With Means For Varying Timing Patents (Class 123/90.15)
  • Patent number: 11649745
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for an oil piston cooling jet valve of an oil pressure system of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, including: Driving the OPCJ valve for detecting oil pressure diagnostic data if multiple enabling conditions have been met, the multiple enabling conditions including: Presence of a stationary operation of the internal combustion engine; presence of a predetermined operating range; presence of an oil temperature within a predetermined oil temperature range; prevention of a scheduled driving of the OPCJ valve for regular piston cooling; and prevention of an error of the oil pressure system. The diagnostic method further including: Determining whether an oil pressure measuring point is within a predefined oil pressure measuring point range. The invention further relates to a diagnostic device, a control unit and a motor vehicle, which are each suitable or configured for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Julian Gens, Christian Ledwig
  • Patent number: 11643950
    Abstract: A method includes determining a value of an operational motor current limit and setting a value of a startup current limit equal to a predetermined value in excess of the value of the operational motor current limit if a set of predetermined conditions is satisfied. The method includes determining that operation of the engine has been interrupted, operating the electric motor of the variable valve timing mechanism with a current having a magnitude that is less than or equal to the startup current limit after determining that operation of the engine has been interrupted, determining that operation of the engine has resumed, and operating the electric motor of the variable valve timing mechanism with a current having a magnitude that is less than or equal to the operational motor current limit after determining that operation of the engine has resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Morris, Jiju Alexander, Daniel Brown
  • Patent number: 11629619
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster is produced that includes a stator and a rotor, which is rotatable relative to the stator, wherein the stator and the rotor are produced with first planar surfaces on a first end face and with second planar surfaces on a second end face, which is formed to be opposite the first end face when viewed in an axial direction and wherein the rotor and/or the stator is or are produced according to a powder-metallurgical method, The first planar surfaces and the second planar surfaces of the stator and the rotor are ground or finished, and the lateral surface of the stator and the lateral surface of the rotor are left uncalibrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Miba Sinter Austria GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Mueller, Markus Schauer, Karl Dickinger
  • Patent number: 11629659
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine that is started via expansion stroke combustion are described. In one example, the method increases air flow through the engine during an engine stopping process so that a larger amount of air may be trapped in a cylinder that is on its expansion stroke so that greater amounts of engine torque may be provided during engine starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Banker, Jeffrey Doering, Chris Glugla
  • Patent number: 11591939
    Abstract: A compression release mechanism including a camshaft, a cam provided on the camshaft and protruding outward in a radial direction of the camshaft, a lever, of which a portion is disposed in the camshaft, a support shaft supporting the lever such that the lever is swingable between a first position and a second position relative to the camshaft, and a spring attached to the camshaft, to urge the lever toward the first position. The lever includes a cam portion configured to protrude out from the camshaft with the lever at the first position, a centrifugal weight for moving the lever toward the second position in accordance with rotation of the camshaft, and an abutment portion configured to be in abutment with an inner peripheral surface of the camshaft with the lever at the first position, and be located away from the inner peripheral surface with the lever at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinori Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 11566569
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for identifying abnormal exhaust valve performance of an internal combustion engine may include receiving exhaust passage temperature signals from a plurality of exhaust passage temperature sensors, each exhaust passage being fluidly connected to one or more exhaust valves of the internal combustion engine, the exhaust passage temperature signals being indicative of respective exhaust passage temperatures. The method may further include comparing one or more of the exhaust passage temperatures, identifying a caution exhaust passage temperature, from one or more of the exhaust passage temperatures, that deviates from one or more of the other one or more exhaust passage temperatures, and outputting an abnormal exhaust valve performance indication based on identifying the caution exhaust passage temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Kennedy, Nathan Ankersen, Ryan A. Rush
  • Patent number: 11560815
