Cam Engaged Patents (Class 123/90.44)
  • Patent number: 7444966
    Abstract: An engine valve operating system is provided that includes a variable valve lift mechanism in which, when there is a possibility that the rotational speed of the engine might increase beyond an allowed rotational speed due to a downshift error in a manual transmission, etc., the amount of valve lift is decreased without changing the opening angle of the valve (19). By so doing, the curvature at the top of the curve of lift of the valve (19) is reduced, the inertial force applied to the valve (19) is reduced, and improper movement of the valve (19) can be prevented. Moreover, it is possible to prevent any increase in the intake air volume due to a decrease in the amount of lift of the valve (19), and prevent the effectiveness of engine braking from being degraded, thus enabling the rotational speed of the engine to be decreased and thereby preventing improper movement of the valve (19) from being promoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Akiyuki Yonekawa, Katsunori Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7441521
    Abstract: A first arm member and a second arm member are provided. The first arm member is positioned between a cam and a valve body to oscillate in synchronism with the rotation of the cam. The second arm member changes the angle of the first arm member in accordance with the rotation angle of a control shaft. The temperature prevailing in the neighborhood of the control shaft and cam is detected. The rotation angle of the control shaft is corrected so as to avoid the influence of the detected temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Asada, Shuichi Ezaki, Manabu Tateno
  • Patent number: 7441523
    Abstract: A variable valve device for an internal combustion engine includes an internal combustion engine body having a plurality of cylinders, a variable valve mechanism which is provided in the body and is switchable between at least two modes with oil pressure, a mode switching oil control valve which switches the variable valve mechanism to each mode, and a camshaft-driven mode switching oil pump which supplies an oil pressure for switching driving to the variable valve mechanism according to the switching of the mode switching oil control valve. The mode switching oil control valve is, along with the mode switching oil pump, provided in an outer wall surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Kido, Shinichi Murata, Masaru Mori, Kenta Kotsuji
  • Patent number: 7438032
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising an inlet tract, leading to the inlet to a cylinder where a gas inlet valve is arranged. A valve drive for the gas inlet valve is provided, by means of which the valve stroke of the gas inlet may be adjusted using an actuator element, which permits differing cams to operate the gas inlet valve. An inductive actuator drive is arranged on the actuator element in which a voltage is induced during a switching process. A first unit is embodied for recognition of whether a switching of the valve stroke has occurred by means of the voltage induced in the inductive actuator drive which is characteristic of the switching process. A second unit is embodied for the control of at least one further actuator body depending on whether a switching of the valve is recognized in the first switching unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Herold, Thomas Knorr, Frank Weiss
  • Patent number: 7434556
    Abstract: A valve actuation system is provided. The system has an engine valve moveable between a first position at which the engine valve prevents a flow of fluid relative to the engine valve and a second position at which fluid flows relative to the engine valve. The system also has a first cam adapted to move the engine valve from the first position to the second position during a first lift period in response to a rotation of the first cam. The system has a second cam adapted to move the engine valve from the first position to the second position during a second lift period in response to a rotation of the second cam. The system also has a cam following assembly disposed between the first and second cams and the engine valve. The cam following assembly is adapted to selectively connect one of the first and second cams with the engine valve to thereby move the engine valve through one of the first and second lift periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Patrick Harmon
  • Patent number: 7431000
    Abstract: A pair of link arms each supported at one end thereof on an engine body for swinging movement about an axis parallel to a rotational axis for a valve-operating cam are connected at the other ends, for relative turning movement about an axis parallel to the rotational axis, directly to a rocker arm having a valve abutment abutting against an engine valve and a cam abutment contacting with the valve-operating cam. At least any one of the link arms is swingably supported at one end thereof on the engine body for continuous movement within a plane perpendicular to a rotational axis for the valve-operating cam. Such an arrangement ensures that a valve-operating system can be constructed compactly, and the opening lift amount of the engine valve can be changed continuously, while ensuring an excellent followability to the valve-operating cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Hiromu Nakamura, Junichi Iwamoto
  • Publication number: 20080236532
    Abstract: A cam-follower rocker arm is provided comprising a flat single plate body containing an axle that extends perpendicular from the vertical wall area for making contact with a valve and a second pivot point axle. The pivot point for the cam-follower rocker arm may be located centrally or at the end of the cam-follower rocker arm that is opposite the cam-follower rocker arm valve arm. An external cam-follower bearing is mounted on the axle and extends on each side of the flat plate wall. The cam-follower rocker arm of the invention is characterized by a relatively reduced mass and has a stiffness that exceeds limits achieved by known prior art designs for an overhead cam and cam-follower valve train; the gain in stiffness being attributed to the body's flat plate cross-section relative to conventional prior art cam-follower rocker arms that have a U-shape or a dual wall cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Scott P. Smith, Blaine R. Lingenfelter, John E. Brune
