Rotation Prevention Patents (Class 123/90.42)
  • Patent number: 11078955
    Abstract: Provided is a tapered roller bearing (1, 1?, 21) which is to be used for a pilot portion and an idler portion of a synchronous mesh-type transmission in which a component corresponding to a bearing outer ring (3, 23) is formed of a gear (34, 43), wherein a ratio L/Dw of a roller length (L) of a tapered roller (4) serving as a rolling element to a roller diameter (Dw) is set to 1.7 or more, wherein a rolling surface (6) of the tapered roller (4) includes a straight portion (6a) in a center portion of the rolling surface (6) in an axial direction and crowning portions (6b, 6c) extending from the straight portion (6a) to both end portions, and wherein the crowning portions (6b, 6c) are each formed of logarithmic crowning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoki Matsushita
  • Patent number: 10436185
    Abstract: A fuel unit pump for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel unit pump body, a pumping plunger and a roller tappet for contacting a cam lobe of a rotatable shaft of the internal combustion engine. The roller tappet includes a roller tappet body connected to the pumping plunger, and a cam roller rotatably mounted on a cam roller carrier and defining a cam roller rotation axis. The cam roller carrier is coupled to the roller tappet body and is elastically deformable for aligning the cam roller with the cam lobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Antonino Conti
  • Patent number: 10280813
    Abstract: A roller-type rocker arm had a function for transmitting a rotational motion of a cam to an intake and exhaust valve. The roller-type rocker arm includes a roller shaft, an inner ring roller slidably attached to an outer circumference surface of the roller shaft, and an outer ring roller slidably attached to an outer circumference surface of the inner ring roller. The inner ring roller is made of a resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Riken
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Maehara
  • Patent number: 9638072
    Abstract: A tappet (1) for a reciprocating-piston combustion engine, which is situated within a tappet guide of a component fixedly attached to the engine, and having a bearing-mounted roller (8) guided on a pin (3), which roller is in active contact with a cam or an eccentric of a shaft of the reciprocating-piston combustion engine. The casing surface of the cam or eccentric is implemented axially parallel to the shaft and the roller (8) is guided so as to oscillate on the pin (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Sailer, Oliver Schnell
  • Patent number: 8776750
    Abstract: An assembly for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, which has a hydraulic support element and a cam follower resting on one end via a bearing surface located on the bottom side thereof on a complimentary end side of a pressure piston of the support element. The piston extends across the outer shell in a bore of a crucible-shaped housing of the support element. The housing has an opening for hydraulic fluid, which is conductible via a channel between the housing and piston through a passage in the pressure piston to a storage chamber. In a section of a direct contact region between the bearing surface of the cam follower and end side of the piston, an anti-turn mechanism for the piston in relation to the cam follower is implemented. The piston is installed in a defined manner and is torsionally oriented in relation to the cam follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Christgen, Frank Himsel, Junichi Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20130284137
    Abstract: A finger lever is provided for a valve train of an internal combustion engine. The finger lever comprises an inner lever, at least one arm pivotally coupled to the inner lever, and a coupling device operatively displaceable to control movement of the at least one arm relative to the inner lever. The coupling device includes a slide and a piston disposed in a longitudinal bore of the inner lever, the piston having an entraining slot in which at least part of the slide is received, and at least one biasing member arranged to bias the piston relative to the inner lever. The slide is constructed to be displaced in a coupled position or an uncoupled position. In the coupled position the slide is entrained by the at least one arm, and in the uncoupled position the slide is not entrained by the at least one arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventor: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
  • Patent number: 8567368
