Cam-to-valve Relationship Patents (Class 123/90.16)
  • Patent number: 8205588
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, a variable valve-actuating mechanism includes a trigger pin operable to permit axial movement of a rocker arm concurrently with a axial movement of a rocker arm shaft. A retention member has an insertion aperture formed therein, in which the trigger pin is inserted, and which slidably supports the trigger pin in the inserting direction. The trigger pin includes upper and lower expanded portions disposed on both sides thereof in the inserting direction. The upper and lower expanded portions of the trigger pin are operable to disable sliding motion of the trigger pin, relative to the retention member, beyond a predetermined range. The upper and lower expanded portions allow the trigger pin to be integrally assembled in the insertion aperture of the retention member, so as to be selectively retained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakashima, Katsuhiro Kubo, Yoshihiro Takada, Takuya Warashina, Kazuyuki Kosei
  • Patent number: 8205585
    Abstract: In a variable valve gear for an internal combustion engine provided with a camshaft phase change mechanism for variably controlling opening and closing timings of an intake valve, the camshaft phase change mechanism and a variable valve lift mechanism are controlled so that the closing timing of the intake valve is advanced beyond a predetermined range T1 including a bottom dead center when a load L of the internal combustion engine is less than a first predetermined value L1 and that the closing timing of the intake valve is delayed beyond the predetermined range T1 when the load L of the internal combustion engine is not less than the first predetermined value L1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Toda, Masayuki Takagaki, Satoshi Yoshikawa, Shinichi Murata, Nobuaki Murakami
  • Patent number: 8205584
    Abstract: A brushless motor of a variable valve mechanism varies a actuation parameter of an intake valve of an engine. A position sensor outputs a pulse signal when the brushless motor rotates. A position counter calculates a counter value by counting edges of the pulse signal. A motor control device obtains a detection value of a motor rotational angle based on the counter value when the motor control device is in a powered state. An engine control device determines that the detection value of the motor rotational angle is displaced from the actual value when the engine control device detects that the engine is operating and the motor control device portion is in a non-powered state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Noda, Naohide Fuwa, Seiko Tamada
  • Patent number: 8201527
    Abstract: An auxiliary-device arrangement for a cylinder-deactivation multi-cylinder internal combustion engine includes an auxiliary-device driving member and an auxiliary device. The cylinder-deactivation multi-cylinder internal combustion engine is capable of deactivating at least one deactivated cylinder by keeping an intake valve and an exhaust valve closed while at least one operating cylinder is operating. The auxiliary-device driving member is provided adjacent to an operating cam of a valve operating cam shaft which is provided in the at least one operating cylinder. The auxiliary device has an operating member via which the auxiliary device contacts the auxiliary-device driving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Yokoyama, Masahiro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8201531
    Abstract: A mechanical desmodromic fully variable valve actuation system capable for racing revs. Valve lift and valve duration continuously variable from a maximum to zero. Independently variable valve duration and valve lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Inventors: Manousos Pattakos, John Pattakos, Emmanouel Pattakos
  • Patent number: 8196556
    Abstract: A DHLA including a hydraulic lash adjustment mechanism disposed within a plunger slidably disposed within a pin housing that is slidably disposed within an axial bore in an adjuster body. A lash ring disposed in a groove near the outer end of the DHLA body includes a portion extending into the bore to limit travel of the pin housing and thereby set the internal mechanical lash in the DHLA. The lash ring has a thickness selected to provided a predetermined amount of mechanical lash in the assembled lifter, which thickness varies from assembly to assembly to compensate for manufacturing variation in the components. A biasing means such as a wave ring, a Belleville washer or a beveled retaining ring is also installed in the annular groove to urge the lash ring against the lower surface of the groove under all DHLA operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Nick J. Hendriksma
  • Publication number: 20120137998
    Abstract: A variable valve device includes an outer body that a valve contacts at a side thereof, wherein an end of the other side is supported by a hydraulic lash adjuster, a bearing contacting a cam is formed in the center, and a stepped latching device insertion hole is formed in the center of the other side, an inner body that is located in the outer body, including a side portion that can rotate together with an end portion of the outer body around a valve stem shaft in the same axis, and the other portion is connected to a bearing shaft, a latching device that is inserted in the latching device insertion hole, and that selectively causes movement of the outer body depending on the movement of the inner body, and a lost motion spring that is formed outside of the outer body, and that provides an elastic force to enable the inner body to perform a lost motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Myungsik Choi
