Rocker Patents (Class 123/90.39)
  • Patent number: 8051813
    Abstract: A scroll compressor for compressible fluids includes a fixed housing having a spiral-shaped feed chamber which contains a working fluid. A displacement member interacts with the feed chamber and includes a driveshaft which is supported in the housing and has an eccentric disk, a carrier disk which is mounted on the driveshaft, and spiral blades which extend out from both sides of the carrier disk. The displacement member is supported by a bearing on the eccentric disk. A lubricant supply system feeds lubricant to the bearing via the driveshaft and the eccentric disk, with a seal assembly sealing a lubricant chamber against the feed chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Spinnler Engineering
    Inventor: Fritz Spinnler
  • Patent number: 8051825
    Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine block, a cylinder head, and a valvetrain assembly. The cylinder head may be fixed to the engine block. The valvetrain assembly may include a valve actuating member, a support member, and a first fastener engaged with the support member and the engine block that fixes the support member to the engine block. The valve actuating member may be rotatably supported on the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Patrick Lester, Dan L. Alden
  • Publication number: 20110265749
    Abstract: A bearing block comprises a camshaft in an internal combustion engine and a valve drive. The valve drive may include at least one rocker arm mounted on a rocker arm shaft, wherein the bearing block is formed concurrently with the mounting of the at least one rocker arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Flender, Michael Kreisig, Falk Schneider, Stefan Steichele
  • Publication number: 20110265750
    Abstract: A switchable lever for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine which has two side walls with ends connected by a crossbar. There is a gas-exchange valve system in the crossbar at one end and a bearing for the pivotable support of the crossbar at the other end. An axle is held nondisplaceably in the side walls, between the ends, with two cam rollers running on the axle. The cam rollers are displaceable axially on the axle toward each other into a first position such that the cam rollers run up to each other on a longitudinal center plane of the lever and away from each other into a second position. One of the positions serves for a high-lift cam contact and the other position serves for a low-lift or zero-lift cam contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Matthias BECKER, Robert HEINEMANN
  • Publication number: 20110265751
    Abstract: A switchable lever for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine, which has an elongated housing with two side walls. A crossbar for a gas-exchange valve system and another end of the housing has a hearing for pivotable support of the crossbar. An axle is held nondisplaceably in the side walls. An axially fixed low-lift cam roller is seated centrally on the axle and is flanked on both sides by a high-lift cam roller. The high-lift cam rollers are displaceable: (a) into a first position, away from each other, to toward the side walls such that contact of one high-lift cam per high-lift cam roller is possible, and (b) into a second position, toward each other, such that they are located outside an engagement region of the high-lift cams, and as a result of which contact of a low-lift or zero-lift cam with the low-lift cam roller is possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias BECKER, Robert HEINEMANN
  • Patent number: 8047168
    Abstract: A continuously variable valve lift system for an engine may include a driving cam fixed to a camshaft, a control shaft disposed in parallel to the camshaft with a predetermined distance, an upper rocker arm, one end of which is rotatably coupled to the control shaft and the other end of which is slidably contacted to and rotated by the driving cam, lower rocker arm that is selectively pushed by the upper rocker arm and selectively pushes a valve, rocker arm follower slidably coupled to the lower rocker arm and contacting the upper rocker arm, wherein the rocker arm follower transmits an operational force of the upper rocker arm to the lower rocker arm, and a variable mechanism that changes contact point of the rocker arm follower and the upper rocker arm according to rotation of the control shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Yunsung Hwang
  • Patent number: 8042501
    Abstract: A continuously variable valve lift apparatus may include a control shaft, a camshaft in which a cam is formed thereto, an eccentric member connected to the control shaft, a follower slidably contacting the cam, a follower arm that is extended from a follower ring mounted around the eccentric member, a variable ring slidably mounted on the eccentric member and a variable arm extended from the variable ring, an output ring slidably mounted on the control shaft and an output arm extended from the output ring, wherein an output cam is integrally formed to the output arm and an end portion of the output cam is pivotally coupled to one end portion of the output arm, a first link pivotally connecting the follower arm and the variable arm, and a second link pivotally connecting the variable arm and the output arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Back Sik Kim, Ingee Suh, Dong Hee Han, Wootae Kim, Hyung Ick Kim, Myungsik Choi, Dae Sung Kim, Kyoung Pyo Ha
