Patents Examined by Wesley G Harris
  • Patent number: 11852053
    Abstract: An electrically-actuated variable camshaft timing (VCT) phaser assembly, comprises a sun gear configured to receive input from an electric motor and one or more planet gears having radially-outwardly-extending gear teeth that engage the sun gear; a first ring gear, having radially-inwardly extending gear teeth that engage the radially-outwardly-extending gear teeth of the sun gear, configured to receive rotational output provided by a crankshaft; a second ring gear, having radially-inwardly extending gear teeth that engage the radially-outwardly-extending gear teeth of the sun gear, configured to couple to a camshaft; one or more planet gear pins that carry the planet gear(s) and engage a planetary gear set to prevent the relative rotation of the planet gear pin(s) relative to the planetary gear set; and one or more springs that bias the planet gear pin(s) and the planetary gear(s) toward the first ring gear and the second ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Chad McCloy, Daniel Brown, Mark Wigsten
  • Patent number: 11852055
    Abstract: Travel of a brushless rotary actuator is limited by two stops, including a wound stator and a magnetic cylindrical rotor rigidly attached to a shaft having a first end rigidly attached to a control member. A second end of the shaft is rigidly attached to a travel limiting part acting as stops, and the travel limiting part has bending, resilient beam shapes. The actuator is electrically controlled in an open-loop. A control system controls a lift value of valves of an internal combustion engine by a lever driven by such an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: MMT AG
    Inventors: Antoine Foucaut, Pierre Gemberlé, Antoine Bourgade
  • Patent number: 11852054
    Abstract: A variable camshaft timing (VCT) system includes an independent camshaft phaser, receiving input from a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, having an output coupled to one of an inner concentric camshaft or an outer concentric camshaft; and a dependent camshaft phaser, coupled to the other of the inner concentric camshaft or the outer concentric camshaft, comprising a half-Oldham link configured to permit radial movement of the inner concentric camshaft relative to the outer concentric camshaft in one radial direction and at least one pivotable arm configured to permit radial movement of the inner concentric camshaft relative to the outer concentric camshaft in another, different radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Chad M. McCloy, David C. White, Shawn Blackmur, Timothy W. Kunz, Brian T. Kenyon
  • Patent number: 11852052
    Abstract: A hydraulic oil control valve is coaxially disposed with a rotational axis of a valve timing adjustment device. The hydraulic oil control valve includes a sleeve, a spool, a movement restricting portion, a fixing member. The sleeve includes an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve. The fixing member is fixed to an end portion of the outer sleeve facing the actuator. The fixing member is configured to restrict the inner sleeve from moving in a circumferential direction relative to the outer sleeve and to restrict the inner sleeve and the spool from coming off from the outer sleeve toward the actuator in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Futoshi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 11852045
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling an internal combustion engine arrangement (100). The internal combustion engine arrangement (100) comprises a combustion cylinder (102) and an inlet valve (106) arranged to be positioned in a closed position at a distance before a piston (104) reaches a bottom dead center during normal operation. The inlet valve is further controllable to be arranged in the open position until the piston reaches the bottom dead center if a required volumetric efficiency of the combustion cylinder is higher than a volumetric efficiency during normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arne Andersson, David Carlson
  • Patent number: 11852056
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling lubrication of a connecting rod bearing of an internal combustion engine arrangement. The method comprises the steps of controlling an inlet valve to be maintained in the closed position during a movement of the reciprocating piston from the top dead center during an intake stroke for a predetermined number of crank angle degrees; and positioning the inlet valve in the open position when the reciprocating piston has traveled the predetermined number of crank angle degrees from the top dead center, wherein lubricating medium is provided to the connecting rod bearing within a predetermined time period before the inlet valve is arranged in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arne Andersson, Bengt Lassesson
  • Patent number: 11852382