  • Publication number: 20120137997
    Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine structure defining a first combustion chamber, a first port in communication with the first combustion chamber and a second port in communication with the first combustion chamber. A first valve may be located in the first port and a second valve may be located in the second port. A first multi-step valve lift mechanism may be supported on the engine structure and engaged with the first valve. A second multi-step valve lift mechanism may be supported on the engine structure and engaged with the second valve. The first and second multi-step valve lift mechanisms may be switched between low and high lift modes independent from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: ALAN W. HAYMAN
  • Patent number: 8191520
    Abstract: Provided is a variable valve operating apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which can favorably improve the mounting environment of an actuator in the aspect of achieving the improvement of coolability and the reduction of stress. The apparatus includes a guide rail which is provided in the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical part respectively fixed to a camshaft; a projection part which is disposed so as to be engageable and disengageable with the guide rail; and an actuator which is disposed so as to oppose the cylindrical part and can protrude the projection part toward the guide rail. At least a part of the actuator is disposed so as to fit in a oval-shaped region which is virtually obtained by linking a base circle of a main cam and a base circle of a main cam seen from the axial direction of the camshaft in a state in which the projection part is not protruded toward the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Kidooka, Toshiyuki Yano
  • Patent number: 8191522
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine using poppet type valves, a center pivot rocker arm is moved through a specific path wherein the roller in contact with a cam is moved to alter the phasing of the valves or injectors in the engine. Depending on the interface between the valve or injector and the rocker arm, the rocker ratio of the rocker arm may be altered, giving a change in lift as well. By positioning a control arm at desired points on either side of a centered position, and rotating the control arm about its own pivot point via an arm actuator, phase change is achieved. The arm actuator controls the location of the control arm and thus the timing of the valve or injector relative to the rotation of the cam. Advanced, centered, and retarded phase change is possible depending upon the movement of the control arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: Michael B. Riley
  • Patent number: 8191524
    Abstract: A valve-train assembly of an internal combustion engine is provided with a camshaft (1) that includes a carrier shaft (2), as well as a cam element (3) that can move on the carrier shaft between two axial positions and that has at least one cam group of directly adjacent cams (5, 6) with different cam lobes and an axial connecting link (8) constructed with a groove with outer guide walls (12, 13, 14, 15) for defining two intersecting connecting link pathways (9, 10), and with an activation pin (11) that can couple in the axial connecting link for moving the cam element in the direction of both connecting link pathways. In this way, the groove base of one connecting link pathway and the groove base of the other connecting link pathway should extend radially offset in height relative to each other, so that the connecting link pathway (9) with the radially lower groove base is also defined by inner guide walls (19, 20) that are formed by the offset in height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Harald Elendt, Andreas Nendel, Mathias Boegershausen
  • Patent number: 8191519
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes intake and exhaust camshafts including high-lift lobes and low-lift lobes separated by a lobe separation angle. The engine transitions between operating in a controlled auto-ignition combustion mode with positive valve overlap and a controlled auto-ignition combustion mode with negative valve overlap solely by selecting the corresponding one of the high-lift lobes and the low-lift lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nicole Wermuth, Paul M. Najt, Hanho Yun
  • Publication number: 20120132163
    Abstract: In a valve actuation apparatus of an internal combustion engine employing a motion converter for converting a rotary motion of a drive cam into an oscillating motion of a rockable cam, the rockable cam has a cam contour surface, for operating an engine valve by the oscillating motion. The cam contour surface is contoured to have a valve-opening small lift area through which the cam contour surface extends from a base-circle area, a valve-opening middle lift area extending continuously from the valve-opening small lift area toward a cam-nose portion, and a valve-opening large lift area extending continuously from the valve-opening middle lift area toward a cam-nose top. A radius of curvature ?2 of a part of the valve-opening middle lift area, bordering the valve-opening small lift area, is set to be less than a radius of curvature ?3 of the valve-opening large lift area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro SHOJI, Katsushige Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20120132161