  • Patent number: 8042500
    Abstract: A valve train of an internal combustion engine is provided with a plurality of camshaft supports arranged on a support member of the engine, and a camshaft is supported on the camshaft supports. The camshaft has valve operating cams thereon for opening and closing engine valves of engine. A torque reducing mechanism is provided to apply a counter torque to the camshaft to suppress torque fluctuation of the camshaft caused by reaction forces applied to the cams by the engine valves. The torque reducing mechanism has a rotating member that rotates together with the camshaft, and a counterforce applying member for applying a counterforce to the rotating member to apply a counter torque to the camshaft. The counterforce applying member is supported on a connecting member connecting adjacent ones of the camshaft supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiko Tashiro
  • Patent number: 8042505
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising a valve drive which is arranged in the region of the cylinder head and is used to actuate a valve. Said internal combustion engine comprises a first drive means that can be rotated about a first rotational axis, a connecting rod that is connected to the first drive means in an articulated manner by means of a first connecting rod articulation, and a guiding element which is used to guide the connecting rod, can be pivoted about a guiding axis, and is connected to a second articulation of the connecting rod in an articulated manner. The position of the first rotational axis can be modified in relation to the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Inventor: Uwe Eisenbeis
  • Patent number: 8042508
    Abstract: A cylinder head of an internal combustion engine is fitted with rocker arms. Camshafts are disposed so that the rocker arms and cams will be brought into contact with each other. The camshafts are rotatably supported by lower bearings, which supports the camshafts from below, and by upper bearings integrated with a head cover. The head cover is provided with visual observation windows that make it possible to see valve system parts through the head cover. A visual observation window covers for covering the visual observation windows are fixed to the head cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsunori Kumagai, Tetsushi Suzuki, Takanori Sasaki, Shoichi Tateyama
  • Publication number: 20110253088
    Abstract: A structural unit for a gas exchange valve train of an internal combustion engine is provided. The structural unit includes a support element (8) having a joint head (7) and a valve lever (1) having a joint socket (6) which, together with the joint head, forms a joint for a pivotal mounting of the valve lever on the support element. The structural unit further includes an anti-loss device arranged on the joint, with the anti-loss device having one or more projections (11) extending from the opening of the joint socket while being directed toward the center of the joint socket, which projections retain the valve lever secure against loss on the support element through a positive-engagement behind a recess situated axially adjacent to the joint head. The invention further provides that the projections are configured in one piece with the joint socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthew Evans, Michael Kandolf
  • Patent number: 8037856
    Abstract: A rocker arm includes a pair of side wall portions formed so as to face each other, an engaging portion connecting the pair of side wall portions and adapted to engage with a rocking support member arranged in an engine, and a sliding portion connecting the pair of side wall portions and being adapted to be in slidable contact with a stem front end portion of an engine valve. The engaging portion includes a board surface portion connecting the pair of side wall portions and a protruding portion protruding from the board surface portion toward the rocking support member. In the protruding portion, a spherical concave portion adapted to engage with a spherical protruding portion of the rocking support member is formed as a depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: OTICS Corporation
    Inventors: Masahide Sakurai, Naoki Hiramatsu, Eiichi Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8033259
