Camshaft Or Cam Characteristics Patents (Class 123/90.17)
  • Patent number: 9366160
    Abstract: A valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine. The valve timing control device includes a rotor connected to a camshaft and having a plurality of vanes. A stator is engaged with the rotor, and includes a plurality of webs. Pressure chambers are provided between each of the webs and vanes. A centering slot is provided on the stator and/or the rotor. A pressure medium control valve is disposed in one of the vanes of the rotor, and is configured to not only selectively lock and unlock the position of the rotor relative to the stator, but is also configured such that pressure medium in the pressure chambers is ventable through the centering slot and thereafter through the pressure medium control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Hilite Germany GMBH
    Inventors: James Anthony Morehead, Wes Gerszewski, John Snyder, Joe S. Cole, Jack Doyle Hutcheson, Steve Nance
  • Patent number: 9341089
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser that includes a rotor and a sprocket. A plurality of lobes of the sprocket are spaced to receive a plurality of vanes of the rotor, thereby defining retard and advance pressure chambers when the rotor rotates with respect to the sprocket between retard and advance positions. When the rotor rotates between the retard and advance positions, gap surfaces of the lobes cooperate with gap surfaces of the vanes to form fluid gaps therebetween, wings of the lobes fit into receiving surfaces of the vanes, and stop surfaces of the vanes abut the sides of the lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: RB Distribution, Inc.
    Inventors: Tam V. Nguyen, Felix Kaplun, David P. Cimbolo
  • Patent number: 9341090
    Abstract: An oscillating-motor camshaft adjuster which provides that, through software, camshaft alternating torque is utilized only in conditions where the torque is adequate and/or it is important to reduce flow consumption. If there is two step lift and the camshaft alternating torque is not adequate in low lift, software can position the spool to utilize some camshaft alternating torque while also tanking oil to speed up the phasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: HILITE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Last, Gordon Neudörfer, Udo Diederichs, Matthew Bradfield, Melissa Mei Koenig, Kenneth J. Parker
  • Patent number: 9334764
    Abstract: A sliding cam valve train for an internal combustion engine is provided. A cam piece (3) displaceably arranged on a carrier shaft (2) includes a cam group (4, 5) with differing cam lifts and an axial groove with two groove tracks (8, 9), which are arranged completely behind one another in the circumferential direction of the axial groove. An actuator pin (10) which may be introduced into the axial groove displaces the cam piece in the direction of both groove tracks. Each of the groove tracks end with a radially lifting ramp (17, 18) for extending the actuator pin from the axial groove. The radial lift of the exit ramps should be significantly smaller than the groove base depth of the axial groove between the exit ramps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Popp, Harald Elendt, Jan Pfannenmuller
  • Patent number: 9334763
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser including: an axis of rotation; a drive sprocket arranged to receive torque; a stator non-rotatably connected to the drive sprocket; a rotor; and a positioning spring. The rotor is at least partially rotatable with respect to the stator and is arranged to non-rotatably connect to a camshaft. The rotor includes: first and second radially disposed sides facing, respectively, in first and second opposite axial directions parallel to the axis of rotation; a non-circular bore connecting the first and second radially disposed sides; and a support pin including a first portion disposed in the bore and configured to contact an inner radial surface of the bore at a plurality of lines parallel to the axis of rotation less than the entire circumference of the bore; and a second portion extending past the second radially disposed side in the second axial direction. The positioning spring is engaged with the second portion and urges the rotor in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sarah Hopkins, Jeffrey Harris
  • Patent number: 9316126
    Abstract: A method for determining a phase position of an adjustable camshaft of an internal combustion engine having a sensor wheel and a camshaft adjuster. The phase position of the camshaft is determined on the basis of phase flank interrupts triggered by the sensor wheel and a model which depends on at least one performance characteristic of the camshaft adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Torsten Baumann, Oliver Krannich, Andreas Lassl
  • Patent number: 9316127
    Abstract: A camshaft drive includes a drive shaft having at least one cam for actuating a valve of an internal combustion engine. A shaft-in-shaft system is disposed parallel to the drive shaft and has an inner shaft and an outer shaft each having at least one cam for actuating a valve. The outer shaft is connected to an outer shaft transmission element in a manner fixed against relative rotation. A hydraulic transmission device includes a stator, a rotor, and an intermediate member. The inner shaft is coupled to the drive shaft via the hydraulic transmission device which is operatively connected to an adjusting device and to a control device for setting a desired phase angle between the inner shaft and the outer shaft. A drive element is coupled to the drive shaft. The drive element is directly coupled both to the outer shaft transmission element and to the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Uwe Elfers