    Abstract: A variable valve lift apparatus includes a cam, a swing arm of which one end thereof a valve is connected to and the swing arm contacting the cam, a support portion selectively supporting the other end of the swing arm, a hydraulic lash adjuster of which an oil supply hole and an oil exhaust hole thereto, and selectively supporting the swing arm according to oil supplying thereto or oil exhausting therefrom, a check valve selectively opening the oil exhaust hole and a control portion controlling the check valve for the check valve to selectively open the oil exhaust hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Bosung Shin
  • Publication number: 20120132162
    Abstract: A integrated variable valve actuator assembly of a variable valve lift apparatus may include a rocker arm rotating on a rocker shaft and including an oil supply line with selectively provided oil, a fastener penetrating the side of the rocker arm and discharging oil supplied from the oil supply line through the oil passage, a valve bridge located at the bottom of the fastener and pressurizing valves, an actuator device including an actuator piston being inserted in the valve bridge and formed with an oil supply passage, and an actuator spring being inserted in the actuator piston and providing the actuator piston with elastic force, and a variable control device located at the bottom of the actuator piston and adjusting the heights of the actuator piston by a movement generated by the hydraulic pressure of oil supplied from the oil supply passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Seock Joong YOON, Kyung Mo KIM
  • Patent number: 8186318
    Abstract: To provide a variable valve operating apparatus for an internal combustion engine which can reduce a range where heat treatment is required, thereby favorably suppressing distortion which occurs in a camshaft during heat treatment, to a low level. A changeover mechanism is provided which includes a slide pin which is adapted to move within a predetermined reciprocating range thereby switching between operational states of a variable mechanism, and a guide rail provided in an outer peripheral surface of the camshaft and guides the movement of the slide pin from one end to a remaining end of the reciprocating range. A projection part which is engageable with the guide rail is provided in the slide pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotaka Sunada, Kiyoharu Nakamura, Shinobu Shimasaki, Motohiro Tsuzuki, Yusuke Kato
  • Patent number: 8181613
    Abstract: A variable valve system for an internal combustion engine includes a drive shaft, a drive cam provided on the drive shaft, a link arm fitted on the outer periphery of the drive cam such as to rotate relative to the drive cam, a crank-shaped control shaft including a main shaft and an eccentric cam, an oscillating arm rotatably attached to the eccentric cam and oscillated by the link arm, and an oscillating cam connected to the oscillating arm via a link rod so as to actuate a valve. Lubricant is communicated from a main lubricant flow path in the drive shaft through three lubricant paths to sliding contact areas between the drive cam and the link arm, between the pin of the oscillating arm and the link arm, and between the eccentric cam and the oscillating arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Arinaga, Toru Fukami, Shinichi Takemura, Shunichi Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8181614
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a main enlarged member extended towards a camshaft for forming reed valve chambers. The main enlarged member is integrally provided on a head cover of the engine at a location at which reed valves for controlling supply of secondary air to an exhaust system are disposed. The main enlarged member is extended towards the camshaft for increasing volume of the reed valve chambers while avoiding the increase in size of the head cover. A recessed portion is provided on a cam cap fastened to a cylinder head of the engine. A portion of the main enlarged member is inserted into the recessed portion such that cam cap cooperates with the cylinder head for rotatably supporting the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sugiura
  • Patent number: 8171905
    Abstract: An oil circuit for a continuously variable valve timing apparatus, may include a main line that is formed in a cylinder block to receive oil from a hydraulic pump, a first oil line that connects an intake oil control valve that is mounted on a cylinder head that is assembled to the cylinder block with the main line, a second oil line that connects an exhaust oil control valve that is mounted in a cylinder head cover with the first oil line, a third oil line that connects a cam journal that is formed in the cylinder head with the first oil line, and a fourth oil line that connects a timing chain tensioner that is mounted in the cylinder block with the third oil line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Bong Sang Lee
  • Patent number: 8166938