    Abstract: An electrically-controlled variable camshaft timing (VCT) system including a sun gear, having an inner axial surface, configured to communicate torque from an output shaft of an electric motor to a gearbox assembly; and a collet sleeve having at least one slot configured to engage the output shaft of the electric motor and a relief section permitting radial-inward compression and an outer axial surface that releasably engages the inner axial surface of the sun gear such that the outer axial surface of the collet sleeve is engaged with the inner axial surface of the sun gear while an amount of torque applied to the sun gear by the output shaft is below a predetermined torque threshold and the sun gear and the collet sleeve are angularly displaced relative to each other when an amount of torque applied to the sun gear by the output shaft is at or above the predetermined torque threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventor: Chad M. McCloy
  • Patent number: 11560814
    Abstract: A hydraulic fluid control valve (HFCV) configured to recirculate an existing hydraulic fluid from a first hydraulic actuation chamber to a second hydraulic actuation chamber is provided. The HFCV includes a selectively movable spool assembly having an outer annulus, at least one one-way valve arranged within the outer annulus, and an inner fluid chamber configured to receive and deliver the exiting hydraulic fluid to one or both of either a sump or one of the first or second hydraulic actuation chambers. The at least one one-way valve moves in an axial direction and the outer annulus serves as an axial motion stop for the at least one one-way valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gustavo de Oliveira Figueiredo, Andrew Mlinaric
  • Patent number: 11560816
    Abstract: A spring retainer for a camshaft phaser is provided that includes an axially extending portion and a disk portion. The disk portion has an axially extending retention tab that is formed integrally therewith. The axially extending portion includes a torsional fixing region configured to torsionally attach a bias spring to the spring retainer. In a first installed position, the retention tab is spaced apart from a straight side of the bias spring. In a second rotationally slipped position, the retention tab is configured to be engaged with the straight side of the bias spring. The spring retainer can be utilized as a timing wheel that is configured to cooperate with a camshaft position sensor to provide an angular position of a camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Renato de Oliveira Ghiraldi, Gilson Arima, Jeffrey Harris
  • Patent number: 11549407
    Abstract: The valve timing control unit includes a valve timing control mechanism that includes a driving rotary body, a driven rotary body, an electric motor and a deceleration gear each for setting the relative rotational phase of the driving rotary body and the driven rotary body, and a phase sensor unit that detects the actual phase of the driving rotary body and the driven rotary body. The valve timing control unit includes a controller that controls the electric motor to reduce a phase difference between the actual phase and a target phase, and the controller includes a swing controller that swings the target phase in vicinity of the target phase when the target phase is maintained and the actual phase having a fluctuation amount is held in a holding region, in which the fluctuation amount is less than a preset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: AISIN CORPORATION, MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenya Fujimoto, Yoshinari Tokunaga, Shigehiro Tanabe, Takano Nakai, Yoshiyuki Kamoyama, Hiroshi Takahashi, Toru Hirota
  • Patent number: 11536169
    Abstract: A controller for a vehicle that includes an internal combustion includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry obtains a predicted temperature outside the vehicle and estimates the viscosity of a lubricating oil based on the oil pressure and the oil temperature of the lubricating oil when the internal combustion engine satisfies a specific operation condition. When the processing circuitry determines that there is a likelihood of a cranking failure occurring in the internal combustion engine on condition that the predicted temperature is less than a threshold value that is based on the viscosity, the processing circuitry outputs a notification signal indicating that that there is a likelihood of a cranking failure occurring in the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Higashi
  • Patent number: 11536166
    Abstract: A hydraulic camshaft adjuster (1), in which the locking system (7, 8) includes a first and a second control element (7, 8). In order to approach the middle position easily, the first control element (7) has a first and a second switching position, wherein in the first switching position a fluidic connection between the hydraulic pump (P) and a first of the two sub-chambers (B) and a fluidic connection between the other, second sub-chamber (A) and the tank (T) can be established, and in the second switching position a fluidic connection between the hydraulic pump (P) and the second of the two sub-chambers (A) and a fluidic connection between the other, first sub-chamber (B) and the tank (T) can be established, and the second control element (8) is free from different switching positions and has no influence on the flow of hydraulic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ali Bayrakdar
  • Patent number: 11530636
