Patents Examined by Zelalem Eshete
  • Patent number: 11306626
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser, including: a stator arranged to receive rotational torque, including a plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions, and supported for rotation around an axis of rotation; a rotor including a plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions circumferentially interleaved with the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions, and arranged to non-rotatably connect to a camshaft; a plurality of phaser chambers, each phaser chamber circumferentially bounded by a radially inwardly extending protrusion included in the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions and a radially outwardly extending protrusion included in the plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions; an annular washer; and a target wheel including a first portion axially located between the annular washer and the rotor and in contact with the annular washer, arranged to detect a rotational position of the rotor for use in rotating the rotor with respect to the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Alexandre Camilo
  • Patent number: 11306627
    Abstract: A continuously variable valve duration apparatus may include a camshaft, a cam unit on which a cam is formed, wherein the camshaft is inserted into the cam unit, first and second guide brackets into which the camshaft is inserted, a wheel housing movably mounted to the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket, respectively, an internal wheel rotatably provided on each wheel housing and transmitting rotation of the camshaft to the cam unit, a worm wheel mounted on the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket, respectively to engage the wheel housing, a control shaft which is rotatably mounted on the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket, and engages with the each worm wheel to move the position of the wheel housing according to its rotation, and a connecting member that connects the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hyeon Woo Kim, Kyoung Pyo Ha, Back Sik Kim, Jong Gu Kim
  • Patent number: 11286817
    Abstract: A rocker arm assembly comprises a valve side rocker arm portion, a cam side rocker arm portion configured to selectively rotate relative to the valve side rocker arm portion, and a latch pin assembly disposed in the valve side rocker arm portion and in the cam side rocker arm portion. A latch pin assembly is disposed for selective switching in the valve side latch bore and in the cam side latch bore. At least a portion of the latch pin assembly is configured so that when the latch pin assembly is selected to switch from a latched condition to the unlatched condition, and when the cam side rocker arm portion selectively rotates, the latch pin assembly is configured to retract from the forces of the rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Andrei D. Radulescu, Mark Van Wingerden, Douglas J. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11274579
    Abstract: An actuator control system suitable for providing single wire control of electromagnetic latch assemblies providing for cylinder deactivation or variable valve actuation in a valvetrain system. The system is adapted to control electromagnetic latch assemblies that require DC current in a first direction for latching and DC current in a reverse of the first direction for unlatching. The actuator control system includes an inverting DC/DC converter and switching elements. In some embodiments, the inverting DC/DC converter uses capacitors to store energy that drives the inverted current. In some embodiments, the inverting DC/DC converter serves a plurality of distinct groups of the electromagnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Pavel Kucera, Petr Liskar, Pavel Fojtik
  • Patent number: 11274576
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a preassembled module of a variable-lift valve train for an internal combustion engine. The module includes an electric linear actuator that lies on a top side of a base plate of the module. A slide plate, movable by the electric linear actuator by means of a linear guide, also lies on the top side of the base plate. A retaining wall extends under a bottom side of the base plate and has two actuation fingers. A free end of each actuation finger includes a contact surface for moving a coupling slide of a switchable rocker arm. In a region of an outer transverse side of the slide plate, a contact wall arranged in front of the electric linear actuator extends upward. The contact wall contacts an actuation pin of the electric linear actuator to move the slide plate in a longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Benedikt Noe
  • Patent number: 11261764
    Abstract: A rocker arm assembly constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure includes an outer rocker arm and an inner rocker arm. The outer rocker arm has a first roller configuration that rotates around a first axis. The inner rocker arm has a second roller configuration that rotates around a second axis. The inner rocker arm is configured to move between a latched and unlatched position relative to the outer rocker arm. One of the first and second axes is positioned for alignment over an engine valve. The other of the first and second axes is offset from the engine valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: James E. McCarthy, Jr., Dale Arden Stretch
  • Patent number: 11255227
