Coupling Facilitates Relative Rotary Displacement Between Coupled Members Patents (Class 464/160)
  • Patent number: 11933269
    Abstract: A torsion absorber is provided for attachment to a cylindrical section of a shaft. The torsion absorber includes a flywheel and at least one tensioner. The at least one tensioner is configured to brace a first segment and a second segment of the flywheel against the cylindrical section of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, ZF WIND POWER ANTWERPEN N.V.
    Inventor: Bart Caers
  • Patent number: 11898471
    Abstract: A valve timing adjustment device includes a vane rotor and a hydraulic oil control valve. The vane rotor is fixed to an end portion of one of a drive shaft and a driven shaft and defines a through hole. The hydraulic oil control valve includes a sleeve and a spool. The sleeve includes a body portion in the through hole and a fixing portion fixed into a shaft fixing hole defined in the one. At least a portion of the through hole is sealed by the body portion. A difference between a radial dimension of the shaft fixing hole and a radial dimension of the fixing portion is greater than a total of a predetermined coaxiality between the through hole and the shaft fixing portion and a predetermined coaxiality between the body portion and the fixing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Futoshi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 11421744
    Abstract: A damper device includes: an input shaft member to which a driving force from a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is input, the input shaft member including a flange portion of the crankshaft; an output shaft member capable of outputting the driving force transmitted from the input shaft member; an input side cam and an output side cam respectively connected to the input shaft member and the output shaft member; rolling members pivotable on the input side cam; and an urging member urging the output side cam so as to cause it to abut the rolling members, wherein the input side cam has receiving portions recessed so as to receive the rolling members, and supply passages extending through the flange portion and the input side cam has: inlets communicated with an oil sump space; and outlets formed at the receiving portion of the input side cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroki Inata
  • Patent number: 11162395
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser assembly, including: an axis of rotation; a hydraulic camshaft phaser including a stator arranged to receive rotational torque and including a plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions, a rotor arranged to be non-rotatably connected to a first camshaft and including a plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions circumferentially interleaved with the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions, and a plurality of chambers bounded at least in part by the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions and the plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions; an electric camshaft phaser including an output gear arranged to be non-rotatably connected to a second camshaft located concentrically within the first camshaft and an input non-rotatably connected to the stator; and a connection plate non-rotatably connecting the input and the stator. The rotor and the output gear are rotatable with respect to each other about the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Inhwa Chung, Jeffrey Mossberg
  • Patent number: 11143244
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for coupling an accessory box (16) of the engine (14) of an aircraft to an accessory box (12) of the aircraft, the engine accessory box being connected to a first shaft (20) inside which is slidably mounted a slide (28) carrying first coupling means (28d) capable of cooperating with second coupling means (38) carried by a second shaft (22) connected to the aircraft accessory box (12) so as to couple the first (20) and the second (22) rotating shaft, wherein it further comprises electrical means for moving the slide (28) along the axis (30) of the first shaft (20) between a first uncoupling position with the second shaft and a second first coupling position with the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
    Inventor: Julien Viel
  • Patent number: 10927722
    Abstract: A vane type cam phaser for an internal combustion engine, the vane type cam phaser including a stator and a rotor that is rotatable relative to the stator to adjust a phase angle of a camshaft; a spring element configured to align the rotor with the stator in an idle position; a spring adapter that is arranged between the spring element and the rotor and an axial fixing device that fixes the spring adapter at the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: ECO Holding 1 GmbH
    Inventors: Rene Heym, Norbert Loesch, Markus Todt, Stefan Wanner
  • Patent number: 10590811
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser arrangement configured for a concentric camshaft having inner and outer camshafts is provided. The camshaft phaser arrangement includes a first camshaft phaser and a second camshaft phaser. Each of the camshaft phasers is configured to be connected to either the inner or the outer camshaft. One or more couplers are arranged to torsionally couple the first camshaft phaser to the second camshaft phaser. A first end of the coupler is received by a radial slot configured within either the first or second phaser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Dan Zehan
  • Patent number: 10233996
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vibration damping system for a motor vehicle transmission, comprising: a support member (1) capable of being driven rotationally around an axis X and having a plurality of outer raceways (16); and a plurality of pendulum flyweights (2) distributed circumferentially around the axis X; each of the pendulum flyweights (2) being mounted oscillatingly with respect to the support member (1) by means of two rolling bodies (12, 13) that interact respectively with one and the other of the two inner raceways (14, 15) of the pendulum flyweight (2) and each interact with one of the outer raceways (16) of the support member (1), the outer raceways (16) being juxtaposed one after another continuously around the axis X, so that the rolling bodies (12, 13) are each capable of passing freely from a first outer raceway (16) to a second outer raceway (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Roel Verhoog, Giovanni Grieco
