Individually Fulcrumed Patents (Class 123/90.41)
  • Patent number: 6276138
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder Otto cycle internal combustion direct compound engine for motor vehicles with an exhaust-gas turbocharger providing direct turbo compounding upon the engine control module receiving a speed signal indicating that the vehicle is traveling in a predetermined cruise-speed mode. Upon receipt of the signal the module turns-off each fuel injector feeding a second group of the cylinders, while maintaining fuel injection to a first group of cylinders and fully opening the electronic intake-air induction throttle. As a result the unfired second group of cylinder pistons are driven solely by compressed inlet-air pressure during the time the vehicle travels at or above a predetermined light-load cruising-speed, while positive pumping work occurs in all the cylinders. The engine thus conserves fuel during light load cruising speed while maintaining low pollutant emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Damien Welch
  • Patent number: 6273044
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a valve actuating lever having a non-cut formed oblong base body which is configured essentially symmetrical to a longitudinal symmetry plane extending essentially longitudinally therefrom, a valve contact area arranged on a first end of said base body, two tabs arranged on both sides of said longitudinal symmetry plane in said valve contact area, each respectively having a lateral surface aligned facing said longitudinal symmetry plane, whereby said tabs are formed on said base body and bent over toward said valve contact area. Said tabs are arranged spaced at a clearance distance at an end edge of said oblong base body, said clearance distance being less than the clearance of said lateral surfaces in the valve contact area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, INA Walzlager Schaeffler oHG
    Inventors: Helmut Engelhardt, Wolfgang Mayer, Johannes Meyer
  • Patent number: 6273043
    Abstract: A plate for mounting a rocker arm assembly on an internal combustion engine having hemispherical combustion chambers is disclosed. The plate has a lower surface which mounts to the head of the engine. First and second surface portions are arranged in parallel, spaced apart relation opposite the lower surface. The first and second surface portions provide mounting surfaces for individual rocker arm stands on which the rocker arms are rotatably mounted. The stands are oriented to extend at an angle to the plane of the plate by angularly orienting the first and second surface portions. Mounting the rocker arms in this manner allows them to engage the push rods and valve stems at respective points of contact which remain over the centerlines of the push rods and valve stems and push true along the line of motion of these components. This arrangement eliminates side loads on the push rods and valve stems and results in increased engine performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: Raymond A. Barton
  • Patent number: 6253721
    Abstract: A cam follower (1) is proposed, which is made from a sheet metal material, and has a profile that is U-shaped in cross-section. In the area of its one end (6), its side walls (2) taper conically. At the same time, straps (7) for guiding a shaft end of a gas exchange valve are provided on an underside (5) of the cam follower (1) as an extension of the side walls (2) and are bent by 180° to fit on the underside (5) in the area of the end (6). A cam follower (1) of this type is made in a simple way, has an excellent guide possibility for the shaft end of the gas exchange valve, and has a smaller mass with a smaller mass moment of inertia than cam followers that have been used until now.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: INA Walzlager Schaeffler oHG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mayer, Helmut Engelhardt, Walter Speil
  • Patent number: 6237554
    Abstract: A novel internal combustion engine head assembly is disclosed wherein the rocker arms for the intake and exhaust valves each have a portion that pivots about a common axis, and wherein these portions are concentric to one another. Thus, a very compact combustion head assembly is provided. In particular, the present invention is useful in Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: John Michael Garrison
  • Patent number: 6227156
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rocker arm (1) of a valve train of an internal combustion engine. This rocker arm (1) comprises two longitudinally extending side walls (2, 3) which enclose an intermediate space (16) while being connected to each other by a crossbeam (4) to form a U-shaped cross-section. According to the invention, a separate channel (24) for the transport of lubricant is created on a top surface (22) of the crossbeam (4). This channel (24) starts from an abutment (9) for an end of a push rod on the undersurface (8) of the crossbeam (4) and leads to a support (12) for an end of a gas exchange valve in the region of a second end (11) of the crossbeam (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler oHG