    Abstract: A camshaft cover mounts to a cylinder head and defines cavities for oil control valves that adjust the position of camshafts via camshaft phaser assemblies. The cavities are positioned above the camshafts when the camshaft cover is mounted to the cylinder head. A feed passage communicates pressurized fluid from the cylinder head to the cavities when the camshaft cover is mounted to the cylinder head. Control passages communicate fluid from the cavities to the camshaft phaser assemblies when the camshaft cover is mounted to the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Roxann M. Bittner, Norman Peralta
  • Patent number: 8166933
    Abstract: A power unit for a small-sized vehicle that includes a valve operating system equipped with a hydraulic valve operation mode change mechanism capable of changing the operational mode of an engine valve, and a clutch device disposed between a crankshaft and a shift mechanism so as to switch hydraulically between connection and disconnection of power transmission, wherein a discharge outlet of one oil pump (209) driven by power transmission from the crankshaft is connected in common to a valve operation mode change mechanisms (63, 64) and a clutch device (102). This enables the hydraulic system to be made compact while avoiding any increase in the overall bulk of the power unit, thus providing a power unit suitable for a small-sized vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Fujimoto, Atsushi Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 8166941
    Abstract: A device for switching activation of a hydraulic valve play equalization element for setting of a maximal stroke or a zero stroke on a valve of an internal combustion engine, has a switching element for locking and unlocking the housing of the valve play equalization element relative to a guide that is axially displaceable therein. The switching element is a switching ring that surrounds the housing, on which a linkage for rotating the switching ring relative to the housing is disposed. The linkage of the switching ring is connected via a guide element with a groove on the circumference of a rotatable adjustment shaft. The groove has a groove section demonstrating an axial incline, and in which the switching ring is rotated, to implement a switching process via the guide element during rotation the adjustment shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: IAV GmbH Ingenieurgesellschaft Auto und Verkehr
    Inventor: Andreas Werler
  • Patent number: 8161930
    Abstract: A camshaft (1) is provided for a stroke-variable valve drive of an internal combustion engine with a carrier shaft (2) and a cam part (3) that is arranged locked in rotation and movable in the axial direction on the carrier shaft and that is assembled from a cam carrier (4) and a sleeve (5). The cam carrier has a cam group (7, 8) of directly adjacent cams (9, 10, 11, 12) with different cam strokes and an adapter end (6) on which the sleeve is mounted. The sleeve has a setting groove (17) in the form of a groove that extends across an extent of the sleeve and that is used for the specification of an axial setting groove track for an activation pin (18) moving the cam part on the carrier shaft. The setting groove is produced in the sleeve through non-metal-cutting shaping of sheet-metal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Schaffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Harald Elendt, Andreas Nendel
  • Patent number: 8161929
    Abstract: The invention proposes a switchable tappet (1) of a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said tappet comprising a hollow cylindrical housing (3) comprising a bottom (2), an inner element (5) being guided for relative axial displacement in a bore (4) of the housing (3), an at least indirect support for a gas exchange valve extending on a cam-distal front end (6) of the inner element (5), two diametrically opposing pistons as coupling elements (8) being arranged in a radial bore (7) of the inner element (5), which coupling elements (8), for effecting coupling [full valve lift], can be displaced partly beyond a parting surface (9) between the housing (3) and the inner element (5) into an entraining surface (12) of the housing (3) by the force of a compression spring (10a) clamped between inner front ends (10) of the coupling elements (8), wherein the entraining surface (12) is an direct constituent of a separate annular member (13) that is fixed in a cam-distal region of the bore (4) of the housing (3),
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Mario Kuhl, Lothar von Schimonsky, Norbert Nitz, Lucia Hinkovska, Sandra Schäfer
  • Patent number: 8161925
    Abstract: Proposed is a valve drive for an internal combustion engine, having a gas exchange valve (11) and having a valve actuating element (4) which has a contact face (8) for an end face (9) on a valve shank (10) of the gas exchange valve (11) which is actuated in the opening and closing direction by the valve actuating element (4). Here, the contact face (8) and/or the end face (9) should be provided with a wear prevention layer (12) which is composed of at least one metal-free amorphous hydrocarbon layer with sp2 and sp3 hybridized carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Oliver Schnell, Tim Matthias Hosenfeldt
  • Patent number: 8156910
    Abstract: A camshaft assembly method may include locating a first lobe member of a camshaft assembly on a first shaft of the assembly. A locking pin may be inserted into a first radial bore in the first lobe member and a second radial bore of the first shaft. The locking pin may have an annular wall defining a pin bore extending from a first end of the locking pin to a second end of the locking pin. A deforming member may be forced into the pin bore to displace the annular wall in an outward radial direction and into a frictional engagement with the first radial bore. The forcing may include a deforming member entering the pin bore at the first end of the locking pin and exiting the pin bore at the second end of the locking pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventors: Glenn E. Clever, Roy Glenn Kaywood, Ronald Hendrick