  • Patent number: 9638306
    Abstract: A camshaft unit (1), having a first camshaft (2) which is phase-adjustable with respect to a crankshaft, having a second camshaft (3) which is arranged concentrically with respect to the first camshaft (2), and having a camshaft adjuster (5) by which both camshafts (2, 3) are phase-adjusted with respect to the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Sebastian Zwahr
  • Patent number: 9518611
    Abstract: A drive shaft assembly is formed from two concentrically arranged driveshafts fastened together near to one end of the driveshaft assembly so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween and connectable together near to an opposite end via a torque sensitive drivable connection. The torsional stiffness of the driveshaft assembly is primarily dependent upon whether one or both driveshafts are arranged to transmit torque. The drivable connection may be a mechanical lost motion connection which is operable to either connect the two driveshafts together or not based upon the magnitude of torque applied to the driveshaft assembly. Therefore, the driveshaft assembly provides more than one torsional stiffness allowing it to be better optimized to meet differing operational requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Matt Gillett
  • Patent number: 9322464
    Abstract: A hollow drive gear reduction mechanism includes a hollow wave generator, an annular flexible bearing, a flexible wheel, and a rigid wheel. The annular flexible bearing is disposed in and driven to rotate by an elliptical recess of the wave generator. The flexible wheel includes an inner toothed section and is inserted in the annular flexible bearing and has an outer surface abutted against an inner surface of the inner ring, and the flexible wheel is driven to rotate by the annular flexible bearing. The rigid wheel includes a plurality of outer teeth which are different in number from the inner teeth of the flexible wheel, the rigid wheel is inserted in the flexible wheel, and a part of the outer teeth are meshed with the inner teeth. The respective components are hollow structures, and a lateral aperture is formed on the hollow wave generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Hiwin Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Jian-An Lin
  • Patent number: 9080474
    Abstract: A variable cam timing phaser for an internal combustion engine having a concentric camshaft can include a stator (14) having an axis of rotation. An outer rotor (20) can rotate independently relative to the axis of rotation of the stator (14). A combination of an outer vane (22) and cavity (20a) can be associated with the outer rotor (20) to define first and second outer variable volume working chambers (20b, 20c). A radially inner located rotor (30) can rotate relative to the axis of rotation and independently of both the stator (14) and the outer rotor (20). A combination of an inner vane (32) and a cavity (30a) can be associated with the inner rotor (20) to define first and second inner variable volume working chambers (30b, 30c). When the first and second, outer and inner chambers (20b, 30b, 20c, 30c) selectively communicate with a source of pressurized fluid, phase orientation of the outer and inner rotors (20, 30) with respect to one another and with respect to the stator (14) is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Wigsten, Michael W. Marsh
  • Patent number: 9032925
    Abstract: A phase varying apparatus capable of smoothly varying the phase angle of a camshaft relative to a drive rotor by comprising: a drive rotor supported by a camshaft and driven by a crankshaft; a first control rotor integral with the camshaft; a first torquing mechanism for providing the first drive rotor with a torque in one direction, and a reverse rotation mechanism for proving the first control rotor with a torque in the opposite direction, wherein the reverse rotation mechanism comprises a first radius-decreasing guide groove formed in the control rotor, a crank member adapted to rotate about a position offset from the rotational axis of the drive rotor, and a first pin mechanism mounted on the crank member and movable in the radius-decreasing guide groove, and a second operative mechanism for rotating the first control rotor in the opposite rotational direction relative to the drive rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michihiro Kameda, Masaaki Niiro, Koichi Homma
  • Patent number: 9027519
    Abstract: In an electrically-driven valve timing control apparatus employing a housing and a cover member axially opposed to each other, a cylindrical-hollow motor output shaft is installed in the housing, and configured to rotate relative to the housing by electricity-feeding to the electric motor, and also configured such that lubricating oil is supplied into the motor output shaft. A plug is fitted to the inner periphery of an axial opening end of the motor output shaft for suppressing a leakage of lubricating oil from the motor output shaft to the outside. One of two opposing faces of the cover member and the plug is formed with a protruding portion configured to prevent the plug's slipping out of the axial opening end. A part of the inside face of the cover member, opposed to the plug, is formed integral with the protruding portion partially disposed within the axial opening end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Tadokoro, Hiroyuki Nemoto, Atsushi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9022000
