Camshaft Or Cam Characteristics Patents (Class 123/90.17)
  • Patent number: 9140197
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes a temperature sensing member which expands at a main lock phase when a temperature of an engine is higher than or equal to a predetermined temperature so as to prohibit a main lock component from moving out of a main lock hole to a guide slot. The temperature sensing member shrinks at the main lock phase when the temperature of the engine is lower than the predetermined temperature so as to allow the main lock component to move out of the main lock hole toward the guide slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya Nakata, Kazuhiro Sasao, Takashi Ooga, Takehiro Tanaka, Kosei Takagi, Yuusuke Yasuki, Shuhei Oe
  • Patent number: 9133736
    Abstract: A valve timing adjusting system includes a displacement mechanism unit that displaces a camshaft rotational phase relative to a crankshaft, a locking mechanism unit that locks the rotational phase, and a control unit that controls operations of a hydraulic control valve. The control unit includes a property obtainment unit that obtains property information regarding hydraulic properties, and a lock release process completes locking release by supplying oil pressure to the locking mechanism unit for moving the rotational phase from an intermediate locked phase toward one of a retard/advance position, and then supplying oil pressure to the locking mechanism unit for moving the rotational phase toward the other of the retard/advance position; the rotational phase stands by at a predetermined position of the one of the retard/advance position past the intermediate locked phase during the lock release process, until a standby time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Kakuda, Satoshi Kokubo, Kenji Ikeda, Masaki Kobayashi, Yuuki Ohta
  • Patent number: 9133734
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus including a housing, a vane rotor rotatable relative to the housing toward a phase-advance side and a phase-retard side, a first lock member and a second lock member disposed on the vane rotor, a first lock concave portion disposed on the housing so as to be engaged with a tip end portion of the first lock member, a second lock concave portion disposed on the housing so as to be engaged with a tip end portion of the second lock member, and a communication passage formed in the vane rotor and serving to always establish fluid communication between the first and second lock concave portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kato, Shinichi Sato
  • Patent number: 9127575
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser is provided for varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an engine. The camshaft phaser includes a stator having lobes. A rotor is disposed within the stator includes vanes interspersed with the stator lobes to define alternating advance and retard chambers. A lock pin is provided for selective engagement with a lock pin seat for preventing relative rotation between the rotor and the stator. Pressurized oil disengages the lock pin from the seat while oil is vented for engaging the lock pin with the seat. A phase relationship control valve is coaxial with the rotor and controls the flow of oil into and out of the chambers. A lock pin control valve is coaxial with the phase relationship control valve and controls the flow of oil to and from the lock pin. The control valves are operational independent of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Fischer, Thomas H. Lichti
  • Patent number: 9121311
    Abstract: A control valve includes a valve body, which defines first, second, and third valve passageways. The valve body also defines a supply passageway. The control valve includes a first spool movable relative to the valve body between first and second positions. The control valve includes a second spool movable relative to the valve body between open and closed positions. The supply passageway is in fluid communication with the first valve passageway when the first spool is in the first position. The supply passageway is in fluid communication with the second valve passageway when the first spool is in the second position. The supply passageway is in fluid communication with the third valve passageway when the second spool is in the open position. The second spool precludes fluid flow between the supply passageway and the third valve passageway when the second spool is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rolando Huerta, William P. Vukovich, Jorge A. Campuzano
  • Patent number: 9121358
    Abstract: A method of using a mid-position lock VCT phaser in an engine with a stop-start mode of operation with the steps of: when the engine is in a stop mode of the stop-start mode: adjusting a duty cycle of an actuator coupled to the control valve of the phaser to command the control valve to the retard mode; maintaining the duty cycle of the actuator to command the control valve to remain in the retard mode until an automatic restart of the engine. If the key is detected in an off position either restarting the engine; commanding the phaser to the detent mode, such that the lock pin is moved to a locked position and the phaser is locked in an intermediate phase angle position; and shutting down the engine or commanding the phaser to detent mode during engine cranking during a next engine restart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Strehlau, David H. Kaitschuck, Franklin R. Smith
