Hydraulic Patents (Class 123/90.55)
  • Patent number: 8201533
    Abstract: A lash adjuster includes a plunger inserted into a body and defining a pressure chamber in the body, and a spacer. The plunger is moved axially when a working fluid flows into or out of the pressure chamber so that a volume of the pressure chamber is increased or reduced. The plunger has a bottom wall defining the pressure chamber, a peripheral wall rising from an outer periphery of the bottom wall and an outer peripheral surface having an annular groove located at a height position confined in a thickness range of the bottom wall. When fitted in the groove, the spacer has a plate width equal to a separating distance between a groove bottom and an inner peripheral face of the body to fill a gap between the body and the plunger. The spacer has a flow path through which the working fluid introduced into the pressure chamber leaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: OTICS Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Fujii, Kikuya Ichiishi
  • Patent number: 8161936
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an exhaust valve for removing exhaust gas from a combustion chamber and an engine braking device with a hydraulic valve control unit by which the exhaust valve can be held in an intermediate open position when the engine braking device is actuated. A hydraulic valve lash compensation mechanism for the exhaust valve and a control channel formed between the hydraulic valve control unit and the valve lash compensation mechanism for feeding oil to the hydraulic valve control unit that can be closed by a closure element to compensate for the valve lash of the exhaust valve. A counter-holder is constructed as a piston-cylinder unit. The counter-holder forms a variable stop for a valve bridge cooperating with the valve lash compensation mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG
    Inventors: Florian Kraft, Thomas Leitel, Norbert Schatz
  • Patent number: 8151752
    Abstract: A deactivating hydraulic lash adjuster comprising a pin housing slidably disposed in a body and having at least one lock pin disposed in a transverse bore for extending into a receiver feature in the body to lock the two together during periods of engine operation in valve non-deactivation mode. The present improvement consists in providing a first orienting feature for the lash adjuster body that engages a second orienting feature on an engine head to provide a preferred and fixed orientation of the body within a bore in the engine head. In a currently preferred orientation, the axis of the at least one lock pin is parallel to the axis of the engine camshaft. The orientation of the lock pin(s) to the body is made invariant by insertion of a pin through a radial bore in the body into a longitudinal groove in the pin housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Nick J. Hendriksma
  • Publication number: 20120067313
    Abstract: An engine that may be provided with a variable valve device may include an hydraulic pressure lash adjuster pivotally supporting one side of a swing arm, a valve supporting the other side of the swing arm, and an operating portion pushing a portion of the swing arm downwards so as to pivotally move the valve based on the hydraulic pressure lash adjuster, wherein the hydraulic pressure lash adjuster includes a housing in which an insertion hole may be formed therein, a slave piston that may be slidably inserted into the insertion hole, a master piston of which an end thereof may be placed into the insertion hole with a predetermined gap from the slave piston, wherein the other end of the master piston protrudes out of the housing and may be engaged with the one side of the swing arm, and an oil control valve that opens or closes a passage communicating with a master chamber that may be formed between the master piston and the slave piston in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Myungsik Choi
  • Publication number: 20120067312
    Abstract: An engine includes a hydraulic pressure lash adjuster (HLA) pivotally supporting an end of a swing arm and having a valve supporting the other end of the swing arm, wherein the hydraulic pressure lash adjuster includes a housing, a plunger of which one end portion thereof may be slidably inserted into the inside of the housing, the other end portion of which extends outwards and supports the end of the swing arm by selectively moving upwards or downwards in a length direction of the housing, a stopper pin slidably mounted in a chamber of the plunger so as to selectively lock the plunger to the housing such that the plunger cannot move in the housing, and a hydraulic pressure supply portion that selectively supplies one side of the stopper pin with a hydraulic pressure in the chamber of the plunger to move the stopper pin toward the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Youngsoo LEE
  • Patent number: 8136493
    Abstract: A lash adjuster is provided which includes a cylindrical housing having an open top and formed with an internal thread on an inner periphery thereof, a screw rod having an external thread formed on an outer periphery thereof and in threaded engagement with the internal thread, and a spring biasing the screw rod outwardly of the housing. Each of the internal thread and the external thread having a pressure flank configured to receive pressure when a force that tends to push the screw rod into the housing acts on the screw rod, and a clearance flank having a smaller flank angle than the pressure flank. The screw rod has an end protruding from the housing and configured to support an arm of a valve operating mechanism so as to be pivotable about this end. Oil film expelling grooves are formed in the pressure flank of the external thread, using a tap having a thread that extends so as to cross the internal thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhisa Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Bunko, Eiji Maeno