    Abstract: To achieve further reduction in size and weight of a cylinder head in a four-cycle engine having a connection surface formed on the cylinder head to connect a head cover set so as to follow along a plane that is inclined so as to be spaced further away from a cylinder block toward a first side wall. A camshaft holder is integrally formed on a cylinder head so as to protrude from a connection surface as viewed from an axial direction of a camshaft. An intake port is disposed in the first side wall such that an upstream end thereof is disposed at the same position as part of the bearing portion in a direction along an axis of a cylinder bore. An exhaust valve has a stem end disposed at a position protruding from the connection surface as viewed in a direction along the axial direction of a camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Tsubakino, Shinsuke Yasui, Isao Azumagakito
  • Patent number: 8534249
    Abstract: The rocker arm assembly has an anti-inversion part that prevents a support pin from inverting, ensuring proper orientation of the support pin, on which a rocker arm is rotatably mounted, is maintained. The anti-inversion part can be a washer, a plate, a plug, or a sleeve. The washer, which has a flat face and a curved face, is intended for use with a cylindrical support pin which matches the curved face of the washer. The plate can include various combinations of tabs, flanges, and/or protrusions that extend in different directions. The plug can resemble any desirable shape, and is removed prior to final assembly. The sleeve can be hollow and is removable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mark Sullivan, Jesse Myers, Richard Baker, William Carter
  • Patent number: 8430072
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling valve displacement of an internal combustion engine comprises a rocker arm having a first arm portion and a second arm portion, said rocker arm being pivotable about a pivot interposed between said first and second arm portions. The apparatus further comprises an actuation arrangement adapted to actuate said first arm portion of said rocker arm and a valve arrangement adapted to be actuated by said second arm portion of said rocker arm. A damper arrangement is pivotably connected to said first arm portion and adapted for damping movement of said rocker arm around said pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sascha Burkhard, Udo Schlemmer-Kelling, Jurgen Nagel
  • Publication number: 20120060782
    Abstract: A rocker arm assembly which has an anti-inversion part that prevents a support pin from inverting and, thus, ensuring proper orientation of the support pin, on which a rocker arm is rotatably mounted, is maintained. The anti-inversion part can be incorporated on the support pin, the inner sleeve or the outer sleeve and/or a combination of the support pin, the inner sleeve and/or the outer sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Mark SULLIVAN, Jesse MYERS, Richard BAKER, Lutz KIRBACH, Michael TURNER, James WESTBROOK, Benjamin McAULEY, William CARTER
  • Publication number: 20110048352
    Abstract: An improved deactivation hydraulic lash adjuster wherein the prior art lost motion spring or springs formerly located within the body of the DHLA and below the pin housing are either omitted completely or are reduced in length, spring force, and/or number and are augmented hydraulically, allowing a shorter, more compact lifter body and reduced overall lifter length. The prior art lost motion spring chamber becomes a hydraulic chamber connected to a new pressurized oil supply gallery containing an accumulator in the engine. An embodiment having no lost motion spring and solely hydraulic lost motion return can be even shorter than a spring-hydraulic hybrid because the potential hydraulic pressure to be brought against the pin housing is not a function of the length of the lost motion chamber, which length is limited only by the required displacement of the pin housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Nick J. Hendriksma
  • Publication number: 20100139590
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting deviation of an engine and a continuously variable valve lift device including the same are provided. The apparatus for adjusting deviation of an engine includes an adjustment member connecting a rocker arm to plural output cams, respectively, to adjust lengths between the rocker arm and the output cams, respectively, so that the lengths become equal to or different from each other. The continuously variable valve lift device includes an eccentric cam shaft with eccentric cams installed on its outer periphery, a rocker arm rotatably installed on the eccentric cams to interlock with plural output cams, and apparatus for adjusting deviation provided on the rocker arm to adjust lengths between the rocker arm and the output cams so that the lengths become equal to or different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jei Choon YANG, Young Hong Kwak, Ki Uk Shin, Jin Kook Kong, Soo Hyung Woo, Jin Soon Kim, Ki Young Kwon
  • Patent number: 7565890
    Abstract: A rail used as a torsional stop for the valve train of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The rail includes spaces (10) which are arranged in a row spaced apart at a distance from one another within the rail (8) and accommodate inserted valve lifters provided as roller tappets (9). Two parallel torsional stop areas (15) are configured on the outer surface of each roller tappet (9) in the form of planar flattened zones in order to secure the roller tappet (9) against rotation about the central longitudinal axis thereof. The torsional stop areas (15) rest against guide areas of the rail (8), which are located inside the associated accommodating space (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Hermann Keller, Roland Krapp
