Patents by Inventor Kevin Sittner

Kevin Sittner 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20200182100
    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: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin Sittner, Hermann Neubeck
  • Patent number: 10641137
    Abstract: A variable valve train module has a valve control block positioned on a cylinder head of the engine. The valve control block has a first block and a second block and variable valve train components. These components include at least one valve, a rocker arm, a brake, and a pump configured to receive input from a camshaft. The components are positioned with respect to the blocks such that the first block receives a first portion of the pump and the second block receives a second portion of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kevin Sittner, Donald Dixon, Béla Hofer, Todd Simcina
  • Patent number: 10612427
    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: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Kevin Sittner, Hermann Neubeck
  • Publication number: 20190107012
    Abstract: A variable valve train module has a valve control block positioned on a cylinder head of the engine. The valve control block has a first block and a second block and variable valve train components. These components include at least one valve, a rocker arm, a brake, and a pump configured to receive input from a camshaft. The components are positioned with respect to the blocks such that the first block receives a first portion of the pump and the second block receives a second portion of the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kevin Sittner, Donald Dixon, Béla Hofer, Todd Simcina
  • Publication number: 20190063269
    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: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin Sittner, Hermann Neubeck
  • Patent number: 9745874
    Abstract: A piston assembly for pressurizing a hydraulic chamber is provided. The piston assembly has a cylinder and a piston configured to reciprocate within the cylinder. The piston has a first end in the cylinder and a second end adapted to be acted on by a drive element. The piston assembly also has a spring configured to bias the piston. The piston assembly further has a retainer mounted to an exterior of the cylinder and including a seat surface. The spring is seated on the seat surface. The outer diameter of the spring is less than the outer diameter of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Béla Hofer, Donald J. Dixon, Kevin Sittner, Todd Simcina
  • Publication number: 20170114679
    Abstract: A piston assembly for pressurizing a hydraulic chamber is provided. The piston assembly has a cylinder and a piston configured to reciprocate within the cylinder. The piston has a first end in the cylinder and a second end adapted to be acted on by a drive element. The piston assembly also has a spring configured to bias the piston. The piston assembly further has a retainer mounted to an exterior of the cylinder and including a seat surface. The spring is seated on the seat surface. The outer diameter of the spring is less than the outer diameter of the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Béla Hofer, Donald J. Dixon, Kevin Sittner, Todd Simcina