  • Publication number: 20120042843
    Abstract: OBJECT To provide a hydraulic lash adjuster capable of retaining a large amount of hydraulic oil, in a reservoir communicated with a high-pressure chamber when the engine is stopped. MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM A hydraulic lash adjuster including: a cylindrical body (24) having an upper open end, a closed bottom, and a second oil supply hole (27a) formed in the sidewall of the cylindrical body; and a plunger having a top end serving as a plunging end, a sidewall, a bottom end, a high pressure chamber (29) at the lower bottom, and a first oil supply hole (24b) formed in the sidewall, the plunger being slidable on the inner wall of the body. The plunger has a reservoir (28) that communicates with an external oil supply line (32) via the first oil supply hole (24b) and the second oil supply hole (27a). The lash adjuster is provided with a check valve (40a) for opening the oil supply hole (24b) by the oil pressure led from an external oil passage (32) to the oil supply hole (24b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukio Kubota, Akifumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8082896
    Abstract: A switchable support element for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, comprising a housing that can be arranged with an outer peripheral wall in a reception of the internal combustion engine, an axially displaceable pressure piston extending in a bore of the housing, said pressure piston being loaded by a lost motion spring means in a direction leading out of the housing, a head of the pressure piston extending beyond an edge of the housing, and at least one coupling piston extending in a cross-bore of the pressure piston, which can be brought partially into engagement with an entraining surface of the housing for achieving coupling, wherein, starting from an outer front end of the at least one coupling piston, a flattened portion is arranged on an underside of the coupling piston wherein a flattened portion is arranged on an underside of the coupling piston, the entraining surface in the housing per coupling piston is constituted by an underside of a window-like aperture in the bore of the housing
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Mario Kuhl, Bodo Rorig
  • Publication number: 20110277715
    Abstract: A cold-formed flat top plunger blank is provided for use in a hydraulic lash adjuster. An end wall at the first end of the plunger body defines a flat top surface that is cold-formed to final dimensions or net shape. The flat top surface at the first end of the plunger body is configured to engage a flat surface within the mating bore of an engine cylinder head. By configuring the plunger body to have a flat top surface that engages a flat surface disposed within the mating bore of an engine cylinder head, the force applied to the engine block by the lash adjuster is distributed more evenly, minimizing wear. The external flat top plunger is a unitary component cold-formed to near net shape, including cold-forming to final dimensions the flat top surface and a counterbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gary Janowiak
  • Patent number: 8056524
    Abstract: A return spring is formed using a compression coil spring that is installed so that its axial direction is an up-down direction. The return spring is provided in a high-pressure chamber, and powers a plunger in an upwards direction. A coil diameter of the return spring varies along the axial direction. When the return spring is in a maximally compressed state, an axial direction dimension (up-down direction dimension) is smaller than a dimension that is a thickness of a spring wire multiplied by the number of coil turns. Hence, an overall height of a lash adjuster A can be reduced in comparison to when a return spring with a constant coil diameter over an entire length is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Otics Corporation
    Inventors: Kimihiko Todo, Hiroki Fujii
  • Patent number: 8037857
    Abstract: A hydraulic support element for a switchable cam follower of a valve drive of an internal combustion engine, which has a pot-like housing with a bore, a pressure piston formed in one piece with an external casing and head projecting over an edge of the housing and a high pressure space for a hydraulic medium. The high pressure space is supplied, via a non-return valve from a first reservoir space, which is fed via first passages in the housing and pressure piston. A second reservoir space is formed in the pressure piston axially above the first reservoir space and is filled by second passages in the housing and pressure piston. From the second reservoir space a hydraulic medium is conducted to the cam follower via an opening in the head. The reservoir spaces are separated by a ball around which the internal wall of the pressure piston is wrapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Peter Sailer, Werner Bretting, Norbert Geyer
  • Patent number: 8001940
