Patents Examined by Wellun Lo
  • Patent number: 6796277
    Abstract: A valve lift mechanism, in particular for internal combustion engines of motor vehicles, has a driven cam element, a valve control member which can be driven (translational movement or pivot rotation) by the cam element, and a flexible enveloping element, wherein the cam element is rotationally mounted. The enveloping element may be formed of plates and joint pins, to form a link chain or a roller chain, for instance, and it is movably connected to the valve control member in the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cam element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Inventor: Stefan Battlogg
  • Patent number: 6510824
    Abstract: A lost motion engine valve actuation system and method of actuating an engine valve are disclosed. The system may comprise a valve train element, a pivoting lever, a control piston, and a hydraulic circuit. The pivoting lever may include a first end for contacting the control piston, a second end for transmitting motion to a valve stem and a means for contacting a valve train element. The amount of lost motion provided by the system may be selected by varying the position of the control piston relative to the pivoting lever. Variation of the control piston position may be carried out by placing the control piston in hydraulic communication with a control trigger valve and one or more accumulators. Actuation of the trigger valve releases hydraulic fluid allowing for adjustment of the control piston position. Means for limiting valve seating velocity, filling the hydraulic circuit upon engine start up, and mechanically locking the control piston/lever for a fixed level of valve actuation are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Vorih, Jeffrey Mossberg, Richard Vanderpoel, Steven Ernest, Guy Paterson, John A. Schwoerer, Edward T. Leitkowski
  • Patent number: 6505593
    Abstract: A valve moving apparatus of an internal combustion engine comprises an engine valve, a valve spring, a spring seat supporting an end of the valve spring and a cam driving the engine valve to open. A valve spring set load changing device in the valve moving apparatus comprises the spring seat including a base seat and a support seat movable relatively to the base seat, an actuator generating drive force in accordance with an operational condition of the engine and a manipulating mechanism transmitting the drive force to the support seat. The actuator and the manipulating mechanism are positioned outside of the spring seat. When the support seat is rotated by a predetermined amount by the drive force transmitted through the manipulating mechanism, the support seat moves also in direction of expansion and contraction of the valve spring to change set load of the valve spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriaki Fujii
  • Patent number: 6505588
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine with two camshafts (4, 5) arranged side by side in the cylinder head (1), each having a mechanism (8, 9) for varying the control timing of gas exchange valves is provided. The feeding and discharge of the hydraulic pressure medium to and from the mechanisms (8, 9) takes place through electromagnetic control valves (15, 16), each including a cartridge which can be inserted into a valve holder (19, 20) and an attached electromagnet (23, 24) which has an electrical socket (27, 28) located on its clear front side (25, 26). The valve holders (19, 20) are constructed as separate flanged connectors which are situated directly above the bearings of the camshafts (4, 5) on the cylinder head of the engine in such a way that the control valves (15, 16) are situated beside each other with their cartridges facing away from each other and with their electromagnets (23, 24) facing each other along a common longitudinal axis running transverse to the longitudinal axis of the camshafts (4, 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: INA- Schaeffler KG
    Inventor: Joachim Dietz
  • Patent number: 6499451
    Abstract: A control system for variable activation of valves in an internal combustion engine. A solenoid is disposed on the outer surface of the valve cam cover to avoid exposure to the hot-oil environment within the valve activation chamber. The solenoid armature extends through the cam cover into the valve activation chamber. A bellcrank is mounted between the solenoid armature and the latching pin of a latchable cam finger follower such that energizing and de-energizing of the solenoid causes corresponding actuation and deactuation of the finger follower, which may be suitable for high-lift and low-lift activation. Preferably, the bellcrank is compliant such that when the solenoid is actuated during the lift portion of the valve cycle the pin is placed under compression so that the pin is subsequently actuated into latching position when the follower moves to the base circle portion of the valve cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick J. Hendriksma, Wayne S. Harris
  • Patent number: 6477999
    Abstract: A camshaft (126) has a vane (160) secured to an end thereof for non-oscillating rotation therewith. The camshaft also carries a sprocket (132) that can rotate with the camshaft but is oscillatable with respect to the camshaft. The vane has opposed lobes (160a, 160b) that are received in opposed recesses (132a, 132b), respectively, of the sprocket. The recesses have greater circumferential extent than the lobes to permit the vane and sprocket to oscillate with respect to one another. The camshaft phase tends to change in reaction to pulses that it experiences during its normal operation, and it is permitted to change only in a given direction, either to advance or retard, by selectively blocking or permitting the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid, preferably engine oil, from the recesses by controlling the position of a spool within a valve body (192) of a control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: George L. Markley
  • Patent number: 6467446
    Abstract: A variable valve timing system for a vehicle includes an intake camshaft for operating an intake valve, an exhaust camshaft for operating an exhaust valve, an intake cam sprocket mounted on the intake camshaft, an exhaust cam sprocket mounted on the exhaust camshaft, a chain interconnecting the intake cam sprocket and the exhaust cam sprocket, and a device for varying phases of the intake and exhaust camshafts by, according to an engine rpm, pushing and pulling the chain to forcedly rotate the intake and exhaust cam sprockets at a predetermined angle while moving in a perpendicular direction with respect to a longitudinal direction of a power transmission member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Dal-Heun Shin