  • Patent number: 8156908
    Abstract: An engine of the present invention comprises a valve body configured to open and close ports and formed in a cylinder head, a drive cam mechanism operable in association with a crankshaft by a driving power transmission mechanism, a pivot cam mechanism which is configured to be pivoted according to movement of the drive cam mechanism to cause the valve body to open and close and is configured to change a pivot state to change a lift characteristic of the valve; and a servo motor configured to change the pivot state of the pivot cam mechanism, wherein the servo motor is positioned at one end portion of the pivot cam mechanism such that the servo motor is distant from the driving power transmission mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Nishida, Kazuki Nagasawa, Yoshio Watanabe, Yoji Fukami, Toshiyuki Yanamoto
  • Patent number: 8151748
    Abstract: A method for an internal combustion engine that reduces the possibility of misfire during transitions between a lower valve lift mode and a higher valve lift mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Litorell, Thomas Lyngfelt
  • Patent number: 8151750
    Abstract: A valve operating device that opens and closes a valve of an internal combustion engine by driving a valve stem in an axial direction includes a rocker cam that rocks in accordance with a rotation of a drive shaft and has a driving cam portion and a lift restricting cam portion; a cam follower that lifts the valve by contacting the driving cam portion slidingly; and a restricting member that prevents the cam follower from separating from the driving cam portion in cooperation with the lift restricting cam portion. A gap is formed between the restricting member and the rocker cam in a state where the cam follower is in contact with the driving cam portion and disappears such that the restricting member and the rocker cam come into contact with each other only when the cam follower separates from the driving cam portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Fukami, Shinichi Takemura, Tsuyoshi Arinaga, Takanobu Sugiyama, Shunichi Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20120079999
    Abstract: A variable valve lift apparatus including an inner tappet, an outer tappet surrounding and slidably contacting the inner tappet, and a latching pin slidably inserted into the inner tappet so as to implement a high lift and a low lift by selectively joining the inner tappet and the outer tappet may include a stopper partially inserted into the outer tappet and spaced apart from the latching pin in a movement direction of the latching pin so as to limit movement of the latching pin, and forming a latching pin joining groove in the outer tappet to selectively receive the latching pin, wherein the stopper partially projects to the outside of the outer tappet and is slidably engaged to a cylinder head groove formed to a cylinder head bore to prevent the variable valve lift apparatus from being rotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Chang Ho Yang, Byong Young Choi, Gee Wook Shin, Yoonsick Woo, Jin Kook Kong, Soo Hyung Woo
  • Patent number: 8146548
    Abstract: A continuously variable valve lift device may include a vibration link having one end eccentrically and rotatably coupled to a rotation shaft, a rocker arm having a middle portion pivotally coupled to the other end of the vibration link, an advance lever having one end coupled to the one end of the rocker arm to select advance or delay, a swivel cam link having one end pivotally coupled to the other end of the rocker arm, and a swivel cam, one end of which is pivotally coupled to the other end of the swivel cam link and the other end of which is pivotally coupled to a stationary shaft to open and close a valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jei Choon Yang, Eun Ho Lee, Young Hong Kwak, Ki Young Kwon, Jin Kook Kong, Soo Hyung Woo, Jin Soon Kim, Kyoung Joon Chang
  • Publication number: 20120067312
    Abstract: An engine includes a hydraulic pressure lash adjuster (HLA) pivotally supporting an end of a swing arm and having a valve supporting the other end of the swing arm, wherein the hydraulic pressure lash adjuster includes a housing, a plunger of which one end portion thereof may be slidably inserted into the inside of the housing, the other end portion of which extends outwards and supports the end of the swing arm by selectively moving upwards or downwards in a length direction of the housing, a stopper pin slidably mounted in a chamber of the plunger so as to selectively lock the plunger to the housing such that the plunger cannot move in the housing, and a hydraulic pressure supply portion that selectively supplies one side of the stopper pin with a hydraulic pressure in the chamber of the plunger to move the stopper pin toward the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Youngsoo LEE
  • Publication number: 20120067313