    Abstract: A rocker arm includes a roller brought into contact with a cam to be rotated and an arm body having a storage portion for the roller. The storage portion has an opening edge including a part receiving lubricant oil flowing along an upper surface of the arm body. The part is formed with a receiving opening edge jutting out so that both widthwise ends are located away from a circumferential surface of the roller and so that a widthwise central portion comes closer to the circumferential surface of the roller. The arm body has a lubricant guide path formed by recessing the upper surface thereof and guiding the lubricant oil into the storage portion. The lubricant guide path has a width that is gradually rendered larger as the lubricant guide path gets close to the widthwise central portion of the receiving opening edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Otics Corporation
    Inventor: Shizuo Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8033256
    Abstract: An engine having a variable valve mechanism arranged to switch a lift degree of a valve between a low speed state and a high speed state includes a cam carrier defined by a cam bearing portion, a rocker shaft support, and a hydraulic cylinder support. The cam bearing portion is provided on a line passing through the bore center of a cylinder in a plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the camshaft. The low speed rocker arm swings in response to the low speed cam of the camshaft. The high speed rocker arm swings in response to the high speed cam of the camshaft. The low speed rocker arm includes a through hole. A connecting pin is slidably inserted into the through hole and urged toward the hydraulic cylinder support. A hydraulic cylinder is provided in the hydraulic cylinder support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiko Takahashi, Kazuya Koike
  • Patent number: 8033262
    Abstract: A cylinder valve operating system for a variable displacement internal combustion engine having poppet valves includes a cam arm driven by a camshaft and a valve arm selectively driven by the cam arm. A valve arm positioner, which may be hydraulically cushioned, adjustably maintains the valve arm in contact with the valve stem when the valve arm is not being driven by the cam arm, in order that the valve arm will be accurately located for speedy and precise linkage of the cam arm to the valve arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Anthony Morelli, John W. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8033260
    Abstract: A valve lever assembly having a switchable valve actuating mechanism comprises a first follower surface for following a first cam, at least one second follower surface for following a second cam and a valve lever, which is supported on an engine-affixed component and on the to-be-actuated valve, wherein the second follower surface is rotatable relative to the first follower surface by a lockable eccentric device borne on the valve lever and the eccentric device comprises an eccentric opening, which penetrates transversely through the valve lever and is fixed relative to the valve lever to as to rotate therewith, and an eccentric shaft rotatably borne in the eccentric opening, the eccentric shaft defining the position of the second follower surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: META Motoren- und Energie- Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Reinecke-Murmann, Rüdiger Erz, Dirk Kirby
  • Patent number: 8033261
    Abstract: A valve actuation system in an internal combustion engine provides for, among other things, valve control in a single and dual camshaft “push rod” type engine without the use of a return spring mechanism. In one embodiment of the present invention, a single rocker link or “push rod” is operably connected to a bifurcated rocker valve for opening and closing a single valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventor: Warren H. Robbins
  • Patent number: 8028668
    Abstract: The present invention provides a variable valve lift including a housing, a plurality of swing arms that are rotatably arranged at the housing, and a plurality of latching mechanisms for selectively latching the plurality of swing arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Myungsik Choi
  • Patent number: 8025037
    Abstract: A valve gear comprises a cylinder head, a supporting member fixed to the cylinder head, a rocker arm which is mounted on the supporting member so as to be placed on the latter, a substantially plate-shaped clip mountable to the rocker arm, the clip having a fitting hole in which an outer periphery of the supporting member is fitted so that the clip is prevented from falling off, a pair of walls which is formed on the rocker arm so as to be opposed to each other with the supporting member being located therebetween, and a pair of locking portions formed in inner faces of the walls so that outer edges of the clip are elastically engaged with the locking portions thereby to be locked, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Otics Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Hiramatsu
  • Publication number: 20110226206
