Cam Engaged Patents (Class 123/90.44)
  • Patent number: 7044094
    Abstract: A valve-lift device for the variable control of gas-exchange valves of an internal combustion engine is provided. The device includes a pivotable lever that is capable of being driven by a camshaft, the pivotable lever having an axis of rotation which can be displaced in a slotted-link track fixed to the housing, and a valve actuation means. The pivotable lever has, at one end, a roller which is driven by a camshaft and, at its other end, a slotted-link roller which is moved along a working curve in a slotted link, the slotted link being designed as an engagement surface of a valve actuation means. A center of rotation of the lever is provided between the roller and the slotted-link roller and the center of rotation of the rocker lever and a supporting axis of the valve actuation means is arranged on a vertical axis in an operating position. In order to set a valve lift, an axis of rotation is displaced in a slotted-link track fixed to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Inventors: Gerlinde Bosl-Flierl, Rudolf Flierl
  • Patent number: 7044093
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine and method of operating the engine is provided. The engine comprises an engine block defining an engine cylinder, a piston reciprocatingly positioned in the engine cylinder, a head connected with the engine block, the head defining an inlet port and an exhaust port, an intake valve positioned in the inlet port, the intake valve configured to restrict flow through the intake port to the cylinder, an exhaust valve positioned in the exhaust port, the exhaust valve configured to restrict flow through the exhaust port to the cylinder, a cam connected with the intake valve to open the intake valve, and an engine valve actuator connected with the intake valve. The engine valve actuator is configured to hold either or both the intake valve and or exhaust valve open after the cam opens one or both of the valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Tad L. Petrie
  • 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: 7025025
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a socket, comprising, a body including a plurality of passages, a first surface, a second surface, and an outer surface; the first surface is configured to accommodate an insert; the second surface is configured to cooperate with an engine workpiece; the outer surface is configured to cooperate with the inner surface of an engine workpiece; and at least one of the surfaces is fabricated through forging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: MacLean-Fogg Company
    Inventors: Dhruva Mandal, Carroll Williams
  • Patent number: 7011061
    Abstract: There is provided a rocker arm of a kind in which even though the rocker arm is manufactured by the use of a press working technique the arm width can be minimized while the flat outer surface region of a required width is secured on an outer surface of the connecting wall, thereby contributing to reduction in size and weight of the rocker arm. This rocker arm 1 is capable of being driven by a cam 2 for selectively opening and closing a valve 3 of an internal combustion engine. This rocker arm 1 includes an arm body 4 prepared by bending a single plate material to represent a generally inverted U-shaped section including opposite side walls 5 and a connecting wall 6 bridging between the opposite side walls 5. A roller 10 engageable with the cam 2 is rotatably mounted on a portion of the arm body 4 generally intermediate of the length thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Katsufumi Abe
  • Patent number: 7007649
    Abstract: A valve actuator assembly for an engine includes a movable engine valve. The valve actuator assembly also includes a movable roller finger follower operatively engaged with the engine valve, a rotatable cam, and an intermediate finger follower operatively engaged with the roller finger follower and the cam. The valve actuator assembly also includes at least one actuator operatively cooperating with the intermediate finger follower to position the intermediate finger follower in two directions relative to the cam to move the roller finger follower to position the engine valve at a desired lift and phasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Madhusudan Raghavan, Jie Tong
  • Patent number: 7007650
    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: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Michael Patrick Harmon
  • Patent number: 7004132
    Abstract: To reduce the size and weight of an engine body and improve the mountability and maintainability of transmitting rods in a valve train for an OHV engine having a crankshaft, a crankcase for rotatably supporting the crankshaft, a camshaft incorporated in the crankcase, cylinder heads connected to the crankcase, engine valves operably provided in the cylinder heads, and the transmitting rods for transmitting a valve operating force due to the rotation of the camshaft to the engine valves. The transmitting rods as pull rods are arranged on one side of cylinder barrels. One end portion of each transmitting rod is formed with an engaging portion disengageably engaged with a hook portion of a mating member. An engine body or a guide member, fixed to the engine body, is provided with a guide portion for guiding the engaging portion to the hook portion of the mating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Matsuda, Makoto Sanada, Kazuhiro Uehara, Atsushi Niimi
  • Patent number: 7004122