  • Patent number: 7424876
    Abstract: A multiple-cylinder internal combustion engine having a camshaft-driven valvetrain with a camshaft disposed within an engine block includes at least two intake and/or exhaust valves with multiple valves operated by a common lifter and pushrod that engages a follower having multiple independent lash adjusters coupled to associated rocker arms. The lifter contacts the common camshaft lobe and a corresponding pushrod that engages a reciprocating bucket follower with a compliant coupling to corresponding rocker arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Diggs
  • Patent number: 7421993
    Abstract: A variable valve lift apparatus is provided comprising: an arm; a valve and valve springs connected to a first end of the arm for controlling an air intake and an air exhaust; a driving plunger disposed in a driving plunger groove formed on a second end of the arm which is opposite to the first end; a driving plunger portion elastic member disposed in the driving plunger groove for biasing the driving plunger; a support coupled to a cylinder head for supporting the driving plunger; a locking unit for selectively fixing the driving plunger; and a hydraulic pressure supply unit for selectively supplying hydraulic pressure to the locking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyung Ick Kim
  • Patent number: 7418936
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a plurality of intake and/or exhaust valves associated with each cylinder includes a valvetrain having a fulcrum with a plurality of pivot ball sockets each associated with a rocker arm and pivot ball disposed between the fulcrum and the rocker arm with the fulcrum extending through apertures of the rocker arms and having a plurality of slots, each slot having generally parallel opposing lateral surfaces for receiving and guiding both sides of an associated rocker arm so the rocker arm pivots about the pivot ball in a plane of the rocker arm. The fulcrum can accommodate at least two rocker arms that may operate in non-parallel planes relative to one another and can include bearing and locating surfaces integrally formed to finish dimensions to eliminate machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Byrne Diggs, Jeff D Fluharty
  • Patent number: 7418935
    Abstract: A device for adjusting the valve lift (1) of the valves of a combustion engine comprising a lever (3) being driven by a camshaft (4), pushed against the camshaft (4) by a spring, which cooperates with at least one valve engagement means and is positioned by a positioning means (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Hydraulik-Ring GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Flierl, Mark Andy Mohr, Daniel Gollasch
  • Patent number: 7415954
    Abstract: A rocker shaft arrangement for a valvetrain system of an engine is provided. The rocker shaft arrangement includes a split rocker shaft having two fluidly separate internal regions. Each of the fluidly separate internal regions is arranged to selectively carry an independent supply of pressurized oil for distribution to valvetrain components. The two fluidly separate regions of the split rocker shaft are each further arranged to supply pressurized oil independent of each other to one of a high lift rocker arm and a low lift rocker arm of a rocker arm assembly for an engine valvetrain system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Alan G Falkowski, Richard H Sands, Christopher P Thomas, David W Fiddes
  • Patent number: 7415951
    Abstract: A valve timing mechanism of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, having a camshaft having at least one cam (18), via which a switchable valve timing mechanism element (1) can be loaded with a cam stroke (s), in which locking means (12) are arranged on the valve timing mechanism element (1), which locking means (12) have a locking play (16) which is active in the direction of a valve stroke, in which the cam (18) has a base circle region (?) and a ramp region (19) with an opening ramp (?) which adjoins the base circle region (?), and in which at least one ramp section (21) is formed on the opening ramp (?) in order to compensate for the locking play (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Peter Sailer, Oliver Schnell, Jochen Tovar
  • Publication number: 20080196683
    Abstract: A high performance overhead valvetrain assembly includes a hydraulic lash adjuster which is received within and supports a trunnion. The trunnion, in turn, is received within a cylindrical passageway in one end of a rocker arm. The opposite end of the rocker arm engages a valve stem. Between the trunnion and the valve stem is a roller adapted the engage a cam of a camshaft. The trunnion stabilized rocker arm permits significantly increased valve lift and improved engine performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Alan W. Hayman, Robert S. McAlpine, Eric C. Douse
  • Patent number: 7409940
    Abstract: In a variable phased valve lifter of an internal combustion engine, two or more roller lifter are allowed to move along constraining faces of a constraining mechanism in a first direction, and the constraining mechanism is allowed to move freely in a second direction. As the roller lifters move through their parallel arcuate paths, the engaging surface(s) of the roller lifters will engage with the constraining face(s) of the constraining mechanism, and each roller lifter will prevent the other from rotating about its longitudinal axis. The roller lifter is thus prevented from rotating about its longitudinal axis as it moves in arcuate fashion in cooperation with the constraining mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Motive Engineering Co.