  • Patent number: 9309789
    Abstract: A controller of a valve timing control apparatus executes an initial control and a normal control. The normal control causes a rotation phase of a vane rotor to be changed by controlling working fluid to flow into or out of operation chambers. The initial control causes working fluid to intermittently flow into a predetermined operation chamber of the operation chambers. The controller starts the initial control when an engine is activated. The controller switches the initial control into the normal control after the initial control is finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9303536
    Abstract: A valve opening and closing time control apparatus includes; a relative rotation angle control unit performs most delayed angle setting control of setting a relative rotation angle between a driving side rotating body and a driven side rotating body to the most delayed angle when performing an automatic stop, and most delayed angle restriction control of maintaining the relative rotation angle in the most delayed angle from a beginning of the automatic start until reaching a set timing when the automatic start-up begins, and releasing a maintenance of the most delayed angle after the setting timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigemitsu Suzuki, Naoto Toma, Hiroki Mukaide
  • Patent number: 9297284
    Abstract: An engine having a variable valve timing device may include a camshaft having a cam that lifts a valve, a valve body with one side fixed with the camshaft and the other side fixed with a fixed housing, variable wings protruding on an outer circumferential surface of the fixed housing, a sprocket housing forming a delay chamber and an advance chamber with the variable wings and having a sprocket on an outer circumferential surface, a control spool disposed coaxially with the camshaft and inserted in the valve body to selectively supply hydraulic pressure from an outside to the delay chamber or the advance chamber, and an actuator fastened to an outer end of the control spool, with a side fixed to a side of the engine, and advancing or delaying the sprocket housing with respect to the valve body by adjusting the hydraulic pressure supplied to the advance chamber or the delay chamber through the control spool by pulling or pushing the control spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Chung Han Oh
  • Patent number: 9291076
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes: a first lock mechanism being arranged to lock the vane rotor to a first position between the most retard angle position and the most advance angle position with respect to the housing, and to release the lock; and a second lock mechanism being arranged to lock the vane rotor with respect to the housing, to a second position which is between the most retard angle position and the most advance angle position, and is on the retard angle side of the first position, and to release the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Kotaro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9284862
    Abstract: The invention relates to a camshaft adjusting device (1) for an internal combustion engine and to a method for producing a camshaft adjusting device having a stator wheel (10) and a rotor wheel (11), wherein the rotor wheel (11) has a first body part (19) and a second body part (20), wherein a joining surface (19a) of the first body part (19) and a joining surface (20a) of the second body part (20) are joined to one another, and wherein depressions (21, 22) are formed in at least one of the joining surfaces (19a, 20a) in order to form the fluid ducts (17, 18) at least in sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: GKN Sinter Metals Holding GmbH
    Inventor: Sascha Frey
  • Patent number: 9284861
    Abstract: A variable cam timing phaser (10) includes a fluid transfer assembly with at least one of a fluid transfer sleeve (72) having a plurality of pressurized fluid passages (74a, 74b, 74c, 74d), and a fluid transfer plate (60) having a plurality of pressurized fluid passages (62a, 62b, 62c, 62d). Each passage (74a, 74b, 74c, 74d) extends in fluid communication with a corresponding circumferentially spaced annular groove segment portion (74f, 74g, 74h, 74i) for selective communication with first and second vane-type hydraulic couplings (40, 50) depending on an angular orientation of the fluid transfer sleeve (72) during rotation. Each passage (62a, 62b, 62c, 62d) extending from a corresponding centrally located port (64a, 64b, 64c, 64d) in fluid communication with a radially extending passage portion (66a, 66b, 66c, 66d) and with an arcuately extending passage portion (68a, 68b, 68c, 68d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Wigsten, Michael W Marsh
  • Patent number: 9267398
    Abstract: When an intermediate lock by an intermediate lock mechanism is released, one of two lock keys, which restricts a shift in a direction opposite to a direction that valve timing of an intake valve has been controlled by controlling the valve timing of the intake valve to a phase-advance side with respect to an intermediate lock position, is pulled out of an engaging recessed portion. Thereafter, the other of the two lock keys is pulled out of an engaging recessed portion by controlling the valve timing of the intake valve to a phase-retard side with respect to the intermediate lock position. Therefore, the intermediate lock by the intermediate lock mechanism can be released, while avoiding the lock keys from being pushed against the respective engaging recessed portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Shiozawa, Hironori Ito, Kenji Ariga, Hiroyuki Itoyama