  • Patent number: 9115611
    Abstract: A variable valve operating apparatus including an electric motor including a motor housing with a permanent magnet, and a speed reducing mechanism having a casing, the motor housing and the casing of the speed reducing mechanism being coupled to each other by a plurality of bolts, wherein the motor housing includes a convex portion formed in a portion of the motor housing which is opposed to one axial end of the permanent magnet, the convex portion having a threaded hole into which a tip end portion of each bolt is screwed, and a projection formed on an axial end surface of the convex portion in alignment with the threaded hole in an axial direction of the threaded hole, and wherein the axial end surface of the convex portion is located further spaced from the one axial end of the permanent magnet than the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamanaka, Ryo Tadokoro, Hiroyuki Nemoto, Isao Doi
  • Patent number: 9115612
    Abstract: A sealing member is supported by a holding surface of a vane rotor and slides on a sealing surface formed by an inner surface of a housing rotor, so as to seal an advancing chamber and a retarding chamber from each other. The sealing member has a pressure-receiving surface and a diffuser surface. The pressure-receiving surface receives pressure of working fluid from a working chamber in a direction to the sealing surface. The diffuser surface forms a sealing gap between the diffuser surface and the sealing surface, so that the sealing surface becomes larger as the sealing surface is more separated from the working chamber in a circumferential direction. The sealing member has a deformable portion forming the pressure-receiving surface and the diffuser surface. The deformable portion is elastically deformed, so that the diffuser surface is more strongly pushed to the sealing surface, when the pressure of the working fluid is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Hayashi, Haruhisa Shibata, Isao Hattori
  • Patent number: 9109473
    Abstract: A valve-timing control apparatus includes a phase change mechanism configured to change a valve timing, a cover member provided near a front end side of the phase change mechanism; slip rings provided to one of a front end portion of the phase change mechanism and a facing surface of the cover member which faces the phase change mechanism; a pair of brushes provided to another of the front end portion of the phase change mechanism and the facing surface of the cover member to be axially slidable. One end portion the pigtail harness is connected with the corresponding brush. Another end portion of the pigtail harness is connected with a connector terminal under a deflected state, at a location radially shifted from an axis of the corresponding brush. The another end portions of the pair of pigtail harnesses are separated from each other by a partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kawada, Ryo Tadokoro, Hiroyuki Nemoto, Atsushi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9109474
    Abstract: A camshaft adjusting means for an internal combustion engine includes an adjusting mechanism which is configured as a three-shaft gear mechanism having a drive side into which the drive moment for the camshaft is introduced, an output side which is connected fixedly to the camshaft so as to rotate with it, and an adjusting shaft which is coupled to a drive motor and via which a moment which brings about the relative rotation of the drive side with respect to the output side is introduced into the adjusting mechanism. The adjusting mechanism having one bearing point on each of its drive side and its output side and being mounted via the bearing points with respect to the component which supports the camshaft, in particular the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine. The adjusting shaft is guided into the adjusting mechanism through one of the bearing points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Felix Kuffner, Michael Schober, Thomas Wickgruber
  • Patent number: 9103243
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve train for gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, having a base camshaft, a plurality of cam carriers, which are arranged in a rotationally fixed and axially movable way on the base camshaft, as well as stopping devices for retaining the cam carriers in defined displacement positions along the base camshaft, with the stopping devices comprising in each case a pressure-applying element, which is inserted into a recess of the base camshaft and pressed in the radial direction of the base camshaft against an opposite inner circumferential section of the cam carrier. In order to counteract noise generation in the valve train, a first variant of the invention provides an additional pressure-applying element at an axial distance from the pressure-applying element. This additional pressure-applying element is pressed against an opposite inner circumferential section of the cam carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: AUDI, AG
    Inventors: Michael Hartlieb, Manfred Elbl, Robert Poida, Andreas Ewald
  • Patent number: 9103290
