Patents Examined by Wesley G Harris
  • Patent number: 11008903
    Abstract: A retard supply check valve is installed in a retard supply passage and is located on a side of a hydraulic oil controller where a hydraulic oil supply source is placed. The retard supply check valve enables only a flow of hydraulic oil from the hydraulic oil supply source toward a retard chamber. An advance supply check valve is installed in an advance supply passage and is located on the side of the hydraulic oil controller where the hydraulic oil supply source is placed. The advance supply check valve enables only a flow of the hydraulic oil from the hydraulic oil supply source toward an advance chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuro Mitsutani
  • Patent number: 11002197
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine includes an intake air amount controller and a variable valve controller. The intake air amount controller includes an exhaust manifold pressure calculator, an engine intake air amount calculator, a volumetric efficiency correction coefficient calculator, a cylinder intake air amount calculator, an exhaust gas flow rate calculator, and a cylinder intake air amount controller. The volumetric efficiency correction coefficient calculator calculates a volumetric efficiency correction coefficient based on a pressure ratio between an intake manifold pressure and an exhaust manifold pressure, a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine, and an actuation state of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takuo Watanuki
  • Patent number: 11002156
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a valvetrain having a rocker arm assembly including a rocker arm on which a latch pin is mounted. An actuator for the latch pin, including an electromagnet, is mounted separately from the rocker arm. Therefore, the rocker arm is able to move independently from the electromagnet. The electromagnet is operative to cause the latch pin to actuate through magnetic flux following a magnetic circuit that passes through the rocker arm. Mounting the electromagnet apart from the rocker arm allows wires powering the electromagnet to be held in relatively static positions. The magnetic circuit is arranged to bring magnetic flux into the latch pin, or a co-acting part, within the volume of the rocker arm. This enables a compact design that is suitable for installation in engines where the available space under the valve cover may be very limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Douglas Anthony Hughes, Matthew Richard Busdiecker, Dale Arden Stretch, Mark Allan Juds
  • Patent number: 11002158
    Abstract: A variable cam timing phaser with a control valve that can selectively user either CTA mode, TA mode or both CTA and TA mode simultaneously to actuate the phaser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Franklin R. Smith
  • Patent number: 11002157
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rocker arm (16) for an internal combustion engine (12). The rocker arm (16) comprises a cavity (41) with a cavity wall (42) at least partially accommodating a lash adjustment piston (44) for hydraulic lash adjustment. The rocker arm (16) further comprises a lash stop surface (46). At least a portion of the lash adjustment piston (44) is adapted to abut the lash stop surface (46) during at least one operating condition of the rocker arm (16). The cavity (41) comprises a lash adjustment chamber (50) at least partially delimited by the lash adjustment piston (44). The rocker arm (16) further comprising a control fluid conduit (52) and a valve assembly (54) located between the lash adjustment chamber (50) and the control fluid conduit (52), as seen in an intended direction of flow from the control fluid conduit (52) to the lash adjustment chamber (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Per Persson
  • Patent number: 10968789
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a valve bridge of an internal combustion engine. In one example, a valve bridge comprises a first arm, a longitudinally opposing second arm, and one or more interior walls forming a passage extending laterally through at least a portion of the valve bridge, the passage disposed between the first arm and second arm and forming a first main opening and an opposing, second main opening. A central support structure is disposed within the passage and is formed by the one or more interior walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Praveen Turuvekere Gurudatt, Sandeep Kamble, Jason Lymangrover, Sudeep Pradhan
  • Patent number: 10968792
    Abstract: An engine oil passage structure for an engine contributing to downsizing the engine and achieving protection of an oil passage against external forces is provided. Provided is an oil passage structure for an engine installed in a small vehicle, the engine including an engine body formed of a crankcase and a cylinder block and a cylinder head stacked inclined vehicle frontward on the crankcase, the crankcase, the cylinder block, and the cylinder head being integrally fastened. The oil passage structure includes, near a bent part formed by a case front wall of the crankcase and a cylinder front wall of the cylinder block forming a valley part by an obtuse angle, a right-left direction oil passage extending in a right-left direction along the valley part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Iwama, Dai Kataoka, Yuichi Tawarada
  • Patent number: 10968787