    Abstract: A heat management system for air-cooled engines suitable to power yard care equipment or vehicles. The system may generally comprise an engine, a blower configured to blow ambient cooling air across the engine, and an exhaust system comprising an exhaust header and a muffler. The exhaust header has an inlet end which receives heated exhaust gas from the engine and an outlet end fluidly coupled to the muffler. An air control baffle is configured to redirect a portion of the cooling air from the blower towards the exhaust header and the muffler to enhance cooling the exhaust system. The system may further include an outermost protective shield exposed to equipment operators and an inner heat barrier or shield located between the muffler and protective shield. The system is designed to ameliorate both radiative and convective sources of heat transfer to maintain the protective shield at temperatures below established industry standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Inventors: Robert A. Griswold, David Hasler, Brittany Nicole Tremblay, Sean Leroy Winter, Christopher Wolf, Alexander Anthony Yosick
  • Patent number: 11506134
    Abstract: Closing timing of an intake port is changed without using a variable valve timing mechanism. An electric vehicle includes an engine for electricity generation in which closing timing of an intake port maximizes intake air charging efficiency in a specific revolution speed region, a sensor which outputs a signal related to a revolution speed of the engine, a controller which drives the engine at a revolution speed based on the signal of the sensor, a requested electricity generation amount being satisfied at the revolution speed, and a motor which applies a positive or negative torque to the engine. When the engine is driven in a revolution speed region other than the specific revolution speed region, the controller uses the motor to apply a positive or a negative torque to the engine in an intake stroke to change the closing timing of the intake port to increase intake air charging efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 11497084
    Abstract: A heater device includes a heat generation layer that has a heat generation portion configured to generate heat when energized, a pair of electrodes disposed on one side of the heat generation layer and being spaced from each other, a detection portion configured to generate an electric field between the pair of electrodes and detect an object around the pair of electrodes, and a controller configured to control the amount of electric power supplied to the heat generation portion based on a detection result by the detection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Seki, Kimitake Ishikawa, Hirokazu Yamadaki, Yusuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11486273
    Abstract: A variable valve driving mechanism of an engine includes a rocker arm configured to control open and close of a valve and a servo rocker arm arranged in parallel to the rocker arm. A swing end of the servo rocker arm extends to the top of the swing end of the rocker arm. A valve adjustment gap provided in the swing direction of the servo rocker arm and the rocker arm is formed between the servo rocker arm and the rocker arm. A gap compensating device telescopically filling the valve adjustment gap and configured to adjust the valve to be delayed to close or open in advance when extending to the valve adjustment gap is provided between the servo rocker arm and the rocker arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: WEICHAI POWER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fei Wang, Cheng Xu, Zhongsheng Ren, Baojun Wang, Deshi Xu, Gang Wang
  • Patent number: 11486277
    Abstract: A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine of a work vehicle includes an engine oil sump and a pump unit fluidly connected to the engine oil sump to receive engine oil therefrom. The pump unit, in turn, includes a first oil pump comprising a variable displacement pump, a second oil pump, a drive line mechanically coupled to the first oil pump and the second oil pump that drives each of the pumps, and a manifold that directs engine oil from the engine oil sump to the first and second oil pumps. A first oil circuit is fluidly coupled to the first oil pump to direct a first flow of engine oil to piston spray jets in the engine and a second oil circuit is fluidly coupled to the second oil pump to direct a second flow of engine oil to one or more oiled engine components in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Jeffrey Alan Buttjer
  • Patent number: 11466640
    Abstract: A four-stroke internal combustion engine comprising an inlet cam configured to open and close an inlet valve, a No. 1 exhaust cam configured to open and close an exhaust valve, a No. 2 exhaust cam configured to open and close the same exhaust valve, wherein the No. 2 exhaust cam is angularly adjustable relative to the No. 1 exhaust cam in response to input from an operator, so that the No. 2 exhaust cam is able to be selectively engaged; wherein the No. 1 exhaust cam is configured to open and close the exhaust valve during the compression stroke, so that a selected quantity of air drawn in during the intake stroke is expelled during the compression stroke; and wherein the No. 2 exhaust cam is configured to optionally close the exhaust valve when engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventor: James Domenic Krajancich
  • Patent number: 11441509