    Abstract: A continuous variable valve lift engine may include determining whether an engine is in an idle state and an oil temperature of an engine is within a predetermined range, controlling, the engine in a predetermined control state when the engine is in the idle state and the oil temperature is within the predetermined range, and measuring, an error occurrence time when an error occurs in controlling the engine in the control state, and controlling the engine while switching the engine to a predetermined passive state when the error occurrence time is more than a preset time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: In Sang Ryu, Jong Bum Park
  • Patent number: 9103242
    Abstract: A planetary carrier supports a geared rotor from an inside in a radial direction, and receives a radial load in a first region, which is offset to one end from a center position in an axial direction. A ball bearing roller supports the planetary carrier from an outside in the radial direction in a second region, which is offset to an other end from the center position. The ball bearing roller is a single-row ball bearing roller that has an outer ring supported by a drive rotor, an inner ring which supports the planetary carrier, and a plurality of rolling elements which are rotatably installed in a single row to be in contact with and between the outer and the inner rings. The geared rotor is tilted relative to the axial direction, and contacts a driven rotor in the axial direction. An angle of the geared rotor relative to the axial direction is set to be smaller than a maximum allowable angle at which the inner ring is allowed to be tilted relative to the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Taei Sugiura
  • Patent number: 9103239
    Abstract: A valve opening-closing timing control device includes: a driving rotating body that rotates synchronously with a crankshaft; a following rotating body that rotates integrally with a cam shaft; a phase control mechanism that controls changing of relative rotational phases of the driving and following rotating bodies; a torsion coil spring engaged by a front member of the driving rotating body and by the following driving body, and biases the following rotating body in an advance/retarded direction with respect to the driving rotating body. The front member includes multiple bearing surfaces to be attached with countersunk head screws, and an engaging part engaging an end of the torsion coil spring with the torsion coil spring in a twisted state. The engaging part includes a mounting part for a tool with which the end of the torsion coil spring is moved in a direction increasing torsion strength of the torsion coil spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Noguchi, Akihiko Kusaka, Atsushi Homma, Takeo Asahi, Kazunari Adachi
  • Patent number: 9103241
    Abstract: A valve timing controller includes a housing, a vane rotor, and a stopper pin. The stopper pin regulates a relative rotation position of the vane rotor relative to the housing. A boss part of the vane rotor has a plurality of metal plates layered with each other in an axial direction. At least one metal plate of the plurality of metal plates has a hole in which the stopper pin is inserted, and a nail projected from an inner wall of the hole toward the stopper pin so as to hold the stopper pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Hayashi, Tomonori Suzuki, Kenshin Yokose
  • Patent number: 9097147
    Abstract: A valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine, comprises: an electric intake valve timing control apparatus to vary an intake valve timing with torque produced by an electric motor with electric power supplied through a power supply mechanism; and an electric exhaust valve timing control apparatus to vary an exhaust valve timing with torque produced by an electric motor with electric power supplied through a power supply mechanism. A heat generating portion in the power supply mechanism of the intake valve timing control apparatus is made of a heat resisting material whereas a heat generating portion in the power supply mechanism of the exhaust valve timing control apparatus is made of a material lower in heat resistance than the heat resisting material of the intake valve timing control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Tadokoro, Shinichi Kawada, Atsushi Yamanaka, Hiroyuki Nemoto
  • Patent number: 9085997
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus has a regulation member to fix a phase. The regulation member has a main regulation member and a sub regulation member. The main regulation member is inserted into a recess part to regulate the phase. The sub regulation member has an engagement part engageable with the main regulation member in an escape direction Y and disengageable from the main regulation member in an insertion direction X. Further, the sub regulation member has a pressure reception part that receives pressure in the escape direction Y from hydraulic fluid in an operation chamber. The main regulation member is urged in the insertion direction X by a main resilient member. Further, the sub regulation member is urged in the insertion direction X by a sub resilient member. The main regulation member moves in the escape direction Y only by hydraulic fluid, and moves in the insertion direction X only by the resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiki Fujiyoshi, Takashi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9080471