    Inventor: Michael Bernard Riley
  • Patent number: 7409939
    Abstract: Use of rocker shaft pedestals that are manufactured separately from the cylinder head and subsequently fixed to the cylinder head increases manufacturing and assembly costs of an internal combustion engine. The disclosed cylinder head obviates these problems by providing a cylinder head for an internal combustion engine that comprises a top deck and at least one integrally cast rocker shaft pedestal. A rocker shaft for use with a cylinder head of the invention includes at least one flat formed on an underside of the shaft that is adapted for mating with a top of a rocker shaft pedestal. Also described is an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder block, a cylinder head having a top deck and at least one integrally cast rocker shaft pedestal, and a rocker shaft mounted on the at least one rocker shaft pedestal, the rocker shaft having a plurality of rocker arms mounted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventors: Frank G. Hughes, Kathleen Bernadette Queenan, Richard Jackson
  • Patent number: 7404386
    Abstract: A multi-step valve actuation system is provided to selectively open a poppet valve of an internal combustion engine having a camshaft rotatably supported by a cylinder block. The multi-step valve actuation system includes a rocker arm operable to selectively open the poppet valve and a pushrod operable to bias the rocker arm. A first follower arm is engageable with a first cam of the camshaft and operates to selectively bias the pushrod. A lash adjuster is disposed between the first follower arm and the pushrod. A second follower arm is engageable with a second cam of the camshaft and selectively latchable with respect to the first follower arm, while a third follower arm is engageable with a third cam of the camshaft and selectively latchable with respect to the first follower arm. An internal combustion engine incorporating the multi-step valve actuation system of the present invention is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Madhusudan Raghavan, Burak A. Gecim, John Ioan Manole
  • Patent number: 7398752
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved rocker arm system for actuating poppet valves in high performance internal combustion engines. The rocker arm provides trunnion journals extending from each side fitted to outboard bearing mounts to guide the motion of the rocker arm. An I-beam rocker arm having high stiffness and low mass is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventor: Robert R. Weaver
  • Patent number: 7392777
    Abstract: The invention proposes a variable valve train (1) for a gas exchange valve (8) of an internal combustion engine, which gas exchange valve (8) is actuated by a cam (2), said valve train (1) comprising a force transmission device (4) that is arranged between the cam (2) and the gas exchange valve (8) and includes a hydraulic lifting device (9) comprising a pressure piston (10) that is arranged for longitudinal displacement in a cylinder (12), said pressure piston (10) defining a pressure chamber (13) that is connected to a pressure medium supply of the internal combustion engine and said pressure piston (10) permitting, under high-pressure loading, an actuation of the gas exchange valve (8) independently of the cam (2). The force transmission device (4) is configured as an oscillating lever or rocker arm (3) mounted for pivoting on a lever shaft (6) comprising a longitudinal channel (14) that transports pressure medium and acts as a link (15) between the pressure medium supply and the pressure chamber (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Christof Faria, Frank Himsel
  • Patent number: 7387098
    Abstract: A cam follower includes a roller on which a cam rolls. A material ratio Rmr (C) (C: a section level %) of an radially outer surface of the roller is set to relations of 0%<Rmr (10%)?10%, a Kurtosis Rku of a roughness profile of the outer surface is set to 4?Rku?10, an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of the outer surface is set to 0<Ra?0.15, and a compression stress S of the outer surface is set to 800 MPa?S?1,100 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Waseda, Shinya Ochi
  • Patent number: 7387096
    Abstract: A lift-variable valve-operating system for an engine, includes a subsidiary cam swingably carried on a movable support shaft. A cam follower is operatively connected to an engine valve and follows the subsidiary cam. The lift amount of the engine valve is varied by displacing the movable support shaft. The subsidiary cam has an oil sump provided in an upper surface and opens upwards to store oil. The subsidiary cam is provided with an abutment face abutting against the cam follower. The abutment face includes a lift portion for turnably driving the cam follower; and a base circle portion connected to the lift portion and which retains the cam follower in a rest state. The subsidiary cam is also provided with a lubricating oil bore for guiding the oil in the oil sump to the base circle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiko Tashiro
