Patents Examined by Wesley G Harris
  • Patent number: 11118487
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser is provided that includes a stator, a rotor having a plurality of vanes that form fluid chambers with the stator, and a timing wheel attached to the rotor. The rotor includes an axial fastening interface with an annular groove for receiving an annular protrusion of the timing wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Sowjanya Balabhadrapatruni
  • Patent number: 11118485
    Abstract: A variable valve lift (VVL) system for an internal combustion engine is provided that utilizes hydraulic fluid supply pressure feedback to provide noise free operation. The VVL system includes a high pressure pump, a solenoid valve, a pressure translating device, a one-way valve, and a hydraulic fluid pressure sensor. The high pressure pump is fluidly connected to the solenoid valve and pressure translating device by at least one fluid gallery that forms a high pressure chamber. The solenoid valve selectively fluidly connects the high pressure chamber to a middle pressure chamber formed by at least one fluid gallery that fluidly connects the one-way valve to the solenoid valve. The hydraulic fluid pressure sensor is arranged to detect a hydraulic fluid supply pressure of the one-way valve and provides feedback to an electronic controller that determines a proper fluid intake opening timing of the solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kevin Sittner, Hermann Neubeck
  • Patent number: 11105229
    Abstract: A hydraulic camshaft adjuster has a stator, a rotor arranged movably with respect to the stator, and a central valve via which oil supply of working chambers of the hydraulic camshaft adjuster is controlled. A deformable sealing sleeve is arranged between the central valve and the rotor. The sealing sleeve has an initial length in an axial direction, and after assembly, has a deformation such that the length of the sealing sleeve changes from the initial length to an assembled length. The sealing sleeve bears at least partially in the radial direction against the central valve and against the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Weber, Jochen Thielen
  • Patent number: 11105227
    Abstract: A variable cam timing phaser arrangement is disclosed, comprising: a rotor having at least one vane; a stator co-axially surrounding the rotor, having at least one recess for receiving the at least one vane of the rotor, wherein the at least one vane divides the at least one recess into an first chamber and a second chamber; and a control assembly for regulating hydraulic fluid flow from the first chamber to the second chamber or vice-versa. The control assembly comprises a central on/off piloted valve for allowing or preventing fluid communication between the first and second chambers, and a remotely located solenoid-controlled actuator for controlling the on/off piloted valve. The present disclosure further relates to a method of controlling the timing of a camshaft in an internal combustion engine. The disclosure also relates to an internal combustion engine and a vehicle comprising the disclosed variable cam timing phaser arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Mikael Eriksson, Daniel Olovsson
  • Patent number: 11098616
    Abstract: A camshaft and method of producing a camshaft for an internal combustion engine. The camshaft includes a base shaft and an external toothing extending at least in certain portions axially along the base shaft. The camshaft includes a hub with an internal toothing which correlates with the external toothing of the base shaft such that the hub is connected rotationally conjointly and axially non-displaceably to the base shaft. The external toothing has at least one form-fit subregion that extends axially at least in certain portions along the base shaft, or one force-fit subregion in order for the hub to be arranged at least in a form-fitting or force-fitting manner. At least the form-fit subregion or the force-fit subregion is adjoined by at least one alignment region which extends at least in certain portions axially along the base shaft and which serves for the angular alignment of the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA TECCENTER AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Volker Junge
  • Patent number: 11092045
    Abstract: A control valve for a cam phaser of an internal combustion engine, the control valve including a cylindrical housing, including a first operating connection, a second operating connection, a supply connection, and a tank drain connection configured to drain a hydraulic fluid; a control piston device, including a control piston, a supply tube, a first check valve and a second check valve enabling cam torque recirculation, wherein the control piston device is arranged in the housing and axially movable by an actuator, wherein the first check valve is configured with a first disc portion and a second disc portion and the second check valve is configured with a third disc portion and a fourth disc portion and the first check valves and the second check valve are arranged offset from each other by a compression coil spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: ECO Holding 1 GmbH
    Inventors: Kenneth Parker, Dave Fiddes, Mustafa Mohammed, Kevin Phillips, Daniel Stanhope
  • Patent number: 11085339