    Abstract: An engine valve actuation system is provided. The engine valve actuation system includes an intake valve that is moveable between a first position to prevent a flow of fluid and a second position to allow a flow of fluid. A cam assembly is configured to move the intake valve between the first position and the second position. A fluid actuator is configured to selectively prevent the intake valve from moving to the first position. A source of fluid is in fluid communication with the fluid actuator. A directional control valve is configured to control a flow of fluid between the source of fluid and the fluid actuator. A fluid passageway connects the directional control valve with the fluid actuator. An accumulator is in fluid communication with the fluid passageway. A restricted orifice is disposed between the accumulator and the fluid passageway to restrict a flow of fluid between the accumulator and the fluid passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Sean O. Cornell, Scott Alan Leman
  • Patent number: 7000582
    Abstract: The rocker arm 1 has a fitting surface 6 on the opposite sides of which guide surfaces 21 are formed, such that the guide surfaces 21 are inclined to be closer to each other toward their tip ends. Even when the valve stem 20 is displaced in the widthwise direction of the fitting surface 6, the outer peripheral surface of the base end portion of the valve stem 20 comes into contact with only the tip end of one of the guide surfaces 21. Consequently, lubrication is improved and friction moment is decreased in the contact area, so that friction resistance is suppressed between the guide surfaces 21 and the outer peripheral surface of the base end of the valve stem 20 to easily obtain high performance of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Takeo, Kazushige Gotou, Satoshi Kadokawa
  • Patent number: 6997153
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to fulfill, in a way that is superior to that of the previous state of the art, the demands placed by the engine on a variable valve control with regard to the shaping and accuracy of the valve lifting curves, to the simplicity of the structural design of the valve drive and of the associated adjusting mechanism, and to mechanical losses due to friction. These demands are met without any additional structural complexity, and, more particularly, without any changes to the overall height. This feat is achieved by means of the provision of a rotatable drive consisting of a housing (G), a shaft (W), an intermediate element (Z), and of an output element (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Helmut Schön, Peter Kuhn
  • Patent number: 6997152
    Abstract: A lock-pin cartridge for a valve deactivation rocker arm assembly. The cartridge comprises a body having an axial bore having first and second ends, the second end having a closure and a passage therethrough. A piston assembly comprising a locking pin and a piston is disposed in the bore. The locking pin extends through the second end passage to provide latching and unlatching of rocker arm elements. The piston is spaced apart from the ends to define a hydraulic chamber and a spring chamber within the bore on opposite sides of the piston. A spring is disposed in the spring chamber for urging the piston assembly toward one of the first and second ends. The hydraulic chamber includes means for communicating with a supply of hydraulic fluid for actuating the piston assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne S. Harris
  • Patent number: 6997154
    Abstract: A switch element (1) is proposed for valve shut-off, fabricated as cam follower for a plunger rod valve drive of an internal combustion engine, having an outer part (2) and an inner element (4) axially movable in its bore (3) and with rotational security (15) relative to the guided inner element (4). The outer part (2), inside the bore (3), has an annular groove (6), and the inner element (4) has a radial bore (7) with two diametrically opposed pistons (8), which to couple the elements (2, 4) in their axially remote relative position achieved by a lost-motion spring (5) are displaceable towards the annular groove (6). On their cam-side under side, emanating from their radially outward, bulbous face, the pistons (8) segmentwise comprise a plane transverse surface as contact area for a facing under side (27) of the annular groove (6). The latter is intersected by two diametrically opposed oil ports (11) running offset 90° from the pistons (8) in circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Ina-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Nobert Geyer, Peter Sailer, Oliver Schnell
  • Patent number: 6988474
    Abstract: The invention proposes a cam follower (1) comprising a hydraulic clearance compensation device (27) from whose reservoir (8) a controlled and throttled supply of hydraulic medium to lubricating points of the abutting tappet push rod and the associated rocker arm is realized with the help of an oil distributing disk (12) that extends in the reservoir (8). Projections (19) configured, for example, as bulging formations (21), are arranged on an underside (13) of a support (7) for the tappet push rod. In the presence of hydraulic medium pressure, the oil distributing disk (12) is pressed against the projections (19) and enables a purposed and throttled transfer of hydraulic medium between its upper side (18) and the underside (13) into an axial passage (11) of the support (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Ina-Schaeffler KG
    Inventor: Calin Petru Itoafa
  • Patent number: 6981479
    Abstract: A rocker arm 1 includes an arm body 4 prepared from a single plate material by means of a press work. The arm body 4 includes a pair of parallel side walls 5 and a connecting wall 6 bridging between the opposite side walls 5 and also having a pivot support hole 7 defined at a location generally intermediate of the length of the arm body 4. A roller support pin for rotatably supporting a roller 10 for driving engagement with a cam is mounted on one ends 1a of the opposite side walls 5, while the opposite end 1b of the connecting wall 6 defines an overlapped structure 13 formed by bending an end overlap piece 12, extending integrally from a side edge of the connecting wall 6, backwardly to overlap the connecting wall 6. This overlapped structure 13 in turn defines an adjustment element 16 having a mounting hole 15 defined therein for adjustably receiving a valve driving member 14. The rocker arm 1 may be designed to be an end pivot type, in which case the adjustment element 16 is provided with a pivot member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Katsufumi Abe