    Abstract: A cam torque actuated variable cam timing phaser can include a rotor (20) enclosed by an endplate (64) within a housing (10). The housing (10) can have at least one cavity (10a) to be divided by a vane (22) rigidly attached to the rotor (20). The vane (22) can divide the cavity (10a) into a first chamber (16) and a second chamber (18). Passages (26, 28, 56, 58) can connect the first and second chambers (16, 18) facilitating oscillation of the vane (20) within the cavity (10a). A detent valve (50) can move between an open position and a closed position. When in the open position, the detent valve (50) can connect portions of a detent passage (56, 58) extending through the rotor (20) and through the endplate (64) allowing pressurized actuating fluid flow with respect to the first and second chambers (16, 18) in response to a relative angular position of the rotor (20) with respect to the endplate (64). A lock pin (60) can move between a locked position and a released position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Pluta, Mark Wigsten, Braman Wing
  • Patent number: 9080522
    Abstract: An engine efficiency system for a vehicle includes an electromechanically operated oil distribution device disposed proximate an oil environment of the vehicle. Also included is a current detection system for detecting a current change rate of the electromechanically operated oil distribution device, wherein the current change rate corresponds to a viscosity of an oil disposed in the oil environment of the vehicle. Further included is at least one efficiency device activated over a range of the viscosity of the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Spix, Thomas M. Bishop
  • Patent number: 9080470
    Abstract: A variable cam timing phaser (10) can a drive stator (14) and at least one driven rotor (20, 20a, 20b) mounted for rotation about a common axis. At least one vane-type hydraulic coupling can define at least one expandable fluid chamber (40, 50, 40a, 50a, 40b, 50b) for coupling the at least one driven rotor (20, 20a, 20b) for rotation with the drive stator (14) to enable the phase of the at least one driven rotor (20, 20a, 20b) to be adjusted independently of one another and independently relative to the drive stator (14). A control valve (60) can have at least one inlet port (62), at least one outlet port (64, 64a), and at least one common shared fluid passage (16, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark M. Wigsten
  • Patent number: 9074498
    Abstract: An arrangement of a camshaft phaser (1) which has a drive element (2) and at least two driven elements (3, 4), whereby the drive element (2) and the driven elements (3, 4) have several radially oriented vanes (6) that cover the lateral surfaces (9) of the adjacent element in the axial direction (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Strauss
  • Patent number: 9068482
    Abstract: A spool valve for controlling a twin phaser for coupling a drive member to two driven members and to enable the phase of the two driven members to be varied independently includes a bore operably associated with the twin phaser, fluid channels opening into the bore, and a spool. The spool is received in and is moveable relative to the bore so as to selectively open and close the fluid channels in a predetermined manner, thereby providing a fluid communication between the spool and the twin phaser, and varying a phase of output members relative to an input member. The spool and the fluid channels are configured so that an axial displacement of the spool relative to the bore serves to control a phase of a first output member, and a rotation of the spool relative to the bore serves to control a phase of a second output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: MECHADYNE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Ian Methley
  • Patent number: 9062573
    Abstract: A valve timing controller has a spiral spring biasing a vane rotor in an advance direction. An inner end and an outer end of the spring are respectively engaged with an engage groove and an engage pin in such a manner that a center of a most inner imaginary circle passing through a center line of the wire is apart from a center of a most outer imaginary circle passing through both the center line of the wire and an engage point between the inner end and the engage groove. The most outer imaginary circle is eccentric to the most inner imaginary circle by a specified amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9062572
    Abstract: This invention provides an improved variable cam phaser for an automobile engine equipped with a controller capable of enabling execution of a given phase angle varying command in a shortened response time. The variable cam phaser has two control rotors which are arranged coaxial with a camshaft and rotatable relative to each other under the influence of two electromagnetic actuators and driven by the crankshaft of the engine. The variable cam phaser also has a relative phase angle varying mechanism for varying the relative phase angle of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft. When the two electromagnetic actuators are simultaneously energized, the two control rotors are held mutually unrotatable. However, when the braking torque of one actuator is reduced, the control rotor associated with that actuator is rotated relative to the other control rotor to immediately start the execution of the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michihiro Kameda, Takumi Totsuka
  • Patent number: 9057289
