Abstract: A rocker arm includes an outer arm with an outer follower and an inner arm which selectively pivots relative to the outer arm, the inner arm having an inner follower. A lost motion spring biases the inner arm to pivot relative to the outer arm. A lock pin which slides between a coupled position and a decoupled position. A pivot shaft includes a first portion a second portion centered about a first pivot shaft axis and a third portion located between the first portion and the second portion that is centered about a second pivot shaft axis which is parallel to, and laterally offset from, the first pivot shaft axis. The third portion supports the inner arm.

Abstract: A rocker arm includes an outer arm with an outer follower and an inner arm which selectively pivots relative to the outer arm, the inner arm having an inner follower. A lost motion spring biases the inner arm to pivot relative to the outer arm. A lock pin which slides between a coupled position and a decoupled position. A pivot shaft includes a first portion a second portion centered about a first pivot shaft axis and a third portion located between the first portion and the second portion that is centered about a second pivot shaft axis which is parallel to, and laterally offset from, the first pivot shaft axis. The third portion supports the inner arm.

Abstract: A valve plate cover/lead frame unit of a lifter oil manifold assembly used in cylinder deactivation systems to direct engine oil to valve lifters including a body including a pattern of passages that in cooperation with a pattern of passages included in the valve plate form oil galleries for distributing the engine oil, an electrical connector and an electrical lead frame terminating the electrical connector integrated into the body, and a plurality of connector terminals incorporated into the body, wherein the electrical lead frame electrically connects each of the connector terminals with the electrical connector.

Abstract: A valve plate cover/lead frame unit of a lifter oil manifold assembly used in cylinder deactivation systems to direct engine oil to valve lifters including a body including a pattern of passages that in cooperation with a pattern of passages included in the valve plate form oil galleries for distributing the engine oil, an electrical connector and an electrical lead frame terminating the electrical connector integrated into the body, and a plurality of connector terminals incorporated into the body, wherein the electrical lead frame electrically connects each of the connector terminals with the electrical connector.

Abstract: A lifter oil manifold assembly for variable actuation of engine valves having first (top) and second (valve) plates having portions of oil control and oil exhaust passages formed therein. The assembly further includes a carrier member having an oil supply passage integrated thereby separating the oil supply path from the oil control and oil exhaust path. Further, the assembly includes towers for receiving and positioning the electro-magnetic oil control valves used to control oil flow in the assembly. The towers are molded separate from the carrier and are held in place by the valve plate or are molded integral with the carrier. In another aspect of the invention, oil control valve retention springs are molded integral with either the tower or the oil control valve. In a further aspect of the invention, a combined polymer restrictor/strainer in the oil circuit replaces a prior art metal die-cast restrictor.

Abstract: In a first embodiment of a camshaft phaser, the rotor is split along an equatorial plane thereof, defining first and second rotor portions. A resilient seal is compressively disposed between the rotor portions to prevent leakage therebetween and to urge the rotor vanes against the cover plate and sprocket surfaces to prevent leakage around the vanes. Preferably, the seal includes radial seal elements to seal against the stator wall. Preferably, pressurized hydraulic fluid can enter between the first and second rotor portions and thereby assist the resilient seal in urging the rotor portions apart. In a second embodiment, the rotor is not split, and a resilient seal is provided on at least one axial face of the rotor vanes to seal the rotor vanes against the cover plate and sprocket surfaces.

Abstract: A vane-type camshaft phaser includes a rotor having a plurality of vanes disposed in a stator having a plurality of lobes, the interspersion of vanes and lobes defining a plurality of alternating valve timing advance and valve timing retard chambers. Each vane and lobe tip is provided with an axially extending groove having an outward expansion of width. A wiper seal element, formed by stamping and folding from a single piece of sheet material, has folded wings that extend under compression into the groove. The spring loading of the wings against the tapered walls of the groove acts to urge the wiper seal element out of the groove and toward the opposing stator or rotor wall, thus ensuring a continuous forced sealing contact of the wiper seal element with the opposing wall and the groove walls during operation of the camshaft phaser.