    Abstract: A technique for fuel system protection for an internal combustion engine comprises determining direct fuel injector temperature as a function of engine operating parameters; and advancing intake valve timing when the temperature rises above a first predetermined value such that the temperature is maintained below a second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: WESTPORT FUEL SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Ning Wu, Mark E. Dunn
  • Patent number: 11434836
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises a plurality of cylinders, including at least one de-activatable cylinder having at least one deactivator assembly operatively connected to the at least one valve train for the de-activatable cylinder. In such an internal combustion engine, a method for actuating engine valves comprises operating at least one cylinder of the plurality of cylinders to provide positive power generation according to the main valve actuations and, additionally, placing the at least one deactivator assembly for a de-activatable cylinder of the at least one de-activatable cylinder in a deactivation state. While the at least one deactivator assembly for the de-activatable cylinder is in the deactivation state and while the at least one cylinder is operating to provide positive power generation according to main valve actuations, the method further comprises performing at least one secondary valve event via at least one engine valve for the de-activatable cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin D. Baltrucki
  • Patent number: 11401838
    Abstract: A system for controlling actuation of an engine valve comprises a pivot and a torsion spring having first and second legs operatively connected to the pivot. A lever arm is adjustably affixed to and extending away from the pivot, and is further rotatable about a pivot axis of the pivot between a retracted position and an extended position and vice versa relative to a motion conveying component. Furthermore, a housing is provided having a pivot bore formed therein with the pivot rotatably disposed in the pivot bore. The housing further comprises a first and second openings intersecting with the pivot bore such that the first and second legs extend out of the first opening and the lever arm extends out of the second opening. When a first force is applied by the motion conveying component to the lever arm, such first force maintains the lever arm in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: G. Michael Gron, Jr., Jacob Moore, Justin D. Baltrucki, Eric J. Hodgkinson, Timothy P. Neal, Bruce A. Swanbon, Robb Janak, Matei Alexandru
  • Patent number: 11384701
    Abstract: A method for calculating the mass of an overlap gaseous flow (MOVL), wherein the exhaust pressure is higher than the intake pressure, or in the case of scavenging (SCAV), wherein the intake pressure is higher than the exhaust pressure. The overlap gaseous flow (MOVL) is the flow which flows, in overlap conditions, through the intake valve and the exhaust valve of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. At least one intake valve is driven so as to vary the lift (H) of the intake valve in controlled manner. The overlap condition is a condition in which the intake valve and the exhaust valve are both at least partially open. The method comprises calculating the mass of the gaseous flow (MOVL) which flows through the intake valve and the exhaust valve on the basis of the relation: MOVL=PERM*?(P/P0,n)*P0/P0_REF*(T0_REF/T0)1/2/n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: MARELLI EUROPE S.p.A.
    Inventor: Marco Panciroli
  • Patent number: 11378021
    Abstract: The variable compression ratio internal combustion engine 1 comprises: a variable compression ratio mechanism 6 able to change a mechanical compression ratio; an exhaust promotion mechanism 50, 55 able to reduce cylinder residual gas after an exhaust stroke of cylinders; and a control device 80 configured to control the mechanical compression ratio by the variable compression ratio mechanism and control an operation of the exhaust promotion mechanism. The control device is configured to operate the exhaust promotion mechanism in at least a partial time period of a time period from when it is demanded that the mechanical compression ratio be raised to when the mechanical compression ratio finishes being changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naruto Yamane
  • Patent number: 11365654
    Abstract: A bushing member includes: a large diameter portion which is inserted on a radially inner side of a coiled segment of an assist spring and includes a straight portion which extends in an axial direction; and a small diameter portion which is located on a radially inner side of a housing and has an outer diameter that is smaller than an outer diameter of the large diameter portion. The coiled segment includes a contact portion that contacts the straight portion at a radially inner surface of the contact portion. In an axial direction, a location of an end of the straight portion, which is located on one axial side where a driven shaft is placed, coincides with a location of an end of the contact portion located on the one axial side, or is on the one axial side of the location of the end of the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 11351982