    Abstract: A deactivating rocker arm can include an outer arm extending between a first end and a second end. The outer arm can have a first outer side arm and a second outer side arm. The first and second outer side arms can define outer pivot axle apertures and axle slots. The inner arm can be disposed between the first and second outer side arms. The inner arm can have a first inner side arm and a second inner side arm. The first and second inner side arms can define bearing apertures. A bearing can be mounted in the bearing apertures of the inner arm and the axle slots of the outer arm. The axle slots can be configured to permit lost motion movement of the bearing. A first biasing member can be disposed on the second end of the outer arm and in biasing contact with the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Kynan L. Church
  • Patent number: 10961878
    Abstract: A valve train for the variable actuation of an inlet valve and an outlet valve of a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, having a first operative connection between a valve actuating device and the inlet valve and a second operative connection between the valve actuating device and the outlet valve. The first operative connection and the second operative connection are assigned an interrupting element which is set up to temporarily interrupt the operative connections. The first operative connection and the second operative connection are connected to the same interrupting element in such a way that the first operative connection and the second operative connection can be interrupted temporarily by way of the interrupting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fimml, Jonathan Lipp
  • Patent number: 10961875
    Abstract: A bearing frame or a cylinder head cover for an internal combustion engine may include at least one camshaft mounted in tunnel bearings in at least two bearing openings arranged along a bearing channel and completely enclosing at least one of the camshaft and a radial bearing, and at least one axial shaft bearing ring arranged on the camshaft. The axial shaft bearing ring may have a ring groove which is open towards the bearing frame or towards the cylinder head cover. At least one engagement element may be arranged on the bearing frame or on the cylinder head cover, which engagement element may engage into the ring groove and forms an axial bearing for the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Inventor: Antonio Menonna
  • Patent number: 10954826
    Abstract: An actuation apparatus for actuating a switchable valve train component of an internal combustion engine includes: a lever for contacting an actuation source and contacting the switchable valve train component; and a biasing unit. The biasing unit contacts the lever. In use, the biasing unit becomes biased by the lever when the actuation source moves the lever when the actuation source attempts to actuate the switchable valve train component, via the lever, when the switchable valve train component is in an un-activatable state. The biasing unit causes the lever to activate the switchable valve train component when the switchable valve train component is in an activatable state again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Gennaro Buonocore, Michele Angelo Cecchi
  • Patent number: 10941712
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine with a regulating device, whereby a fuel-air mixture is burned in the internal combustion engine with a combustion air ratio controllable by the regulating device, whereby the regulating device comprises an emission control loop, which is designed to control the charge-air pressure as a substitute variable for the NOx emission by the actuators influencing the charge-air pressure via a functional relationship, such that, for each target power or actual power of the internal combustion engine, a charge-air pressure target value can be set, and whereby the internal combustion engine further comprises a variable valve train, by means of which an operating characteristic of at least one inlet valve can be varied, whereby the functional relationship takes into account the influence of an adjustment of the operating characteristic of the at least one inlet valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: INNIO JENBACHER GMBH & CO OG
    Inventors: Josef Thalhauser, Nikolaus Spyra, Ettore Musu
  • Patent number: 10941680
    Abstract: A method of providing a rocker arm set for a valvetrain includes providing a first rocker arm configured as a switching rocker arm for a first intake valve, and providing a second rocker arm configured as a fixed rocker arm for a second intake valve, the second rocker arm operating in a normal Otto cycle mode. The first rocker arm operates in a late intake valve closing (LIVC) mode where the first rocker arm is configured to close the first intake valve later than the second intake valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: James E. McCarthy, Jr., Edwin Scott Brownell, Nikhil Saggam, Susheel Dharmadhikari
  • Patent number: 10934897
    Abstract: Provided is a mechanical lash adjuster including a plunger, a housing put into thread engagement with the plunger in an axial direction to form a thread engagement portion, the plunger engaging member fixed and retained in a circumferential direction of the thread engagement portion, and a coil spring urging the plunger in a direction opposite to a urging-force acting direction of a coil spring. A lead and flank angles of threads forming the thread engagement portion are set such that when an axial load acts on the plunger in either of a plunger extension and contraction directions, the plunger is made self-sustaining, and when the plunger swings by an amount corresponding to a backlash due to a lateral load, the plunger slides and rotates at the thread engagement portion to move in an axial-load acting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michihiro Kameda, Hiroyuki Ozawa, Masaaki Inoue