    Abstract: A valve opening and closing timing control device includes: a drive-side rotary body rotating synchronously with a crankshaft; a driven-side rotary body provided inside the drive-side rotary body coaxially and rotating integrally with a camshaft; advance and retard chambers formed between the drive-side and driven-side rotary bodies; a lock mechanism switchable between a lock state and a lock release state; a valve unit including a fluid supply pipe into which fluid is supplied and a spool movable along a direction of the rotation axis, and controlling supply of the fluid to and from the lock mechanism, and the advance and retard chambers; and a tubular valve case having an internal space inside the driven-side rotary body and housing the valve unit in the internal space. A first opening portion is formed in the fluid supply pipe. A second opening portion is formed in the valve case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Ueda, Yuji Noguchi, Hirokazu Nonogaki
  • Patent number: 11255228
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for electrically controlling a valve actuator in a 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine, where the actuator comprises a first solenoid (A) with a plunger (5) and a second solenoid (B) with a plunger (15), wherein the engine has at least one cylinder (1) with at least one freely controllable engine valve comprising a valve disc (10) with associated valve stem (11) and a valve spring (4) and where air is introduced, or exhaust gases are evacuated from, a combustion chamber (3) past a lower part of the valve stem with the valve disc via at least one channel (2) in the cylinder, wherein the valve actuator is activatable to open the engine valve. The invention is characterized in that both the first and second solenoid are activated during opening of the engine valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Hedman Ericsson Patent AB
    Inventor: Mats Hedman
  • Patent number: 11255230
    Abstract: A socket module for a compression release engine brake is provided between an exhaust rocker arm rotating with respect to a rocker arm shaft and a valve bridge in contact with an exhaust valve of an engine. In particular, the socket module includes: a housing which includes an inlet through which brake oil is introduced, a brake piston mounting portion, and a reset member mounting portion communicated with the brake piston mounting portion; a brake piston that is provided to be movable in the brake piston mounting portion; and a reset member that is provided in the reset member mounting portion and that discharges brake oil by selectively contacting a push pin coupled to an upper portion of a cylinder head of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jae Hee Jeon
  • Patent number: 11255226
    Abstract: Systems for valve actuation in internal combustion engines provide configurations for hydraulic lash adjusters and valve actuation valvetrain components that are particularly suitable for prevention of HLA jacking in dedicated cam environments including Type II valvetrain architectures. In one implementation, a lash adjuster loading component, which may comprise a stroke-limited spring biased piston associated with the main event valvetrain keeps the lash adjuster under a constant compressive force to prevent jacking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: JACOBS VEHICLE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Justin D. Baltrucki, Gabriel S. Roberts, Matei Alexandru, John Mandell
  • Patent number: 11236643
    Abstract: An actuation apparatus for actuating a component of a switchable valve train device of an internal combustion engine including: a shaft; an actuation lever mounted on the shaft for pivotal motion of the actuation lever between a first position for actuation of the component and a second position for de-actuation of the component; and a biasing means for urging the actuation lever from the second position towards the first position. In use, the biasing means is biased when an actuation source attempts to cause the actuation lever to be in the first position when the component is non-actuatable, such that the biasing means causes the actuation lever to pivot from the second position to the first position, thereby to actuate the component when the component becomes actuatable again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Nicola Andrisani, Jan Kindermann, Mirko Guaschino, Yuriy Mysak
  • Patent number: 11236646
    Abstract: A valve drive device for actuating valves of an internal combustion engine a rocker arm device and a switchover device that includes at least two actuators for the at least one rocker arm device. The two actuators respectively include a switching element adjustable between a first position and a second position; a resetting device for resetting the switching element with a resetting force into the second position; a holding coil for offsetting the resetting force of the resetting device; a switching coil that counteracts the resetting force during operation. The switching coil and the holding coil adjust the switching element into the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Markus Lindgren
  • Patent number: 11236642
    Abstract: An engine valve actuation system includes a rotatable camshaft, a first valve lifter, and a second valve lifter, structured to actuate valves in an engine in response to rotation of cams of the camshaft. The engine valve actuation system includes an anti-rotation device having a collar with a sleeve portion and a boss portion, and a bridge connector structured to couple with one of the valve lifters. Another one of the valve lifters is slidably received in the sleeve portion. The anti-rotation device reciprocates with the one of the valve lifters, and each of the valve lifters is restricted from rotation during service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence Lee Szmania, Kshitij Anilkumar Shah, Vikram Kulkarni, Sivakumar Dharmaraj
  • Patent number: 11225884