  • Patent number: 6460496
    Abstract: A valve timing control device includes a purge path communicating between a hydraulic chamber allowing the entry of hydraulic pressure on starting an engine and a backward pressurized section in an accommodation hole. When the hydraulic chamber allowing the entry of hydraulic pressure on starting the engine is the retardation side hydraulic chamber, a hydraulic pressure derived from an oil pump is supplied to the retardation side hydraulic chamber on starting the engine. On the way, air-mixed oil is discharged to outside of the device by way of a purge path, a backward pressurized section in the accommodation hole and the discharge hole. When the air is discharged, a residual pressure is produced in the backward pressurized section due to oil supplied thereto. The residual pressure results in the increase of an unlocking hydraulic pressure to prevent a locking member from being unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Fukuhara, Hiroyuki Kinugawa, Makoto Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6443112
    Abstract: A valve timing adjusting apparatus of an internal combustion engine in which number of lock pins is decreased is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kinugawa
  • Patent number: 6439186
    Abstract: A mechanical oil filtration and oil flow re-direction system for a hydraulically actuated valve lifter. Pressurized oil is directed to the lifter through a series of controlled clearance passages prior to gaining access to the internal cavity of the lifter. Once inside the lifter, the oil is deflected off of an insert that directs the oil towards the upper end of the lifter and the push rod seat. The oil flow is then directed downwards into an oil deflector supply hole and into the internal cavity of the lifter and the chamber containing the lifter check ball and seat. In use, the system restricts particulates from the lifter, and re-directs particulates that do access the lifter to pre-determined locations within the lifter to minimize operational impairment of the lifter from particulate contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan B. Owen, Ralph Lyle Clayson, III
  • Patent number: 6435149
    Abstract: A valve train for an internal combustion engine has a variable valve performance mechanism for changing the valve open angle of at least one set of intake valves and exhaust valves. The valve train further includes an electronic control unit (ECU) for controlling the variable valve performance mechanism and a sensor for detecting the running state of the engine. The ECU judges whether there is a malfunction in the engine based on detection signals from the sensor. If there is a malfunction in the engine, the ECU actuates the variable valve performance mechanism to decrease the valve overlap thereby performing a failsafe. The ECU also advances the closing timing of the intake valves. Alternatively, the ECU retards the opening timing of the exhaust valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihito Moriya, Hideo Nagaosa, Shuuji Nakano, Shinichiro Kikuoka
  • Patent number: 6418895
    Abstract: In a valve open-and-closure timing changing apparatus for an internal combustion engine, a rotary body (3) is revolved in synchronization with a revolution of the engine, a camshaft (1) is provided, and a valve open-and-closure changing mechanism is interposed between the rotary body and the camshaft to relatively rotate the camshaft to the rotary body to enable a change in a valve open-and-closure timing of at least one of intake and exhaust valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Miyasaka, Yoshinori Ichinosawa
  • Patent number: 6412461
    Abstract: A rocker arm for rocking on a rocker arm shaft is constructed to include two arms: a first rocker arm rocked positively by the rotating motion of a cam; and a second rocker arm for actuating the opening/closing actions of an intake/exhaust valve. At a running time of an engine at a high speed/under a high load, an electromagnet of an electromagnetic drive device is excited to move a movable pin forward thereby connect the first and second rocker arms to each other. At a running time of the engine at a low speed/under a low load, on the other hand, the electromagnet of the electromagnetic drive device for a selected cylinder is unexcited so that the movable pin is returned to an initial position by the force of a return spring to disconnect the first and second rocker arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Isuzu Ceramics Research Institute Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenro Nakashima
  • Patent number: 6412463
    Abstract: A plate spring is pre-assembled as a unit into a seal member which contains the section between an advancing oil pressure chamber and a retarding oil pressure chamber in a valve timing regulation device. Both the seal member and the plate spring are adapted to be inserted integrally between the sliding faces of the first rotating body and the second rotating body of the valve timing regulation device. Furthermore it is possible to facilitate the insertion of these components. The detachment of the plate spring 32 which is fitted into the indented inner section of the seal member 27 is suppressed and a spring detachment prevention means 31a, 31b which allows displacement due to resilient deformation of the plate spring 32 is provided in the seal member 27.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kinugawa
  • Patent number: 6390040
    Abstract: A valve timing system 10 is provided for dynamically suppressing cylinder knock within an internal combustion engine. The engine is of the type including several cylinders 12, each having intake and exhaust valves 14, 16. Valve timing system 10 includes a controller 24, sensors 30, and actuators 26, 28 which selectively actuate valves 14, 16 in response to signals received from controller 24. Controller 24 identifies knocking within one or more of cylinder(s) 12, and provides a modified control signal to the valve actuators 26, 28 which are associated with the identified cylinder(s). The modified control signal alters the duration in which the valves 14, 16 remain open, thereby suppressing knocking within the cylinder(s) without adversely effecting the vehicle's fuel economy or emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Global Tech., Inc.