  • Patent number: 7146950
    Abstract: The invention proposes a connecting element (9) for retaining a lever-type cam follower (1), that serves to activate a gas exchange valve (5) of an internal combustion engine, inseparably on a support element (2) comprising a spherical end (7) on which the cam follower (1) is pivotally mounted through a concave depression (6). The connecting element (9) engages into an annular groove (8) under the spherical end (7). In a connecting element (9) of this type, a central portion (10) of the connecting element (9) bears against an underside (11) of the cam follower (1) oriented toward the support element (2) and forms, through two legs (12, 13) and a crossbar (14) connecting these legs (12, 13) to each other, a U-shaped recess (15) in longitudinal direction of the cam follower (1). This recess (15) engages around the groove (8) after the manner of a fork and orthogonally to a pivoting direction of the cam follower (1), substantially without lash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Stephan Moeck, Helmut Engelhardt
  • Patent number: 7028653
    Abstract: A roller rocker mounting mechanism for an internal combustion engine valve actuating mechanism includes a first rocker stand having a first locating boss and a second rocker stand having a second locating boss. An indexing link has a first portion separably attachable to the first locating boss and a second portion separably attachable to the second locating boss to connect the first rocker stand and the second rocker stand in a manner that prevents rotation of either rocker stand when the rocker stands are attached to the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventor: Daniel H. Jesel
  • Patent number: 6948466
    Abstract: The invention proposes a finger lever (1) of a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said finger lever (1) being switchable to different valve lifts for at least one gas exchange valve and comprising an outer lever (2) having two arms (3a, 3b) between which an inner lever (4) is arranged for pivoting relative to the outer lever (2), which outer and inner levers (2, 4) can be coupled to each other by a coupling means (15), the outer lever (2) comprising on one closed end (5), a support (5a) for a gas exchange valve and the finger lever (1) comprising on an opposite end (6), a complementary surface (7, 30) for a support element, the inner lever (4) having a fulcrum (10) in a region of the opposite end (6), and at least this inner lever (4) comprising a contact surface (11) for a cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Michael Haas, Martin Rauch, Bodo Rörig, Dieter Schmidt, Jens Artmann
  • Patent number: 6901894
    Abstract: A finger lever (1) of a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said finger lever (1) being switchable to different valve lifts for at least one gas exchange valve and comprising an outer lever (2) having two arms (3a, 3b) between which an inner lever (4) is arranged for pivoting relative to the outer lever (2), which outer and inner levers (2, 4) can be coupled to each other by a coupling means (15), the outer lever (2) comprising on one closed end (5), a support (5a) for a gas exchange valve and the finger lever (1) comprising on an opposite end (6), a complementary surface (7, 30) for a support element, the inner lever (4) having a fulcrum (10) in a region of the opposite end (6), and at least this inner lever (4) comprising a contact surface (11) for a cam whereby in the finger lever (1), the outer lever (2) has a substantially open fork-like configuration, the contact surface (11) for the cam on the inner lever (4) is configured as a rotatable roller (12) and the coupling means (15) comprises at le
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Michael Haas, Martin Rauch, Bodo Rörig, Dieter Schmidt, Jens Artmann
  • Patent number: 6851403
    Abstract: A valve drive having a rocker arm mounted on a cylinder head is provided. One end of the rocker arm is actuated by a push rod to actuate a valve stem of a poppet valve that engages the other end of the rocker arm, which is pivotably held between its ends on a support pin that extends into the cylinder head, with a spherical mounting being provided between the support pin and the rocker arm. Provided on that side of the rocker arm remote from the cylinder head is a bolt head for adjusting the bearing spacing between the rocker arm and the cylinder head for adjusting valve play. To prevent unintended adjustment of the bolt head, the latter cooperates with a rotation preventing element that has an arresting portion that engages the bolt head, and a support portion that conveys the adjustment moment away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co.