    Abstract: A switchable bucket tappet for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine, which has a bucket base body with a ring-shaped base guided by a skirt projecting from the outer edge of the base in a bore of the engine. A lifting cam acts on the base and a hollow cylindrical extension projects from an inner edge of the base. In the bore, an inner body is axially movable relative to the bucket base body and, formed in the underside of the inner body, is a support for indirect contact with a gas exchange valve. A coupling piston, which has a flattened portion on its upper side, runs in a bore of the inner body and is engaged with a driver surface for full valve lift. A lost motion spring acts between the bucket base body and inner body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Peter Sailer, Mario Kuhl, Lucia Hinkovska, Sandra Schaefer
  • Patent number: 8001941
    Abstract: A lash adjuster for a valve gear includes a plunger movable upward and downward and including a high-pressure chamber, a leak path defined by an inner circumferential surface of a body and an outer circumferential surface of the plunger so that operating oil reserved in the chamber leaks through the leak path, and a ring-shaped member located between the body and the plunger. The member projects into the leak path during normal operation and is elastically deformed radially inward with increase in oil pressure at the chamber side so as to be retreated from the leak path when abnormal movement occurs in the valve gear such that oil pressure in the chamber exceeds a normal range, thereby reducing flow resistance of the oil in the leak path. The member has a surface receiving oil pressure in the chamber thereby to elastically deform the ring-shaped member radially inward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Otics Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Fujii, Katsuhiko Motosugi
  • Patent number: 7942118
    Abstract: An oil system for selectively deactivating valves for specified cylinders of an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head having a lash adjuster oil passage and a cylinder deactivation oil passage. Plugs are coupled to the cylinder head separating the cylinder deactivation oil passage into separate portions. A clearance between a portion of each plug and the head allows a controlled flow of oil to pass from the lash adjuster oil passage to the cylinder deactivation oil passage to purge air from the cylinder deactivation oil passage. A valve is operable to selectively supply pressurized oil to the cylinder deactivation oil passage to deactivate the specified cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Rodney E. Baker
  • Patent number: 7931001
    Abstract: The invention proposes a push-rod valve train having an adjustable valve tappet (1). This has an outer part (2a, 2b), an inner part (8) and a lost-motion spring (10), which forces the inner part (8) towards a relative position, at least one retainer ring (23), which is fixed in an annular groove (21) of the outer part (2a, 2b) and which interacts with a stop face (22) of the inner part (8), being provided for fixing the relative position, said retainer ring having lugs (28) extending radially inwards and separated by a fitting gap (27). In this the free movement of the valve push rod (15) relative to the lugs (28) is assured by the provision of a torsional locking means (30a, 30b), which serves to fix the radial position of the fitting gap (27) inside the annular groove (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Florin Bugescu, Anna Strehlau
  • Patent number: 7921823
    Abstract: The hydraulic play compensation device, having an outer cylinder part which is closed on one side by a base and in which a piston element which lies on its inside is guided so as to be longitudinally displaceable, with a guide gap, having an oil pressure space having an oil inlet which supplies the oil supply space, and having a connecting duct controlled by a nonreturn valve between the oil supply space and the oil pressure space. For optimized removal of air which is introduced via the oil inlet, it is proposed that a ventilation path which connects the oil supply space and the guide gap is formed in the piston element downstream of the oil inlet and upstream of the connecting duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Peter Sailer, Oliver Schnell, Dieter Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7918202
    Abstract: A variable valve apparatus includes a high lift cam and a low lift cam in parallel with the high lift cam. A tappet body includes a high lift tappet body that constantly contacts the high lift cam, and a low lift tappet body that is disposed in the high lift tappet body and selectively contacts the low lift cam. An inner column is connected with a valve and reciprocally disposed within the low lift tappet body. A supporting member is disposed below the tappet body. A lost motion elastic member is disposed between the supporting member and the tappet body for supplying restoring force to the tappet body. A first connector selectively connects the high lift tappet body and the low lift tappet body. A second connector selectively connects the low lift tappet body and the inner column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Young Hong Kwak, Kiyoung Kwon, Ki Uk Shin, Jin Kook Kong, Kyoung Joon Chang
  • Publication number: 20110067661
    Abstract: Hydraulic lost motion systems and methods for actuating an internal combustion engine valve include a master piston slidably disposed in a housing. One or more master piston fluid passages extend from a bore provided in the master piston and register with a fluid passage extending through the housing. A slave piston is slidably disposed in a lower portion of the master piston bore and a valve catch piston is slidably disposed in an upper portion of the master piston bore. The valve catch piston may have a hollow interior, a lower end orifice extending from the hollow interior through a lower end of the valve catch piston, one or more side passages extending through a side portion of the valve catch piston, and one or more seating passages extending through the valve catch piston wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Schwoerer