    Abstract: Provided are a driving force control method and device for a hybrid vehicle, each capable of effectively absorbing torque fluctuation of an engine while suppressing deterioration in energy efficiency. The driving force control device for a hybrid vehicle comprises a PCM configured to: identify a speed reduction ratio in a driving force transmission mechanism; estimate an average torque output by an engine; estimate a torque fluctuation component of the torque output by the engine; set a countertorque for suppressing the estimated torque fluctuation component; and control an electric motor to output the set countertorque, wherein the PCM is operable, under a condition that the average torque output by the engine and an engine speed are constant, to set the countertorque such that, as the speed reduction ratio becomes smaller, the absolute value of the countertorque becomes larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Wataru Yamamoto, Hirofumi Nishimura, Tsuyoshi Goto, Kentaro Furusho, Yuta Enokizono
  • Patent number: 11352919
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for actuating a camshaft adjuster of an internal combustion engine, in which a current is generated in an electric motor of the camshaft adjuster comprising: measuring an instantaneous strength of the current; calculating a mean value of the measured strength of the current over a predefined elapsed time; measuring a temperature of the camshaft adjuster; comparing the mean value of the measured strength of the current to a threshold value obtained from a characteristic diagram stored in a memory based on the measured temperature and the predefined elapsed time; and reducing the current if the calculated mean value of the strength of the current is higher than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Stowasser, Suk-Ju Kim, Thomas Burkhardt
  • Patent number: 11352918
    Abstract: This invention describes a variable valve timing mechanism which may be fitted to an internal combustion engine to provide precise control over timing of the valve opening and closing events of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft. Various methods for its application are described to provide settable valve timing at either predetermined angle selected by the operator, or automatic variable valve timing as governed by parameters of the operating engine. Said mechanism comprised of oppositely located idler rollers, whereas not bound to a single yoke or carrier, are driven by a cam to achieve independent movement of the rollers, which bear against both tension and slack sides of the belt between the crankshaft and camshaft pulleys causing predictable and repeatable variation in valve timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Inventor: Anthony John Peila
  • Patent number: 11339689
    Abstract: A bearing portion of a planetary rotatable body for providing bearing support in a thrust direction is defined as a planetary thrust bearing portion. A driving-side rotatable body or a driven-side rotatable body, which is configured to contact the planetary thrust bearing portion in the thrust direction, is defined as a specific rotatable body. A bearing portion of the specific rotatable body for providing bearing support in the thrust direction is defined as a specific thrust bearing portion. In a parallel state where the specific thrust bearing portion and the planetary thrust bearing portion are parallel to each other, the specific thrust bearing portion and the planetary thrust bearing portion contact with each other only on one of an eccentric side and a counter-eccentric side of the planetary rotatable body while the counter-eccentric side is opposite to the eccentric side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Otsubo, Hiroki Takahashi, Kenichi Tomomatsu, Shuhei Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11306626
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser, including: a stator arranged to receive rotational torque, including a plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions, and supported for rotation around an axis of rotation; a rotor including a plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions circumferentially interleaved with the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions, and arranged to non-rotatably connect to a camshaft; a plurality of phaser chambers, each phaser chamber circumferentially bounded by a radially inwardly extending protrusion included in the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions and a radially outwardly extending protrusion included in the plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions; an annular washer; and a target wheel including a first portion axially located between the annular washer and the rotor and in contact with the annular washer, arranged to detect a rotational position of the rotor for use in rotating the rotor with respect to the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Alexandre Camilo
  • Patent number: 11300060
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for engine braking in a vehicle. In one example, a method may include deactivating fueling to at least one cylinder of an engine, increasing an air mass provided to the engine via an electric boosting device, and adjusting an exhaust valve opening timing of the at least one cylinder in response to a request for engine braking. In this way, an amount of engine braking torque may be increased with reduced wear to engine system components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 11287354