  • Patent number: 9267400
    Abstract: A device includes a timing sprocket configured to receive a rotational force from a crankshaft and includes an annular internal-teeth constituting portion having an inner circumferential portion formed with internal teeth; an eccentric shaft portion provided on a motor output shaft of an electric motor and formed in a cylindrical shape such that an outer circumferential surface of the eccentric shaft portion is eccentric relative to a rotational center of the eccentric shaft portion; and a plurality of rollers provided between the internal teeth and the eccentric shaft portion and having total number smaller than total number of the internal teeth. A laser hardening is performed from a tooth top and both tooth surfaces of each internal tooth to attain a high degree of hardness. On the other hand, a tooth bottom surface of each internal tooth is not treated with the laser hardening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamanaka, Ryo Tadokoro
  • Patent number: 9261177
    Abstract: A camshaft includes a carrier shaft which can be mounted rotatably along a shaft axis and at least one cam pack or package axially displaceably disposed on the carrier shaft. The cam pack includes at least two cams and at least one adjusting member for axial adjustment of the cam pack. The cams and the at least one adjusting member are cast integrally with a carrier body in an axially adjacent configuration and are connected to one another by the carrier body. The cams and/or the adjusting member include an inner toothing which engages in an axially displaceable manner with an outer toothing of the carrier shaft. A cam pack and a method for producing a camshaft are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA TECCENTER AG
    Inventors: Thomas Binder, Peter Wiesner
  • Patent number: 9255498
    Abstract: Various exemplary illustrations of a camshaft assembly for actuating valves of an engine are disclosed. The camshaft assembly may include a camshaft having a plurality of lobes, including at least one phase adjustable lobe configured to be selectively rotated with respect to the camshaft. The assembly may further include a hydraulic valve actuator in communication with a first lobe of the camshaft. The hydraulic valve actuator may be configured to selectively actuate at least one valve in communication with the hydraulic valve actuator in response to the at least one cam lobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Luke Brodbeck, Falk Schneider, Thomas Flender, Antonio Menonna, Michael Kreisig
  • Patent number: 9249695
    Abstract: A concentric cam shaft assembly, including: a first camshaft; a second camshaft including at least a portion disposed radially within the first camshaft; and at least one phasing assembly including first and second electric motors and a first input gear arranged to rotate at a first speed in response to receiving rotational torque from a crankshaft of an engine. The rotational torque is arranged to rotate the first and second camshafts. The first electric motor is arranged to circumferentially off-set the first camshaft with respect to the first input gear. The second electric motor is arranged to circumferentially off-set the second camshaft with respect to the first input gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Steven Burke, Craig Dupuis, Inhwa Chung, Mike Kohrs, Jens Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9249701
    Abstract: A valve case includes a housing portion including a cylindrical space for housing a spool of an oil control valve, and a wall portion including a drain space arranged cross to the cylindrical space. The housing portion and the wall portion are integrally formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi Anno, Naoki Kira
  • Patent number: 9243523
    Abstract: A valve timing control device includes a lock mechanism having a hole portion formed in one of the driving-side/driven-side rotational members, a sleeve in the hole portion, a lock member in the sleeve and capable of projecting and retracting with respect to the other of the driving-side/driven-side members, and a lock hole formed in the other of the driving-side/driven-side members such that the lock member can be fitted to the lock hole when the lock member projects. The lock mechanism constrains a relative rotational phase of the driven-side rotational member with respect to the driving-side rotational member at a predetermined phase when the lock member is fitted to the lock hole. A first chamfered surface is formed in the circumferential direction at an inner-circumferential corner of an end of the sleeve on the side opposite to the side facing the lock hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Noguchi, Kazunari Adachi, Hideyuki Suganuma, Shinji Oe, Takeo Asahi
  • Patent number: 9228455
    Abstract: A marine engine for an outboard motor comprises a bank of piston-cylinders, an intake camshaft that operates intake valves for controlling inflow of air to the bank of piston-cylinders, an exhaust camshaft that operates exhaust valves for controlling outflow of exhaust gas from the bank of piston-cylinders, and a cam phaser disposed on one of the intake camshaft and exhaust camshaft. The cam phaser is connected to and adjusts a timing of operation of the other of the intake camshaft and exhaust camshaft with respect to the one of the intake camshaft and exhaust camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Belter, Ryan E. Mueller
  • Patent number: 9228453