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a working cylinder with two intake valves and two exhaust valves assigned thereto. A first camshaft and a second camshaft each actuate a respective one of the intake valves and a respective one of the exhaust valves. The first camshaft is a variable camshaft with an adjuster for adjusting valve control times and includes an outer shaft, which is a hollow shaft, and an inner shaft, which is disposed within the outer shaft. The outer shaft as well as the inner shaft are rotatable by the adjuster and are rotatable relative to one another by the adjuster such that relative positions of given cams controlling given ones of the intake and exhaust valves are changeable. The second camshaft is driven by a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and is configured as a fixed camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Axel Groenendijk
  • Patent number: 9057293
    Abstract: A multiple variable valve lift apparatus may include a camshaft rotating by drive of an engine, at least two cam portions disposed on the camshaft to be movable along an axial direction of the camshaft and to be rotated together with the camshaft, and forming a high cam and a low cam, a valve opening/closing unit operated by one of the high cam or the low cam formed at the cam portion, an operating unit disposed on the camshaft to move together with one of the at least two cam portions, a solenoid selectively moving the operating unit along an axial direction of the camshaft, a interlock unit rotating together with the camshaft, and disposed between one and the other of the cam portions on the camshaft to be movable along an axial direction of the camshaft, and a pin operating unit selectively moving the interlock unit along the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Byong Young Choi, Jin Kook Kong, Gee Wook Shin, Soo Hyung Woo, Wootae Kim
  • Patent number: 9057336
    Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that can suppress blowback of in-cylinder residual gas to an intake passage when reverting from a fuel-cut operation accompanied by valve stopping control of an intake valve while suppressing an oil ascent during execution of the fuel-cut operation, and a control apparatus for a vehicle equipped with the internal combustion engine. When executing a fuel-cut operation accompanied by intake valve stopping control, advancement control of the opening/closing timing of an exhaust valve (32) is executed. If the advancement control is being executed in a case where a request to revert from the fuel-cut operation has been detected, an advance amount of the opening/closing timing of the exhaust valve (32) is retarded so as to become less than or equal to a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akio Kidooka, Yoshikazu Jikuhara
  • Patent number: 9057292
    Abstract: Provided is a timing adjustment system having improved control for achieving a target rotational phase. The valve timing adjustment system includes a displacement mechanism unit that displaces a rotational phase of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; a locking mechanism unit that locks the rotational phase at an intermediate locked phase positioned within a displacement range of the rotational phase; a hydraulic pathway that hydraulically drives the displacement mechanism unit and the locking mechanism unit; and a control unit including a control system that controls operations of the hydraulic control valve. The control unit changes a temporal responsiveness of the control system based on a displacement force that displaces the rotational phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Kokubo, Yuji Kakuda, Kenji Ikeda, Yuuki Ohta, Masaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9051855
    Abstract: To achieve an intermediate lock state in a short period when an engine is stopped and improve the accuracy of confirmation of the intermediate lock state, an engine valve timing control apparatus includes a variable valve timing mechanism configured to vary engine valve timing, and an intermediate lock mechanism configured to restrict relative rotation positions of a first and a second rotor of the valve timing mechanism at an intermediate lock position for starting the engine. Upon detection of an engine stop request, the valve timing mechanism and the intermediate lock mechanism are driven and controlled for establishing an intermediate lock state. When a predetermined period from detection of the engine stop request has expired without detecting the intermediate lock state within the predetermined period, an engine stopping process is executed. Even after the engine stopping process has been executed, monitoring of the intermediate lock state is continued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori Ito, Kenji Ariga, Ken Shiozawa, Takahiro Miura, Motomu Kitamura, Naoki Osada, Masahiro Iriyama, Masahiro Arai, Hiroyuki Itoyama, Hiroshi Abe
  • Patent number: 9046012
    Abstract: A variable valve operating apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a drive camshaft, and a driven cam lobe that is rotatably supported by the drive camshaft. The variable valve operating apparatus further includes a control sleeve that has a raceway surface, a center of which is eccentric with respect to a center of rotation of its own. The variable valve operating apparatus further includes a link mechanism that is connected to each of the drive camshaft and the driven cam lobe and has a control roller which is in contact with the raceway surface. The variable valve operating apparatus further includes an actuator that drives the control sleeve. The variable valve operating apparatus further includes a control amount of the actuator is controlled to change a moving amount of the raceway surface in the above described plane direction in accordance with an operation condition of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Yano, Shuichi Ezaki