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnostics of a cylinder valve actuation mechanism in a variable displacement engine (VDE). In one example, during an engine-off condition, the engine may be rotated unfueled, via a starter motor, and a reference exhaust air flow may be estimated. One or more deactivatable engine cylinders may then be deactivated and degradation of the cylinder valve actuation mechanism may be indicated based on a difference between the exhaust air flow following the cylinder deactivation and the reference exhaust air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 11286995
    Abstract: A hydraulic clutch assembly includes a housing defining an internal cavity, a shaft, a clutch pack, a piston and a cylinder. The shaft extends within the internal cavity along a rotation axis for a rotatable member. The clutch pack includes interleaved plates and discs which are configured to rotationally couple the rotatable member to the shaft. The piston may be disposed within the internal cavity of the housing. The piston includes a first piston region and a second piston region. The first piston region is configured to engage the clutch pack while the second piston region is spaced radially from the first piston region. The piston may be arranged within the housing to define a first pressure chamber between the piston and the housing. The cylinder may be disposed within the internal cavity of the housing and may include a hollow interior for receiving the second piston region. The second piston region and the cylinder may define a second pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Satheesh Ganesan, Kevin M. Allen
  • Patent number: 11261806
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing air flow to an emission control device during a fuel shut-off event. In one example, a method may include adjusting a timing of an exhaust valve and a timing of an intake valve of a cylinder during the fuel shut-off event using a common actuator. The actuator may include a planetary gear system configured to rotate a first portion of a camshaft in a first direction and a second portion of the camshaft in a second, opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory McConville
  • Patent number: 11255227
    Abstract: A valve opening and closing timing control device includes: a drive-side rotary body rotating synchronously with a crankshaft; a driven-side rotary body provided inside the drive-side rotary body coaxially and rotating integrally with a camshaft; advance and retard chambers formed between the drive-side and driven-side rotary bodies; a lock mechanism switchable between a lock state and a lock release state; a valve unit including a fluid supply pipe into which fluid is supplied and a spool movable along a direction of the rotation axis, and controlling supply of the fluid to and from the lock mechanism, and the advance and retard chambers; and a tubular valve case having an internal space inside the driven-side rotary body and housing the valve unit in the internal space. A first opening portion is formed in the fluid supply pipe. A second opening portion is formed in the valve case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Ueda, Yuji Noguchi, Hirokazu Nonogaki
  • Patent number: 11255229
    Abstract: An exhaust valve rocker arm for an exhaust valve rocker arm assembly operable in a combustion engine drive mode and an engine braking mode, and configured to selectively open first and second exhaust valves, includes a body defining an aperture to receive a rocker shaft such that the body is rotatable about the rocker shaft, a bore defined in the body, and a rotating stepped engine brake capsule disposed in the bore and having a castellation mechanism. The rotating stepped engine brake capsule is movable between a locked, engine brake active position and an unlocked, engine brake inactive position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Mark VanWingerden
  • Patent number: 11242776
    Abstract: A valve open-close timing control device includes a driving rotator, a driven rotator, a phase adjusting mechanism, a sensor unit, a storage configured to store the plurality of divided regions consecutively provided, as a plurality of divided length information pieces corresponding to divided lengths of the divided regions, and an actual phase acquisition unit configured to start acquisition of the crank angle signal and the cam angle signal along with start of actuation control of actuating the internal combustion engine, specify one of the divided regions by referring to the divided length information pieces stored in the storage in accordance with the crank angle signal at timing set in accordance with the cam angle signal, and acquire the relative rotation phase as an actual phase in accordance with the crank angle signal corresponding to the boundary of the divided region thus specified and the reference crank angle signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Iwaya, Masahiro Okado, Toi Suzuki, Toshiki Miyake, Takano Nakai, Kenichiro Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Kamoyama, Toru Hirota
  • 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: 11210874
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and apparatus for determining, and reporting vehicle carbon emissions using a local device, a client device, and a system server. The local device is connected to the automotive controller and is wirelessly connected to the client device. The client device is connected to the system server. The local device receives engine data from the automotive controller and determines and stores fuel consumption over a period of time. The client device receives the fuel consumption data from the local device and sends the data to the system server. The system server determines the carbon emissions based on the fuel consumption and reports the emissions data to a third-party to certify carbon offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: EZ Lynk SEZC