  • Patent number: 6981476
    Abstract: A multiple cylinder engine is described, provided with an electronically controlled hydraulic system for actuating the intake valves, in which intake valves and exhaust valves are controlled by a single camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Roberto Saretto, Costantinos Vafidis, Francesco Vattaneo
  • Patent number: 6978751
    Abstract: A valve train in an internal combustion engine, and a method of adjusting the valve timing setting of a valve in such a valve train, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to an engine that includes a crankcase with a cylinder, a valve, a push rod, and a rocker arm supported by the crankcase and coupling the valve to the push rod. The internal combustion engine further includes a cam rotatably supported by the crankcase, and a cam follower arm having first and second ends and, proximate the second end, having bottom and top surfaces. The cam follower arm is rotatably supported by the crankcase about a pivot point proximate the first end. The bottom surface proximate the second end slidingly interfaces the cam, and the top surface proximate the second end interfaces the push rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Terrence M. Rotter, Theodore E. Wehrman
  • Patent number: 6978750
    Abstract: The thickness in the width direction of a pair of side wall sections 4 is made as uniform as possible. In use, a load is applied to the pivot 3 from the side of the first and second connecting sections 5, 6 which connect the pair of side wall sections 4. A crimped section 13a is formed on the outer periphery at the opposite end surfaces of the pivot 3b, on the half on the side of the connecting sections 5, 6. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the opposite ends of the pivot 3b comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 11 on the load support side. Consequently, the load is sufficiently supported by the contact surface, and even after being used for a long time of period, lost motion is prevented from occurring on the support section at the opposite ends of the pivot 3 with respect to the pair of side wall section 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6976462
    Abstract: A double roller cam follower includes a longitudinal beam having a first end and a second end, a cam roller rotationally mounted on the beam for engaging a cam lobe and a valve stem roller rotationally mounted on the second end of the beam for engaging a valve stem. The cam roller includes a stepped outer circumference having a larger diameter at its sides to engage the cam lobe and a smaller diameter positioned centrally between the flanking larger diameters to provide clearance between the cam roller and the valve stem roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Jesel, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel H. Jesel
  • Patent number: 6976461
    Abstract: The invention proposes a switchable finger lever (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine having a compact structure. Through the inner lever (5) of the finger lever (1) it is possible, on the one hand, to realize a support on a gas exchange valve and, on the other hand, a mounting on a head of a support element. An outer lever (2) surrounds the inner lever (5) in longitudinal direction with its arms (3a, 3b) and is pivoted away from the inner lever (5) for effecting uncoupling. The outer lever (2) is mounted for pivoting on a cross axle (14) that extends through the inner element (5) axially above the support (8) for the gas exchange valve. At the same time, coupling elements (6) displaceable in crosswise direction are arranged axially above a complementary surface (9) that serves as a support on the support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Ina-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Bodo Rörig, Michael Haas
  • Patent number: 6973903
    Abstract: A valve-operating lever comprising a valve arm including a first aperture defining a valve arm engagement portion. The lever also includes a connector member having an outside surface and a first stop. The connector member and the first stop cooperate to define a first engagement portion. A first portion of the connector member overlays a portion of the valve arm adjacent the first aperture, and the valve arm engagement portion engages the first engagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: John D. Santi
  • Patent number: 6973904
    Abstract: Mechanical controls for continuously varying the length of the stroke of the valves in an internal-combustion engine and for maintaining the valves constantly closed while the engine is in operation while simultaneously varying how long the valve or valves remain open, whereby the valves are actuated by rocker levers that are in turn actuated by an angled lever, whereby the positions of the levers are varied in order to vary the length and duration of the stroke. The valves are actuated at low engine speeds by assigning a specific narrow angle of rotation to each abbreviated stroke to be established. FIG. 1 illustrates valve stroke controls with an angled lever (2) actuated by a cam (17) mounted on a lateral roller (3). In the event of a misalignment, a planetary gear comes into play, wherein a roller (9), mounted on the rocker lever (8) that actuates the valve (1) acts a sun wheel, the angled lever (2) acts as a planet wheel, and a setting lever (5) acts as a planet bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Automotive AG