    Inventors: Mazen Hammoud, Imad Hassan Makki, James Michael Kerns
  • Patent number: 6390043
    Abstract: A device for changing the angle of rotation of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine relative to a driving wheel. The device includes an inner part, which is provided with bridges or wings, and is disposed rotationally movable in a cell wheel. The driven cell wheel has several bridges, which are distributed over the periphery and divided by bridges or wings of the inner part into in each case two pressure spaces. The change in the angular position is caused by applying pressure on or relieving pressure from the two pressure spaces. As an end position is approached, the adjusting movement is damped hydraulically by integrated damping means. These damping means are formed by the interaction of the mutually approaching bridges of the inner part and of the cell wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Dr. Ing.H.C.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Bernd Niethammer, Andreas Knecht
  • Patent number: 6386166
    Abstract: An improved splined cam phaser includes four assemblies: a sprocket assembly, an inner hub assembly, a cover assembly, and a piston assembly. The joined assemblies provide phaser function at reduced manufacturing cost. The piston assembly is formed, at least in part, of a plastic polymer wherein the seal groove is net formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew T. Scott, Timothy M. Nieves, Dominic Borraccia, Jason M. Urckfitz
  • Patent number: 6382150
    Abstract: A valve actuating mechanism includes opening and closing rotary cams rotatable together about a primary axis and a rocker pivotable about a first pivot axis spaced from the primary axis. The rocker includes first and second rocker arms connected to actuate a valve by oscillating motion about the pivot axis. The first and second rocker arms respectively carry opening and closing cam followers operable by the opening and closing cams for positively oscillating the rocker in either direction. The closing cam follower has a pad engagable with the closing cam and carried by a hydraulic lash control piston slidable in a cylinder of the second rocker arm. The cylinder is connected with a pressure oil supply having a check valve preventing reverse oil flow. A bleed orifice in the pad is sized to allow restricted oil flow from the cylinder to avoid excessive loading of the mechanism. The orifice may be blocked by the cam to limit oil flow during operation of the pad on the cam base circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Huntington Fischer
  • Patent number: 6378474
    Abstract: A crank driven VVT mechanism includes single or dual cranks for actuating oscillating cam drive mechanisms. The crank drive positively actuates the mechanisms in both valve opening and valve closing directions and thus avoids the need to provide return springs as are generally required in cam driven mechanisms to bias the mechanisms toward a valve closed position. However, the crank driven mechanisms of the invention require the oscillating cams to pivot onto the base circle portion during a dwell period in order to provide periods of valve closed engine operation even when the valves are set for maximum opening stroke. Thus, increased motion of the actuating mechanism or a smaller angular extent of the valve lift portions of the oscillating cams is required as compared to a cam driven mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Jay Pierik
  • Patent number: 6374788
    Abstract: A valve timing control device has a purge path arranged at a vane of a rotor provided with a valve. The purge path communicates a retardation side oil hydraulic pressure chamber with an accommodation hole. Oil pressure in the retardation side oil hydraulic pressure chamber is supplied through the purge path to the accommodation hole to generate oil pressure acting to delay a release operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Fukuhara, Hiroyuki Kinugawa