    Inventors: Bernhard DĂ¼rr, Bruhns Imke, JĂ¼rgen Häberlein, Harald Schliemann, Jörg Schlossarczyk, Manfred Rabis
  • Patent number: 6694936
    Abstract: A rocker arm (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine which is pivoted on a support pin (10) about its axis (9), whereby a push rod (7) contacts one end section (5), and the valve shaft (8) of a gas exchange valve contacts the other end section (6). The mounting of the rocker arm (1) on the support pin (10) takes place through two radial roller bearings (16) spaced at a distance from each other, whereby in a manner in accordance with the invention, an additional axial roller bearing (17, 18) is incorporated into the rocker arm bearing arrangement to prevent sliding friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventor: John Stallmann
  • Patent number: 6644254
    Abstract: A valve train for an internal combustion engine includes a rocker shaft (9) provided with an oil passage, first and second rocker arms (7, 8) having support parts (7a, 8a) provided with bores (7b, 8b) to receive the rocker shaft (9) therein so as to be supported on the rocker shaft (9) for rocking motion, and a rocker arm interlocking mechanism (10) for selectively engaging or disengaging the first and the second rocker arms (7, 8). The first rocker arm (7) is provided with a pressure chamber (33) holding a piston (30) therein, a straight connecting passage 34 connected to the pressure chamber (33) and an oil passage (35)formed in the rocker shaft (9). An open end surface (7b1) of the bore (7b) of a first support wall (7e) of the rocker arm (7) is on an axially outer side of the pressure chamber (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeya Harada, Toshiki Kobayashi, Noriyuki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20030177988
    Abstract: In a valve drive for an internal combustion engine, an elongated securing device or anti-rotation bridge referred to as a mounting aid has receptacle spaces, arranged at intervals one behind the other, for receiving respective valve tappets. Each valve tappet can be displaced longitudinally in its receptacle space. The tappet is secured against rotation by two parallel planar keying faces formed on its outer surface which bear against corresponding inner surfaces in a receptacle space of the mounting aid. The mounting aid has receptacle spaces with a relatively small interval dimension between the two inner surfaces for bearing against the keying faces of standard roller tappets and has receptacle spaces with a relatively large interval dimension between the two inner surfaces for bearing against the keying faces of switchable roller tappets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Michael Haas, Henning Karbstein
  • Patent number: 6550438
    Abstract: A valve drive mechanism is provided that has a rocker arm that by means of a swivel joint is movable about a pivot axis that extends transverse to the rocker arm. A control unit serves to actuate one end of the rocker arm, the other end of which actuates a poppet valve. A guide element, which is disposed between the end of the valve stem of the poppet valve and the other end of the rocker arm, serves to secure the position of the other end of the rocker arm relative to the valve stem end. The guide element is separate from the rocker arm and valve stem, and the other end of the rocker arm comes to rest between abutment surfaces of the guide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co.
    Inventor: Manfred Rabis
  • Patent number: 6543402
    Abstract: A retainer clip includes a U-shaped body, first and second legs, and a resilient segment interconnecting first ends of the legs. The legs are adapted to resiliently engage opposite sides of a wall of a rockable actuator member. A second end of the first leg includes a guide recess having a clip edge. A second end of the second leg includes a gripping recess and opposing resilient edges adapted to frictionally grip opposite sides of a cylindrical member engaged with a socket in a second side of the wall. The resilient edges frictionally grip the cylindrical member at points on an axis intersecting and normal to the axial center line of the cylindrical member. The retainer clip is adapted to frictionally retain the cylindrical member in the socket to thereby form a subassembly for installation in a valve train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John J. Burns
  • Patent number: 6523514
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a rocker arm having such a shape as to avoid generation of defects in a producing process and to avoid increase in weight and design change of a finished shape. A valve fitting portion 11 of a body 5 is formed by wall-thickening one connecting wall 9 and recessing the connecting wall 9 upward. In the wall thickening, a periphery of the connecting wall 9 is pressurized and compressed from end face sides. As a result, defects such as cracking and sinking that occur in forcible guided-bending can be prevented and reduction of rigidity generated in compressing areas of the metal plate to be formed with side walls in wall thickness directions to reduce thickness of the areas as described in the description of the prior art can be avoided. Therefore, it is unnecessary to use a thick metal plate unlike in the prior art and to change design of the finished shape of the rocker arm body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobutsuna Motohashi