    Abstract: A heating and cooling system powered by renewable energy and assisted with geothermal energy includes a solar cycling unit, a supercritical carbon dioxide (S—CO2) unit, and a refrigerant cycling unit. Solar energy obtained at the solar cycling unit may be used to power the S—CO2 cycling unit. To do so, the solar cycling unit utilizes a solar collector, a thermal energy storage, and a heat exchanger along with a first working fluid which is preferably molten salt or Therminol. Next, the energy generated at the S—CO2 cycling unit, which preferably circulates S—CO2 as a second working fluid, may be used to operate the refrigerant cycling unit. In the refrigerant cycling unit, Tetrafluroethene is preferably used as the third working fluid to produce required cooling effects. Additionally, geothermal heat exchangers may be integrated into the system for use during varying weather conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS, KING ABDULLAH CITY FOR ATOMIC & RENEWABLE ENERGY (K.A.CARE)
    Inventors: Esmail M. A. Mokheimer, Mohamed A. Habib, Mohammad Raghib Shakeel
  • Patent number: 11852048
    Abstract: A valve bridge to operatively interface with a rocker arm and a valve, and systems, assemblies, and methods thereof can comprise: a body, of the valve bridge, having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first leg of the valve bridge extending from the first side of the body, a second leg of the valve bridge extending from the first side of the body, and a third leg of the valve bridge extending from the first side of the body. A first pin can extend from an end of the first leg opposite the body, and a second pin can extend from an end of the second leg opposite the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Stephen Pipis, Jr., Selvakumar Selvaraj, Eric Lee Schroeder
  • Patent number: 11852383
    Abstract: System, method, and apparatus for harnessing geothermal power from superhot geothermal fluid (SHGF) and magma reservoirs. An exemplary apparatus can include a well screen coupled to an end of a casing string. The well screen, which is at least partially submerged within an underground reservoir, defines a volume in the underground reservoir that can be filled with superhot geothermal fluid. A slidable casing is aligned coaxially with the well screen and configured to be repositioned relative to the well screen. A draw pipe extending through the slidable casing is configured to convey SHGF from the underground reservoir towards the surface in response to the slidable casing being repositioned to obstruct more of a set of apertures in the well screen and an increase in pressure within a cavity of the slidable casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: ENHANCEDGEO HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Patent number: 11852051
    Abstract: A single unit solenoid-controlled hydraulic fluid control valve (HFCV) configured to recirculate an exiting hydraulic fluid from a first hydraulic actuation chamber to a second hydraulic actuation chamber is provided. The HFCV includes a selectively movable spool having an inner fluid chamber configured to receive and deliver the exiting hydraulic fluid to one or both of either a sump or one of the first or second hydraulic actuation chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andrew Mlinaric, Gustavo de Oliveira Figueiredo
  • Patent number: 11852046
    Abstract: A continuous variable valve duration apparatus includes a camshaft, a cam unit on which a cam is formed and the camshaft is inserted, a guide bracket of which an upper guide boss is formed, an inner wheel transmitting the rotation of the camshaft to the cam unit, a wheel housing of which a guide shaft having a guide thread formed thereto to be movably inserted into the upper guide boss is formed thereto, and of which a tail guide guiding the relative movement of the guide bracket is formed thereto, and the wheel housing into which the inner wheel is rotatably inserted, a worm wheel of which an inner thread engaged with the guide thread is formed on inside thereof and of which an outer thread is formed on outside thereof, and a tolerance adjusting pin inserted into the tolerance adjusting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoung Kwon, Jinyoung Jung, You Sang Son, Back Sik Kim, Dongwon Jung
  • Patent number: 11852047
    Abstract: A valve train arrangement constructed in accordance to one example of the present teachings includes a rocker arm, a deactivating hydraulic lash adjuster (HLA) capsule, a lost motion spring (LMS) capsule and a lever. The rocker arm has a first end and a second end. The second end cooperates with a valve. The HLA capsule cooperates with the first end of the rocker arm. The LMS capsule has a lost motion spring. The LMS capsule is located in a position on the valve train arrangement that is offset from the HLA capsule. The lever is configured between the HLA capsule and the LMS capsule. During cylinder deactivation, load is transferred from the HLA capsule to the lever arm and ultimately to the lost motion spring in the LMS capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Ramy Rezkalla, Andrei Radulescu, Nicola Andrisani
  • Patent number: 11725546