  • Patent number: 9046014
    Abstract: In a valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine, brushes and slip rings are disposed within a space formed between each of an intake air side and an exhaust side device main frames and each of intake air side and exhaust side cover members and partitioned by means of the respective seal members and the respective cover members are configured to enable radial directional position adjustments by a predetermined quantity and are fixed to the internal combustion engine in a state in which the radial directional position adjustments of the respective cover members have been made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Tadokoro, Shinichi Kawada, Atsushi Yamanaka, Hiroyuki Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20150144113
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine is described, the internal combustion engine including a cylinder having an inlet valve for supplying fresh air from an intake manifold in a controlled manner, an air filling being set in a certain operating mode by predefining a closing point in time of the inlet valve in an intake stroke at a constant intake manifold pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Sven MERKLE, Michael DRUNG, Matthias PFAU, Rainer MAIER, Martin KROENER, Matthias SIMONS, Andreas BETHMANN
  • Publication number: 20150144084
    Abstract: A vane rotor includes a laminated portion and seal portions. The laminated portion includes a plurality of metal plates, which are stacked in an axial direction. The seal portions are placed on two axially opposite sides of each of an advancing port, a retarding port, and a supply port. Each seal portion is configured into an annular form to extend along an outer peripheral surface of a sleeve in a circumferential direction and is engaged with the laminated portion to limit deformation of the seal portion toward a radially outer side. The seal portion is made of a material that has a thermal expansion coefficient, which is larger than a thermal expansion coefficient of a material of each metal plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Masashi HAYASHI
  • Patent number: 9038585
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes: a drive-side rotor rotating in synchronization with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; a driven-side rotor arranged to have the same shaft center as the drive-side rotor, rotating in synchronization with a camshaft for opening and closing valves; a fluid pressure chamber formed between the drive-side driven-side rotors; a partitioning portion provided in at least one of the drive-side and driven-side rotors; a timing advance chamber and a timing delay chamber formed by partitioning the fluid pressure chamber by the partitioning portion; a lock mechanism including a lock member and a concave portion a lock release flow path through which operating fluid supplied and discharged to and from the concave portion is circulated; a valve arranged in the middle of the lock release flow path; and a control unit controlling the operation of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kawai
  • Patent number: 9032925
    Abstract: A phase varying apparatus capable of smoothly varying the phase angle of a camshaft relative to a drive rotor by comprising: a drive rotor supported by a camshaft and driven by a crankshaft; a first control rotor integral with the camshaft; a first torquing mechanism for providing the first drive rotor with a torque in one direction, and a reverse rotation mechanism for proving the first control rotor with a torque in the opposite direction, wherein the reverse rotation mechanism comprises a first radius-decreasing guide groove formed in the control rotor, a crank member adapted to rotate about a position offset from the rotational axis of the drive rotor, and a first pin mechanism mounted on the crank member and movable in the radius-decreasing guide groove, and a second operative mechanism for rotating the first control rotor in the opposite rotational direction relative to the drive rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michihiro Kameda, Masaaki Niiro, Koichi Homma
  • Patent number: 9032924
    Abstract: An arrangement of a camshaft phaser (1) which allows a variable pressure boost in that a rotary piston (7) of the camshaft phaser (1) either creates or eliminates a fluid connection between a first pair of working chambers and a second pair of working chambers arranged in the axial direction (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Busse
  • Patent number: 9032923
    Abstract: An engine with a variable valve device includes cylinders each provided with a plurality of intake valves, an outer camshaft for driving first intake cams, an inner camshaft arranged coaxially with the outer camshaft for driving second intake cams, and a cam phase change mechanism arranged at one end of the outer and inner camshafts and capable of varying the phase difference between the two camshafts. A first cam sensor for detecting the rotational angle of the outer camshaft and a second cam sensor for detecting the rotational angle of the inner camshaft are arranged close to the one end of the camshafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Yoshika, Ayatoshi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 9027519