  • Patent number: 6508215
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okubo, Shoichi Abe, Satoshi Kadokawa, Hiroshi Iwasa
  • Patent number: 6502536
    Abstract: A two-step roller finger follower includes an elongate body having a first side member and a second side member. A first end and a second end interconnect the first and second side members. The first and second side member define first and second pin orifices, respectively. A center roller is disposed between the first and second side members. The center roller defines a shaft orifice therethrough. A shaft extends through the shaft orifice. A first shaft end is disposed proximate the first side member, and the second shaft end is disposed proximate the second side member. The second shaft end defines a shaft bore therein. The first shaft end defines a pin chamber therein. The shaft bore being is substantially concentric with and intersects the pin chamber. A locking pin assembly is disposed partially within the shaft bore, the pin chamber and at least one of the pin orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jongmin Lee, Hermes A. Fernandez, Wayne S. Harris, Ryan D. Fogarty
  • Patent number: 6484682
    Abstract: There is provided a rocker arm assembly for mounting on a carrier in an internal combustion engine that can be pre-assembled and installed on the rocker carrier decreasing manufacturing time and cost. The rocker arm assembly comprises a rocker arm, a fulcrum plate, a retaining clip, and a pivot ball that in cooperation with the retaining clip cooperatively connects the fulcrum plate and the rocker arm such that the pivot ball provides a pivot point for the rocker arm to pivot and thereby actuate at least one valve or valve bridge. The rocker arm further comprises a push rod cup, an aperture, pivot ball cup, and a pivot foot. The fulcrum plate can be a dual fulcrum plate, which holds two rocker arms, or an end fulcrum plate, which holds one rocker arm. The rocker arms can be either intake or exhaust rocker arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Paymon Danesh, Martin R. Zielke
  • Patent number: 6481400
    Abstract: A valve deactivation assembly includes an elongate camshaft having at least one lift lobe. The lift lobe has a lift portion and a base circle portion, and is affixed to or integral with the camshaft. A first null lobe is disposed on a first side of the lift lobe, and is affixed to or integral with the camshaft. A second null lobe is disposed on a second side of the lift lobe, and is affixed to or integral with the camshaft. A first journal bearing is disposed on the first null lobe, and a second journal bearing is disposed on the second null lobe. The journal bearings are configured for engaging a body of a deactivation roller finger follower to thereby reduce friction and wear of the roller finger follower body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick J. Hendriksma, Randal L. Bogucki
  • Patent number: 6478001
    Abstract: A cam follower having a clamp disposed on at least one end thereof. The follower includes two opposing sidewalls interconnected by a lower pallet. A roller is rotatably mounted to and disposed between the sidewalls via needled or journal bearings or other rotatable connection known in the art. A clamp is disposed about an end of the follower to induce compression force in the pallet and possibly act as the valve guide walls. The clamp increases the stiffness of the follower and induces compressive stress in the pallet area thereby increasing fatigue life. The clamp could also increase the length of the valve guide walls for better stability during engine assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignees: Delph Technologies, Inc., Okay Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John Joseph Burns, Cynthia Ann Greene, Shawn H. Russell
  • Patent number: 6470842
    Abstract: A lever-type cam follower (1) of a thin-walled material like sheet metal is proposed. It has a simply structured valve stem guidance in the region of one of its ends (5). The guidance comprises a separate securing element (6) with a basically U-shaped cross-section. A web (9) of the securing element (6) bears against a crossbeam (3) of the cam follower (1) and possesses an opening (11), for example punched, for receiving a valve stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler oHG
    Inventor: Walter Speil
  • Patent number: 6467444
    Abstract: A valve operating system in an internal combustion engine includes an associative-operation switchover means capable of switching over the associative operation of a pair of rocker arms disposed adjacent each other and the releasing of the associative-operation. The associative-operation switchover means is provided between a plurality of rocker arms including the rocker arms disposed adjacent each other. In such valve operating system, through-bores are coaxially provided in support walls of the rocker arm, and opposite ends of a roller shaft are fitted and fixed in the through-bores. A spring-receiving member is mounted to the roller shaft for receiving a return spring. Thus, when the roller shaft with the return spring of the associative-operation switchover means accommodated therein is mounted to the rocker arm, it is possible to facilitate the processing and to reduce the size and weight of the rocker arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chikara Tanaka, Noriyuki Yamada, Junichi Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 6463899