    Inventor: Herbert Naumann
  • Patent number: 6971355
    Abstract: A device having a first and second rocker arm, and a control linkage. The first rocker arm has a first end receiving a first roller and a second end riding on a camshaft lobe. A second roller travels along an upper surface of the first rocker arm. The upper surface of the second rocker arm receives the first roller. When the control linkage is in a first position, the first rocker arm and roller slides along the upper surface of the second rocker arm towards the first end of the rocker arm, such that the valve head has maximum duration and lift from the valve seat. When the control linkage is in a second position, the first roller slides along the upper surface of the second rocker arm towards the second end of the rocker arm such that the valve head has minimum duration and lift from the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: David B. Roth
  • Patent number: 6968819
    Abstract: To allow both the valve lift and valve timing for an engine valve to be varied in a continuous manner, the variable valve actuating device (1) comprises a camshaft (8) rotatably supported by a fixed part of the engine and provided with a cam (7), a first rocker arm (9) pivotally supported by a fixed part of the engine, the first rocker arm being provided with a first point (12) engaging a stem of an engine valve (6), a drum (11) rotatably supported by a fixed part of the engine and at least partly surrounding the cam, a second rocker arm (10) having a first point (20) pivotally supported by the drum, a second point (21) adapted to engage the cam and a surface engaged by a second point (22) of the first rocker arm, and a control member (25, 26) for selectively turning the drum over a prescribed angular range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Fujii, Katsunori Nakamura, Keiko Yoshida, Hisao Sakai, Tadaharu Shoji, Motohiro Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6966291
    Abstract: In a two-step roller finger cam follower, a slider arm for engaging a high-lift cam lobe is pivotally mounted to the body and can variably engage a latch pin slidably disposed in a latch pin channel. A second channel in the body opens onto the slider arm and contains a timing pin that rides on an eccentric surface of the slider arm to extend or retract the timing pin. A bore between the latch pin channel and the timing pin channel contains a ball controlled by the timing pin to lock the latch pin into an engaged or disengaged position. The cam lobe has an undercut region such that the latch pin is allowed to move between engaged and disengaged position only when the slider arm is in the undercut region of the cam lobe. The latch pin can move only when the timing pin permits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Fischer, Andrew J. Lipinski, Timothy W. Kunz, Nick J. Hendriksma
  • Patent number: 6964251
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a roller follower, comprising an outer surface, enclosing a first cavity and a second cavity, wherein the first cavity includes a first inner surface configured to house a cylindrical insert, the second cavity includes a second inner surface cylindrically shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Inventors: Dhruva Mandal, Carroll D. Williams
  • Patent number: 6959676
    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: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okubo, Shoichi Abe, Satoshi Kadokawa, Hiroshi Iwasa
  • 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: 6948465
    Abstract: A variable valve mechanism has a switching mechanism for transmitting cam displacement to a first rocker arm from a second rocker arm. A camshaft is disposed obliquely above a rocker shaft. A first abutting portion and a second abutting portion are disposed in a dead space between an upper side of the rocker shaft and a side of the camshaft. The first abutting portion rotationally displaces in a rotational direction of rocker arms together with the first rocker arm. The second abutting portion rotationally displaces together with the second locker arm. The second abutting portion abuts on the first abutting portion from a rotating direction of rocker arms. In the switching mechanism thus configured, displacement of the second rocker arm is transmitted to the first rocker arm with reduced stress burden.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, Fuso Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Daigo, Masahiro Maekawa, Koichi Kawamoto, Manabu Horiuchi, Satoshi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 6935289
    Abstract: A valve drive system capable of reducing the friction resistance of rocker arms and facilitating replacement work of tappet-clearance adjusting shims. The valve drive system can comprise a rocker arm that is slidable between a first position at which the pushing portion engages the shim and a second position at which the pushing portion is disengaged from the shim, and held in the first position through a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Nakahira
  • Patent number: 6932041
    Abstract: In a variable phased valve lifter of an internal combustion engine, a roller lifter is allowed to move along a constraining face of a constraining mechanism in a first direction, and the constraining mechanism is allowed to move freely in a second direction. As the roller lifter moves through its arcuate path, the flat surface(s) of the roller lifter will slide across the constraining face(s) of the constraining mechanism, and end members of the constraining mechanism slide fore-and-aft in at least one stationary block. 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: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Motive Engineering Co.