  • Publication number: 20110056447
    Abstract: In a clearance compensating device for an internal combustion engine with an internal part movably arranged within a guide duct of an external part for adjusting a clearance of an associated valve of the internal combustion engine, a pressure chamber, and a storage chamber which is hydraulically connected to the pressure chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid are associated with the interior part. Between the two chambers a one-way valve is disposed for applying an actuating force to the interior part relative to the external part. A feeding device is hydraulically connected to a blocking chamber for supplying a hydraulic fluid to the blocking chamber in order to exert a blocking force to the internal part acting in a direction opposite the actuating force under the control of a timing device the blocking force being modified depending on a cycle of the timing devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: JOSEF ASTNER, DANIEL BÖHME, MARC OLIVER WAGNER, HARRY WOLF
  • Patent number: 7900591
    Abstract: The invention proposes a switchable component (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said component (1) comprising a housing (2) in whose bore (3) an axially displaceable inner element (4) comprising coupling elements (5) is received, said coupling elements (5), for effecting coupling, being able to be brought partially into engagement with an entraining surface (6) of the housing (2), the inner element (4) being biased in outward direction from the housing (2) by a lost motion spring (7), and an (outer) anti-rotation device (11) extending from an outer casing (10) of the housing (2) projects beyond a surrounding structure (12a), the outer anti-rotation device (11) is configured as a C-shaped, thin-walled ring (13) comprising a slit (12), said ring (13) extends after the manner of a clip in an annular groove (14) in the outer casing (10) of the housing (2) parallel to a transversal plane of the component (1) and, for effecting outer anti-rotation, said ring (13) projects with a sickle-like po
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Bodo Roerig, Joachim Seitz, Robert Heinemann
  • Patent number: 7891329
    Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention provides a lash adjuster feed channel for an engine assembly. The engine assembly includes first and second sets of hydraulic lash adjusters responsive to a variation in hydraulic fluid pressure to cause a variation in lift of first and second sets of engine valves respectively operatively connected thereto. The cylinder head defines a first feed passage in fluid communication with the first set of hydraulic lash adjusters, and a second feed passage in fluid communication with the second set of hydraulic lash adjusters. The valve lift of the first set of engine valves is independently variable by controlling the transfer of hydraulic pressure in the first feed passage, and the valve lift of the second set of engine valves is independently variable by controlling the transfer of hydraulic pressure in the second feed passage. A corresponding method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy L. Neal, Vimesh M. Patel, Craig D. Marriott
  • Patent number: 7878169
    Abstract: A roller pin for carrying a cam roller in a tappet assembly is provided. The roller pin providing reduced run in time and reduced peak and localized contact pressure between the cam roller and roller pin. The roller pin comprises a substantially cylindrical shaft having a length, a first end and a second end. The length extends from the first end to the second end. The shaft includes a plurality of grooves axially spaced apart and extending in a direction being transverse to the length. The plurality of grooves located proximate the first and second ends and extending only partially the circumference of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Woodward Governor Company
    Inventor: Barry T. Brinks
  • Publication number: 20110011361
    Abstract: A device (22) is adapted to couple a finger follower (14) and a hydraulic lash adjuster (18) for use in a valve train (10) of an engine. The hydraulic lash adjuster (18) includes a plunger (34) having a longitudinal axis. The finger follower (14) includes a pocket (30) for receiving the plunger (34) and a protrusion (54) proximate the pocket (30). The device (22) includes a first portion (66) having an outer peripheral edge (70) and an inner peripheral edge (74), which defines a first aperture (82) configured to receive the plunger (34). The inner peripheral edge (74) of the first portion (66) includes at least one radially inwardly-projecting tang (86) configured to frictionally engage the plunger (34) to substantially axially secure the first portion (66) to the plunger (34). The device (22) also includes a second portion (78) coupled to the first portion (66) and extending substantially non-parallel to the first portion (66).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: KOYO BEARINGS USA LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7856953