  • Patent number: 7377988
    Abstract: The invention concerns the fixing of a bearing shaft (6) in a reception bore (1.3) of a housing, at least one end of the shaft being adapted to be swaged to the reception bore (1.3) for achieving at least one of a force locking and a positive engagement, and an outer peripheral surface of the shaft (6) having a hardness that is greater than a hardness of the ends (6.2) of the shaft. The novel shaft is carbonitrided, quenched and tempered so that at first a hardness of HV 745-950 (HRC 62-68) is realized, following which the thus treated shaft (6) is soft annealed to produce a hardness of HV 212-305 (HRB 93-HRC30), and the outer peripheral surface is then subjected to induction hardening to achieve a final hardness of HV 745-950 (HRC 62-68). The shaft of the invention has a long operating life even under high load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: INA Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Joseph Traywick Griffin, Marion Jack Ince, Charles M. Schwab, Eric S. Nelson, Richard S. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 7377247
    Abstract: An adjustable valve rocker lever (1) of a valve timing gear of an internal combustion engine comprising an inner lever (3) and an outer lever (4) enclosing the former with its arms (2), the levers (3, 4) being connectable to one another by longitudinally displaceable coupling links (6) in such a way that a large valve lift is generated when coupled and a small valve lift is generated when decoupled, the levers (3, 4) run on a common axis (5), which viewed in the longitudinal direction is arranged between a complementary face (11) for a support element on the inner lever (3) and lifting faces (12, 13) for the lifting cams on upper sides of the levers (3, 4), wherein by virtue of its axis (5), situated close to the pivot point, such a valve rocker lever (1) has only a small mass moment of inertia about this pivot point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventor: Joachim Seitz
  • Patent number: 7367301
    Abstract: There is provided a cam follower in which a surface roughness of an outer surface of a roller of a cam follower which is in rolling contact with a cam of an engine is obtained individually in an axial direction and a circumferential direction, a skewness Rsk of a profile is formed to be negative, a core roughness depth Rk is made to be 0.3 or less, a reduced valley depth Rvk is made to be 0.3 or less, and a ratio Rk/Rt of the Rk to a maximum height Rt of the profile is made to be 0.19 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Waseda, Shinya Ochi
  • Patent number: 7363894
    Abstract: A switchable valve-drive component (1) for variable transmission of a stroke generated by one or more cam projections to a gas-exchange valve of an internal combustion engine is provided. The valve-drive component (1) has transmission elements (3, 4), which can be connected with a positive fit by coupling elements (8) in the transmission direction, in which force transmission surface sections (16) of the coupling elements (8) can be clamped between force transmission surface sections (20) of the transmission elements (3, 4). Here, at least one of the force transmission surface sections (16, 20) should be provided with a wear protection layer (23). This layer comprises at least one metal-free amorphous hydrocarbon layer with sp2-hybridized and sp3-hybridized carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Matthew Evans, Jermel Jones, Peter Sailer, Oliver Schnell, Tim Matthias Hosenfeldt
  • Patent number: 7363899
    Abstract: A valve drive (1) for an internal combustion engine with a lever-type cam follower (7) is provided, which is used for the variable adjustable transmission of a raised section (2) of a cam (3) to a gas-exchange valve (5), in that the cam follower (7) is supported with an end section (13) away from the cam on a pivot bearing (14), which can be positioned variably on a circular arc-shaped displacement path (15), and an end section (6) close to the cam includes a transmission surface (10) in connection with the gas-exchange valve (5), and also with a support (8), wherein a contact surface (9) for the cam (3) is mounted rotatably on this support (8). Here, the center of the displacement path (15) should be essentially identical to the rotational center (17) of the support (8) when the contact surface (9) interacts with a raised section-free base circle (21) of the cam (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Richard Best, Debora Manther
  • Patent number: 7357108
    Abstract: A valve operating system for an engine that includes a piston that reciprocates along a piston axis. The valve operating system includes a valve member that is movable along a valve axis between a first position and a second position and a crankshaft that is rotatable about a crank axis. A cam member includes a substantially non-planar non-cylindrical surface and a cam profile superimposed thereon. A drive linkage interconnects the cam member and the crankshaft such that the cam member rotates in response to rotation of the crankshaft. A rocker arm is engaged with the valve member and the cam profile to move the valve member in response to rotation of the cam member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: Gary Gracyalny