    Abstract: A method of continuously variable valve duration (CVVD) location learning may include when a controller determines necessity of position learning for short duration and long duration of a CVVD system, performing conditional application re-learning control in which the position learning is performed in a situation in which validity determination of system environment condition for CVVD hardware and validity determination of vehicle environment condition for engine operation information of an engine are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jung-Sup Byun, Hee-Nam Woo
  • Patent number: 11078810
    Abstract: A rocker arm comprises a first outer arm and a second outer arm joined by a pivot body, the first outer arm comprising an inner side, the inner side comprising a limiting surface. An actuatable latch mechanism is within the pivot body. A first inner arm and a second inner arm are joined by a latch arm. An axle joins the first inner arm and the second inner arm to pivot between the first outer arm and the second outer arm. A second axle is between the first inner arm and the second inner arm. A pin extends from the second axle towards the first outer arm, and the pin is configured to pivot towards and away from the limiting surface when the first inner arm and the second inner arm pivot between the first outer arm and the second outer arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Matthew A. Vance, Dale Arden Stretch
  • Patent number: 11078812
    Abstract: A continuously variable friction drive is used to phase a cam plate attached to the camshaft relative to a sprocket plate driven by the crankshaft. Discs are received within the cavity between the sprocket and cam plate. The discs are free to rotate about an axis of rotation, and is fixed relative to the cam and the sprocket, so that when the sprocket plate rotates, the cam plate is rotated by the discs in the opposite direction. The axis of rotation of the discs can be tilted by an actuator, so that the discs themselves contact the plates at different distances from their axes of rotation, which changes the speed of rotation of one plate relative to the other. When the speed of rotation of the crank and cam differ, the phase angle between the two shafts is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Chad McCloy
  • Patent number: 11079145
    Abstract: A Stirling cycle machine. The machine includes at least one rocking drive mechanism which includes: a rocking beam having a rocker pivot, at least one cylinder and at least one piston. The piston is housed within a respective cylinder and is capable of substantially linearly reciprocating within the respective cylinder. Also, the drive mechanism includes at least one coupling assembly having a proximal end and a distal end. The linear motion of the piston is converted to rotary motion of the rocking beam. Also, a crankcase housing the rocking beam and housing a first portion of the coupling assembly is included. The machine also includes a working space housing the at least one cylinder, the at least one piston and a second portion of the coupling assembly. An airlock is included between the workspace and the crankcase and a seal is included for sealing the workspace from the airlock and crankcase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael J. Slate, Prashant Bhat
  • Patent number: 11078909
    Abstract: A scroll compressor includes a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll. An orbiting angle of the orbiting scroll when a compression chamber is formed and compression of fluid is initiated is referred to as an orbiting initiation angle. An orbiting angle of the orbiting scroll when the compression of the fluid is terminated is referred to as an orbiting termination angle. An orbiting angle of the orbiting scroll when an end of the orbiting spiral wall initiates contact with an arcuate portion of the fixed spiral wall is referred to as a distal end contact initiation angle. The formation point distance is a peak in at least one of orbiting angles obtained by subtracting integer multiples of 360° from an orbiting angle in a range from the distal end contact initiation angle to the orbiting termination angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takumi Maeda, Takayuki Ota, Kosaku Tozawa, Takuro Yamashita, Yuya Hattori, Tatsunori Tomota, Yasuhiro Kondoh, Kazuki Shibata, Etsuko Hori, Hideyuki Suzuki, Kimihiro Fukawa
  • Patent number: 11060427
    Abstract: A valve train arrangement including at least one exhaust valve and a reverse-spring hydraulic lash adjuster (RSHLA) is provided. The RSHLA has a predetermined closing velocity. An engine brake system is configured to engage the exhaust valve, such that: (i) upon activation of the engine brake system, the engine brake system engages the at least one exhaust valve to open the at least one exhaust valve; and (ii) upon deactivation of the engine brake system, the engine brake system disengages the at least one exhaust valve such that the at least one exhaust valve is closed. A deactivation velocity of the engine brake system is less than the predetermined closing velocity of the RSHLA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Eric Berndt
  • Patent number: 11041412
    Abstract: A valve timing controller includes: a driving-side rotating body rotating in synchronization with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; a driven-side rotating body disposed coaxially with a rotation axis of the driving-side rotating body and rotating integrally with a valve opening and closing camshaft; advancing and retarding chambers formed between the driving-side and driven-side rotating bodies; a control valve unit controlling supply and discharge of a fluid to and from the advancing and retarding chambers; and a check valve unit disposed upstream of the control valve unit in a supply flow passage. A pressure space is provided between the control valve and check valve units, the control valve unit has a flow passage structure, and the check valve unit includes a supply flow passage and a return check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeo Asahi, Yuji Noguchi, Kazuo Ueda