    Abstract: The dual valve lifter assembly has a dual valve lift with two hydraulic lash adjusters therein and a guide for orienting and preventing rotation of the dual valve lifter. The guide has four ledges and the dual valve lifter has four flats which mate with the four ledges. The flats and the ledges prevent the rotation of the lifter. One pair of flats and one pair of ledges are spaced the same while the other pair of flats and the other pair of ledges are spaced at a different distance than the first pair of flats and ledges. The difference in the spacing of the pairs of ledges and flats allows for correct orientation of the lifter when mating it with the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Lutz Kirbach, Florin Bugescu
  • Publication number: 20100307438
    Abstract: A variable tappet may include an outer tappet body, an inner tappet body that is slidably disposed within the outer tappet body and selectively connected with the outer tappet body, a lost motion elastic member that is disposed within the outer tappet body and elastically supports the outer tappet body, and a connecting unit that is slidably disposed within the inner tappet body and selectively connects the outer tappet body and the inner tappet body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jun Hun Lee, Gee Wook Shin, Jin Kook Kong, Soo Hyung Woo, Jin Soon Kim
  • Patent number: 7845327
    Abstract: A system and method for lash adjustment in the valvetrain of an internal combustion engine include a hydraulic lash adjuster having a damping device to limit rate of movement of a plunger relative to a body to control response time of the lash adjuster reducing or eliminating over-compensation or pump-up of the lash adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin V. Tallio, Jeff Chester Lyjak, Floyd Melvin Comer
  • Patent number: 7827952
    Abstract: A variable tappet includes a tappet body; a variable portion in the tappet body, configured to open and close a valve; and a control portion to maintain the variable portion in either a first state, at which it can open and close the valve, and a second state, at which it cannot open and close the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Young Hong Kwak
  • Publication number: 20100275866
    Abstract: An improved SHVL for an internal combustion engine comprises an improved arrangement for locking a spring tower into a pin housing. The spring tower is provided with an annular OD groove as in the prior art. The pin housing ID groove is modified to have a two-step groove comprising two adjacent regions having different depths (different diameters) and having a distinct transition lip therebetween. A spring clip of the correct size seats properly in the spring tower groove and in the lesser-diameter pin housing groove, resulting in a correct overall length of the SHVL. Any oversize clip is caught between the lower lip of the spring tower groove and the transition lip of the two-step pin housing groove, resulting in a SHVL distinctly shorter than nominal, which is easily detected by either direct length measurement or a gauge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Carl R. Kangas, William D. Bauman
  • Patent number: 7819100
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is equipped with a variable actuation system for the intake valves, including a chamber of fluid under pressure interposed between the intake valve and the respective controlling cam, and a solenoid valve whose opening causes the pressure chamber to discharge such as to determine the rapid closure of the valve by effect of the respective biasing spring means, even when the respective cam would tend to keep the valve open. The variable valve operation system is used in combination with the use of cams controlling the intake valves shaped in such a manner as to give rise to an intake valve lift profile including a boot portion at substantially constant lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Gianluca Canino, Luca Gentile, Laura Gianolio, Maria Grazia Lisbona, Francesco Vattaneo
  • Patent number: 7810461
    Abstract: A return spring is formed using a compression coil spring that is installed so that its axial direction is an up-down direction. The return spring is provided in a high-pressure chamber, and powers a plunger in an upwards direction. A coil diameter of the return spring varies along the axial direction. When the return spring is in a maximally compressed state, an axial direction dimension (up-down direction dimension) is smaller than a dimension that is a thickness of a spring wire multiplied by the number of coil turns. Hence, an overall height of a lash adjuster A can be reduced in comparison to when a return spring with a constant coil diameter over an entire length is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Otics Corporation
    Inventors: Kimihiko Todo, Hiroki Fujii
  • Patent number: 7793626
    Abstract: A hydraulic cam follower (1), such as a roller tappet, is provided. This is used for the actuation of two identically operating gas-exchange valves and should be installed inclined to the direction of the force of gravity. The cam follower (1) comprises a pot-shaped housing (2), whose bottom (3) is provided with a roller as a cam contacting element (4). In the housing (2), two guides (5) extending parallel to the direction of the internal combustion engine are provided, in each of which a pressure piston (6) is arranged so that it can move axially, whose end (7) away from the housing is constructed as a support for contact with a respective tappet pushrod. Each pressure piston (6) encloses a reservoir (11) for hydraulic medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Florin Bugescu, Jemel Jones, Richard Best
  • Publication number: 20100199932
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder barrel internal combustion engine includes a valve actuation mechanism having generally L-shaped rockers for actuating valves in the engine. The rockers are arranged in pairs each pivotally coupled to a common rocker support. The pair of rockers actuate respective valves of an adjacent pair of cylinders in the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: Thomas Engine Company, LLC