    Abstract: An engine that may be provided with a variable valve device may include an hydraulic pressure lash adjuster pivotally supporting one side of a swing arm, a valve supporting the other side of the swing arm, and an operating portion pushing a portion of the swing arm downwards so as to pivotally move the valve based on the hydraulic pressure lash adjuster, wherein the hydraulic pressure lash adjuster includes a housing in which an insertion hole may be formed therein, a slave piston that may be slidably inserted into the insertion hole, a master piston of which an end thereof may be placed into the insertion hole with a predetermined gap from the slave piston, wherein the other end of the master piston protrudes out of the housing and may be engaged with the one side of the swing arm, and an oil control valve that opens or closes a passage communicating with a master chamber that may be formed between the master piston and the slave piston in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Myungsik Choi
  • Patent number: 8136492
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a variable valve control system which is operable to switch actions of an engine valve by slidably moving a rocker arm in the axial direction of a rocker-arm shaft, and which is capable of removing a restriction on the sliding movement of the rocker arm at accurate timings while employing a simplified configuration. When a trigger arm swings by a predetermined amount to the opposite side of a rocker arm, a left-hand engagement nail in engagement with an engagement groove disengages from the engagement groove, but a right-hand engagement nail still engages with an engagement groove. The left-hand engagement nail is placed on top of a left-hand deck-like portion. After that, when an action of the rocker arm makes the trigger arm further swing to the opposite side of the rocker arm, the right-hand engagement nail disengages from the engagement groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Takada, Katsuhiro Kubo, Yuki Uzawa, Kazuyuki Kosei
  • Patent number: 8136616
    Abstract: A method for operating an oil control valve coupled to a cam phaser configured to adjust a position of at least one cam between hard stops, the oil control valve included in an internal combustion engine having an intake valve and/or an exhaust valve controlled via the cam phaser. The method including operating the oil control valve responsive to cam position feedback information, the oil control valve adjusted in a first relationship based on the feedback information and operating the oil control valve in a cleaning mode during select combustion conditions by abruptly switching the oil control valve between two states responsive to the cam position feedback information. The oil control valve adjusted in a second relationship based on the feedback information, the second relationship including more abrupt adjustment than the first relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lauren Elizabeth Padilla, John Eric Rollinger
  • Patent number: 8136495
    Abstract: A switchable support element (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said support element (1) comprising a housing (2) that can be arranged through an outer peripheral wall (3) in a reception of the internal combustion engine and in whose bore (4) an axially movable inner element (6) extends, a head (5) of the inner element (6) protruding beyond an edge (7) of the housing (2), coupling elements (8) being associated to the inner element (6) for a selective coupling of the inner element (6) in an axially extended position of the inner element (6) to the housing (2), and said inner element (6) being biased by at least one lost motion spring (9) in a direction leading out of the housing (2), wherein the coupling elements (8) are at least one slide which, in case of uncoupling, is positioned in a guide (10) of the housing (2) extending in radial or secant direction and which comprises a flattened upper side (12) starting from a radially inner front end (11) of the slide, and this flattened upper si
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Joachim Seitz, Bodo Rörig
  • Patent number: 8136491
    Abstract: In a stroke-transmitting device for a variable transmission of an operating stroke to a member to be actuated, specifically a gas exchange valve for an internal combustion engine, including a control unit with first and second control structures, a control cam is provided for coupling the first and second control structures and having different control regions which are displaceable for an adjustment of the stroke of the member to be actuated with at least first and second degrees of freedom for controlling the stroke transmitted to the member to be actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Stefan Rudert, Thomas Stolk, Alexander von Gaisberg-Helfenberg
  • Publication number: 20120055428
    Abstract: A variable valve actuation apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a first link arm which has a projected portion that is engageable with and disengageable from a guide rail, and which is displaceable in the axis direction of a camshaft, and a link shaft linked to the first link arm in such a manner as to allow rotation but constrain movement in the axis direction. When an electro-magnetic solenoid is electrified, the first link arm rotates about the link shaft so that the projected portion engages with the guide rail. In association with the displacement of the link arms that occurs during the engagement, the state of motion of second rocker arms changes, so that the opening characteristic of valves provided for each cylinder is switched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akio Kidooka
  • Patent number: 8127727
