Patents by Inventor Thorsten Ihne

Thorsten Ihne 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).

  • Publication number: 20220349322
    Abstract: A sliding cam system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The sliding cam system includes a carrier shaft and an axially adjustable cam sleeve arranged on the carrier shaft. The cam sleeve is axially adjustable relative to the carrier shaft between a first axial position and a second axial position, and axially fixable in the respective axial position by a detent device. The detent device includes a first receiving groove assigned to the first axial position and a second receiving groove assigned to the second axial position. The detent device further includes a preload element disposed on the cam sleeve. The preload element preloads a detent element arranged between the carrier shaft and the cam sleeve towards the carrier shaft. The detent element is received in the first receiving groove in the first axial position and the second receiving groove in the second axial position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Mario Mohler, Markus Walch
  • Patent number: 11236646
    Abstract: A valve drive device for actuating valves of an internal combustion engine a rocker arm device and a switchover device that includes at least two actuators for the at least one rocker arm device. The two actuators respectively include a switching element adjustable between a first position and a second position; a resetting device for resetting the switching element with a resetting force into the second position; a holding coil for offsetting the resetting force of the resetting device; a switching coil that counteracts the resetting force during operation. The switching coil and the holding coil adjust the switching element into the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Markus Lindgren
  • Patent number: 11236647
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a slotted guide of a valve train of an internal combustion engine. The slotted guide includes two guide tracks, which cross one another in a crossing region, for guiding a switching pin of a cam follower of the valve train. The two guide tracks have an on-track region, a crossing region, and an off-track region. At least one radial projection, structured and arranged to protrude beyond the slotted guide in a radial direction, is provided in or downstream from the off-track region of at least one guide track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Rolf Kirschner, Mario Mohler, Markus Walch
  • Publication number: 20210254516
    Abstract: A valve drive device for actuating valves of an internal combustion engine a rocker arm device and a switchover device that includes at least two actuators for the at least one rocker arm device. The two actuators respectively include a switching element adjustable between a first position and a second position; a resetting device for resetting the switching element with a resetting force into the second position; a holding coil for offsetting the resetting force of the resetting device; a switching coil that counteracts the resetting force during operation. The switching coil and the holding coil adjust the switching element into the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Markus Lindgren
  • Patent number: 11047270
    Abstract: A valve train may include a camshaft, a cam sleeve adjustable in an axial direction between first and second positions and non-rotatably arranged on the camshaft, a first cam and at least one second cam, a pin and at least one cam follower mounted thereon, a guide contour arranged on the cam sleeve and having first and second guide tracks, and a control pin optionally engaging in the first or second guide track to adjust the cam sleeve between the first and second positions. The at least one cam follower in the first and second positions may interact respectively with the first and second cams. On the camshaft or an internal surface of the cam sleeve, first and second snap-in recesses and a third snap-in recess therebetween may be arranged. A snap-in device having a snap-in element preloaded into the snap-in recesses may be provided, the snap-in recess fixing the cam sleeve in the first or second position. The first and second guide tracks may intersect in an intersection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Rolf Kirschner, Mario Mohler, Markus Walch
  • Patent number: 11041416
    Abstract: A valve train of an internal combustion engine may include a camshaft, first and second cams, a rocker arm assembly having a displacement bolt, which may be adjustable between at least first and second positions in the axial direction and on which at least one cam roller, may be mounted in an axially fixed and rotatable manner, wherein the displacement bolt may be mounted in associated bearing lugs of the rocker arm assembly, a guide contour arranged on the camshaft and having first and second guide tracks, a switching pin, which may be arranged in the displacement bolt and which may optionally engage with the first or second guide track to adjust the displacement bolt between the first and second positions. In the first and second positions, the cam roller may cooperate with the first and second cams, respectively. First and second catch recesses may be provided on the displacement bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Herrn R. Kirschner, Mario Mohler, Markus Walch
  • Patent number: 11041415
    Abstract: A valve control for an internal combustion engine may include a tilt lever, a cam shaft, two cam groups arranged on the cam shaft, a roller bolt arranged on the tilt lever, and an adjusting assembly including a switching pin that engages through the roller bolt. The roller bolt may include two rotatable rollers. The switching pin may be adjustable into a switching position and into a home position. The switching pin may cooperate with a slotted guide of the cam shaft when in the switching position and may have no contact with the slotted guide when in the home position. When the switching pin is in the switching position, the two rollers may be axially adjustable via the adjusting assembly. The switching pin may be axially movable in the roller bolt and the two rollers may be axially movable on the roller bolt into one of two roller positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Mario Mohler, Markus Walch
  • Publication number: 20200308997