    Inventor: Anton Polt
  • Publication number: 20100186701
    Abstract: A method of purging air from an oil passage in communication with a lifter assembly in an engine assembly may include isolating the oil passage from a pressurized oil source while the lifter assembly is engaged with a base region of a cam lobe to operate the first lifter assembly in the activated mode. The pressurized oil may be provided to the lifter assembly via the oil passage after the isolating when the lifter assembly is engaged with a lift region of the cam lobe. The lifter assembly may be maintained in the activated mode after the providing. Air may be purged from the oil passage based on the pressurized oil provided to the oil passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: JAMES B. HICKS, WILLIAM C. ALBERTSON, MARK STABINSKY, MIKE M. MCDONALD
  • Publication number: 20100186694
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating an engine assembly having a hydraulically actuated component. The method may include providing pressurized oil from a pressurized oil source to an oil passage in communication with the hydraulically actuated component and determining a first oil pressure measurement within the oil passage a first predetermined time after the providing. The method may further include preventing operation of the hydraulically actuated component when the first oil pressure measurement is below a first predetermined limit, isolating the oil passage from the pressurized oil source after the providing, and determining a second oil pressure measurement within the oil passage a second predetermined time after the isolating when the first oil pressure measurement is above the first predetermined limit. Operation of the hydraulically actuated component may be prevented when the second oil pressure measurement is above a second predetermined limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: WILLIAM C. ALBERTSON, MIKE M. MCDONALD
  • Patent number: 7762224
    Abstract: A switchable support element (1) comprising a housing (2) in whose bore (4) an axially displaceable pressure piston (7) extends, said support element (1) comprising at least one coupling element (8) for an optional coupling of the pressure piston (7) in its axially extended position relative to the housing (2), said pressure piston (7) being biased in an outward direction from the housing (2) by at least one lost motion spring (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Bodo Rörig, Joachim Seitz, Robert Heinemann
  • Patent number: 7730858
    Abstract: Hydraulic valve actuation systems and methods to provide variable lift for one or more engine air valves by way of a variable position hard stop. Various embodiments are disclosed, including embodiments controlling lift by providing a choice of two different fixed stops, three different fixed stops, stops continuously variable throughout a range of lifts, and a fixed stop and stops continuously variable throughout a range of lifts. The valves controlled by a variable position hard stop may be a single engine intake or exhaust valve, or multiple valves of any number, and of either intake or exhaust valves or both, or of one intake or one exhaust valve for one or more cylinders in engines having more than one intake or exhaust valve per cylinder. Dashpot deceleration of engine valve velocity on opening to the hard stop and on engine valve closure is disclosed, as are other aspects and embodiments of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Sturman Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy Robert Babbitt, Miguel Angelo Raimao, Charles Conrad Klose, Jeffrey Allen Rogers, Oded Eddie Sturman
  • Publication number: 20100077975
    Abstract: A switchable bucket tappet for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine, which has a bucket basic body with a ring-like base. A hollow-cylindrical projection protrudes from an inner edge of the base, and in the bore of the projection an inner body extends. Two coupler pistons lie opposite one another and, to achieve a full valve stroke, engage in sections with a driver surface of the bucket basic body which run in a radial hole of the inner body. A zero valve stroke is achieved when the coupler piston is displaced completely into the radial hole of the inner body, which is baseless and free of contact with a cam. The projection has a window-like aperture, with the underside acting as the driver surface for an upper side of the coupler piston during coupling. The region of the base is an approximately symmetrical and continuously thin-walled formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Lucia Hinkovska, Sandra Schaefer, Lothar Von Schimonsky, Norbert Nitz, Mario Kuhl, Michael Haas
  • Publication number: 20100071649
    Abstract: A cold-formed ball plunger blank is provided for use in manufacturing a finished ball plunger used in a hydraulic lash adjuster that includes a check valve assembly having a check ball and a retainer. The ball plunger blank includes a cup-shaped member that extends from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis. The cup-shaped member includes a ball portion adjacent the first end of the member and a body portion adjacent the second end of the member. The body portion has a cavity disposed therein, a counterbore extending from the second end of the body towards the first end of the member, and a shoulder that separates the cavity from the counterbore and at least partially closes the cavity. The shoulder defines a ball seat surface configured to receive the check ball and a retainer receiving surface configured to receive the retainer, wherein the ball seat surface and the retainer receiving surface are to sized to the final dimensions of the finished ball plunger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Gary Janowiak