    Abstract: In a valve operating system in an internal combustion engine, a swinging support section provided at a base end of a rocker arm is swingably carried on a rocker shaft mounted in a cylinder head. A plurality of valve abutments are provided at a tip end of the rocker arm and capable of being individually put into abutment against upper ends of a plurality of engine valves, and a cam abutment is provided on the rocker arm in an intermediate portion between the swinging support section and each of the valve abutments to come into contact with a valve operating cam. The swinging support section comprises a thinner cylindrical portion surrounding the rocker shaft, and thicker cylindrical portions which are formed at a thickness larger than that of the thinner cylindrical portion into a cylindrical shape to surround the rocker shaft and which are integrally and continuously provided at axially opposite ends of the thinner cylindrical portion, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chikara Tanaka, Noriyuki Yamada, Hiromu Nakamura, Junichi Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 6460498
    Abstract: It is aimed to prolong the life of a rocker arm in which rollers are housed in a full type form between a ring and a pin from a viewpoint completely different from the idea of improving the material. It is proposed to suitably control the relation between clearances in circumferential and radial directions for the rollers housed in a roller housing space formed between the outer peripheral surface of the pin and the inner peripheral surface of the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Harimoto, Yoshiyasu Nakano, Nobuhiro Kasahara
  • Patent number: 6453861
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, a pair of suction ports are formed on left and right sides of the rear of the cylinder head with respect to the vehicle body. A pair of exhaust ports is formed on left and right sides on the front side of the cylinder head. Suction poppet valves and exhaust poppet valves for opening and closing the suction ports and the exhaust ports are slidably fitted in guide tubes, respectively. In addition, a valve gear includes a camshaft and a rocker arm pivotally supported on a rocker arm shaft. The rocker arm is formed with a bifurcated end, which crosses an ignition plug on the exhaust poppet valve side. The suction poppet valves are directly driven to open and close by the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akifumi Nomura, Yasuo Shimura, Kazuhisa Takemoto, Akira Tokito
  • Patent number: 6439179
    Abstract: A roller finger follower includes an elongate body having a first side member and a second side member. A bracket having first and second sides is associated with the body. The first side of the bracket is disposed adjacent an inside surface of the first side member of the body. The second side of the bracket is disposed adjacent an inside surface of the second side member of the body. A roller is disposed between the first and second sides of the bracket. The roller defines a shaft orifice therethrough. An elongate hollow shaft extends through the shaft orifice and couples the roller to the bracket. A locking pin assembly is disposed at least partially within the hollow shaft. The locking pin assembly has a first position wherein the shaft is decoupled from the body and a second position wherein the shaft is coupled to the body. The locking pin assembly is switchable between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick J. Hendriksma, Jongmin Lee
  • Patent number: 6431135
    Abstract: In a valve operating system in an internal combustion engine, a swinging support section provided at a base end of a rocker arm is swingably carried on a rocker shaft, and tappet screws are threadedly fitted in a plurality of boss portions formed at a tip end of the rocker arm and arranged in a direction parallel to an axis of the rocker shaft, so that they can be individually put into abutment against upper ends of a plurality of engine valves. Cam abutments are provided on the rocker arm in an intermediate portion between the swinging support section and the boss portions to come into contact with a valve operating cam. The boss portions are interconnected by a connection wall having a plurality of wall portions which intersect each other in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the rocker shaft. Thus, the rigidity of the tip end of the rocker arm is enhanced sufficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chikara Tanaka, Noriyuki Yamada, Junichi Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 6418898
    Abstract: In a valve operating system in an internal combustion engine, a rocker arm has a plurality of valve abutments provided thereon and capable of being individually put into abutment against upper ends of a plurality of engine valves cam abutments, and also has cam abutments provided thereon to come into contact with a valve operating cam. Wall-removed portions are formed in the rocker arm at locations corresponding to the cam abutments and open at opposite sides of the rocker arm. Thus, it is possible to provide a reduction in weight of the rocker arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki
    Inventors: Chikara Tanaka, Hiromu Nakamura, Noriyuki Yamada, Junichi Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 6412460