    Inventors: Brad Gintz, Thomas Wood, Frederick Hershel Savage
  • Patent number: 11193400
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser routes pressurized fluid from a set of chambers that are decreasing in volume to a reservoir. Oscillations of the rotor with respect to the stator create intervals in which the pressure in the reservoir exceeds the pressure in the set of chambers which are increasing in volume. During these intervals, fluid flows from the reservoir, through one-way valves, into the chambers which are increasing in volume. Pressurization of the reservoir increases the volume of flow through the one-way valves, decreasing the pump flow requirement for the camshaft phaser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andrew Mlinaric
  • Patent number: 11181015
    Abstract: An oil control valve for controlling a cam phaser includes a valve housing, a recirculation housing, a spool guide, a spool, a first and second recirculation valve, and a one-way inlet valve. The valve housing has a pressure inlet port, a first bore having a first inner surface, a first port, and a second port. The recirculation housing has a first slot, a second slot, a second bore having a second inner surface, and a first outer surface. A first recirculation valve is disposed in the first slot of the recirculation housing. A second recirculation valve is disposed in the second slot of the recirculation housing. The one-way inlet valve disposed in the pressure inlet port. The recirculation housing and spool are each slidingly disposed to have a first, second, and third modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Rolando Huerta Ortiz, Michael E. McCarroll
  • Patent number: 11174760
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes an input member and an output member. A valve spool is moveable along an axis between an advance position and a retard position and includes a valve spool bore. A check valve within the valve spool bore includes a check valve member which moves between a seated position and an unseated position such that the check valve member prevents fluid flow out of the valve spool bore through a passage and such that the check valve member permits flow into the valve spool bore through the passage. An insert within the valve spool bore supports the check valve closes one end of the valve spool bore and abuts an insert retainer to retain the insert within the valve spool bore. A spring urges the insert toward the insert retainer and holds the insert retainer in compression against the insert retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas H. Fischer, Prashant Bhokardole
  • Patent number: 11168590
    Abstract: A sleeve for a cam phaser, wherein the sleeve is arranged between a central valve and a rotor of the cam phaser, wherein the rotor is rotatable relative to a stator of the cam phaser about a rotation axis of the rotor, wherein a vane of the rotor is arranged positionable between two bars of the stator, wherein the vane divides an intermediary space that is formed between the two bars into a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber, wherein the rotor is movable by pressures that are provided in the first pressure chamber and in the second pressure chamber, wherein the central valve is configured to provide pressure loading and pressure relief of the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: ECO Holding 1 GmbH
    Inventors: Rene Heym, Norbert Loesch, Daniel Viertler
  • Patent number: 11168591
    Abstract: A hydraulically-actuated variable camshaft timing (VCT) phaser assembly is employed for use in an automotive internal combustion engine. The VCT phaser assembly has a housing, a rotor, a first plate, a second plate, and a control valve. The rotor is situated within the housing, and a plurality of chambers are established between the rotor and housing. The first plate is situated on one side of the housing and rotor, and the second plate is situated on an opposite side of the housing and rotor. One or more air vents reside in one or more of the housing, rotor, first plate, second plate, or control valve. Air separated from hydraulic fluid in the VCT phaser assembly amid use and that makes its way to the air vent(s) can escape the VCT phaser assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: BORGWARNER, INC.
    Inventors: John C. Bulzacchelli, Michael L. Smart
  • Patent number: 11162414
    Abstract: An idler shaft (100) used in an engine (10) having a gear cover (16) and a cylinder block (18). The idler shaft (100) includes an integral body (114) having a cylindrical shape. The idler shaft (100) is compressed between the gear cover (16) and the cylinder block (18) when assembled together such that the integral body (114) of the idler shaft (100) provides a clamp load and axial sealing between the gear cover (16) and the cylinder block (18). The idler shaft (100) further includes a passage way (116) fluidly connected to at least one of: the cylinder block (18) and the gear cover (16) for accommodating transmission of a fluid for the engine (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Barnes, Kevin C. Augustin, Sr.
