Patents by Inventor Patrick Altherr

Patrick Altherr 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: 10683779
    Abstract: A valve train for a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine may include a crankshaft, at least one inlet valve, at least one outlet valve, at least one camshaft coupled rotationally to the crankshaft, at least one inlet cam held on a first camshaft, at least one outlet cam held on one of the first camshaft or a second camshaft, at least one brake cam held on one of the first camshaft or the second camshaft, at least one inlet cam follower, which may actuate the at least one inlet valve and may be drive-connected at least at times to the inlet cam, at least one outlet cam follower, which may actuate the at least one outlet valve, may be drive-connected at least at times to the outlet cam, and, in a braking mode, may be drive-connected at least at times to the brake cam, and a phase shifting device for adjusting a phase position of the brake cam relative to the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Christoph Beerens, Thomas Flender, Herrn Rolf Kirschner, Sascha Naujoks
  • Patent number: 10677113
    Abstract: A rocker arm arrangement for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine may include a roller shaft including at least one roll and an adjusting arrangement configured to adjust the roller shaft between a first position and a second position. The rocker arm arrangement may also include a first cam and a second cam respectively having a cam stroke region and an idle speed region and secured to a cam shaft. The adjusting arrangement may include a first engagement pin and a second engagement pin arranged on the roller shaft and adjustable into a switching position and into a home position. The first guide track and the second guide track may be respectively arranged on the cam shaft in a circumferential direction of the cam shaft at least partially overlapping one of the cam stroke region of the first cam and the cam stroke region of the second cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Herrn R. Kirschner
  • Patent number: 10641142
    Abstract: A valve train for an internal combustion engine may include a cam shaft and a cam follower. The valve train may also include a first cam arranged on the cam shaft for conjoined rotation. The valve train may further include a second cam arranged on the cam shaft for conjoined rotation and axially adjacent to the first cam. The cam follower may be axially adjustable between a first position, in which the cam follower is drive-connected to the first cam, and a second position, in which the cam follower is drive-connected to the second cam. The cam follower may include a mechanical adjustment device interacting with the cam shaft for axially adjusting the cam follower between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventor: Patrick Altherr
  • Patent number: 10641136
    Abstract: A valve train for an internal combustion engine may include a cam shaft and a cam follower. The valve train may also include a first cam arranged on the cam shaft for conjoined rotation, and a second cam for conjoined rotation, arranged on the cam shaft axially adjacent to the first cam. The cam follower may be axially adjustable between a first position, in which the cam follower is drive-connected to the first cam, and a second position, in which the cam follower is drive-connected to the second cam. The cam follower may also include a mechanical adjustment device interacting with the cam shaft for axially adjusting the cam follower between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: MAHLE INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventor: Patrick Altherr
  • Patent number: 10641138
    Abstract: A valve drive for an internal combustion engine may include a cam shaft, a cam follower, and an adjusting device. The cam shaft may include at least one first cam and at least one second cam The cam follower may be drivingly connected to the at least one first cam when in a first position and drivingly connected to the at least one second cam when in a second position. The adjusting device may include a first engagement element configured to cooperate with a first sliding guide and a second engagement element configured to cooperate with a second sliding guide. The first engagement element and the second engagement element may be adjustable between a switching position and an inactive position. The adjusting device may further include a joint actuator configured to adjust at least one of the first engagement element and the second engagement element into the switching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Markus Walch
  • Patent number: 10539050
    Abstract: A valve drive for an internal combustion engine may include a camshaft, at least one cam follower, and at least one adjusting device. The camshaft may include at least one cam group including a first cam and a second cam. The at least one adjusting device may include a first adjustable engagement element configured to contact a first guide and a second adjustable engagement element configured to contact a second guide of a slotted guide The at least one adjusting device may further include a stop arrangement axially shiftable relative to a rocker lever shaft. The stop arrangement may include a first stop region and a second stop region. At least one of the first engagement element and the second engagement element may be adjustable via the first stop region and the second stop region, respectively, when the stop arrangement is shifted along the rocker lever shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, David Moczko, Markus Walch
  • Publication number: 20190353062
    Abstract: A valve drive of an internal combustion engine may include a camshaft, at least one cam follower, at least one adjusting device, and a hydraulic actuating element. The camshaft may include at least one first cam structured as a brake cam and a second cam structured as an exhaust cam. The at least one first cam may have a reduced cam lift relative to the second cam. The at least one cam follower may be connected to an exhaust valve of the internal combustion engine via a rocker. The hydraulic actuating element may be adjustable to an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position, the hydraulic actuating element may be operatively connected to the brake cam providing a braking stroke and, in the retracted position, the hydraulic actuating element may be decoupled from the brake cam providing a cylinder cutout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne
  • Patent number: 10473003
    Abstract: A valve drive for an internal combustion engine may include a cam shaft, at least one cam follower, and at least one adjusting device. The at least one adjusting device may include a first adjustable engagement element and a second adjustable engagement element. The first engagement element may not contact a first guide in an initial position, and may cooperate with the first guide in a switching position. The second engagement element may not contact a second guide of a slide guide in an initial position, and may cooperate with the second guide in a switching position. The at least one adjusting device may further include a switching arrangement that may include a first control element mounted to the first engagement element and a second control element mounted to the second engagement element. The first control element and the second control element may be controllable via the switching arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Markus Walch, Silas Raible
  • Patent number: 10428698
    Abstract: A valve drive for an internal combustion engine may include a camshaft, at least one cam follower, at least one adjusting device, and at least one control shaft. The camshaft may include at least one cam group. The at least one cam group may include a first cam and a second cam. The at least one cam follower may be drive-connected to the first cam in a first position and to the second cam in a second position. The at least one adjusting device may include a first adjustable engagement element and a second adjustable engagement element. alternately adjustable between a basic position and a switching position. The at least one control shaft may include at least one control element group including a first control element and a second control element adjustable to a switching element position and to a basic element position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Markus Walch
  • Patent number: 10428701
    Abstract: A valve drive for an internal combustion engine may include a cam shaft, at least one cam follower, at least one adjusting device, and at least one control shaft. The cam shaft may include at least one cam group that may include a first cam and a second cam The at least one adjusting device may include a first adjustable engagement element and a second adjustable engagement element. The at least one control shaft may include at least one control cam group that may include a first control cam and a second control cam. The first control cam may include a cam lobe corresponding to the first engagement element and the second control cam may include a cam lobe corresponding to the second engagement element. The at least one control shaft may be rotatable about a longitudinal axis between a starting position and a rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Markus Walch
  • Patent number: 10428702
    Abstract: A valve drive for an internal combustion engine may include a camshaft, at least one cam follower, at least one adjusting device, and at least one control shaft. The camshaft may include at least one cam group including a first cam and a second cam. The at least one adjusting device may include a first engagement element and a second engagement element. The at least one control shaft may include at least one control cam group including a first control cam and a second control cam. The at least one control shaft may rotate such that at least one stop region of the first control cam adjusts the first engagement element from the basic position into the switching position and at least one stop region of the second control cam adjusts the second engagement element from the basic position into the switching position one after the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Markus Walch, Thorsten Ihne
  • Patent number: 10371020
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine may include at least one cylinder, a first outlet valve and a second outlet valve for directing exhaust gas out from a combustion chamber of the at least one cylinder. The first outlet valve may include a first valve opening and a first valve body where the first valve opening is adjustable between a closed position and an open position. The second outlet valve may include a second valve opening and a second valve body where the second valve body is adjustable between a closed position and an open position. An adjusting lever may adjust one or both of the first valve body and the second valve body between the open position and the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Hermann Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 10329963
    Abstract: A valve train for an internal combustion engine may include a camshaft and a cam follower. The valve train may also include two first cams arranged on the camshaft in a torque-proof manner and at an axial distance from one another. Each of the two first cams may include an identical first cam contour. The valve train may also include two second cams arranged on the camshaft in a torque-proof manner and at an axial distance from one another. Each of the two second cams may also include an identical second cam contour. The two first cams and the two second cams may alternate in an axial direction on the camshaft. The cam follower may be axially adjustable between a first and second position, and may be drivingly connected to the two first cams in the first position and drivingly connected to the two second cams in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventor: Patrick Altherr
  • Patent number: 10247063
    Abstract: A valve train may include a camshaft, a cam follower, and first and second cams mounted axially adjacent in a torque-proof manner on the camshaft. The valve train may also include an adjustment arrangement having adjustable first and second mechanical engagement elements, which may each cooperate with at least one slide guide arranged on the camshaft. The valve train may further include a control shaft or control slide forming a stop for the first and second engagement elements and adjusting the first and second engagement elements into respective switching positions. The cam follower may be drivingly connected with the first and second cams in first and second positions, respectively. The first and second engagement elements may each be adjustable between respective basic positions, in which no contact exists with the associated slide guide, and the respective switching positions, in which the respective engagement element cooperates with the associated slide guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, David Moczko, Peer Niekamp