    Abstract: A valve operating system in an internal combustion engine includes a cam shaft provided with a valve operating cam, a rocker arm having a pair of support wall portions which are integrally connected at their base ends to a swinging support portion swingably supported on a support member mounted on a cylinder head and which are opposed to each other at a distance in a direction along the swinging axis of the swinging support portion, a support shaft supported between the support wall portions, and a roller which is rotatably supported on the support shaft with a bearing interposed therebetween so as to be in rolling contact with the valve operating cam. A lower connecting wall interconnecting lower portions of the base ends of the support wall portions is projectingly provided on the swinging support portion in a manner opposed to an outer peripheral surface of a lower portion of the roller. Thus, it is possible to increase the rigidity of the rocker arm, while avoiding an increase in size of the rocker arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Sato, Toshihiro Oikawa, Toshihiro Kamiyama, Mamoru Kosuge, Yutaka Otobe
  • Publication number: 20020062805
    Abstract: A valve drive having a rocker arm mounted on a cylinder head is provided. One end of the rocker arm is actuated by a push rod to actuate a valve stem of a poppet valve that engages the other end of the rocker arm, which is pivotably held between its ends on a support pin that extends into the cylinder head, with a spherical mounting being provided between the support pin and the rocker arm. Provided on that side of the rocker arm remote from the cylinder head is a bolt head for adjusting the bearing spacing between the rocker arm and the cylinder head for adjusting valve play. To prevent unintended adjustment of the bolt head, the latter cooperates with a rotation preventing element that has an arresting portion that engages the bolt head, and a support portion that conveys the adjustment moment away.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Bernhard Durr, Bruhns Imke, Jurgen Haberlein, Harald Schliemann, Jorg Schlossarczyk, Manfred Rabis
  • Patent number: 6352062
    Abstract: Internal combustion engine valve roller rocker arm system designed to manipulate horsepower output of an equipped engine. Each roller rocker arm system is formed of two arm members pivotally mounted to a common shaft and are joined together by a pin through roller bearings. As a conventional camshaft rotates, it contacts the roller bearing causing a conventional valve to attain an open valve position through the arm assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Inventor: Horacio O. Ferrea
  • Patent number: 6347607
    Abstract: One of adjacent rocker arms in a valve operating system of an engine is provided with first and second support walls. A roller is disposed between the first and second support walls to come into rolling contact with cams. A cylindrical roller shaft, supporting the roller, is provided between the first and second support walls, so that a switchover pin of an associative-operation switchover means can be slidably fitted into the roller shaft in response to the movement thereof. The roller shaft is press-fitted into at least a second one of the first and second support walls, and a press-fit margin for the roller shaft press-fitted into the second support wall on the side of the other rocker arm is set smaller than a press-fit margin for the roller shaft press-fitted into the second support wall on the side of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chikara Tanaka, Hiromu Nakamura, Noriyuki Yamada, Junichi Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 6347606
    Abstract: A valve operating system in an internal combustion engine includes a switchover pin which is movable between an associatively operating position where adjacent ones of rocker arms are operated in association with each other, and an associative-operation releasing position where the associative-operation is released, the switchover pin receiving at axially opposite ends thereof a hydraulic pressure force acting toward the associatively operating position and a spring force acting toward the associative-operation releasing position, a cylindrical roller shaft which is fixed to one of the adjacent rocker arms, and into which the switchover pin is slidably fitted in response to the movement thereof toward the associatively operating position, and a roller rotatably carried on the roller shaft to come into rolling contact with a cam provided on a camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chikara Tanaka, Hiromu Nakamura, Noriyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 6345597
    Abstract: A non-rotatable valve lifter mechanism for use in an internal combustion engine includes a rotatable cam shaft having at least one confinement member disposed on the cam shaft adjacent to its cam lobe. The valve lifter includes a follower and includes at least one abutment member in surface to surface contact with the confinement member to prevent rotation of the valve lifter. Preferably confinement and abutment members are on each side of the cam lobe and roller follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Inventor: John D. Keeler
  • Patent number: 6334416
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okubo, Shoichi Abe, Satoshi Kadokawa, Hiroshi Iwasa
