Abstract: An oil squirter for an engine includes a piston-type valve having a damping vent configured to damp oscillations of the valve piston during opening and closing. The valve piston may be spring biased and the valve may opened by oil pressure exerted on the piston at or above a cracking pressure. The damping vent controls displacement of the valve piston by creating delta pressure in oil contained in a piston chamber in opposition to axial piston movement during opening and closing of the valve, to stabilize the axial movement of the piston thereby damping valve oscillation during valve opening and closing. The damping vent operates to increase cracking stability and eliminate cyclic contact of the valve piston and valve seat to prevent noise, wear, binding, and oil system pressure fluctuations due to squirter valve instability.

Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a timing control module and a diagnostic module. The timing control module controls engine valve timing by sending fluid to an advancing chamber of a cam phaser to adjust the cam phaser to an advanced position and by sending fluid to a retarding chamber of the cam phaser to adjust the cam phaser to a retarded position. The diagnostic module identifies a fault in a variable valve lift (VVL) mechanism based on a first difference between an advancing pressure of the advancing chamber and a retarding pressure of the retarding chamber.

Abstract: A yarn needle assembly may include a first needle member, a second needle member and a cable. The cable may have a first end coupled to an end of the first needle member and a second end coupled to an end of the second needle member. The cable may include a metal cable formed from a plurality of braided metal strands with a nylon coating surrounding the metal cable. The relationship between an overall diameter (D1) of the metal cable, a diameter (D2) of each of the individual metal strands and a total number (N) of braided metal strands may be defined by: (N)(D2)/D1<0.5.

Abstract: A yarn needle assembly may include a first needle member, a second needle member and a cable. The cable may have a first end coupled to an end of the first needle member and a second end coupled to an end of the second needle member. The cable may include a metal cable formed from a plurality of braided metal strands with a nylon coating surrounding the metal cable. The relationship between an overall diameter (D1) of the metal cable, a diameter (D2) of each of the individual metal strands and a total number (N) of braided metal strands may be defined by: (N)(D2)/D1<0.5.

Abstract: A method and control module for indicating engine oil life includes a viscosity determination module determining a viscosity of the engine oil based on an engine oil pressure and engine oil temperature. The control system further includes a comparison module comparing the viscosity of the engine oil to a threshold and generating a warning signal in response to comparing the viscosity.

Abstract: A method and control module for indicating engine oil life includes a viscosity determination module determining a viscosity of the engine oil based on an engine oil pressure and engine oil temperature. The control system further includes a comparison module comparing the viscosity of the engine oil to a threshold and generating a warning signal in response to comparing the viscosity.

Abstract: A control module may include a cam phaser control module, a cam phaser oil pressure determination module, and a system oil pressure prediction module. The cam phaser control module may control an oil control valve (OCV) to control an oil flow to a cam phaser. The cam phaser oil pressure determination module may be in communication with the cam phaser control module and may determine a first engine oil pressure at a location between the OCV and the cam phaser when the OCV is in a open position. The system oil pressure prediction module may determine a second engine oil pressure at a location between the OCV and an oil pump outlet based on the first engine oil pressure.

Abstract: A control module may include a cam phaser control module, a cam phaser oil pressure determination module, and a system oil pressure prediction module. The cam phaser control module may control an oil control valve (OCV) to control an oil flow to a cam phaser. The cam phaser oil pressure determination module may be in communication with the cam phaser control module and may determine a first engine oil pressure at a location between the OCV and the cam phaser when the OCV is in a open position. The system oil pressure prediction module may determine a second engine oil pressure at a location between the OCV and an oil pump outlet based on the first engine oil pressure.

Abstract: A rotary shaft pump for increasing supplied oil pressure to a pressure responsive device in an internal combustion engine. The pump includes a housing adapted to carry a plurality of axially spaced journals of a rotatable shaft. The shaft also includes at least one pumping element having a larger diameter than the other journals of the shaft. A cam phaser carried on one end of the shaft receives pressurized oil from the engine through oil passages extending through the housing and the shaft. As the oil is pumped through the oil passages of the shaft, the oil is centrifugally pumped through a radially extending pumping passage extending though the pumping element to boost oil pressure supplied to the cam phaser.

Abstract: A rotary shaft pump for increasing supplied oil pressure to a pressure responsive device in an internal combustion engine. The pump includes a housing adapted to carry a plurality of axially spaced journals of a rotatable shaft. The shaft also includes at least one pumping element having a larger diameter than the other journals of the shaft. A cam phaser carried on one end of the shaft receives pressurized oil from the engine through oil passages extending through the housing and the shaft. As the oil is pumped through the oil passages of the shaft, the oil is centrifugally pumped through a radially extending pumping passage extending though the pumping element to boost oil pressure supplied to the cam phaser.