  • Patent number: 10927717
    Abstract: A valve train lever for actuating a valve of a reciprocating piston engine, in particular an internal combustion engine. The valve train lever comprises a lever arm, which is pivotally movable about a pin; a tapping element, which lies against or can be made to lie against a cam of a camshaft of the reciprocating piston engine; a coupling mechanism, by way of which the tapping element is coupled to the lever arm spring-elastically in a first state and rigidly in a second state; and an actuating element, which is connected to the lever arm and lies against or can be made to lie against a valve tappet of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: MAN TRUCK & BUS ÖSTERREICH GESMBH
    Inventors: Gottfried Raab, Thomas Eibl, Franz Leitenmayr, Ewald Hundsberger
  • Patent number: 10927719
    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 a recess for receiving the vane of the rotor, wherein the vane divides the recess into a 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 allowing or preventing fluid flow along a first unidirectional flow path between the first and second chambers, and a central solenoid valve allowing or preventing fluid flow along a second unidirectional flow path between the first and second chambers in the opposite direction to the first flow path. Also disclosed are an integrated valve unit for use in the variable cam timing phaser arrangement, and a method of controlling the timing of a camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Daniel Olovsson, Mikael Eriksson
  • Patent number: 10920626
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling an angular position of a camshaft relative to an angular position of a crankshaft includes detecting rotational movement of an electric motor output shaft controlling a camshaft phaser; detecting rotational movement of the crankshaft; determining the relative difference between the rotational movement of the electric motor output shaft and the rotational movement of the crankshaft; and determining whether the angular position of the camshaft relative to the angular position of the crankshaft is advancing, retarding, or remaining constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: BORGWARNER, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel Brown
  • Patent number: 10900393
    Abstract: A control device controls an internal combustion engine including: an elastic wave sensor arranged and configured to output a signal responsive to the strength of an acoustic emission wave produced at a sliding portion; and a variable oil pump. The control device is configured to execute an oil pressure control such that the oil pressure approaches a target oil pressure according to an engine operating condition. This oil pressure control includes a first pressure-increase processing executed where an AE correlation value correlated with the strength or occurrence frequency of the acoustic emission wave detected by the elastic wave sensor is greater than a first threshold value. The first pressure-increase processing increases the target oil pressure associated with a first engine operating condition present when the AE correlation value becomes greater than the first threshold value, as compared to when the AE correlation value is not greater than that.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TAIHO KOGYO CO., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Morita, Motoichi Murakami, Takeshi Fukui, Yuichiro Kajiki, Katsuhiro Ashihara, Alan Hase, Takashi Izumi
  • Patent number: 10895179
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser assembly, including: an axis of rotation; a first hydraulic camshaft phaser including a first stator arranged to receive rotational torque, a first rotor including a plurality of first through-bores, and a first plurality of phaser chambers circumferentially bounded by the first stator and the first rotor; a second hydraulic camshaft phaser including a second stator non-rotatably connected to the first stator, a second rotor, and a second plurality of phaser chambers circumferentially bounded by the second stator and the second rotor; a first trigger wheel including a plurality of second through-bores connected to the plurality of first through-bores, non-rotatably connected to the first rotor, and arranged to identify a rotational position of the first rotor; and a second trigger wheel non-rotatably connected to the second rotor and arranged to identify a rotational position of the second rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Kandolf
  • Patent number: 10895178
    Abstract: An actuator for a cam phaser, wherein the cam phaser includes a hydraulic valve that is adjustable by the actuator, wherein the actuator is receivable at a housing section by at least one form locking connection, wherein the at least one form locking connection includes a first form element pair and a second form element pair, wherein the first form element pair includes a first stop and the second form element pair includes a second stop, and wherein the first stop and the second stop are oriented in opposite directions of rotation of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: ECO Holding 1 GmbH
    Inventors: Tim Wells, Brian Kujawski, Brent Brower