    Abstract: A camshaft of a combustion engine may include a drive element and first and second roller bearings for mounting the camshaft in the combustion engine. The drive element and at least the first roller bearing may be adjacent and exchangeable with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Falk Schneider, Thomas Flender, Stefan Steichele
  • Patent number: 9222429
    Abstract: A control system for a gaseous-fueled engine is disclosed. The gaseous-fueled engine may have an intake valve mechanically driven by a camshaft. The control system may have a variable valve timing device configured to adjust a cyclical opening and closing timing of the intake valve. The control system may further have a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a speed of the engine and a controller in communication with the variable valve timing device and the sensor. In addition, the controller may be configured to selectively initiate a first Miller Cycle timing and a second Miller Cycle timing based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron C. Luft, Darryl D. Baldwin, Rohit Menon, Jordan P. Gilsinger
  • Patent number: 9212571
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes a housing rotor, a vane rotor, a control valve, and a lock mechanism which locks a rotation phase at a stop time and a start time of an engine. The control valve has an atmospheric port communicating with atmosphere air; a discharge port through which hydraulic fluid is discharged from a discharge chamber communicating with the discharge port when the engine is stopped; and a check valve which intercepts the atmospheric port and the discharge port from each other by receiving a negative pressure from the discharge chamber through the discharge port when the engine is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9206714
    Abstract: Control valve for a device, in particular for a hydraulic control device, for variably setting the control times of gas exchange valves in internal combustion engines, including a housing component, a control piston and a retaining ring, the control piston being movably mounted, loaded by a spring, on the one hand, and limited with the aid of the retaining ring, on the other hand, the retaining ring projecting over the control piston in the radial direction and being fixable in the axial direction in a recess in the housing component, and a control sleeve and a plastic shell surrounding the control sleeve being provided between the control piston and the housing component, and the retaining ring being axially attachable to the plastic shell in addition to being fixable to the housing component, and limiting the movement of the control piston and/or the control sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: David Koehler
  • Patent number: 9206712
    Abstract: A variable valve timing device that allows a valve timing of an engine valve to be varied by relatively rotating a vane rotor and a housing. The variable valve timing includes a lock mechanism that releases the locking in accordance with the application of a lock releasing oil pressure. A crank angle CCA at which the application of the lock releasing oil pressure is instructed can be varied in accordance with an engine speed NE so that the lock releasing oil pressure rises at a crank angle in which cam torque is suitable for lock releasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Hayashida, Yuu Yokoyama, Haruhito Fujimura
  • Patent number: 9206713
    Abstract: A stator (20) for a camshaft adjuster (4). The stator (20) has an outer part (50) for concentrically holding a rotor (22) with vanes (34) arranged around the rotor (22) and a segment (52) projecting from the outer part (50) for engaging between two vanes (34) of the rotor (22), in order to form, together with the two vanes (22), pressure chambers (44) of the camshaft adjuster (4). Here, the segment (52) has a cavity (70) for holding a hydraulic fluid from the pressure chambers (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Michael Busse, Jurgen Plate, Andreas Wedel, Olaf Boese, Steffen Racklebe
  • Patent number: 9200542
    Abstract: A configuration of a camshaft phaser (1) having a stator (2) and a rotor (3), the stator (2) and the rotor (3) being formed as sheet-metal parts and having integral shaped sheet-metal sections (12) for receiving a spring (4) and the spring ends (5, 6) thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Weber, Stefan Schelter
  • Patent number: 9200610
    Abstract: There is provided a valve timing varying mechanism (VTC) to vary a valve timing. An estimated VTC conversion angle VTCNFS is calculated in accordance with a sensed VTC conversion angle VTCNOW (S15ËœS19). At the time of conversion of the VTC conversion angle to the advance side or retard side, a fastest response value is calculated by conversion of the VTC conversion angle from the previous sensed value with a fastest response speed, and the sensed value (estimated value) is limited to or below the fastest response value when the current value of the sensed valve timing exceeds the fastest response value (S20, S21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9194261
    Abstract: A modified rocker assembly having an offset end is designed to be used in engine heads having an obstruction that would not allow a switching rocker arm to be used. The modified rocker assembly is described having an obstructed side and a non-obstructed side. The rocker assembly has an outer structure with a first end, and an inner rocker structure fitting within the outer structure, the inner structure also having a first end. The modified rocker assembly has an axle pivotally connecting the first ends of inner structure to the outer structure, such that the inner structure may rotate within the outer structure around the axle. At least one torsion spring on one side of axle, rotationally biases the inner structure relative to the outer structure. The outer structure, on the obstructed side as it extends from the second end toward the first end, is offset toward the non-obstructed side creating the first offset portion to provide additional clearance on the obstructed side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: James E. McCarthy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9188030
