Patents by Inventor Joseph F. Girtler

Joseph F. Girtler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6755167
    Abstract: A two-step roller finger follower including an elongate body having side walls defining coaxially disposed shaft orifices, a pallet end and a socket end interconnecting with the side walls to define a slider arm aperture, and a latch channel. The socket end is mountable to an hydraulic lash adjuster, and the pallet end is matable with a valve stem. A slider arm for engaging a high-lift cam lobe is disposed in the slider arm aperture and has a first end pivotably mounted to the pallet end of the body and the second end forming a slider tip for engaging an activation/deactivation latch. The latch is slidably disposed in the latch channel, and the latch has a nose section for selectively engaging the slider tip. A spool-shaped roller having first and second roller elements fixedly attached to the shaft is rotatably disposed in the shaft orifices, the roller being adapted to follow the surface motion of low-lift cam lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Krieg, Timothy W. Kunz, Nick J. Hendriksma, Wayne S. Harris, James A. Niemeier, Jongmin Lee, Hermes Fernandez, Joseph F. Girtler
  • Patent number: 6691657
    Abstract: A two-step finger follower rocker arm assembly including a follower body having a socket at a first end for engaging a hydraulic lash adjuster and a pad at an opposite end for engaging a valve stem. A passage through the follower body in the direction of actuation by an engine cam is slidingly receivable of a slider member for variably engaging a central high-lift lobe. A lost-motion spring urges the slider member into contact with the central lobe. A latch member driven by a piston selectively locks the slider member to the follower body, causing the follower to follow the motion of the central cam lobe. When the latch member is disengaged, the slider member slides within the follower body, allowing lateral rollers to follow lateral cam lobes. The lateral rollers may be supported on the body by a rotatable cross-shaft or a fixed cross-shaft, or by a pair of fixed stub shafts, or by a pair of fixed bearing races.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick J. Hendriksma, Wayne S. Harris, Timothy W. Kunz, Joseph F. Girtler
  • Publication number: 20030192497
    Abstract: A two-step finger follower rocker arm assembly including a follower body having a socket at a first end for engaging a hydraulic lash adjuster and a pad at an opposite end for engaging a valve stem. A passage through the follower body in the direction of actuation by an engine cam is slidingly receivable of a slider member for variably engaging a central high-lift lobe. A lost-motion spring urges the slider member into contact with the central lobe. A latch member driven by a piston selectively locks the slider member to the follower body, causing the follower to follow the motion of the central cam lobe. When the latch member is disengaged, the slider member slides within the follower body, allowing lateral rollers to follow lateral cam lobes. The lateral rollers may be supported on the body by a rotatable cross-shaft or a fixed cross-shaft, or by a pair of fixed stub shafts, or by a pair of fixed bearing races.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Nick J. Hendriksma, Wayne S. Harris, Timothy W. Kunz, Joseph F. Girtler
  • Patent number: 6615782
    Abstract: A two-step finger follower rocker arm assembly including a follower body having a socket at a first end for engaging a hydraulic lash adjuster and a pad at an opposite end for engaging a valve stem. A passage through the follower body in the direction of actuation by an engine cam lobe is slidingly receivable of a slider member for variably engaging a central cam lobe, preferably a high-lift lobe. An elongate shaft extends through a transverse bore in the slider member and through a slotted passage in the slider member. In the follower body, the shaft is provided with bearings supporting first and second lateral roller followers on opposite sides of the body for variably engaging first and second preferably low-lift lateral cam lobes flanking the central cam lobe. A lost-motion spring urges the slider member into contact with the central lobe. A latch member driven by a piston selectively locks the slider member to the follower body such that the follower follows the motion of the central cam lobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick J. Hendriksma, Wayne S. Harris, Timothy W. Kunz, Joseph F. Girtler
  • Publication number: 20030159666
    Abstract: A two-step roller finger follower including an elongate body having side walls defining coaxially disposed shaft orifices, a pallet end and a socket end interconnecting with the side walls to define a slider arm aperture, and a latch channel. The socket end is mountable to an hydraulic lash adjuster, and the pallet end is matable with a valve stem. A slider arm for engaging a high-lift cam lobe is disposed in the slider arm aperture and has a first end pivotably mounted to the pallet end of the body and the second end forming a slider tip for engaging an activation/deactivation latch. The latch is slidably disposed in the latch channel, and the latch has a nose section for selectively engaging the slider tip. A spool-shaped roller having first and second roller elements fixedly attached to the shaft is rotatably disposed in the shaft orifices, the roller being adapted to follow the surface motion of low-lift cam lobes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: John J. Krieg, Timothy W. Kunz, Nick J. Hendriksma, Wayne S. Harris, James A. Niemeier, Jongmin Lee, Hermes Fernandez, Joseph F. Girtler