  • Publication number: 20080083386
    Abstract: A variable valve lift follower for a vehicle includes an outer body receiving a rotational force from a high lift cam; an inner body with a first end portion hinge-connected with the outer body, receiving a rotational force from a low lift cam; a hydraulic lash adjuster (HLA) contact portion for supplying oil to the first end portion of the inner body; a valve contact portion on a second end of the inner body; and a knock pin on the top of the valve contact portion, connecting the outer body to the inner body during high lift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventor: Chung Han Oh
  • Patent number: 7350490
    Abstract: A connection element (9, 10) is provided for the captive mounting of a lever-type cam follower (1), which is used to actuate a gas-exchange valve (5) of an internal combustion engine, on a support element (2). Said support element (2) has a spherical end (7) on which the cam follower (1) is pivotably mounted by a concave molding (6). The connection element (9, 10) is made from a flat material and is arranged, with a central section (11), on a bottom side (12) of a base (13) facing the support element (2). The base surrounds the concave molding (6) and connects to the side walls (27) of the cam follower (1). The central section forms, with two limbs (14) that are spaced apart from each other and a web (15) connected with the limbs, a U-shaped recess (16), which extends in a longitudinal direction of the cam follower (1) and which surrounds, in an essentially play-free manner, an annular groove (8) below the spherical end (7) in a fork-like manner and orthogonal to a pivoting direction of the cam follower (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Stephan Mock, Helmut Engelhardt
  • Publication number: 20080072853
    Abstract: An engine valve actuation system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The valve actuation system may include a longitudinally extending link member pivotally attached to an engine member. A longitudinally extending finger follower may be pivotally attached to the link member. The finger follower may include first and second contact surfaces spaced longitudinally from each other. A lost motion piston may contact the first contact surface of the finger follower and an engine valve assembly may contact the second contact surface of the finger follower. A means for receiving valve actuation motion, such as a cam follower, may be incorporated into the finger follower. A valve seating device may contact a third contact surface located on the link member, and a biasing spring may contact a fourth contact surface on the finger follower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventor: Richard E. Vanderpoel
  • Patent number: 7334550
    Abstract: A camshaft for an internal combustion engine includes a cam lobe for actuating a valve. The cam lobe has an opening ramp profile that acts to loft the valve gear away from contact with the cam lobe to a maximum lift of the valve, with the valve gear returning to contact with a closing ramp of the cam lobe sufficiently in advance of a minimum cam lobe closing ramp height so as to dissipate enough closing energy of the valve to minimize valve bounce after the valve contacts a corresponding valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Jesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel H. Jesel, Walter R. Donovan
  • Patent number: 7328675
    Abstract: A finger lever (1) that can be switched for different cam lifts is provided. The finger lever includes an outer arm (2), between whose limbs (3) an inner arm (4) is pivotally mounted. Inside the inner arm (4), starting form one end (9), a blind borehole (16) is provided with a coupling element (5), which can be longitudinally displaced therein and which, in the event of coupling, can be displaced partially under a driver surface (18) of a crossbar (15) of the outer arm (2). Height stopping parts (34) are provided on the inner arm (4) in the form of a simple, finger-like extension of the inner arm (4) at the end (9) thereof which extend out over the crossbar (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Joachim Seitz, Bodo Rorig, Anteo Opipari
  • Patent number: 7325523
    Abstract: In a valve timing gear of an internal combustion engine having hydraulic valve clearance adjusting elements (21), each element (21) comprises a rotationally symmetrical housing (22), which is guided so that it is longitudinally displaceable in a seat in the engine and at one axial end of the element (21) is acted upon by a cam of a camshaft. The element (21) comprises a piston (24) which is axially displaceable in the housing (22) and is non-positively connected either directly or indirectly to an engine gas exchange valve. A control valve (31), which has a closing member (39) and a valve seat for this formed on the piston (24), is arranged axially between the housing (22) and the piston (24). A reverse-spring element is used as valve clearance adjusting element (21), that is to say an element the control valve (31) of which comprises a control valve spring (30), which is supported by one end on the piston (24) and by the other end on the closing member (39).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Schaeffer KG