  • Publication number: 20190032525
    Abstract: A rocker arm arrangement for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine may include a roller shaft including at least one roll and an adjusting arrangement configured to adjust the roller shaft between a first position and a second position. The rocker arm arrangement may also include a first cam and a second cam respectively having a cam stroke region and an idle speed region and secured to a cam shaft. The adjusting arrangement may include a first engagement pin and a second engagement pin arranged on the roller shaft and adjustable into a switching position and into a home position. The first guide track and the second guide track may be respectively arranged on the cam shaft in a circumferential direction of the cam shaft at least partially overlapping one of the cam stroke region of the first cam and the cam stroke region of the second cam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Herrn R. Kirschner
  • Publication number: 20180283237
    Abstract: A valve drive for an internal combustion engine may include a camshaft, at least one cam follower, and at least one adjusting device. The camshaft may include at least one cam group including a first cam and a second cam. The at least one adjusting device may include a first adjustable engagement element configured to contact a first guide and a second adjustable engagement element configured to contact a second guide of a slotted guide The at least one adjusting device may further include a stop arrangement axially shiftable relative to a rocker lever shaft. The stop arrangement may include a first stop region and a second stop region. At least one of the first engagement element and the second engagement element may be adjustable via the first stop region and the second stop region, respectively, when the stop arrangement is shifted along the rocker lever shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, David Moczko, Markus Walch
  • Publication number: 20180283226
    Abstract: A valve drive for an internal combustion engine may include a cam shaft, a cam follower, and an adjusting device. The cam shaft may include at least one first cam and at least one second cam. The cam follower may be drivingly connected to the at least one first cam when in a first position and drivingly connected to the at least one second cam when in a second position. The adjusting device may include a first engagement element configured to cooperate with a first sliding guide and a second engagement element configured to cooperate with a second sliding guide. The first engagement element and the second engagement element may be adjustable between a switching position and an inactive position. The adjusting device may further include a joint actuator configured to adjust at least one of the first engagement element and the second engagement element into the switching position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Markus Walch
  • Publication number: 20180283238
    Abstract: A valve drive for an internal combustion engine may include a cam shaft, at least one cam follower, and at least one adjusting device. The at least one adjusting device may include a first adjustable engagement element and a second adjustable engagement element. The first engagement element may not contact a first guide in an initial position, and may cooperate with the first guide in a switching position. The second engagement element may not contact a second guide of a slide guide in an initial position, and may cooperate with the second guide in a switching position. The at least one adjusting device may further include a switching arrangement that may include a first control element mounted to the first engagement element and a second control element mounted to the second engagement element. The first control element and the second control element may be controllable via the switching arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Markus Walch, Silas Raible
  • Publication number: 20180274404
    Abstract: A valve drive for an internal combustion engine may include a camshaft, at least one cam follower, at least one adjusting device, and at least one control shaft. The camshaft may include at least one cam group including a first cam and a second cam. The at least one adjusting device may include a first engagement element and a second engagement element. The at least one control shaft may include at least one control cam group including a first control cam and a second control cam. The at least one control shaft may rotate such that at least one stop region of the first control cam adjusts the first engagement element from the basic position into the switching position and at least one stop region of the second control cam adjusts the second engagement element from the basic position into the switching position one after the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Markus Walch
  • Publication number: 20180274403
    Abstract: A valve drive for an internal combustion engine may include a cam shaft, at least one cam follower, at least one adjusting device, and at least one control shaft. The cam shaft may include at least one cam group that may include a first cam and a second cam The at least one adjusting device may include a first adjustable engagement element and a second adjustable engagement element. The at least one control shaft may include at least one control cam group that may include a first control cam and a second control cam. The first control cam may include a cam lobe corresponding to the first engagement element and the second control cam may include a cam lobe corresponding to the second engagement element. The at least one control shaft may be rotatable about a longitudinal axis between a starting position and a rotational position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Markus Walch