Abstract: A vane-type camshaft phaser for varying the timing of combustion valves in an internal combustion engine includes a seat formed in the sprocket at the appropriate position of intermediate rotation and a locking pin slidably disposed in a vane of the rotor for engaging the seat to lock the rotor at the intermediate position. A bias spring system disposed on a cover plate urges the rotor toward the locking position from any position retarded of the locking position. A first spring system embodiment comprises a pair of compression spring assemblies. A second spring system embodiment comprises an internal torsion spring. In each embodiment, the phaser may be assembled without having the spring system coupled to the rotor, thereby overcoming a rotor cocking problem inherent in prior art phasers, assuring reliable mounting of an assembled phaser onto an engine camshaft.

Abstract: An improved lifter-oil manifold assembly (LOMA) for variable actuation of combustion valves in an internal combustion engine, comprising a body formed preferably of first and second plates having portions of oil flow passages integrally molded therein. A plurality of individual solenoid-actuated oil control valves is retained by a retainer in sockets formed in the plates. An integral electrical leadframe provides circuitry for energizing the solenoids. A DIFP is mounted to the LOMA and an RHPL engages the DIFP. Preferably, the RHPL and DIFP are lubricated by an oil orifice in the LOMA, and preferably the DIFP and RHPL are disposed in a central symmetry plane of the engine.

Abstract: In a vane-type camshaft phaser, one vane extends over a much larger internal angle than the other two vanes. Because of its size and strength, the large vane is the vane designated for contact with the stator. The other vanes and lobes have extra clearance to prevent contact regardless of rotor position. In one embodiment, a first surface of the large vane engages a surface of a first adjacent lobe at one extreme rotor rotation, and a second surface of the large vane engages a surface of a second adjacent lobe at the opposite extreme of rotation. The contact surfaces of the lobes and the vane may be equipped with hardened wear pads. One or more wear pads may be machined to provide a desired rotor displacement angle.

Abstract: A combined oil filtration and metering assembly for filtering and metering oil in an oil gallery, such as in a Lifter Oil Manifold Assembly of an internal combustion engine. The filtration and metering assembly includes a filtration element at an oil entrance leading to an internal chamber having a metering orifice as an outlet to a downstream portion of the oil gallery. Preferably the metering orifice has a diverging exit cone. Preferably, the assembly replaces directly a prior art metering valve in a LOMA socket without requiring retooling of the LOMA top plate. The assembly may be readily formed by molding of the filtration element into the oil entrance in an injection overmolding process.

Abstract: A combined oil filtration and metering assembly for filtering and metering oil in an oil gallery, such as in a Lifter Oil Manifold Assembly of an internal combustion engine. The filtration and metering assembly includes a filtration element at an oil entrance leading to an internal chamber having a metering orifice as an outlet to a downstream portion of the oil gallery. Preferably the metering orifice has a diverging exit cone. Preferably, the assembly replaces directly a prior art metering valve in a LOMA socket without requiring retooling of the LOMA top plate. The assembly may be readily formed by molding of the filtration element into the oil entrance in an injection overmolding process.

Abstract: In a first embodiment of a camshaft phaser, the rotor is split along an equatorial plane thereof, defining first and second rotor portions. A resilient seal is compressively disposed between the rotor portions to prevent leakage therebetween and to urge the rotor vanes against the cover plate and sprocket surfaces to prevent leakage around the vanes. Preferably, the seal includes radial seal elements to seal against the stator wall. Preferably, pressurized hydraulic fluid can enter between the first and second rotor portions and thereby assist the resilient seal in urging the rotor portions apart. In a second embodiment, the rotor is not split, and a resilient seal is provided on at least one axial face of the rotor vanes to seal the rotor vanes against the cover plate and sprocket surfaces.