    Inventors: Peter Sailer, Oliver Schnell
  • Publication number: 20080017152
    Abstract: A lock pin bore in a two-step rocker arm assembly contains a hydraulically-actuable lock pin. A return spring urges the lock pin toward an unlatched mode. The bore has one or more annular grooves formed near the outer end of the bore. A plug, formed preferably of a soft metal, is pressed as a hydraulic seal into the bore. During assembly, the final position of the lock pin within the bore is set by positioning a stopping assembly fixture into the locking end of the bore. The plug is pressed into the bore until contact is made with the lock pin and the lock pin engages the fixture. The plug is radially deformed into the annular groove(s) to anchor the plug and fix the outer limit of travel of the locking pin and the compressive load on the return spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Hermes A. Fernandez, Albert C. Stone
  • Patent number: 7318402
    Abstract: A valve control system for an engine having a camshaft with first and second cam profiles, the valve control system comprising a rocker arm assembly including a first rocker arm having a first cam follower in engagement with the first cam profile, and a second rocker arm having a second cam follower in engagement with the second cam profile. The first rocker arm includes a latch member biased toward a latched condition by a fluid pressure in a chamber, and the first rocker arm defines a fluid passage having a first end in open fluid communication with the pressure source, and a second end in open fluid communication with the pressure chamber. An alignment feature cooperates with the latch member to ensure proper alignment with a latch surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew P. Harman, David G. Genise
  • Patent number: 7314029
    Abstract: A variable valve timing device, adapted for an internal combustion engine, includes a cam shaft having a first cam surface, a rocker arm rotatably supporting a first roller and enabling a valve to be opened by its swing movement when the first roller is pressed, a drive link rotatably supporting a second roller and moving to drive a connecting pin when the second roller is pressed by the first cam surface, a swing cam having a second cam surface and being swingable at a center of a stationary support shaft, when it is pressed by the drive link through the connecting pin, so that the second cam surface presses the first roller, and an actuator for changing a position of a third cam surface to vary a position of the drive link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Hiraiwa
  • Patent number: 7308872
    Abstract: A valvetrain system mechanization for an internal combustion engine using compression ignition, including homogeneous charge compression ignition, having two intake and one or more exhaust valves per cylinder. The valves are operated by dual overhead camshafts having two-step cams. The intake and exhaust camshafts are provided with phasers for varying the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. A two-step roller finger follower is disposed for each valve between the cam lobes and the valve stem. The two sets of intake and exhaust valves are controlled by separate oil control valves. Swirl of gases may be introduced by mismatching the lifts of the valves. The valve opening times, closing times, lifts, fuel injection, compression ratio, and exhaust gas recirculation may be varied to optimize combustion conditions for a range of engine operating modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark C. Sellnau, Philip J. G. Dingle
  • Patent number: 7308874
    Abstract: A valve drive mechanism for actuating a valve of an internal combustion engine includes a cam member with a cam surface having a first portion and a second portion. A roller is configured to rotate and contact the first portion of the cam surface when the valve is in a closed position and the second portion of the cam surface with the valve is in an open position. The cam member and the roller are configured to reciprocally move relative to each other to open and close the valve. When the roller contacts the first portion, a gap within the valve drive mechanism exists between components of the valve drive mechanism on a downstream side of a force transmission path to the valve with respect to a contact point between the roller and the cam surface. A spring member urges the roller and the cam surface into contact with each other during motion between the cam member and the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Fujita, Koichi Hatamura