    Abstract: A mechanism for actuating a poppet valve (28) of an internal combustion engine, comprises two coaxially mounted cams (12,14), cam followers (18,20) in contact with the respective cams (12,14) mounted on a common summation lever (16) which is movable in proportion to the instantaneous sum of the lifts of the two cams (12,14), and a rocker (24) pivotably connected to the summation lever (16) and serving to open the engine valve (28). The rocker is pivotable about a pivot (126) having a fixed preset position and a control spring (134) is provided between the summation lever (16) and a fixed point on the engine to urge the rocker (24) into contact with the tip of the valve (28) and the pivot (126) while the valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Mechadyne, PLC
    Inventors: Ian Methley, Nicholas Lawrence
  • Patent number: 8127730
    Abstract: Device for coupling two valve activating levers of an internal combustion engine with at least one carrier body (1) mounted on the internal combustion engine, wherein at least one hollow shaft (2) in which oil of the internal combustion engine is stored is attached to the carrier body, and a coupling pin (9) is supported parallel to the hollow shaft (2) in each of the valve activating levers (4a, 4b) and is spring loaded on one side and loaded by pressurized fluid on the other side in such a way that the coupling pin (9) connects or releases the valve activating levers (4a, 4b), wherein control of the pressurized fluid that is taken advantageously from the oil circuit of the internal combustion engine is realized by at least one electromagnetically activated valve (14) and wherein the supply of pressurized fluid is realized by channels (13) that are provided in the carrier body (1) or carrier bodies of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Florin Bugescu
  • Patent number: 8127726
    Abstract: A variable valve lift apparatus includes a camshaft with a first cam lobe and a second cam lobe, a cam follower with a first follower contacting the first cam lobe and a second follower contacting the second cam lobe, a connection rotatably connecting the first follower to the second follower, a main body supporting the first follower and the second follower, a connector selectively connecting the first follower and the second follower to the main body, a lost motion elastic member provided on the main body for supplying restoring force to the first follower and the second follower, and a valve configured to be opened and closed by the cam follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Comapny, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Back Sik Kim, Ingee Suh, Dong Hee Han, Woo Tae Kim, Hyung Ick Kim, Dae Sung Kim, Kyoung Pyo Ha
  • Publication number: 20120048221
    Abstract: A variable valve actuator may include a rocker arm which may be pivotally connected to a rocker shaft, and of which a rocker arm hydraulic pressure supply line and a rocker arm hydraulic pressure exhaust line may be formed therein, a variable control piston which may be fluid-connected to the rocker arm hydraulic pressure supply line and slidably interferes the rocker arm hydraulic pressure exhaust line to selectively close the rocker arm hydraulic pressure exhaust line according to supplying hydraulic pressure of the rocker arm hydraulic pressure supply line, an actuating portion which may be selectively fluid-connected to the rocker arm hydraulic pressure supply line and the rocker arm hydraulic pressure exhaust line by the variable control piston such that the actuating portion selectively protrudes according to the supplying hydraulic pressure of the rocker arm hydraulic pressure supply line, and a valve unit opened according to reciprocation of the actuating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jae Hee JEON, Kang Hyeok LEE
  • Publication number: 20120048222
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic variable valve lift apparatus may includes a housing having a housing protruding portion is formed therewithin, a driving cam, a pump piston which forms a main chamber with the housing, reciprocates within the housing according to rotation of the driving cam, and forms hydraulic pressure within the main chamber, a pump piston elastic portion disposed for elastically supporting the pump piston, an oil pressure controller communicated with the main chamber in order to control hydraulic pressure within the main chamber, a hydraulic piston slidably disposed within the housing and connected with a valve, a multiple orifice unit slidably disposed within the hydraulic piston and forms an auxiliary chamber with the hydraulic piston, and the multiple orifice unit of which an orifice hole communicating the main chamber with the auxiliary chamber is formed thereto, and an orifice unit elastic portion disposed within the auxiliary chamber to elastically support the multiple orifice unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Byong Young CHOI, Jin Kook Kong, Soo Hyung Woo, Jin Soon Kim
  • Publication number: 20120048223
    Abstract: The present invention provides to a rocker arm apparatus for cylinder deactivation with a new structure for increasing fuel efficiency in a gasoline engine. For this, the present invention provides a rocker arm apparatus for cylinder deactivation including: a rocker arm; a restoring spring supported at the bottom of a rear end portion of the rocker arm; a roller coupled to the rocker arm to be pressed by a cam; a pair of rocker shaft assemblies each including first and second rocker shafts, and a connecting rod integrally connecting the first and second rocker shafts; a pair of rocker shaft support members connected to the rocker arm by means of the first and second rocker shafts; and a transfer member for controlling the rocker shaft assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Kyoung Pyo HA, Jin Kook Kong, Woo Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 8122862