    Abstract: A rocker arm has two side walls and two webs which run transversely with respect to the side wall. The webs connect the side walls to one another on end-side sections, wherein a valve stem support is configured on one of the webs, and a spherical cap is configured on the other web. A cam roller is arranged in a roller pocket which is delimited by the webs and the side walls. The cam roller is mounted rotatably on a roller axle which is fixed in the side walls. Projections are arranged within the roller pocket such that they are spaced apart from the respective web to guide the cam roller. The projections extend from the side walls in the direction of the cam roller to form guide surfaces which interact with end surfaces of the cam roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Arben Haxhiu, Martin Lambert, Michael Schewe, Bernhard Kühnel, Matthias Thoelking
  • Patent number: 11225885
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine having an electrical circuit that includes a connection closed by abutment between two distinct parts, one of which is mounted to a rocker arm of a rocker arm assembly and another that is mounted to a part distinct from the rocker arm. The connection is structured such that the movement of the rocker arm causes relative motion between the surfaces of the distinct parts that close the connection. The relative motion causes the circuit resistance to transition between values within a first range and values within a second range. The transitions of resistance between those ranges are detected and their presence, absence, or timing used for purposes of providing diagnostic feedback or control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Petr Liskar
  • Patent number: 11220933
    Abstract: An engine valve actuation system includes a camshaft, rotatable in an engine, and a compound collar including a mounting sleeve, a guide sleeve, and a bridge cantilevering the guide sleeve to the mounting sleeve. A first valve lifter is interference-fitted in the mounting sleeve, and a second valve lifter is slip-fitted within the guide sleeve. First and second lifter bores receiving the first and second valve lifters are congruent, and the first and second valve lifters may be substantially identical. The compound collar reciprocates with the interference fitted first valve lifter, slidably receives the slip-fitted second valve lifter, and limits in-service rotation of both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence Lee Szmania, Vikram Kulkarni, Kshitij Anilkumar Shah, Sivakumar Dharmaraj
  • Patent number: 11220935
    Abstract: The application relates to an electromagnetic control device, in particular for adjusting camshafts or a camshaft section of an internal combustion engine, comprising: an energizable coil unit, via which, in an energized state, an armature mounted for movement along a longitudinal axis of the control device can be moved relative to a pole core between a retracted position and an extended position; at least one tappet, which is mounted for movement along the longitudinal axis and, in an extended position, interacts with the camshaft via a free end in order to adjust the camshaft and is connected at an inner end to the armature, wherein the tappet has a first diameter in the region of the free end and has a second diameter in the region of the inner end, and the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Kendrion (Villingen) GmbH
    Inventors: Tsuneo Suzuki, Michael Tischtschenko, Andreas Kammerer
  • Patent number: 11208922
    Abstract: An actuation transmission apparatus for actuating a latching arrangement for latching and unlatching a first body and a second body of a switchable valve train component of an internal combustion engine, the latching arrangement being biased from an unlatched position where the first body and the second body are unlatched towards a latched position where the latching arrangement latches the first body and the second body together, the actuation transmission apparatus including: a shaft rotatable by an actuation source; a contacting element for contacting the latching arrangement; and a biasing device for biasing the contacting element rotationally with respect to the shaft. In use, the biasing device becomes biased by the shaft when the actuation source rotates the shaft when the actuation source attempts to actuate the latching arrangement to the unlatched position, via the contacting element, when the latching arrangement is in an un-actuatable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Matthew Vance
  • Patent number: 11203953
    Abstract: A switchable finger follower, including an inner lever and an outer lever. The outer lever includes a pocket defined by two outer arms that extend along longitudinal sides of the inner lever. The outer lever is mounted for pivoting movement at the first end of the inner lever by a pivot axle, and a respective outer roller is separately mounted on an outer side of each of the two outer arms. A coupling device is located on one of the inner or outer levers and has a coupling pin arranged to move between a locking position, in which the inner and outer levers are connected together for movement in an activation direction, and an unlocked position, in which the inner lever is pivotable relative to the outer lever. A method of assembling a finger lever with outer rollers connected to the two outer arms is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Faheem Ahmed, Sumukha Nagaraj
  • Patent number: 11193403
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine switches valve operation states, reduces or prevents wear of a cam and a rocker arm, and reduces the size of the cylinder head to ensure a sufficient valve lift amount. A valve spring retainer includes a cylindrical portion including a first through hole with an inner diameter decreases from the first end portion toward the second end portion, a cone-shaped portion including a second through hole with an inner diameter increases as it extends away from the second end portion of the cylindrical portion, and a flange portion extending radially outward from the cone-shaped portion. An outer diameter of the cylindrical portion is constant from the first end portion to the second end portion, and an outer diameter of the cone-shaped portion increases as it extends away from the second end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuo Okamoto