    Inventor: Michael Bernard Riley
  • Patent number: 6918363
    Abstract: The valve drive apparatus of the invention comprises an exhaust valve drive mechanism capable of changing an open/close timing of an exhaust valve, and a control device which controls the exhaust valve drive apparatus so as to release the exhaust valve during an intake stroke, independently of an exhaust stroke, in an EGR mode. Preferably, the exhaust valve drive mechanism comprises a first exhaust cam which defines the exhaust valve releasing timing and the amount of valve lift in the exhaust stroke, and a second exhaust cam which defines the exhaust valve releasing timing and the amount of valve lift during the intake stroke. In an normal mode, the displacement of the first exhaust cam is transmitted to the exhaust valve, and in the EGR mode, the displacement of the second exhaust cam is transmitted to the exhaust valve, in addition to the displacement of the first exhaust cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, Fusco Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Daigo, Masahiro Maekawa, Toru Kawatani, Manabu Horiuchi, Satoshi Nakajima, Koichi Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 6918364
    Abstract: Described herein is a multicylinder internal-combustion engine provided with an electronically controlled hydraulic device for controlling variable actuation of the valves of the engine. The final phase of the movement of closing the intake valves is slowed down by a hydraulic braking device of an improved type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Francesco Vattaneo, Stefano Chiappini, Macor Lorentino, Dante Malatto
  • Patent number: 6910452
    Abstract: In order to improver a response of a rocker arm by reducing a moment of inertia of the rocker arm around a pivot portion thereof, the invention provides a rocker arm comprises a metal-plate-made rocker arm main body including a pivot portion and a valve stem guide portion respectively formed in the longitudinal-direction two end portions thereof. In the provided rocker arm, the center-of-gravity position of the rocker arm main body is set at a position shifted to the pivot portion side from the longitudinal-direction center thereof. Moreover, The clearance between a pair of opposing side wall portions formed in the valve stem guide portion is set narrow so that the center-of-gravity of the rocker arm main body can be set at a position shifted to the pivot portion side from the longitudinal-direction center thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobutsuna Motohashi
  • Patent number: 6907852
    Abstract: In a valve-driving device for variable adjustment of the lift of a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine, wherein the gas exchange valve co-operates, via a transfer element, with a roller which can move about an axis of rotation, with a control path having an idling lift curve and a lift curve in an end area of a spring-loaded pivoting level which is controlled by a cam associated with a cam shaft in order to actuate the lifting of said gas exchange valve. In order to obtain a pure pivoting movement of the pivoting lever, the pivoting center of motion forms a constant instantaneous center of rotation during any actuation of said lift. In order to prevent an impact arising from the valve clearance, the control path of the pivoting lever comprises a ramp, which is correspondingly adapted to the respective valve clearance, between the idling lift curve and the lift curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
    Inventors: Michael Schleusener, Rudolf Flierl
  • 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: 6892684
    Abstract: A variable valve gear particularly for internal combustion engines, in which a control cam of a camshaft acts, by way of pair of swivellably coupled levers, to a valve to produce an adjustment of the valve stroke. The valve stoke can vary continuously from a maximum lift to zero lift while the valve clearance can remain unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Inventors: Manousos Pattakos, John Pattakos, Emmanouel Pattakos
  • Patent number: 6886512
    Abstract: Mechanical controls for continuously varying the length of the stroke of the valves in an internal-combustion engine and for maintaining the valves constantly closed while the engine is in operation while simultaneously varying how long the valve or valves remain open, whereby the valves are actuated by rocker levers that are in turn actuated by an angled lever, whereby the positions of the levers are varied in order to vary the length and duration of the stroke. The valves are actuated at low engine speeds by assigning a specific narrow angle of rotation to each abbreviated stroke to be established. FIG. 1 illustrates valve stroke controls with an angled lever (2) actuated by a cam (17) mounted on a lateral roller (3). In the event of a misalignment, a planetary gear comes into play, wherein a roller (9), mounted on the rocker lever (8) that actuates the valve (1) acts a sun wheel, the angled lever (2) acts as a planet wheel, and a setting lever (5) acts as a planet bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Automotive AG