Abstract: A lifter oil manifold assembly for variable actuation of engine valves having first (top) and second (valve) plates having portions of oil control and oil exhaust passages formed therein. The assembly further includes a carrier member having an oil supply passage integrated thereby separating the oil supply path from the oil control and oil exhaust path. Further, the assembly includes towers for receiving and positioning the electro-magnetic oil control valves used to control oil flow in the assembly. The towers are molded separate from the carrier and are held in place by the valve plate or are molded integral with the carrier. In another aspect of the invention, oil control valve retention springs are molded integral with either the tower or the oil control valve. In a further aspect of the invention, a combined polymer restrictor/strainer in the oil circuit replaces a prior art metal die-cast restrictor.

Abstract: In a vane-type camshaft phaser, one vane extends over a much larger internal angle than the other two vanes. Because of its size and strength, the large vane is the vane designated for contact with the stator. The other vanes and lobes have extra clearance to prevent contact regardless of rotor position. In one embodiment, a first surface of the large vane engages a surface of a first adjacent lobe at one extreme rotor rotation, and a second surface of the large vane engages a surface of a second adjacent lobe at the opposite extreme of rotation. The contact surfaces of the lobes and the vane may be equipped with hardened wear pads. One or more wear pads may be machined to provide a desired rotor displacement angle.

Abstract: In a first embodiment of a camshaft phaser, the rotor is split along an equatorial plane thereof, defining first and second rotor portions. A resilient seal is compressively disposed between the rotor portions to prevent leakage therebetween and to urge the rotor vanes against the cover plate and sprocket surfaces to prevent leakage around the vanes. Preferably, the seal includes radial seal elements to seal against the stator wall. Preferably, pressurized hydraulic fluid can enter between the first and second rotor portions and thereby assist the resilient seal in urging the rotor portions apart. In a second embodiment, the rotor is not split, and a resilient seal is provided on at least one axial face of the rotor vanes to seal the rotor vanes against the cover plate and sprocket surfaces.

Abstract: A vane-type camshaft phaser includes a rotor having a plurality of vanes disposed in a stator having a plurality of lobes, the interspersion of vanes and lobes defining a plurality of alternating valve timing advance and valve timing retard chambers. Each vane and lobe tip is provided with an axially extending groove having an outward expansion of width. A wiper seal element, formed by stamping and folding from a single piece of sheet material, has folded wings that extend under compression into the groove. The spring loading of the wings against the tapered walls of the groove acts to urge the wiper seal element out of the groove and toward the opposing stator or rotor wall, thus ensuring a continuous forced sealing contact of the wiper seal element with the opposing wall and the groove walls during operation of the camshaft phaser.

Abstract: A vane-type camshaft phaser for varying the timing of combustion valves in an internal combustion engine. The phaser includes a seat formed in the sprocket at the appropriate position of intermediate rotor rotation and a locking pin slidably disposed in a vane of the rotor for engaging the seat to lock the rotor to the stator at the intermediate position. A bias spring system disposed on a cover plate urges the rotor toward the intermediate locking position from any position retarded of the locking position but does not engage the rotor during valve timing-advance motion thereof from the intermediate locking position.

Abstract: A target wheel for a camshaft phaser stamped and drawn from sheet metal stock. The hub region of the target wheel may be drawn such that it extends through the phaser cover plate and seals directly against the face of the rotor, allowing a shorter cam bolt and resulting in reduction in mass and cost of the phaser. Alternatively, a separate hub is formed and then attached to a simplified stamped and drawn target wheel, or a target wheel hub is formed integrally with the rotor and extends through the cover plate to mate with a simplified stamped and drawn target wheel. Preferably, the hub is formed having a neck extending through a central opening in the target wheel, which neck is peened over during assembly to secure the wheel to the hub.

Abstract: A vane-type camshaft phaser for varying the timing of combustion valves in an internal combustion engine. The phaser includes a seat formed in the sprocket at the appropriate position of intermediate rotor rotation and a locking pin slidably disposed in a vane of the rotor for engaging the seat to lock the rotor to the stator at the intermediate position. A bias spring system disposed on a cover plate urges the rotor toward the intermediate locking position from any position retarded of the locking position but does not engage the rotor during valve timing-advance motion thereof from the intermediate locking position.