    Abstract: In an electrically-driven valve timing control apparatus employing a housing and a cover member axially opposed to each other, a cylindrical-hollow motor output shaft is installed in the housing, and configured to rotate relative to the housing by electricity-feeding to the electric motor, and also configured such that lubricating oil is supplied into the motor output shaft. A plug is fitted to the inner periphery of an axial opening end of the motor output shaft for suppressing a leakage of lubricating oil from the motor output shaft to the outside. One of two opposing faces of the cover member and the plug is formed with a protruding portion configured to prevent the plug's slipping out of the axial opening end. A part of the inside face of the cover member, opposed to the plug, is formed integral with the protruding portion partially disposed within the axial opening end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Tadokoro, Hiroyuki Nemoto, Atsushi Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20150122208
    Abstract: Camshaft unit (1) having a first camshaft (2), which is phase-adjustable with respect to a crankshaft, a second camshaft (3), which is disposed concentric to the first camshaft (2) and is always in phase with the crankshaft, a camshaft adjuster (5) with which the first camshaft (2) is phase-adjustable with respect to the crankshaft, a connecting member (4), which is displaceable in the axial direction of the camshafts (2, 3) and has first toothed section (16) that meshes with counter-toothed section (6) on the first camshaft (2), and an adjusting drive (9) by which a connecting member (4) can be displaced axially, wherein through an axial advance, a relative rotation of the first camshaft (2) with respect to the connecting member (4) takes place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Sebastian Zwahr
  • Patent number: 9021999
    Abstract: In a valve timing control apparatus employing two lock pins located in a vane rotor and two lock holes located in a sprocket so as to permit movement of the lock pins into and out of engagement with the respective holes, a guide mechanism is provided for guiding movement of the vane rotor relative to the sprocket toward a prescribed lock position. The guide mechanism includes a guide pin and a guide hole configured to permit movement of the guide pin into and out of engagement with the guide hole. Hydraulic pressure, used for retreating-movement of the lock pins out of engagement, is supplied through a first branch passage branching from an unlock passage configured to communicate with a pump discharge passage. Hydraulic pressure, used for retreating-movement of the guide pin out of engagement, is supplied through a second branch passage branching from the same unlock passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naozumi Yoshimura, Atsushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9021997
    Abstract: A cam shaft phase setter including a control valve for controlling the feeding and draining of a hydraulic fluid into and out of a pressure chamber which serves to adjust the rotational angular position of a cam shaft relative to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The control valve includes a valve housing with an operating port to the pressure chamber and a reservoir port to a reservoir for the fluid. A valve piston is axially adjustable back and forth in the valve housing between a first position and a second position and includes an axial hollow space, a piston inlet for introducing the fluid into the hollow space, and a piston outlet which leads out of the hollow space and is connected to the operating port in the first position of the valve piston and separated from the operating port in the second position of the valve piston. An actuating unit is coupled to the valve piston for axially adjusting the valve piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Schwaebische Huettenwerke Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Welte, Uwe Meinig, Juergen Bohner
  • Patent number: 9021998
    Abstract: A phase control apparatus in a variable cam timing (VCT) system of an engine is described herein. The phase control apparatus includes a locking pin coupled to a vane, the locking pin extending into a locking pin recess in a cover plate in a locked configuration, the locking pin and locking pin recess having a backlash and a housing at least partially enclosing the vane and spaced away from the vane forming a gap in the locked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Ali Moetakef, Jamie Charles Hanshaw, Wesley Kridner, Georg Festag, Steve Poe
  • Patent number: 9022000
    Abstract: A valve timing control device includes: a vane rotor having a plurality of vanes; a housing having the vane rotor inside so that an advance chamber is formed on one side of each vane and a retard chamber is formed on the other side; a lock pin inserted in a cylinder provided in the vane and moves to a lock position and to an unlock position; and a feeding passage for feeding oil into the cylinder from the retard chamber adjacent to the vane provided with the cylinder to make the lock pin move to the unlock position, and controls an oil supplying unit to supply oil to each retard chamber, wherein a flow passage cross sectional area of the branch passage connected with the retard chamber linking with the cylinder is larger than a flow passage cross sectional area of the branch passage connected with the other retard chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kanai
