than in an upper portion adjacent a slipper surface. A guide surface is provided in a lower portion of the fourth side surface and includes an arc that is shorter than a semicircle, and coaxial and equal in radius with an engaging hole. Thus, even when a connecting pin is advanced in a state of a through-hole and the engaging hole not being in precise alignment, the forward end of the connecting pin is guided through the guide surface into the engaging hole. An extended period can therefore be secured for advancing the connecting pin, to improve the certainty of connection.

Abstract: According to the invention, recuperation may be optimized for a hydraulically-operated gas exchange valve by provision of two fluid-filled pressure chambers and a movable regulating piston with two active faces each defining one of the pressure chambers. The pressure chambers are each connected to two hydraulic valves of which the first hydraulic valves may be pressurized from a first pressure reservoir and the second hydraulic valves may be connected to a base pressure reservoir. The first hydraulic valves may furthermore be connected to a second pressure reservoir. A control or regulation device switches the valves, from a rest position in a first accelerating phase and a braking phase.

Abstract: A valve timing adjuster includes a housing member, a vane rotor, and a seal plate. A first housing segment of the housing member receives the vane rotor therein. A second housing segment of the housing member faces with an opening of the first housing segment. The seal plate includes a base part and a resilient part. The base part is held by the first and second housing segments therebetween. The resilient part is in press-contact with the end surface of the vane rotor within a predetermined angular range. The resilient part, the second housing segment, and a camshaft define therebetween a pressure chamber. The resilient part has a pressurized oil introduction passage that provides communication between the pressure chamber and only one of advance and retard hydraulic chambers.

Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes an inner rotor, a vane, an outer rotor, a first fluid passage to an advanced angle chamber, a second fluid passage to a retarded angle chamber, a lock mechanism restricting the relative rotation between the inner and outer rotors, a third fluid passage establishing an unlocked state by supplying the fluid to the lock mechanism and a locked state by discharging the fluid from the lock mechanism, a first switching valve supplying the fluid to each of the first and second fluid passages and discharging from each of the first and second fluid passages and a second switching valve controlling a fluid flow to be supplied to or discharged from the third fluid passage, wherein the first switching valve is operated independently from the second switching valve, and the fluid is supplied to the first switching valve via the second switching valve.

Abstract: An assist spring is fixed at its one end to a vane rotor and at its other end to a spring hook provided at an outside of a housing 18. A signal plate is fixed to the vane rotor on a side of the spring hook. A cam angle sensor is provided at an outer peripheral side of the signal plate for detecting a rotational angle of the signal plate. The assist spring and the spring hook are arranged in an area, which is inside of an outer periphery of the signal plate in a radial direction, so that the cam angle sensor may not misidentify the assist spring and the spring hook and thereby exactly detects the rotational angle of the signal plate.

Abstract: A switchable cam follower of a valve train of a combustion engine, which has an external lever that encompasses an internal lever between its arms. The levers are pivotally moveable relative to one another on an axis applied to a valve-side end. The cam follower also has a stop for a gas exchange valve on an underside on the valve-side end and on the other end has a complementary face for a support element. Additionally, the cam follower has a start face on an upper side for at least one high-lift cam. In one receptacle of one of the cams, a coupling element is seated, which can be brought into engagement in sections in case of coupling with a driving surface of the other lever. Further, a lost-motion spring is clamped between the two levers and is positioned in the region of the other end of the cam follower.

Abstract: A rocker arm may include a first arm defining a first longitudinal bore and a second arm defining a second longitudinal bore. The rocker arm may house a locking assembly including a first actuation pin extending through a first radial passage in the rocker arm, a second actuation pin extending through a second radial passage in the rocker arm, and a first lock pin located in the first longitudinal bore between the first and second actuation pins. An actuation assembly may be engaged with the first and second actuation pins and may be linearly displaceable between first and second actuation positions. The first and second arms may be rotatable relative to one another when the actuation assembly is in the first actuation position and may be fixed for rotation with one another when the actuation assembly is in the second actuation position.

Abstract: A rocker arm may include a first arm defining a first longitudinal bore and a second arm defining a second longitudinal bore. The rocker arm may house a locking assembly including a first lock pin located within the first longitudinal bore, an actuation pin extending through a radial passage in the rocker arm and engaged with the first lock pin, and a first biasing member engaged with the first lock pin and urging the first lock pin toward the actuation pin and biasing the actuation pin radially inward. An actuation assembly may be engaged with the actuation pin and linearly displaceable between first and second actuation positions. The first and second arms may be rotatable relative to one another when the actuation member is in the first actuation position and may be fixed for rotation with one another when the actuation member is in the second actuation position.