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine with variable valve opening characteristics includes an outer camshaft, an inner camshaft, an urging device, a cam phase changing device, and a locking device. The outer camshaft includes a first cam. The inner camshaft includes a second cam. The cam phase changing device includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member, an advance-angle-side oil hydraulic chamber, and a retard-angle-side oil hydraulic chamber. A cam phase of the one of the outer camshaft and the inner camshaft is changed by switching between oil hydraulic circuits that communicate with the advance-angle-side oil hydraulic chamber and the retard-angle-side oil hydraulic chamber. The locking device is provided to connect another of the outer camshaft and the inner camshaft to the first rotating member with a predetermined cam phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9175583
    Abstract: When a start-up failure occurs wherein an internal combustion engine equipped with a variable valve device does not transition to complete combustion before a first prescribed period ? elapses from the start of cranking in conjunction with fuel injection, a control unit for the internal combustion engine executes a start-up failure process addressing a state wherein the valve timing is different from a specific timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Imamura, Yoshiaki Miyazato, Yuu Yokoyama, Masaki Numakura, Yoshiki Endo
  • Patent number: 9175729
    Abstract: A method for producing a bearing assembly for a vehicle seat, which has a first bearing element (12) and a second bearing element (16) which can be moved in a movement direction (r) relative thereto, wherein the first bearing element first receives the second bearing element, with a large, undefined play in a play direction (p) which is perpendicular to the movement direction, and the first bearing element and/or the second bearing element is later deformed in a plastic manner by pressurizing in a stamping direction (x) until the first bearing element and the second bearing element contact each other without play in the play direction. Before the plastic deformation, the first bearing element elastically deforms under reduction of play and the elastic deformation is reversed after the plastic deformation, so that a defined clearance fit occurs between the first bearing element and the second bearing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Michael Leppla
  • Patent number: 9169746
    Abstract: A main angle-limiting mechanism mechanically limits a relative movement between a vane rotor and a housing within a main angular range. When a rotational phase difference between the vane rotor and the housing becomes out of the main angular range, for example, due to a breakage of the main angle-limiting mechanism, an electronic control unit sets a target value for the rotational phase difference. The target value is set at such a value within a restricted angular range, which is smaller than the main angular range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Hayashi, Tomonori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9169745
    Abstract: An engine having a variable valve timing mechanism may include a camshaft having a cam formed thereon for moving an intake or exhaust valve, a variable rotation unit disposed on the same axis with the camshaft to rotate the camshaft to have a retard angle chamber and an advance angle chamber for controlling a retard angle and an advance angle of the camshaft, a variable valve bolt having a fastening portion for fastening the variable rotation unit to the camshaft, and an oil control valve for making selective supply of hydraulic oil to the retard angle chamber and the advance angle chamber, and a valve controller disposed on an outer side of the variable rotation unit for controlling the oil control valve in the variable valve bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Young Kyu Oh, Chulho Yu, Dongheon Park, Yoonho Cho, Il Joong Hwang, Dong Hoon Seok
  • Patent number: 9163532
    Abstract: A cam phaser for transferring rotational energy from a crankshaft (16) to a camshaft (12) of an internal combustion engine (2), having a stator (20) for torque-proof connection to one of the shafts (12, 16) and a rotor (22) received rotationally in the stator (20) for torque-proof connection to the other shaft (12, 16), with first and second chambers being formed in the stator (20), engaged by first and second vanes (26) of the rotor (22). A bore (42) is provided in the first vane (26), in which a locking element (40) can be received for blocking a rotary motion of the rotor (22) relative to the stator (20). Here in an impact position of the second vane (26) at a wall (30) of the second chamber, the first vane (26) is arranged spaced apart from a wall (30) of the first chamber (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jurgen Weber
  • Patent number: 9163576
    Abstract: A system for an engine includes an edge detection module and a correlation calibration module. The edge detection module (i) detects edges of a camshaft of the engine using a camshaft position sensor, and (ii) detects edges of a crankshaft of the engine using a crankshaft position sensor. The correlation calibration module calibrates a correlation between the crankshaft and the camshaft based on the detected edges of the crankshaft and the camshaft, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kevin A. Sherwin, Anthony L. Marks, Robert J. Horner, Wenbo Wang, Layne K. Wiggins, Antonio E. Bartolomeo