    Abstract: A rocker arm may include a first arm defining a first longitudinal bore and a second arm defining a second longitudinal bore. The rocker arm may house a locking assembly including a first lock pin located within the first longitudinal bore, an actuation pin extending through a radial passage in the rocker arm and engaged with the first lock pin, and a first biasing member engaged with the first lock pin and urging the first lock pin toward the actuation pin and biasing the actuation pin radially inward. An actuation assembly may be engaged with the actuation pin and linearly displaceable between first and second actuation positions. The first and second arms may be rotatable relative to one another when the actuation member is in the first actuation position and may be fixed for rotation with one another when the actuation member is in the second actuation position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: WILLIAM B. RILEY, ROBERT LIONEL JACQUES, ALAN EDGAR BOWLER, KEVIN M. LUCHANSKY
  • Publication number: 20110226207
    Abstract: A rocker arm may include a first arm defining a first longitudinal bore and a second arm defining a second longitudinal bore. The rocker arm may house a locking assembly including a first actuation pin extending through a first radial passage in the rocker arm, a second actuation pin extending through a second radial passage in the rocker arm, and a first lock pin located in the first longitudinal bore between the first and second actuation pins. An actuation assembly may be engaged with the first and second actuation pins and may be linearly displaceable between first and second actuation positions. The first and second arms may be rotatable relative to one another when the actuation assembly is in the first actuation position and may be fixed for rotation with one another when the actuation assembly is in the second actuation position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: WILLIAM B. RILEY, ROBERT LIONEL JACQUES, ALAN EDGAR BOWLER, KEVIN M. LUCHANSKY
  • Publication number: 20110220050
    Abstract: A switchable finger lever for a valve train of an internal combustion engine is provided, with the finger lever having an inner lever which cooperates at a valve-side end region with a gas exchange valve of the internal combustion engine and is connected at a support-side end region turned away from the valve-side end region pivotally to a support. Outer levers (1a, 1b) connected pivotally to the inner lever are arranged on both sides of the inner lever while being urged against the inner lever in a pivoting direction through a spring and being capable of being coupled to the inner lever through a coupling element. The outer levers (1a, 1b) are configured with an identical structure and each outer lever (1a, 1b) is configured symmetrically to the longitudinal lever axis (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Holger Patzold, Joachim Krause
  • Publication number: 20110220051
    Abstract: Disclosed is a push rod retainer for retaining an extremity of a push rod and a first end of a rocker arm in proximity of each other, comprising a base section accommodating at least a part of a junction space wherein the extremity of the push rod and a connection member of the rocker arm are joinable; and at least two resilient projections extending from the base section and at least partly in a direction towards each other, said resilient projections bounding a first entrance to the junction space. Also disclosed is a rocker arm having a connection member that is provided with a circumferential constriction configured for engagement by the resilient projections of the disclosed push rod retainer, and a method of retaining together a push rod and a rocker arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: PERKINS ENGINES COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: James D. Wotherspoon, Jamie P. Smith, Michael P. Ellero
  • Publication number: 20110214635
    Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine structure supporting a camshaft and a valve lift mechanism. The camshaft may include a cam lobe and may define a longitudinally extending rotational axis. The valve lift mechanism may define a longitudinally extending cam engagement surface and a first side wall. The cam engagement surface may be engaged with the cam lobe at a first location. The first side wall may be fixed to the cam engagement surface and may include first and second portions. The first portion may extend from the cam engagement surface. The second portion may extend continuously inward from an end of the first portion. The inward extent of the second portion may be greater than or equal to a first height at the first location defined from the cam engagement surface to the end of the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: HONG WAI NGUYEN
  • Patent number: 8011336
    Abstract: In a variable valve opening property internal combustion engine, a roller link (22) is provided with a cam roller (31) at a free end thereof which engages a cam (3) of a camshaft (4) and a pressure surface (47) of a spring device (41). The roller link is pivotally supported by a bearing portion of a control link (21) which can be adjusted in position by using an actuator (14). The roller link is additionally provided with a roller shaft (31) that engages a slipper surface of a rocker arm (6). The pressure surface of the spring device may be contoured or otherwise inclined so that the direction of action of the spring device on the cam roller can be directed in an optimum direction irrespective of the adjusted position of the pivot point of the roller link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihisa Takemoto, Mitsuru Sugimoto, Kiminori Komura, Takeo Kobayashi, Hirokazu Tochiki