  • Patent number: 11156179
    Abstract: A system includes a fuel control module and a valve control module. The fuel control module controls a fuel injector to stop fuel delivery to each cylinder of an engine in a vehicle when the vehicle is decelerating. The valve control module controls a valve actuator to actuate intake and exhaust valves of each cylinder of the engine between open and closed positions when fuel delivery to each cylinder of the engine is stopped. The valve control module controls the valve actuator to adjust an amount of airflow through each cylinder of the engine to a minimum amount when fuel delivery to each cylinder of the engine is initially stopped. The valve control module controls the valve actuator to adjust the amount of airflow through each cylinder of the engine to an amount greater than the minimum amount before fuel delivery to each cylinder of the engine is restarted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Andrew A. Raftopoulos, Michael A. Smith, Robert Gallon, Pratap S. Murthy, Scott T. Feldmann
  • Patent number: 11156170
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine includes an internal combustion engine and a valve opening-closing timing control device. The valve opening-closing timing control device has a phase adjustment mechanism for setting a relative rotation phase of a driving-side rotator and a driven-side rotator. The phase adjustment mechanism overlaps a timing of opening an intake valve with a timing of opening an exhaust valve, by setting, in a predetermined period, the relative rotation phase such that the exhaust valve closes after a top dead center position has been reached, and a bypass passage is provided that connects an exhaust passage of one cylinder that is in an exhaust process to the exhaust passage of another cylinder that is in an intake process at the same time as the exhaust process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiichi Fujimoto, Masaaki Kaneko, Hirokazu Tanaka, Suguru Kamiya, Kohei Fujii
  • Patent number: 11149862
    Abstract: A cooling-water control valve, which controls a flow rate of cooling water for an engine, includes a housing and a valve member. The housing has multiple outlet ports. The valve member is movably provided in the housing, so that it is rotatable around an axis line of the valve member. The valve member has multiple opened portions. Each of the opened portions is formed at a position, which is different from one another in an axial direction of the valve member. Each of the opened portions is operatively communicated to one of the outlet ports. The valve member changes a communication ratio between the opened portion and the outlet port depending on a rotational position of the valve member. The cooling-water control valve is provided at a position between the engine and an electric power converting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shogo Kanzaki
  • Patent number: 11136927
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system includes an internal combustion engine and a control device. A difference of an intake valve closing timing with respect to a compression top dead center is referred to as a first crank angle difference; a difference of an exhaust valve closing timing with respect to an exhaust top dead center is referred to as a second crank angle difference; and a difference between the first crank angle difference and the second crank angle difference is referred to as an intake/exhaust closing timing difference. The control device is configured to execute: a fuel cut processing; and a valve driving processing to control at least one of the intake valve closing timing and the exhaust valve closing timing such that the intake/exhaust closing timing difference becomes smaller during a fuel cut operation than during a non-fuel cut operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeki Miyashita
  • Patent number: 11136925
    Abstract: A control device for an engine is provided, which includes variable intake and exhaust valve operating mechanisms, a supercharger provided to an intake passage and configured to boost intake air introduced into a cylinder, and a controller. The controller drives the supercharger when the engine operates in a boosted range. The controller controls the variable intake and exhaust valve operating mechanisms so that a valve overlap period during which intake and exhaust valves open simultaneously is formed, when the engine operates in a low-speed boosted range of the boosted range where the engine speed is less than a reference speed. The controller controls the variable exhaust valve operating mechanism so that the open timing of the exhaust valve is more advanced when the engine operates in a high-speed boosted range of the boosted range where the engine speed is greater than or equal to the reference speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Inoue, Yusuke Kawai, Tetsuya Chikada
  • Patent number: 11131253
    Abstract: A control device for an engine 1 including cylinders, and configured to perform a reduced-cylinder operation by idling some of cylinders. The control device includes a hydraulic valve-stopping mechanism 14b which closes the intake and exhaust valves 41, 51 of the cylinders in response to establishment of the reduced-cylinder operation execution condition, a hydraulic variable valve timing mechanism 19 capable of changing a phase of the exhaust valve 51 of the engine 1, and an ECU 110 which controls the valve-stopping mechanism 14b and the hydraulic variable valve timing mechanism 19. In response to establishment of the reduced-cylinder operation execution condition, the ECU 110 allows the hydraulic variable valve timing mechanism 19 to execute the phase change to the exhaust valve 51, and subsequently allows the valve-stopping mechanism 14b to bring the intake and exhaust valves 41, 51 of the cylinders into closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamamoto, Toshiaki Nishimoto, Takaya Okugawa, Takafumi Nishio