Abstract: A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine having a pressure increasing valve and a pressure regulator valve to optimize oil flow through an engine to increase engine efficiency. The lubrication system includes an engine driven oil pump connected to supply pressurized oil through a main oil feed to a main bearing gallery, a cam gallery, a cam phaser and switching valve lifters. The pressure increasing valve connected between the main bearing gallery and the cam gallery restricts oil flow to the cam gallery to raise oil pressure supplied to the cam phaser. The pressure regulator valve connected between the pressure increasing valve and the cam gallery to control oil pressure supplied to the switching lifters for cylinder deactivation or stepping valve train operation. The optimization of oil flow allows the engine to use a smaller oil pump and thereby increase engine efficiency while providing for actuation of the cam phaser or the switching lifters over the full engine speed range.

Abstract: A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine having a pressure regulator to optimize oil flow through an engine to increase engine efficiency. The lubrication system includes an engine driven oil pump connected to supply pressurized oil through a main oil feed to a main bearing gallery, a cam gallery and a hydraulically actuated device such as a cam phaser or switching valve lifters. A pressure regulator connected between the main oil feed and the galleries selectively restricts oil flow to the galleries to raise oil pressure supplied to the hydraulically actuated device. The increased oil pressure to the cam phaser allows the engine to use a smaller oil pump and thereby increase engine efficiency while providing for actuation of the cam phaser over the full engine speed range. The increased oil pressure to the switching lifters allows the engine to reduce valve lift or disable cylinders over the full engine speed range.

Abstract: A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine having a pressure increasing valve and a pressure regulator valve to optimize oil flow through an engine to increase engine efficiency. The lubrication system includes an engine driven oil pump connected to supply pressurized oil through a main oil feed to a main bearing gallery, a cam gallery, a cam phaser and switching valve lifters. The pressure increasing valve connected between the main bearing gallery and the cam gallery restricts oil flow to the cam gallery to raise oil pressure supplied to the cam phaser. The pressure regulator valve connected between the pressure increasing valve and the cam gallery to control oil pressure supplied to the switching lifters for cylinder deactivation or stepping valve train operation. The optimization of oil flow allows the engine to use a smaller oil pump and thereby increase engine efficiency while providing for actuation of the cam phaser or the switching lifters over the full engine speed range.

Abstract: A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine having a pressure reducing valve to optimize oil flow through an engine to increase engine efficiency. The lubrication system includes an engine driven oil pump connected to supply pressurized oil through a main oil feed to a main bearing gallery, a cam gallery and a hydraulically actuated device such as a cam phaser or switching valve lifters. A pressure reducing valve connected between the main bearing feed restricts oil flow to the cam gallery to raise oil pressure supplied to the hydraulically actuated device. The increased oil pressure to the hydraulically actuated device allows the engine to use a smaller oil pump and thereby increase engine efficiency while providing for actuation of the cam phaser or the switching lifters over the full engine speed range.

Abstract: A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine having a pressure reducing valve to optimize oil flow through an engine to increase engine efficiency. The lubrication system includes an engine driven oil pump connected to supply pressurized oil through a main oil feed to a main bearing gallery, a cam gallery and a hydraulically actuated device such as a cam phaser or switching valve lifters. A pressure reducing valve connected between the main bearing feed restricts oil flow to the cam gallery to raise oil pressure supplied to the hydraulically actuated device. The increased oil pressure to the hydraulically actuated device allows the engine to use a smaller oil pump and thereby increase engine efficiency while providing for actuation of the cam phaser or the switching lifters over the full engine speed range.

Abstract: A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine having valves to optimize oil flow through an engine to increase engine efficiency. The lubrication system includes an engine driven oil pump connected to supply pressurized oil through a main oil feed to a main bearing gallery, a cam gallery, a cam phaser and switching valve lifters. A pair of pressure increasing valves connected to the main bearing gallery and the cam gallery selectively restrict oil flow to the cam gallery and the main bearing gallery to raise oil pressure supplied to the cam phaser. A pressure regulator valve is connected to the cam gallery to control oil pressure supplied to the switching lifters for cylinder deactivation or stepping valve train operation. The optimization of oil flow allows the engine to use a smaller oil pump and thereby increase engine efficiency while providing for actuation of the cam phaser or the switching lifters over the full engine speed range.