  • Patent number: 11041411
    Abstract: The invention relates to a camshaft adjusting system (1) for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, including a hydraulic camshaft adjuster (2) which has a stator (3), a rotor (4) that is rotatably mounted in the stator (3), and a hydraulic control system (6) that has a valve (5). The rotor (4) has at least one vane which protrudes into a pressure chamber formed between the rotor (4) and the stator (3) such that the pressure chamber is divided into two sub-chambers, each of which interacts with the hydraulic control system (6) such that a hydraulic pressure ratio is established between the two sub-chambers, said ratio specifying a relative rotational position between the rotor (4) and the stator (3), and is adjusted on the basis of the position of the valve (5). The camshaft adjusting system also includes an actuator (7) which is arranged adjacently in the axial direction of the camshaft adjuster (2) and which acts on the valve (5) for adjusting purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Kramer, Olaf Boese
  • Patent number: 11035263
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include an internal combustion engine including a plurality of cylinders operable by a valve actuation mechanism including a lifting mechanism having a compression brake valve profile configured to selectively lift the exhaust valves on a downstroke of the cylinders in response to a cranking condition of the internal combustion engine, wherein the compression braking valve profile is phased to the upstroke of the pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel C. Geckler, Vivek Anand Sujan, Adam C. Cecil, Anthony Kyle Perfetto
  • Patent number: 11022008
    Abstract: An exhaust valve rocker arm assembly operable in a combustion engine mode and an engine braking mode, the exhaust valve rocker arm assembly selectively opening first and second exhaust valves and including a rocker shaft, exhaust valve rocker arm assembly and a ball engine brake mechanism. The exhaust valve rocker arm assembly has an exhaust rocker arm that receives the rocker shaft and is configured to rotate around the rocker shaft. The ball engine brake mechanism is configured on the exhaust rocker arm and selectively actuates a valve plunger causing an exhaust valve to perform engine braking. The ball engine brake mechanism includes a capsule assembly having a capsule, a biasing member and a ball. The capsule has a cylindrical body that extends between a first end having an actuation face and a second end having a spring return face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Mark VanWingerden
  • Patent number: 11022009
    Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster includes a longitudinally extending pushrod having a proximal end and a distal end, and a cavity located at the distal end and a piston received in the cavity. The piston includes an internal reservoir and a fluid pathway to the internal reservoir. The fluid pathway includes a longitudinal passage and a radial passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Rong Qu, Charles F. Coffey
  • Patent number: 11015675
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a crankshaft having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The crankshaft defines a crank axis and is rotatable about the crank axis. The internal combustion engine also includes a camshaft that defines a camshaft axis and is rotatable about the camshaft axis. The internal combustion engine further includes a cam drive assembly that is operable to transfer rotation from the crankshaft to the camshaft, a balance mass rotatable about the crankshaft, and a balancer drive assembly operable to drive the balance mass through the cam drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, LLC
    Inventor: Johann Voges
  • Patent number: 11008901
    Abstract: A rocker arm assembly having a rocker arm with a first end defining a first cavity, a second end opposite the first end, a bore positioned between the first end and the second end for pivotally mounting the rocker arm within an engine, and an oil passage extending from the bore to the cavity. A hydraulic lash adjuster is positioned within the cavity and has an oil inlet in fluid communication with the oil passage. The rocker arm has a vent passage configured to place the oil inlet in fluid communication with an area exterior to the rocker arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ashwin A. Hattiangadi, Charles F. Coffey
  • Patent number: 11008985
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with: an electric supercharger including an electric compressor; an EGR introduction port formed upstream of the electric compressor; a throttle valve A arranged upstream of the EGR introduction port; and a control device. A throttle valve B other than the throttle valve A is not arranged in the intake air passage. The control device is configured, in a non-supercharging region, to execute a first air flow rate adjustment processing that adjusts an intake air flow rate by adjusting the opening degree of the throttle valve A while driving the electric supercharger to cause a pressure ratio of the electric compressor to approach 1; and a second air flow rate adjustment processing that adjusts the intake air flow rate by adjusting the opening degree of the throttle valve A while not energizing the electric supercharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeki Miyashita