    Abstract: A method of purging air from an oil passage in communication with a lifter assembly in an engine assembly may include isolating the oil passage from a pressurized oil source while the lifter assembly is engaged with a base region of a cam lobe to operate the first lifter assembly in the activated mode. The pressurized oil may be provided to the lifter assembly via the oil passage after the isolating when the lifter assembly is engaged with a lift region of the cam lobe. The lifter assembly may be maintained in the activated mode after the providing. Air may be purged from the oil passage based on the pressurized oil provided to the oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Inventors: James B. Hicks, William C. Albertson, Mark Stabinsky, Mike M. McDonald
  • Publication number: 20120042840
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic variable valve lift apparatus includes a housing, a driving cam, a pump piston which forms a main chamber with the housing, reciprocates within the housing according to rotation of the driving cam, and forms hydraulic pressure within the main chamber, a pump piston elastic portion disposed for elastically supporting the pump piston, an oil pressure controller communicating with the main chamber in order to control hydraulic pressure within the main chamber, a hydraulic piston slidably disposed within the housing, includes a first body having a first diameter and a second body having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, and is connected with a valve, and a piston guide disposed between the housing and the hydraulic piston for guiding the hydraulic piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Byong Young Choi, Jin Kook Kong, Soo Hyung Woo, Jin Soon Kim
  • Patent number: 8118002
    Abstract: In a dual intake valve arrangement for an internal combustion engine, a continuously variable valve lift (CVVL) system controls two intake valves for one or more engine cylinders. In each cylinder, one of the intake valves includes an associated valve deactivation device, and the other intake valve does not. To improve in-cylinder air flow turbulence under low valve lift, one of the intake valves may be deactivated, resulting in mixture intake through only one valve, resulting in strong swirl by unbalanced flow. A CVVL-equipped engine including a valve deactivation device provides the same amount of air flow for the same engine load as a prior art CVVL engine. A method of introducing a swirl to the mixture is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jongmin Lee, Richard B. Roe
  • Patent number: 8118003
    Abstract: A pivot cam mechanism included in a valve operating system is configured such that a coupling pin is supported at a pivot member in a position closer to a camshaft than a control shaft, and the pivot member and the driven member are integrally pivotable according to the rotation of the drive cam while changing relative attitudes of the driven member and the pivot member. Positions and shapes of the drive cam, the driven member, and the pivot member are designed so that a valve maximum acceleration point at which an acceleration of a valve body is at a maximum is located in a front part of a valve acceleration period in which the acceleration of the valve body has a positive value while the drive cam is rotating once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Nishida, Kazuki Nagasawa, Yoshio Watanabe, Yoji Fukami, Toshiyuki Yanamoto
  • Patent number: 8118000
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system and method of its operation are described. As one example, the method includes: repeatedly opening a first intake valve of a combustion chamber of the engine once every four piston strokes; transitioning operation of the combustion chamber from a four stroke cycle to a two stroke cycle by activating a second intake valve of the combustion chamber to repeatedly open once every four piston strokes during a different intake stroke than the first intake valve; and transitioning operation of the combustion chamber from the two stroke cycle to the four stroke cycle by deactivating the second intake valve in a closed position. In this way, the engine may be selectively operated in a two stroke cycle or a four stroke cycle by activating or deactivating or activating one of the intake valves while another of the intake valves continues to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: RE43486
    Abstract: A multicylinder petrol engine is provided with a hydraulic system for variable actuation of the valves, which enables easy control of operation of the engine according to different strategies. The engines according to the invention is, in particular, able to operate with a variable engine displacement in a modular way via the exclusion of selected cylinders, to control combustion by adjustment of the effective compression ration, and to control re-circulation of the exhaust gases at intake, in order to achieve low levels of consumption and reduced harmful exhaust emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Vittorio Doria, Marco Lucatello