  • Patent number: 6325030
    Abstract: A roller finger follower includes an elongate body having a first side and a second side. A first end and a second end interconnect and space apart the first and second sides. The first and second sides define a first and second pin orifice, respectively. A roller is disposed between the first and second sides intermediate the first and second ends of the body. The roller defines a shaft orifice therethrough. An elongate shaft extends transversely through the shaft orifice and has a first shaft end and a second shaft end. The first shaft end is disposed proximate the first side and the second shaft end is disposed proximate the second side. The first shaft end defines a pin chamber therein, the second shaft end defines a shaft bore therein. The shaft bore is concentric with and intersects the pin chamber. A locking pin assembly is disposed within each of the shaft bore, the pin chamber, and at least one of the pin orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark James Spath, Hermes A. Fernandez, Nick John Hendriksma
  • Patent number: 6321705
    Abstract: A deactivation roller finger follower for use with an internal combustion engine includes an elongate body. The body has a valve pallet end and a socket. The pallet end is configured for engaging a valve stem of the internal combustion engine. The socket is configured for engaging a hydraulic lash adjuster of the internal combustion engine. The body defines a roller aperture. A roller is disposed within the roller aperture. The roller is configured for engaging a cam lobe of the internal combustion engine. The roller defines a shaft orifice therethrough. An elongate shaft extends transversely through the shaft orifice. In a default operating position, the shaft is coupled to the body to thereby transfer rotary motion of the cam to pivotal movement of the body about the hydraulic lash adjuster. The shaft is selectively decoupled from the body such that the rotary motion of the cam is not transferred to pivotal movement of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hermes A. Fernandez, Jongmin Lee, Mark James Spath, Nick John Hendriksma
  • Patent number: 6318317
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for interrupting the power flow between at least one valve and at least one cam of a camshaft, especially in a valve mechanism of a reciprocating internal combustion engine. The device comprises a first actuating lever cooperating with the at least one valve, a second actuating lever that is pivotally mounted in relation to the first actuating lever cooperating with the at least one cam of the camshaft and a coupling element arranged in such a way that it can rotate about an axis parallel to the swiveling axis of the second actuating lever. The coupling element couples both actuating levers in a first swiveling position and decouples both actuating levers in a second swiveling position. In order to reduce overall dimensions, the first actuating lever is mounted on fixed compensation elements and carries the swiveling axis for locating the second actuating lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Peter Hubschle
  • Patent number: 6311660
    Abstract: In a case where crowning is provided on a contact surface of a tappet roller by the combination of, for example, two circular arcs, a logarithmic crowning is determined in which an edge load does not occur in the bearing pressure even if its inclination with respect to the cam is {fraction (5/1,000)} or thereabouts, and a crowning profile is set between two logarithmic crownings. In addition, the crowning profile is defined so as to be present between the logarithmic crownings in a case where the axial position x with the center in the direction of a bus set as an origin is at a position 0.85-fold and at a position 1.0-fold the half Le of the effective contact length, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Juntaro Sahara, Shinichi Natsumeda
  • Patent number: 6302075
    Abstract: A roller finger follower (RFF) wherein the shaft of the roller bearing is restrained in the follower finger by the overhead cam. Ends of the shaft are positioned in place in the follower finger by notches formed in the side walls of the follower finger. The notches restrain the shaft from axial movement. The cam in position over the RFF keeps the shaft nested in the notches. Further restraining means are disclosed to keep the shaft loosely nested in the notches in the follower finger before the cam is installed in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Joseph Krieg, John Joseph Burns, Nick John Hendriksma
  • Patent number: 6283077
    Abstract: An rocker arm is tilted by a cam so as to open and close a valve provided on a cylinder head. This arm comprises a pair of opposing wall portions which are made by folding a flat plate so that they oppose substantially in parallel and cylindrical expanding portions which are formed at tilting fulcrum shaft mounting portions located in a center of the opposing wall portions in the length direction thereof, the expanding portions being expanded in the direction of the tilting fulcrum shaft. The cylindrical expanding portions which are thicker than the opposing wall portions receive a load accompanied by the tilting motion so as to decrease bearing stress applied to the opposing wall portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Kotani, Kazuo Uchida