    Abstract: A phaser which has an offset or remote pilot valve added to the hydraulic circuit to manage a hydraulic detent switching function, in order to provide a mid-position lock for cold starts of the engine, either during cranking or prior to complete engine shutdown. The mid-position locking of the phaser positions the cam at an optimum position for cold restarts of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventor: Brian Kenyon
  • Patent number: 11713756
    Abstract: A scroll compressor includes oil in an oil storage space that is brought into direct contact with and stirred with a discharge refrigerant. The scroll compressor includes a fixed scroll, an orbiting scroll coupled to one side of the fixed scroll, and a discharge cover coupled to another side of the fixed scroll and provided with a muffler hole communicating with a refrigerant discharge space and the oil storage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Taekyoung Kim, Sungyong Ahn, Jaeha Lee
  • Patent number: 11713698
    Abstract: A rocker arm assembly that includes an electromagnetic latch assembly with a latch pin and an actuator operative to actuate the latch pin between a first position and a second position. The actuator includes an electromagnet powered through a coil circuit. The rocker arm assembly further includes a switch in a switch circuit. The coil circuit and the switch circuit are connected in parallel. Moving the latch pin between the first position and the second position opens and closes the switch. In an alternate embodiment, relative motion of two rocker arms opens and closes the switch. The rocker arm assembly allows OBD information to be obtained without making electrical connections to the rocker arm assembly other than ones provided to power the electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Dale Arden Stretch, Michael J. Campbell
  • Patent number: 11703052
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a high-pressure scroll compressor, in response to a discharged refrigerant flowing into a back pressure chamber, capable of directly discharging the refrigerant to a space inside a main body, and capable of maintaining an intermediate pressure of the back pressure chamber to be less than a discharge pressure of the refrigerant by separately providing a discharge flow path in the back pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yang Hee Cho, Moo Seong Bae
  • Patent number: 11698033
    Abstract: A variable valve timing assembly is provided for extending a duration of an intake valve opening. The variable valve timing assembly includes an intake rocker mounted on a pedestal and operable by a cam lobe to open and close the intake valve. The intake rocker includes a lever extension, and a holding member in the pedestal is lockable in position by a hydraulic circuit in the pedestal to contact the lever extension of the intake rocker and hold the intake valve in the open position. A reset pin in the pedestal is actuatable by the cam lobe to release the holding member to allow the intake valve to close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Ins.
    Inventors: Adam C. Cecil, Richard J. Gustafson
  • Patent number: 11674416
    Abstract: A friction shim is configured to generate a frictional force between a first shim contact surface of the friction shim and a shaft end surface of a driven shaft and a frictional force between a second shim contact surface of the friction shim and an opposing surface of a second rotatable body after installation of a valve timing regulator to the driven shaft. A contact member has a first member contact surface configured to contact the shaft end surface. The contact member is installed to the second rotatable body such that the first member contact surface contacts the shaft end surface before occurrence of contact of the first shim contact surface to the shaft end surface at a time of installing the valve timing regulator to the driven shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 11668210
    Abstract: Systems and methods for intermittent supply of lubricating oil to a tip of a rocker arm assembly. In one embodiment, a lubricating oil may be selectively to a tip of a rocker arm via oil channels aligned only during opening of a valve coupled to the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Powerhouse Engine Solutions Switzerland IP Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Sandeep Namadev Kamble, John Patrick Dowell, Samir Vikas Joshi
  • Patent number: 11649741
    Abstract: A hydraulic oil control valve is coaxially disposed with a rotational axis of a valve timing adjustment device. The hydraulic oil control valve includes a sleeve and a spool sliding in an axial direction within the sleeve. The spool has an inner space serving as a drain passage through which the hydraulic oil discharged from a phase shifting portion flows. The spool defines a drain inlet that guides the hydraulic oil discharged from the phase shifting portion into the drain passage. At least one of the sleeve or the spool defines an opening through which the hydraulic oil in the drain passage is discharged from the hydraulic oil control valve. A protrusion is formed between the drain inlet and the opening to extend radially inward beyond the drain inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Futoshi Kawamura