  • Publication number: 20100037845
    Abstract: A hydraulic support element for a switchable cam follower of a valve drive of an internal combustion engine, which has a pot-like housing with a bore, a pressure piston formed in one piece with an external casing and head projecting over an edge of the housing and a high pressure space for a hydraulic medium. The high pressure space is supplied, via a non-return valve from a first reservoir space, which is fed via first passages in the housing and pressure piston. A second reservoir space is formed in the pressure piston axially above the first reservoir space and is filled by second passages in the housing and pressure piston. From the second reservoir space a hydraulic medium is conducted to the cam follower via an opening in the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Peter SAILER, Werner BRETTING, Norbert GEYER
  • Publication number: 20100031907
    Abstract: A valve drive with a decompression brake for an internal combustion engine, which has a camshaft with a cam, a rocker arm for transmitting the cam stroke to a gas exchange valve, a pivot bearing supporting the rocker arm, and a hydraulic valve play compensating element arranged in force flow between the cam and gas exchange valve. The valve play compensating element is fixed in the engine and valve drive also has a secondary lever with a first and second lever section. The secondary lever is angularly connected, between the lever sections, to a lever support formed on the rocker arm, is supported with the first lever section on the valve play compensating element and actuates the gas exchange valve by the second lever section. The effective lever arm of the first lever section is considerably greater than the effective lever arm of the second lever section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventor: Oliver SCHNELL
  • Publication number: 20100024752
    Abstract: A device for hydraulic control of gas exchange valves of a reciprocating internal combustion engine which has slave cylinders, in operative connection with one or more gas exchange valves and, master actuators, in operative connection with at least one cam provided with a basic and cam profile of a camshaft that is rotatatly driven by the engine and can be hydraulically connected to the slave cylinders. The device also has a control device controlled by an actuating member, the device controlling the volume of hydraulic liquid fed to the slave cylinders, and at least one feed line, via which low pressure liquid from a pressure source can be fed to the device by means of at least one non-return valve. The actuators have displaceable vanes, a component carrying the vanes, and cells limited by walls. The vanes are in operative connection with the basic and cam profile of the cam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicants: SCHAEFFLER KG, AFT ATLAS FAHRZEUGTECHNIK GMBH, LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
    Inventors: Michael Haas, Eduard Golovatai-Schmidt, Martin Rauch, Wolfgang Reik, Dirk Neuhauser, Detlef Axmacher, Lars Pfuetzenreuter, Dirk Kenter
  • Patent number: 7644693
    Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster (17;61;81) in which the body (19) defines a body bore (39) extending over substantially the entire axial length of the body, thus making it possible to finish the bore (39) by a more accurate process, such as honing. In the FIG. 2 embodiment, there is a cylindrical member (71) disposed in the lower portion of the body bore (39) cooperating to define a leakdown clearance (39,71 S), to isolate side load on the plunger (25) the leakdown. In the FIG. 3 embodiment, there is both the leakdown clearance (23S,39) between the body bore and the plunger (23) and the leakdown clearance (39,71 S) between the body bore and the cylindrical member (71), the leakdown flow rate of FIG. 3 being variable if the body and the cylindrical member (71) comprise dissimilar metals, having different coefficients of thermal expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Majo Cecur
  • Publication number: 20090320780
    Abstract: A control arrangement for a gas exchange valve in a piston engine adapted between the camshaft of the engine and the valve mechanism, which control arrangement comprises a body part and a chamber arranged therein, into which chamber a connection for hydraulic medium opens and in which a piston device is arranged in force transmission connection with the camshaft and the valve mechanism. The connection for hydraulic medium opens to a space in the chamber, which space increases as the piston device moves in the opening direction of the valve, whereby hydraulic medium is arranged to flow into the space, when the valve is being opened, and out of the space, when the valve is being closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: WÄRTSILÄ FINLAND OYA
    Inventors: Magnus Sundsten, Saku Niinikangas, Jussi Autio
  • Patent number: 7637238