  • Publication number: 20110209679
    Abstract: The disclosed structure achieves a desired balance between higher-rigidity and weight saving in a connection-type rocker arm which integrally rocks a plural of arm portions. The rocker arm has a plurality of arm portions integrally formed on a swinging base end side of the rocker arm which are forked and extend towards a swinging end of the rocker arm, a connecting portion which integrally connects each swinging end of the arm portions, and a concave thinning portion which overlaps a swinging trajectory of the connecting portion, when viewed in the axis direction of the pivot shaft of the rocker arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Kubo, Yuki Uzawa, Masahiro Nakashima
  • Patent number: 8006661
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has one or more engine cylinders (12) within which fuel is combusted and a pair of cylinder valves (14, 16) spring-biased (22, 24) closed but open in unison to place the respective cylinder in flow communication with one of an intake and an exhaust. A bridge (34) bridges ends of the pair external to the cylinder and has a spherically concave depression (42) in a face that is opposite a face that bears against the ends of the pair. The depression is located intermediate locations at which the ends of the pair bear against the bridge. A pivot foot (44) has a spherically convex surface (46) seated with substantial conformity in the depression and a flat surface (48) opposite the spherically convex surface. The flat surface of the pivot foot abuts a flat surface (50) of a rocker (30) that when rocked acts through the pivot foot and bridge to open the respective pair of valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Christofer J. Palumbo
  • Patent number: 8006658
    Abstract: A variable valve actuation apparatus of an internal combustion engine has a multinodular-link motion converter, to vary at least a working angle. A position of rotation of a control shaft, variably adjusting the attitude of the motion converter, is set, so that, at a peak lift during a valve opening period, an angle ?2 between an extension line of a line segment connecting a first fulcrum corresponding to a drive-eccentric-cam center and a second fulcrum provided on a rocker arm and a line segment connecting the second fulcrum and a third fulcrum provided on the rocker arm at a position different from the second fulcrum at a middle working-angle control mode is less than both an angle ?1 between the two line segments at a minimum working-angle control mode and an angle ?3 between the two line segments at a maximum working-angle control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Nakamura, Noriomi Hosaka, Mikihiro Kajiura, Yoshihiko Yamada, Seiji Tsuruta, Seinosuke Hara
  • Patent number: 8006659
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a variable valve mechanism that can avoid an unnecessary friction increase while preventing a hydraulic lash adjuster from pumping up. When a first engine speed is a critical rotation speed at which the inertia force of the variable valve mechanism exceeds the maximum load on a lost motion spring and a second engine speed is a critical rotation speed at which the inertia force of a valve and rocker arm exceeds the maximum load on a valve spring, the maximum loads are set such that the first engine speed is lower than the second engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Ezaki
  • Patent number: 8006662
    Abstract: An inner lever (1) for a switchable finger lever (2) of a valve train of an internal combustion engine is provided, having a box-like main part (5) with two lateral walls (6), which are connected at a first end (7) by a transverse bar (8), which intrinsically includes a driver surface (9) for a coupling slide that can be guided longitudinally by the outer lever (3), and opposite from the first end (7), the lateral walls (6) have two strongly crimped together, thin-walled arms (10), which each extend in the direction toward the second end (11) of the inner lever (1) to form a longitudinal bar (12). The arms contact each other with their inner sides (15), and between the lateral walls (6), a cam contact surface (16) can be provided. The inner lever (1) made from thin-walled steel sheet metal at least to a large extent using punch-bending techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bodo Rörig
  • Publication number: 20110197841
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided that includes, but is not limited to a securing device for installing a rocker arm on a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine, the securing element situated on the cylinder head and securing element securing the rocker arm during the installation of the rocker arm against slipping of the rocker arm off of a play adjuster and/or a valve shaft of a gas compensation valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Peter SEEGER