  • Patent number: 9163533
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster (1), which has a cover element (4), which has at least one deformation zone (7), which, when the cover element (4) is assembled with the input element (2) or the output element (3), is deformed in such a way that a preloading force acts, pressing the cover element (4) and the input element (2) or output element (3) against one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Mario Arnold
  • Patent number: 9157345
    Abstract: A forward phase of a forward intermediate rotor is adjusted relative to a crank shaft. A forward stopper mechanism prevents further advance of the forward phase by engaging the forward intermediate rotor at a forward most-advanced phase. A forward locking mechanism locks the forward phase when reaching the forward most-advanced phase at a start time of the engine. A forward biasing member biases the forward intermediate rotor in an advance direction. The backward phase of the intake cam shaft is adjusted relative to a backward intermediate rotor by receiving a cam torque that is biased on average in a retard direction. A backward stopper mechanism prevents further retard of the backward phase by engaging the intake cam shaft at a backward most-retarded phase. A backward locking mechanism locks the backward phase when reaching the backward most-retarded phase at the start time of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichi Kinouchi, Nadir Syed
  • Patent number: 9157379
    Abstract: Intermediate position feedback control is executed when valve timing of an intake valve is at an intermediate lock position, an intermediate lock is needed, and an engine revolution speed is greater than a first engine revolution speed R1. Forced lock control is executed when the valve timing of the intake valve is at the intermediate lock position, the intermediate lock is needed, the engine revolution speed is less than the first engine revolution speed R1, and the intermediate position feedback control is not being executed. As a result, even when the engine revolution speed increases in the presence of a demand that the valve timing needs to be in the intermediate lock position, it is possible to maintain the valve timing at the intermediate lock position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori Ito, Hiroyuki Itoyama, Kenji Ariga, Ken Shiozawa
  • Patent number: 9157344
    Abstract: A valve opening-closing timing control device includes a solenoid valve having a solenoid mechanism provided with a spool having an oil path groove formed in an outer face thereof, and a sleeve for housing the spool to reciprocate and slide. A wall surface of the sleeve has a first port communicating with a first hydraulic oil supply section, a second port communicating with a second hydraulic oil supply section, and a third port communicating with the side of a hydraulic oil supply source. The spool is driven and set to a first position for supplying hydraulic oil from the hydraulic oil supply source to the first port, a second position for supplying the hydraulic oil from the hydraulic oil supply source to the second port, and a third position outside an area between the first and second positions to prevent supply of hydraulic oil from the first and second ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Fujiwaki, Masaki Kobayashi, Makoto Yoshida, Kenji Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9157343
    Abstract: A variable valve timing control device includes a driving side rotation member configured to synchronously rotating with a crankshaft, a driven side rotation member positioned coaxially to the driving side rotation member and integrally rotating with a camshaft, an intermediate lock mechanism selectively switching a locked state and an unlocked state, a first electromagnetic valve arranged at a position coaxial to the driving side rotation member and for controlling an supply and draining of an operation fluid relative to the fluid pressure chamber, a second electromagnetic valve positioned being offset from the position coaxial to the driving side rotation member and for controlling a supply and draining of the operation fluid flowing from the camshaft to the intermediate lock mechanism separately from the first electromagnetic valve, and a pump supplying the operation fluid to the first electromagnetic valve and the second electromagnetic valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Kobayashi, Yoshihiro Kawai
  • Patent number: 9151187
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus including a vane rotor, a torsion spring having one end portion fixed to the vane rotor, and a front plate having a cylindrical sleeve portion and a cutout portion formed in the sleeve portion, the cutout portion having an end wall surface with which the other end portion of the torsion spring is engaged and a side wall surface opposed to the end wall surface, the cutout portion being formed such that a first straight line extending through the end wall surface toward a radial inside of the sleeve portion is located closer to a central axis of the sleeve portion than a second straight line extending through the side wall surface toward the radial inside of the sleeve portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9151191