  • Patent number: 9016250
    Abstract: An internal combustion includes a crankshaft and a camshaft rotatable by the crankshaft. The internal combustion engine also includes an oil source, an engine cover, and a drive member disposed within the engine cover for transferring rotational motion from the crankshaft to the camshaft. A camshaft phaser actuated by an electric motor is disposed within the engine cover for controllably varying the phase relationship between the crankshaft and the camshaft. A supply passage communicates oil from the oil source to the camshaft phaser in order to lubricate the camshaft phaser and a drain passage drains oil from the camshaft phaser to the oil source. A sealing arrangement defines a dry zone within the engine cover to isolate the drive member from oil used to lubricate the camshaft phaser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Pascal David, Pierre Kimus, Eric Bourniche
  • Patent number: 9010289
    Abstract: In a hydraulic variable valve timing mechanism including a lock pin that locks a vane rotor and a housing against relative rotation in the most retarding phase, a specified angle ? is set so that release of the lock pin is started at a time when positive cam torque acts on the vane rotor. When the crank angle reaches the specified angle ?, supply of hydraulic pressure to the advancing oil chamber is started to release the lock pin from the engagement with the lock hole, thereby enabling a reliable release of the lock pin prior to start of change of valve timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruhito Fujimura, Yuu Yokoyama, Masaki Numakura
  • Publication number: 20150101554
    Abstract: An engine of a variable stroke type may include a camshaft that a first cam and a second cam which may be adjacent to each other may be formed on the camshaft, a valve that may be disposed to be moved by the first cam or the second cam, and a tappet that may be engaged to the valve and disposed between the first and second cam and the valve to make the first cam move the valve or to make the second cam move the valve, wherein the second cam has a rotational phase difference with the first cam in a rotating direction of the camshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Eun Ho LEE
  • Publication number: 20150101571
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided which can accurately correct a valve timing deviation of an intake valve caused by a variable operating angle mechanism or variable phase mechanism. A variable operating angle mechanism (28a) for making the operating angle of an intake valve (24) variable is provided. Operating angle command values (operating angles 1 and 3) of two points in front and back at which the intake air amount is decreased by a predetermined amount with respect to the value that is judged to be a maximum value of the intake air amount when the operating angle (command value) is kept changing, are acquired. Then, an intermediate value which is at an equal distance from the operating angle command values of the two points is calculated as the maximum operating angle command value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuki Iwatani
  • Patent number: 9004027
    Abstract: A cam-data creation device includes: a waveform generating/processing unit that generates at least one of a stroke waveform and a velocity waveform of a follower for each piece of cam data from cam data stored in a cam-data storage unit, a cam-data waveform-image processing unit that converts a waveform for each piece of cam data generated by the waveform generating/processing unit into image data, and a screen generating/processing unit that generates a list display window that collectively displays the waveform for every piece of cam data having been converted into image data by the cam-data waveform-image processing unit and displays the generated list display window on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Suematsu
  • Patent number: 9004028
    Abstract: Even when sliding occurs between a radially extending face of a spring member and at least one of a driving-side rotary member and a driven-side rotary member, wear of the at least one of the driving-side rotary member and the driven-side rotary member is prevented. Along the axial direction of the camshaft, a torsion spring is provided between the driven-side rotary member and a housing side face portion for urging the relative rotational phase to the angle advancing direction or the angle retarding direction, and a spring washer is disposed between the driven-side rotary member and the torsion spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Noguchi, Kazunari Adachi, Atsushi Homma, Takeo Asahi
  • Patent number: 9004024
    Abstract: a cam adjuster for adjusting the angle-of-rotation positions of a cam shaft relative to a crankshaft. The cam shaft adjuster has at least two operating chambers to which pressure oil can be supplied to change the angle-of-rotation position. At least one of the operating chambers can be deactivated depending on an operating parameter by blocking the pressure oil supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Heintzen, Matthias Friedrichs