  • Patent number: 7992530
    Abstract: A continuous variable valve lift (CVVL) device opens and closes a valve by pressing a rocker arm through a rotational force transmitted from a drive cam. The CVVL device includes a drive arm, which is pivotably mounted such that one side thereof presses a rocker arm, a variable arm, which is pivotably mounted, and pushes and pivots the drive arm when pivoted, and a transmission arm, which is coupled with a transmission roller, which is located between the drive cam and the variable arm, at one end thereof, and is pivoted such that a position where the transmission roller comes into contact with both the drive cam and the variable arm is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Eun Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7980212
    Abstract: A variable valve lift apparatus may include a cam that is disposed to a camshaft and rotates, a rocker arm that is disposed to the camshaft and in which a relative rotation angle of the rocker arm around the camshaft is variable, a cam follower that contacts the cam, receives rotation of the cam, and pivots around the rocker arm, and a swing arm that contacts the cam follower and drives a valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Tae Hoon Roh
  • Patent number: 7980215
    Abstract: A variable valve system includes a transmission mechanism T which transmits a valve actuating force to an inlet valve 11 and which varies a maximum lift amount of the inlet valve 11 and biasing members 60. A sub-cam 40 oscillatably supported on a holder 30 driven by a control member 70 has a roller 43 contacting the inlet cam 15a, a drive cam portion 46 outputting the valve actuating force, and acting portions A contacting the biasing members 60. The acting portions A are provided in the vicinity of the roller 43 so that biased contact points 45a1, 45b1 are positioned nearer to a cam contact point 43a than an oscillation center line Ls and that an acting line L1 of a biasing force is superposed on the roller 43 as viewed in the direction of the oscillation center line Ls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiko Tashiro
  • Patent number: 7980213
    Abstract: The invention provides an internal combustion engine equipped with a variable valve control system which switches the actions of an engine valve by sliding a rocker arm in the axial direction of the rocker arm shaft, while enabling the restriction on the sliding movement of the rocker arm to be removed in accordance with the timings of the actions of the rocker arms irrespective of the engine speed. The internal combustion engine includes an actuator that moves a rocker arm shaft in its axial direction, a trigger arm that engages with a rocker arm to prohibit the sliding movement of the rocker arm, and a trigger pin which is configured to be activated by an axial movement of the rocker arm shaft to bring the trigger arm into action, and to disengage the trigger arm from the rocker arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Warashina, Yuki Uzawa, Yuichi Tawarada, Yoshihiro Takada, Katsuhiro Kubo
  • Patent number: 7975662
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is equipped with a variable valve controlling system, in which the single actuator is disposed in a cylinder head on one side where one ends of the rocker-arm shafts are disposed, while enabling the single actuator to activate the rocker arms irrespective of the arrangement of the rocker-arm shafts. In the internal combustion engine, a hydraulic cylinder of a hydraulic actuator is disposed so as to transverse a timing chamber. Operation elements extend respectively from sidewalls of a plunger in the hydraulic cylinder, and activate respective rocker-arm shafts. In a motorcycle on which the engine is mounted, a frame member of a vehicle frame is disposed outside the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakashima, Yoshihiro Takada, Yuichi Tawarada, Takuya Warashina
  • Patent number: 7975664
    Abstract: The valve drive has a cam follower (10) which is arranged between a cam (3) of a camshaft (4) and the gas exchange valve (5) and is mounted on a support element (8). Support element (8) is stationary in cylinder head (2), with a rigid installation height (feature YP), for the adjustment of the valve play (21) with respect to the cam (3) and/or the gas exchange valve (5). A module (6) which has the cam, follower (10) and the support element (8), defines total installation dimension of the module (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Frank Himsel, Wolfgang Christgen
  • Patent number: 7966982