  • Patent number: 7305951
    Abstract: A two-step roller finger follower having a high-lift follower portion that rotates relative to a low-lift follower portion about a pivot shaft, including a lost-motion compression spring disposed in a linear bore formed in the high-lift portion to exert force against an curved pad on the back side of the valve pallet of the low-lift portion. The spring is retained and guided in its bore by a spring retainer having a planar bottom for engaging the curved pad. Preferably the retainer is a cup positioned in the spring bore such that the stroke of the cup is limited, to prevent leak-down of the associated hydraulic lash adjuster. Driving the spring by a linear-acting retainer in a linear bore causes the spring to be compressed linearly, resulting in a highly stable and predictable spring rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hermes A. Fernandez, Andrew J. Lipinski, Nick J. Hendriksma, Thomas H. Fischer, Timothy W. Kunz
  • Patent number: 7302923
    Abstract: A variable valve timing device includes a cam shaft, a rocker arm rotatably supporting the first roller and enabling a valve to be opened by a swing movement thereof when a first roller is pressed, a swing cam with a second cam surface, and an actuator for controlling the support shaft to move along a circular arc with a center at a center of the first roller in a valve-open state. The swing cam is swingable at a center of the support shaft, when a second roller is pressed by the cam shaft, so that the second cam surface presses the first roller. A contact position, between the first cam surface and the second roller, moves in a direction opposite to a rotational direction of the cam shaft when the support shaft is moved in a direction where a maximum lift amount of the valve becomes smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Hiraiwa
  • Patent number: 7302924
    Abstract: A switchable drag lever (1) of a valve timing mechanism of an internal combustion engine having an outer lever (2), and inner lever (5) extending in the cut-out (3) of the said outer lever (2) between its side walls (4), the drag lever (1) having a rest (9) for a gas exchange valve on an underside (7) at one end (8) and a pivoting bearing (11) for supporting element at the other end (10) with the levers (2,5) extending at the end (8) on a common pin (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Bodo Roerig, Stefan Gemein, Nicola Morelli
  • Patent number: 7299774
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve control for actuating at least one valve, especially an inlet or outlet valve of an internal combustion engine, wherein the dimension of the valve lift of the at least one valve corresponds to a superposition of two cam profiles which can be adjusted in phases in relation to each other and are displaced synchronously. The aim of the invention is to improve the construction and functioning of the valve control. As a result, a guiding means between an intermediate element and the first cam profile is embodied as third cam profile which is formed in a complementary manner with respect to the first cam profile and rotates in a synchronous manner therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Mahle Ventiltrieb GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Lechner, Falk Schneider
  • Patent number: 7293539
    Abstract: A rocker arm assembly for mounting about a stud means. The rocker arm assembly generally comprises a rocker arm and a support member. The rocker arm has opposed first and second lateral ends and a central bore between the ends. The support member is positioned within the rocker arm central bore and mounted on the stud means. The rocker arm is configured to pivot about the support member. The support member has opposed lateral sides with a seal member extending along each lateral side. The seal members provide a seal between each lateral side of the support member and an internal surface of the central bore thereby providing more efficient oil lubrication to the ends of the rocker arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Timken US Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Hayward, David Nguyen, Jerzy Baginski
  • Patent number: 7293540
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a leakdown plunger, comprising a first plunger opening, a second plunger opening, and an outer plunger surface that is provided with an axis and encloses an inner plunger surface, the first plunger opening is provided with a first annular plunger surface shaped to accommodate a valve insert, the second plunger opening is configured to cooperate with a socket body, the outer plunger surface includes a cylindrical plunger surface and cooperates with an engine workpiece, and the inner plunger surface includes an inner cylindrical plunger surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: MacLean-Fogg Company
    Inventors: Dhruva Mandal, Carroll D. Williams
  • Patent number: 7290512