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a valve train for an internal combustion engine. The valve train includes a camshaft with a first cam and a second cam, a rocker lever assembly with a shifting pin that is adjustable in an axial direction between at least two positions, a cam follower mounted on the shifting pin, an adjusting device for adjusting a control pin arranged in the shifting pin, and a guide contour arranged on the camshaft having a first guide track and a second guide track intersecting the first guide track in an X-like manner. The control pin engages into the guide tracks and adjusts the shifting pin to adjust the cam follower. The adjusting device includes a control rod that is shiftable parallel to the shifting pin and contacts the control rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Markus Walch
  • Publication number: 20200291830
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a slotted guide of a valve train of an internal combustion engine. The slotted guide includes two guide tracks, which cross one another in a crossing region, for guiding a switching pin of a cam follower of the valve train. The two guide tracks have an on-track region, a crossing region, and an off-track region. At least one radial projection, structured and arranged to protrude beyond the slotted guide in a radial direction, is provided in or downstream from the off-track region of at least one guide track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Rolf Kirschner, Mario Mohler, Markus Walch
  • Publication number: 20200291831
    Abstract: A valve train of an internal combustion engine may include a camshaft, first and second cams, a rocker arm assembly having a displacement bolt, which may be adjustable between at least first and second positions in the axial direction and on which at least one cam roller, may be mounted in an axially fixed and rotatable manner, wherein the displacement bolt may be mounted in associated bearing lugs of the rocker arm assembly, a guide contour arranged on the camshaft and having first and second guide tracks, a switching pin, which may be arranged in the displacement bolt and which may optionally engage with the first or second guide track to adjust the displacement bolt between the first and second positions. In the first and second positions, the cam roller may cooperate with the first and second cams, respectively. First and second catch recesses may be provided on the displacement bolt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Herrn R. Kirschner, Mario Mohler, Markus Walch
  • Publication number: 20200291828
    Abstract: A valve control for an internal combustion engine may include a tilt lever, a cam shaft, two cam groups arranged on the cam shaft, a roller bolt arranged on the tilt lever, and an adjusting assembly including a switching pin that engages through the roller bolt. The roller bolt may include two rotatable rollers. The switching pin may be adjustable into a switching position and into a home position. The switching pin may cooperate with a slotted guide of the cam shaft when in the switching position and may have no contact with the slotted guide when in the home position. When the switching pin is in the switching position, the two rollers may be axially adjustable via the adjusting assembly. The switching pin may be axially movable in the roller bolt and the two rollers may be axially movable on the roller bolt into one of two roller positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Mario Mohler, Markus Walch
  • Publication number: 20200291829
    Abstract: A valve train may include a camshaft, a cam sleeve adjustable in an axial direction between first and second positions and non-rotatably arranged on the camshaft, a first cam and at least one second cam, a pin and at least one cam follower mounted thereon, a guide contour arranged on the cam sleeve and having first and second guide tracks, and a control pin optionally engaging in the first or second guide track to adjust the cam sleeve between the first and second positions. The at least one cam follower in the first and second positions may interact respectively with the first and second cams. On the camshaft or an internal surface of the cam sleeve, first and second snap-in recesses and a third snap-in recess therebetween may be arranged. A snap-in device having a snap-in element preloaded into the snap-in recesses may be provided, the snap-in recess fixing the cam sleeve in the first or second position. The first and second guide tracks may intersect in an intersection region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne, Rolf Kirschner, Mario Mohler, Markus Walch
  • Patent number: 10753401
    Abstract: A method for producing a roller bearing may include threading a cam roller onto a bearing sleeve until the cam roller abuts a first axial flange of the bearing sleeve and inserting a counter holder into the bearing sleeve until the first axial flange of the bearing sleeve abuts a stop of the counter holder. The method may also include heating the bearing sleeve and forming an opposite second axial flange via inserting a forming punch into the bearing sleeve after heating the bearing sleeve. The second axial flange may be formed such that the cam roller is held in the bearing sleeve with radial play and axial play after the bearing sleeve cools down. The method may further include removing the forming punch and the counter holder from within the bearing sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: MAHLE INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Ihne, Mario Mohler
  • Patent number: 10711663
    Abstract: A valve drive of an internal combustion engine may include a camshaft, at least one cam follower, 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 include a plunger that is adjustable to an extended position and a retracted position. When the plunger is in the extended position, the hydraulic actuating element may be operatively connected to the brake cam providing a braking stroke. When the plunger is in the retracted position, the hydraulic actuating element may be operatively disconnected from the brake cam providing a cylinder cutout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Altherr, Thorsten Ihne
  • 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: 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: 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