    Inventors: Jennifer Autrey, Dale Frank, Bernd Abel, Horst Döppling
  • Publication number: 20010000572
    Abstract: A sheet metal rocker arm manufactured by the steps of punching one metal plate to form a blank having a predetermined contour and through holes, and subjecting this blank to a bending work based on a press work to form a pair of side walls parallel to each other and a connecting portion for connecting the both ends of the side walls in the width direction thereof. This rocker arm is also provided with at least a pair of though holes formed at positions which are aligned with each other on the both side walls and at least one engagement portion provided in a part of the connecting portion. The thickness of at least one engagement portion, is formed to be greater than the thickness of the both side walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Publication date: May 3, 2001
    Applicant: NSK Ltd
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okubo, Shoichi Abe, Satoshi Kadokawa, Hiroshi Iwasa
  • Patent number: 6220213
    Abstract: A rocker arm (6) that can be uncoupled from the cam lift, the axle (11) of this rocker arm (6) is guided for longitudinal movement in a slot (12) of a pedestal (13), and the rocker arm (6) can be coupled to the pedestal (13) by locking elements (20, 21, 22) or it can be uncoupled from the pedestal (13) by these locking elements (20, 21, 22) for achieving a zero lift of an associated gas exchange valve (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: INA Walzlager Schaeffler oHG
    Inventors: Michael Haas, Dieter Schmidt, Walter Speil
  • Patent number: 6199527
    Abstract: A sheet metal rocker arm manufactured by the steps of punching one metal plate to form a blank having a predetermined contour and through holes, and subjecting this blank to a bending work based on a press work to form a pair of side walls parallel to each other and a connecting portion for connecting the both ends of the side walls in the width direction thereof. This rocker arm is also provided with at least a pair of through holes formed at positions which are aligned with each other on the both side walls and at least one engagement portion provided in a part of the connecting portion. The thickness of at least one engagement portion, is formed to be greater than the thickness of the both side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okubo, Shoichi Abe, Satoshi Kadokawa, Hiroshi Iwasa
  • Patent number: 6178936
    Abstract: To simplify the assembling process to mount a valve operating mechanism on a cylinder head, one intake valve and one exhaust valve are mounted on the cylinder head symmetrically with respect to the axis of a cylinder shaft. A rocker arm supporting base which supports rocker arms is fixed to the top of the cylinder head. Rocker arm shafts are supported by the base. The central portions of the rocker arms engage with the rocker arm shafts in such a way that the arms are free to swing. Push rods and the intake and exhaust valves are engaged with the ends of the arms. The valve operating mechanism is enclosed in a head cover which is fixed to the top surface of the cylinder head. This engine is distinguished by having the mounting surface for the rocker arm supporting base, on which the rocker shafts are mounted, and the surface on which the head cover sits be virtually coplanar. This makes it possible to machine the two surfaces at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Kouchi, Kazuyuki Kobayashi, Shogo Nakamura, Isao Katayama, Shigeichi Okada
  • Patent number: 6178937
    Abstract: A fixture for positioning internal combustion engine rocker arm pedestals prior to bolting the pedestals to the engine. The fixture is a molded synthetic plastic body having recesses for receiving the rocker arm pedestals and fingers within the recesses maintain the pedestals therein. The fixture also includes positioning surfaces cooperating with engine components to assure proper positioning of the pedestals, and the fixture remains in the engine eliminating the necessity for removing the same after the pedestals are bolted in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: TMJ Properties, L.L.C.
    Inventors: William D. Solomon, Erin C. Lickfelt, Mark A. Herioux
  • Patent number: 6170449
    Abstract: A multi-valve internal combustion engine having a plurality of valves having skewed axes that are operated by cam lobes of a single cam shaft. The cam shaft operates the valves through rocker arms each of which are pivoted independently about axes that are skewed relative to the cam shaft axis so as to minimize bending stresses on the valve during its actuation. This also avoids scuffing between the rocker and the valve stem. At the same time, good contact is maintained between the cam lobe and the follower surface by machining the cam lobe so that it will have a slight concavity at least in its tip portion so as to ensure constant line contact with the follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Saiki, Naoki Tsuchida, Mitsuo Tsuchiya