    Inventor: Herbert Naumann
  • Patent number: 6883485
    Abstract: In an OHV engine in which a pair of cylinder blocks is connected to the crankcase and power from a cam is transmitted to a rocker arm pivotably supported by the cylinder heads via connecting rods, to enable downsizing of the engine while reducing the number of components and the number of assembling steps. A part of the connecting rods out of the respective connecting rods are respectively stored in a rod storage chamber provided in both cylinder heads, both cylinder blocks and a crankcase between the cylinder axes of the adjacent cylinder bores in the respective cylinder blocks. The remaining connecting rod disposed outwardly of the cylinder axes of the outermost cylinder bores laid along the axis of the crankshaft is stored in part in a pipe member disposed at the position away from the outer walls of the cylinder blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuto Fukuzawa, Tomomi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6874456
    Abstract: In a valve operating apparatus, torque is transmitted from an eccentric drive cam attached to a drive shaft through a multinodular-link motion-transmission mechanism including a link arm, a rocker arm, and a link rod to a rockable cam to cause an engine valve to open and close. Also provided is a control cam whose geometric center is displaced from a control shaft. By way of eccentric rotary motion of the control cam, a valve lift of the engine valve is variably controlled. Lubricating oil supplied from an oil passage formed in the drive shaft via a first communicating passage formed in the drive cam into a clearance between the link arm and the drive cam, is forcibly fed via a second communicating passage into a pivotally linked portion between the link arm and the rocker arm by oscillatory pumping action created by eccentric rotary motion of the drive cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Yamada, Katsuhiko Uchida
  • Patent number: 6863040
    Abstract: To provide a rocker arm of a design effective to avoid occurrence of a loosening of the adjustment screw to ensure a proper operation of the internal combustion engine including the control of the opening of the valve body on the engine cylinder head, the rocker arm 1 is of a type capable of being rockingly driven by a cam 2 for selectively opening and closing a valve of an internal combustion engine. The rocker arm 1 includes an arm body 4 prepared from a steel plate by means of a press work to have a generally inverted U-shaped section. The arm body 4 has one end formed with an internally threaded hole 12 into which an adjustment screw 7 is threaded. This adjustment screw has one end defining a pivot piece 7b or a valve drive piece 7Ab. Two nuts 13 and 14 are threadingly mounted in overlapping relation to each other on one end portion of the adjustment screw 7 protruding outwardly from the arm body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Kataoka, Toshiyuki Kobashi, Katsufumi Abe
  • Patent number: 6857406
    Abstract: A valve driving device including a tappet assembly adapted to slide in a tappet guide hole to drive a valve and including a high-speed center tappet and low-speed side tappet; and a high-speed center cam and a low-speed side cam provided corresponding to the center tappet and the side tappet. A depression is formed which is depressed from a base circle to roughly the same profile as a shaft section of the camshaft so that the cam portion over a predetermined angle range where a cam nose section is not formed in the centrally located center cam is smaller than the base circles of the outside located side cams in profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Matsuura, Kouji Asanomi, Toshiaki Nishimoto, Taketoshi Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6854434
    Abstract: An overhead camshaft internal combustion engine is disclosed having a valve mechanism which comprises an intake or exhaust poppet valve 14 having a valve stem operated by two cams 16 and 18 mounted for rotation about a common axis. A first rocker 20 mounted on a pivot shaft 26 acts between the first cam 16 and the valve 14. A second rocker 28 is mounted in the engine on a fixed pivot shaft 30 and acts between the second cam 18 and the pivot shaft 26 of the first rocker 20, to raise and lower the pivot point 26 of the first rocker 20 cyclically in synchronism with the rotation of the second cam 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Mechadyne PLC
    Inventor: Ian Methley
  • 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 Dürr, Bruhns Imke, Jürgen Häberlein, Harald Schliemann, Jörg Schlossarczyk, Manfred Rabis
  • Publication number: 20040261739