    Abstract: A variable valve apparatus of an internal combustion engine includes a cam shaft, a drive cam formed integrally with the cam shaft, and a rocker arm mechanism for transmitting an opening/closing force from an operating end portion thereof to an intake or an exhaust valve by receiving the opening/closing force by a drive cam opposed roller brought into contact with the drive cam. For displacing a lift time period, in which the drive cam opposed roller receives the opening/closing force, frontward/rearward in a direction of rotating the drive cam, an up section of a cam lift face of the drive cam is formed to be longer than a down section thereof such that a change region of a lift valve closing time point of the lift time period becomes larger than a change region of a lift valve opening time point thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Murata
  • Patent number: 7284515
    Abstract: In a variable valve apparatus according to the present invention, a direction of a maximum load generated during valve lift at an oscillating fulcrum of a transmission arm with respect to a control shaft and a rotating direction when the control shaft is varied from the valve lift side to the low-valve lift side are set in the same direction. Consequently, the control shaft is made to easily oscillate in the direction from the high valve lift side to the low valve lift side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Murata
  • Patent number: 7281504
    Abstract: A valve train device for an engine is configured to pivot a rocker arm supported on a rocker arm support shaft to drive a valve which opens and closes a valve opening formed in a combustion chamber. The device comprises a valve drive device and a swing member pivotally supported on a swing member support shaft and driven to pivot about the swing member support shaft by the valve drive device. A control arm is disposed between a swing cam surface formed on the swing member and a rocker-side surface formed on the rocker arm. The control arm is configured for transferring motion of the swing cam surface to the rocker-side surface. A displacement mechanism is provided for displacing a contact point between the control arm and the swing cam surface and a contact point between the control arm and the rocker-side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Fujita, Koichi Hatamura
  • Publication number: 20070234988
    Abstract: A method for producing a compression connection for a driving part (1), in particular for an essentially ring-shaped driving part (1) on a shaft (3), in particular in the case of a built-up camshaft with which the driving part (1) has an opening that essentially corresponds to the outside diameter of the shaft (3), the driving part (1) sits on the shaft with coverage in the finished compression connection, an adhesive layer is applied between the circumferential surfaces of the driving part (1) and the shaft (3), is to be improved. To this end, such a method is characterized by the following features: the driving part (1) is heated until reaching the joining temperature and is thereby widened, the driving part (1) is pushed on to the shaft essentially without any forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Arnd Kobus, Harald Rudiger Muller, Mario Prokop, Alexander Puck
  • Patent number: 7278384
    Abstract: A two-step roller finger follower having a movable high-lift portion and a low-lift portion. A lock pin mechanism in the low-lift portion includes a lock pin that may be driven hydraulically into latched engagement with the high-lift portion. The lock pin assembly comprises a lock pin and a separable switching pin. A blocking clip mountable on the associated hydraulic lash adjuster includes first and second ends that extend into a switching pin locking groove to block axial motion thereof. A ramp on the follower body mates with a ramp on the blocking clip such that oscillatory motion of the follower engages and disengages the blocking pin from the locking groove. The clip unblocks the switching pin at only those times in the camshaft rotational cycle when complete locking and unlocking is assured, and ending well before the beginning of the next valve lift event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hermes A. Fernandez, Andrew J. Lipinski
  • Publication number: 20070227481
    Abstract: A variable valve device for an internal combustion engine comprises a first switching oil passage which is formed along an axial direction in one of a rocker shafts, the first rocker arm being switched to the first mode by applying oil pressure to a first rocker arm through the first switching oil passage, and a second switching oil passage which is formed along an axial direction in the other rocker shaft, a second rocker arm being switched to the first mode by applying oil pressure to the second rocker arm through the second switching oil passage. The first switching oil passage and the second switching oil passage are formed in a ladder shape in which the first switching oil passage and the second switching oil passage communicate via a plurality of relay oil passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Yusuke Kido, Shinichi Murata, Masaru Mori