    Abstract: A fixation structure for a valve system rotation shaft of an internal combustion engine to support a camshaft with a cylinder head through the use of a lower cam holder and cam caps, which are formed separately from the cylinder head. The fixation structure eliminates the necessity of taking special vibration/noise control measures for a head cover thus preventing an increase in the cost, size, and weight of the head cover. A head external wall extends toward the head cover rather than toward a head middle surface in such a manner so as to cover the circumference of the lower cam holder fixed to a head middle surface. The connection to the holder fixation section is established with the base end of an external wall of the head cover abutted on the leading end of the head external wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Tawarada, Toshio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7963260
    Abstract: A valve actuation device may comprise a camshaft including first and second cams, the second cam having a larger lobe than the first cam. A valve lever includes a first follower component or surface adapted to follow the first cam and a second follower component or surface adapted to follow the second cam. The second follower component or surface may be mounted on or defined by an eccentrically-disposed device, which is rotatable relative to the first follower component or surface. When the rotatability of the second follower component or surface is locked by a latching device, the second follower surface translates the contour of the second cam into actuation of an engine valve and, when the second follower component or surface is freely rotatable, the first follower surface translates the contour of the first cam into actuation of the engine valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Meta Motoren- und Energie-Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Kreuter, Rüdiger Erz
  • Patent number: 7963261
    Abstract: A drive valve for an internal combustion engine comprising a variable hub profile for a valve having a lever supported on a variable support point by means of a switchable support element which provides possibilities for influencing the hub profile and alternatively and cumulatively, the cam is axially displaced such that various cam paths are active on the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Stephan Möck, Arndt Ihlemann
  • Publication number: 20110139116
    Abstract: A rotary engine has a rotor that has rockers pivoting in chambers. As each rocker pivots, it rotates an outer crankshaft. Each outer crankshaft has a spur gear that engages a stationary ring gear. Spur gear rotation causes the gears and the outer crankshafts to revolve around the ring gear. This cause the rotor to rotate. As the rotor rotates, successive chambers are positioned at the intake, compression, ignition, and exhaust positions. Igniting the fuel in the ignition position pushes the rocker inward to rotate the outer crankshaft associated with that rocker to cause the rotor to rotate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventor: Steve Herbruck
  • Patent number: 7954468
    Abstract: A mechanical adjuster that automatically increases or decreases or decreases valve clearance is provided that includes: a housing (12) having threaded portions (24, 26); a threaded member (14) thread-coupled with the threaded portion (24); a threaded member (16) connected to the threaded member (14) via mutual rotation prevention-couplings (32, 38) and thread-coupled with the threaded portion (26). When a load acting on the threaded member (14) is equal to or less than a valve closing load, valve clearance is decreased by an integrated rotation of the threaded members (14, 16). with a slip torque of the threaded member (14)>a self-locking torque of the threaded member (16). When a load acting on the threaded member (14) is close to or exceeds a valve opening load, valve clearance is increased by an integral rotation of the threaded members (14, 16) with the absolute value of a slip torque of the threaded member (14)>a self-locking torque of the threaded member (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Nittan Valve Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michihiro Kameda, Akifumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7942123
    Abstract: A variable valve system has a drive shaft having a drive cam, a rockable cam opening/closing an engine valve, a transmission mechanism converting torque of the drive cam into a rocking motion and transmitting it to the rockable cam, a control shaft, and a control cam. When the variable valve system varies a valve lift amount of the engine valve by changing the rocking fulcrum of the transmission mechanism, the rocking fulcrum during a small valve lift control is set in an area outside an arc locus drawn with the drive shaft being a center of the arc and passing through a rocking fulcrum position positioned at a maximum valve lift and also inside an arc locus drawn with a pivot of the one end side of the transmission mechanism being a center of the arc and passing through the rocking fulcrum position positioned at the maximum valve lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seinosuke Hara, Makoto Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7942119