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes a housing having a housing bore extending along an axis and a plurality of lobes extending radially inward. The camshaft phaser also includes a stroke limiter having a central hub with a plurality of vanes extending radially outward such that the vanes are interspersed with lobes. The camshaft phaser also includes a harmonic gear drive unit disposed operationally between the housing and the stroke limiter, the harmonic gear drive unit being connected to a rotational actuator for imparting rotation on the harmonic gear drive unit such that rotation of the harmonic gear drive unit by the rotational actuator causes relative rotation between the housing and the stroke limiter. The amount of relative rotation between the housing and the stroke limiter is limited by at least one of the plurality of lobes and at least one of the plurality of vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Pascal David, Pierre Kimus, Eric Bourniche
  • Patent number: 9151190
    Abstract: A valve timing controller includes: a driving-side rolling body configured to rotate synchronously with an engine crankshaft; a driven-side rolling body configured to rotate in a unified manner with a camshaft for opening/closing an engine valve relative to the driving-side rolling body; an advance chamber, and a retard chamber; a torsion spring disposed in a space formed between a front plate or a rear plate of the driving-side rolling body and the driven-side rolling body and configured to bias at all times the driving-side rolling body and the driven-side rolling body in the advance direction or the retard direction; and a first cylindrical portion provided in the front plate or the rear plate and a second cylindrical portion provided in the driven-side rolling body, the first and second cylindrical portions being insertable into each other in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Noguchi, Kazunari Adachi, Takeo Asahi
  • Patent number: 9144844
    Abstract: A method for powder-metallurgically manufacturing a rotational body, including compacting a first starting body is compacted from a metal powder; forming a second starting body from metal, separately from the first starting body; placing the starting bodies against each other in axial contact via end faces in relation to a longitudinal axis of the rotational body; and permanently and firmly sintered the first starting body and the second starting body to each other by collective sintering. The first starting body is compacted from an aluminum-based powder, the second starting body is formed from an aluminum material, and the starting bodies are sintered to each other at their respective end faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: SCHWABISCHE HUTTENWERKE AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Angelika Pohl, Alfred Boelstler
  • Patent number: 9145800
    Abstract: A sealing device (12) for a camshaft adjuster (1) which is driveable using a belt and has a distributing valve (8) with a piston, wherein the sealing device (12) has a first securing portion (13) rigidly arrangeable on the camshaft adjuster (1), a second securing portion (14) rigidly arrangeable on the piston side, and a flexible membrane portion (15) arranged between the first securing portion (13) and the second securing portion (14), and a camshaft adjuster (1) having a having a stator (3) which, based on a combustion engine, is driveable using a belt, and a rotor (4) with limited twistability relative to the stator (3), wherein a twisting can be effected hydraulically, and a distributing valve (8) with a piston for the purpose of freeing up or blocking the pathway for a hydraulic medium or altering a through-flow direction, wherein the camshaft adjuster (1) has a sealing device (12) of the type whose first securing portion (13) is rigidly arranged on the camshaft adjuster (1) and whose second securing por
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: HILITE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Florian Hentsch, Stefanie Hutzelmann, Robert Schaaf, Dietmar Schulze
  • Patent number: 9145796
    Abstract: A control unit for a variable valve timing mechanism for changing a cam phase by an actuator corrects the operation amount of the actuator immediately after an engine is started based on at least an engine rotation angle and a cam phase angle in an engine stop state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Kentaro Mikawa
  • Patent number: 9140150
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser (1), having a drive element (2), an output element (3), and a cover element (4), the cover element (4) being joined in latching-type, form-locking engagement with the drive element or output element (2, 3), and the cover element (4) having play-eliminator that eliminates a play in the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Christian Boesel
  • Patent number: 9140151
    Abstract: Provided is a valve gear which achieves a reduced size and is capable of changing the valve opening timing of an engine valve and changing the length of the valve opening period thereof. A valve gear is provided with: a rotatable first camshaft; a first cam piece that is relatively unrotatably provided on the first camshaft; a second camshaft that is included in the first camshaft and coaxially rotatable; a second cam piece that is relatively unrotatably provided on the second camshaft; a housing; a first vane rotor that is relatively rotatable with respect to the housing; and a second vane rotor that is relatively rotatable with respect to the housing and the first vane rotor The first vane rotor is relatively unrotatably coupled to the second camshaft, and the second vane rotor is relatively rotatably coupled to the first camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Matsumochi, Kaori Kobayashi