    Abstract: A rocker arm comprises an arm body, a shaft and a roller. The arm body formed substantially in a U-shape in section by effecting drawing on a metal plate, includes a connection wall connecting a pair of side walls, an aperture formed through the connection wall, and through-holes at positions where the pair of side walls are aligned with each other. A peripheral edge of the aperture is so formed as to be finished by inserting a first finishing die into the aperture from between the pair of side walls. The shaft is fitted in the pair of through-holes and extended between the pair of side walls. The roller is rotatably supported on the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Masayoshi Shimizuya
  • Patent number: 6834628
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanical valve play compensation element for a valve drive on a piston combustion engine, comprising a first pressure part (1) which is axially displaceable in relation to a second pressure part (2) and which is fixed in such a way that it can turn about the axis of displacement; a torsion spring element (10) which acts between the first pressure part (1) and the second pressure part (2) and is axially flexible at least to a certain extent; and at least one helical surface (9.1) on the first pressure part (1), to which a corresponding helical surface (9.2) on the second pressure part (2) is allocated, these forming a pair of helical surfaces (9). The surfaces of the helical surface pair (9) are configured as a rough surface and are pressed against each other by the torsion spring element (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Duesmann
  • Publication number: 20040244749
    Abstract: The thickness in the width direction of a pair of side wall sections 4 is made as uniform as possible. In use, a load is applied to the pivot 3 from the side of the first and second connecting sections 5, 6 which connect the pair of side wall sections 4. A crimped section 13a is formed on the outer periphery at the opposite end surfaces of the pivot 3b, on the half on the side of the connecting sections 5, 6. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the opposite ends of the pivot 3b comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 11 on the load support side. Consequently, the load is sufficiently supported by the contact surface, and even after being used for a long time of period, lost motion is prevented from occurring on the support section at the opposite ends of the pivot 3 with respect to the pair of side wall section 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20040231621
    Abstract: In an arm type valve gear in which a lash adjuster is mounted between an arm pivoted by the rotation of a cam and a valve stem, it is aimed to reduce the axial length of the lash adjuster and to suppress wear at the contact portion with the valve stem. An engaging hole is formed in an arm pivoted by the rotation of a cam at a position corresponding to the top end face of a valve stem. A lash adjuster received in the engaging hole includes a nut member, an adjuster screw in threaded engagement with the nut member, an elastic body biasing the adjuster screw toward the valve stem, and a ball joint to reduce the axial length of the lash adjuster. Further, by bringing the bottom end face of the ball joint into surface contact with the top end face of the valve stem, wear at the contact portion is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Ken Yamamoto, Eiji Maeno
  • Patent number: 6810844
    Abstract: A method of variably actuating a valve of an engine includes selecting one of three valve lift profiles dependent at least in part upon engine operating conditions and parameters. The selected valve lift profile is phased relative to the angular position of the engine crankshaft dependent at least in part upon engine operating conditions and parameters. The valve is actuated according to the selected and phased valve lift profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark C. Sellnau
  • Publication number: 20040182340
    Abstract: A valve control system (13) for an internal combustion engine including a cylinder head (11), and a poppet valve (15). A camshaft (21) has a first cam profile (25) and a second cam profile (27), and a rocker arm assembly (29) includes a first cam follower (49) and a second cam follower (61) engageable with the second cam profile (27). The poppet valve (15) is disposed toward a first axial end of said rocker arm assembly (29), and there is a first fulcrum surface (39) toward a second axial end of the rocker arm assembly. The first and second axial ends of the rocker arm assembly are oppositely disposed about the first (49) and second (61) cam followers, and a first lash compensation device (83) is operably associated with the cylinder head and includes a first plunger (97) in engagement with the first fulcrum surface (39).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Majo Cecur