    Abstract: The present invention provides a variable valve mechanism that varies amounts of opening and closing of a valve includes a rotating cam, a rocker arm, two lash adjusters, a hydraulic passage, and a switching mechanism. The rocker arm includes an input member and an output member. The two lash adjusters support the rocker arm so that the rocker arm can rock. The hydraulic passage includes an internal oil passage that is provided in an interior of at least one of the lash adjusters, and an arm oil passage that is provided in an interior of the rocker arm and that is connected from the internal oil passage. The switching mechanism uses a hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic passage to perform a switching between a linked state and a released state, and the switching varies the amounts of the opening and the closing of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Otics Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Sugiura, Tomiyasu Hirano, Tamotsu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7938089
    Abstract: A valve actuating mechanism includes a first rocker arm moving mechanism including a first spring for urging left and right rocker arms from a first operation position side towards a second operation position side. The valve actuating mechanism also includes a second rocker arm moving mechanism including a second spring for urging the left and right rocker arms from the second operation position side towards the first operation position side. When a predetermined force is applied to the left and right rocker arms by one of the respective springs, the rocker arms are configured to be moved to operation positions corresponding to the applied force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7934476
    Abstract: A valve-actuating system for an engine, in which left and right rocker arms are moved in axial directions of a rocker arm shaft to one of a first operating position in which the rocker arms are allowed to abut on first cams, and a second operating position in which the rocker arms are allowed to abut on second cams. The rocker arm shaft is slidably supported by an engine frame so as to be movable in the axial directions thereof. During an engine operation, when the left and right rocker arms are about to be selectively moved to one of the operating positions, the rocker arm shaft is moved in advance to the same side of the selected one of the operating positions, and thereafter the left and right rocker arms are moved to the selected one of the operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Yamamoto, Takuya Warashina
  • Patent number: 7926456
    Abstract: A continuously variable valve lift system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an input cam, a drive shaft, a lifter including a contact portion and pivoting around the drive shaft in response to a rotation of the input cam, a valve unit, an output cam that contacts the contact portion, pivots around the drive shaft, and opens the valve unit, a return spring supplying restoring force to the output cam, and an adjusting unit adjusting a distance between the drive shaft and the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Dongheon Park
  • Patent number: 7926455
    Abstract: The finger follower has an inner and outer body and a torsional lost motion spring positioned at its lash adjuster end of the outer body. The torsional lost motion springs have a short leg that abuts the outer body and a long leg that contacts the inner body. The torsional spring is located above the pivot point of the finger follower so as to provide a low mass moment of inertia and to reduce the weight over the valve stem end of the follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Debora Manther, Yunshan Liu, Anna Strehlau, Richard Best, Xiaopo Ma
  • Patent number: 7926458
    Abstract: A lubricating device comprises a cam shaft, plural cam portions for each valve provided at the cylinder head, a valve driving mechanism to change a rotational movement of the cam portion to an opening-and-closing movement of the valve via a slide member on which a peripheral surface of the cam portion slides, an oil passage of the cam shaft, a nozzle provided at either one of the cam portions to open at the peripheral surface of the cam portion and connect to the oil passage of the cam shaft, and a wall body having a recess portion. The recess portion collects lubricating oil ejected out of the nozzle and guides the lubricating oil collected to the peripheral surface of the other cam portion when the one cam portion is located in a position in which the nozzle is not directed to the slide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Naito, Shigemi Okada, Jun Yamane
  • Patent number: 7926459
    Abstract: A device for actuating a valve of a valve assembly of an engine and for adjusting a stroke of the valve, may include a camshaft including a cam, a working curve member provided pivotably about the camshaft for actuating the valve, a lever holder which is provided pivotably about the camshaft, a lever, one end of which is spaced from the camshaft with a predetermined distance and pivotally coupled to the lever holder, and a connecting link pivotally connected to the lever and the working curve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Hahn, Ulrich Karrer