    Abstract: A hydraulic valve play compensating element for generating valve play compensation for a gas exchange valve in a valve operating mechanism of an internal combustion engine, having a piston housing in which a piston, which is elastically supported against the piston housing via a piston spring, is guided in a movable fashion, in which the piston has a low-pressure space which is connected via an axial opening in a piston head to a high-pressure space which is enclosed by the piston housing, and having a control valve which has at least one control valve closing element which can bear in a seal-forming fashion against a valve seat, the letter surrounding the axial opening on a piston head underside, and comprises a control valve spring which is preloaded in the opening direction, wherein, in the event of a collapsing movement between the piston and the piston housing when the gas exchange valve is actuated, the control valve closing element can be acted on hydraulically in the closing direction by means of a bu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Donald Haefner, Lu Zhu
  • Publication number: 20090314237
    Abstract: A switchable bucket tappet for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine, which has a bucket base body with a ring-shaped base guided by a skirt projecting from the outer edge of the base, in a bore of the engine. A lifting cam acts on the base and a hollow cylindrical extension projects from an inner edge of the base. In the bore, an inner body is axially movable relative to the bucket base body and, formed in the underside of the inner body, is a support for indirect contact with a gas exchange valve. A coupling piston, which has a flattened portion on its upper side, runs in a bore of the inner body and is engaged with a driver surface for full valve lift. A lost motion spring acts between the bucket base body and inner body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Peter Sailer, Mario Kuhl, Lucia Hinkovska, Sandra Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20090266321
    Abstract: A variable valve system includes a transmission mechanism T which transmits a valve actuating force to an inlet valve 11 and which varies a maximum lift amount of the inlet valve 11 and biasing members 60. A sub-cam 40 oscillatably supported on a holder 30 driven by a control member 70 has a roller 43 contacting the inlet cam 15a, a drive cam portion 46 outputting the valve actuating force, and acting portions A contacting the biasing members 60. The acting portions A are provided in the vicinity of the roller 43 so that biased contact points 45a1, 45b1 are positioned nearer to a cam contact point 43a than an oscillation center line Ls and that an acting line L1 of a biasing force is superposed on the roller 43 as viewed in the direction of the oscillation center line Ls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masahiko Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20090266319
    Abstract: A system and method for assembling an electrical valve actuator to a cylinder head is described. The system and method provide for lower assembly cost, improved concentricity between valve actuator armatures and valve stems, as well enabling lower inertia valve actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventor: James Douglas Ervin
  • Publication number: 20090255495
    Abstract: A method of variable valve timing in an internal combustion engine in which the valve opening and closing timing of the actuated gas exchange valves of the internal combustion engine can be varied as a function of engine speed by adjusting means for adjusting at least one camshaft relative to a crankshaft, said internal combustion engine comprising hydraulic valve lash adjusters for adjusting a valve lash of the gas exchange valves, said lash adjusters being configured at least on one of an inlet side and an outlet side as idle stroke elements which, when actuated, at first produce an engine speed-dependent idle stroke and to provide a method of variable valve timing for internal combustion engines comprising a camshaft adjustment and a hydraulic valve adjustment with an idle stroke function that guarantees favorable valve timing in all operational situations of the internal combustion engine and, at the same time, improves the thermodynamic exploitation of such internal combustion engines, at each adjustment
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Oliver Schnell, Peter Sailer, Martin Scheidt
  • Publication number: 20090217896
    Abstract: Proposed is a valve drive for an internal combustion engine, having a gas exchange valve (11) and having a valve actuating element (4) which has a contact face (8) for an end face (9) on a valve shank (10) of the gas exchange valve (11) which is actuated in the opening and closing direction by the valve actuating element (4). Here, the contact face (8) and/or the end face (9) should be provided with a wear prevention layer (12) which is composed of at least one metal-free amorphous hydrocarbon layer with sp2 and sp3 hybridized carbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Oliver Schnell, Tim Matthias Hosenfeldt
  • Publication number: 20090199805
    Abstract: A deactivating hydraulic lash adjuster comprising a pin housing slidably disposed in a body and having at least one lock pin disposed in a transverse bore for extending into a receiver feature in the body to lock the two together during periods of engine operation in valve non-deactivation mode. The present improvement consists in providing a first orienting feature for the lash adjuster body that engages a second orienting feature on an engine head to provide a preferred and fixed orientation of the body within a bore in the engine head. In a currently preferred orientation, the axis of the at least one lock pin is parallel to the axis of the engine camshaft. The orientation of the lock pin(s) to the body is made invariant by insertion of a pin through a radial bore in the body into a longitudinal groove in the pin housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventor: Nick J. Hendriksma