    Abstract: A valve timing control device includes: a vane rotor having a plurality of vanes; a housing having the vane rotor inside so that an advance chamber is formed on one side of each vane and a retard chamber is formed on the other side; a lock pin inserted in a cylinder provided in the vane and moves to a lock position and to an unlock position; and a feeding passage for feeding oil into the cylinder from the retard chamber adjacent to the vane provided with the cylinder to make the lock pin move to the unlock position, and controls an oil supplying unit to supply oil to each retard chamber, wherein a flow passage cross sectional area of the branch passage connected with the retard chamber linking with the cylinder is larger than a flow passage cross sectional area of the branch passage connected with the other retard chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kanai
  • Patent number: 9021998
    Abstract: A phase control apparatus in a variable cam timing (VCT) system of an engine is described herein. The phase control apparatus includes a locking pin coupled to a vane, the locking pin extending into a locking pin recess in a cover plate in a locked configuration, the locking pin and locking pin recess having a backlash and a housing at least partially enclosing the vane and spaced away from the vane forming a gap in the locked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Ali Moetakef, Jamie Charles Hanshaw, Wesley Kridner, Georg Festag, Steve Poe
  • Patent number: 9004030
    Abstract: A variable valve actuating apparatus includes: a first lock recessed portion; a first lock member; a second lock recessed portion formed in the second rotary member's side; a second lock member; a first lock passage arranged to supply the hydraulic fluid, and thereby to move the first lock member out of the first lock recessed portion; and a second lock passage arranged to supply the hydraulic fluid, and thereby to move the second lock member out of the second lock recessed portion, at least a part of the first lock recessed portion and at least a part of the second lock recessed portion being disposed at a position to be projected in an axial direction when the first lock member and the second lock member are in the lock state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Watanabe, Tetsuya Shibukawa, Yasuhide Takada
  • Patent number: 9004029
    Abstract: A variable valve actuating apparatus includes: a first rotary member which includes a rotor fixed to one of the inner cam shaft and the outer cam shaft, and a receiving chamber formed within the first rotary member, and which is arranged to be rotated in an advance angle direction or in a retard angle direction relative to the drive rotary member by a hydraulic pressure selectively supplied to or drained from the advance angle operation chamber and the retard angle operation chamber; and a second rotary member fixed to the other of the inner cam shaft and the outer cam shaft, rotatably received within the receiving chamber of the first rotary member, and arranged to be rotated relative to the first rotary member and the drive rotary member within a predetermined angle range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Watanabe, Osamu Fujita, Tomoya Tsukada
  • Patent number: 8991347
    Abstract: A starting device of a spark-ignition multi-cylinder engine is provided. The device includes a multi-cylinder engine body having cylinders, fuel injection valves, ignition plugs, an intake valve drive mechanism for opening and closing intake valves, a hydraulic variable valve phase mechanism for changing a close timing of each intake valve, an engine-driven hydraulic pressure supply source for supplying a hydraulic pressure, and a start controller for controlling the fuel injection valves, the ignition plugs, and the variable valve phase mechanism. When the supplied hydraulic pressure is below a predetermined pressure, the variable valve phase mechanism locks the close timing. When an engine temperature in an engine-start is high, the start controller retards a fuel injection timing of the cylinder on intake stroke at an engine stopped timing and retards an ignition timing thereof. The start controller does not retard the close timing of the intake valve until the engine-start completes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Miyamoto, Kouji Shishime, Yoshitaka Wada, Tatsuya Takahata
  • Patent number: 8978610
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, including a drive rotation member, a follower rotation member, an electric motor serving to change a relative rotational phase of the drive rotation member and the follower rotation member, a torsion spring accommodated in an annular accommodation space having an axial closed end which is formed between an inner periphery of the drive rotation member and an outer periphery of the follower rotation member, and a stop plate fixed to the drive rotation member so as to cover a part of an axial open end of the annular accommodation space, the stop plate cooperating with the follower rotation member or a camshaft to restrict relative rotation of the drive rotation member and the follower rotation member within a predetermined angular range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Tadokoro, Shinichi Kawada, Atsushi Yamanaka, Hiroyuki Nemoto
  • Patent number: 8978608
    Abstract: In a valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, a plurality of projection sections projected toward a cover member are integrally mounted on a bearing member configured to rotatably journalize a camshaft and a plurality of positioning pins are mounted across (or extended over) the cover member and the respective projection sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Tadokoro, Hiroyuki Nemoto, Atsushi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8978609
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oscillating motor adjuster with a stator (1), a rotor (8) which is positioned within the stator (1) and is displaceable relative to the stator (1) on a first rotor connection (11) by hydraulic pressure in a first direction, and relative to the stator (1) on a second rotor connection (13) by hydraulic pressure in a second direction, a central valve (12) which projects through a hub (7) of the rotor (8) and is inserted into a camshaft (18), wherein the central valve (12) has a first working connection (A) and, at an axial distance from the first working connection (A), a second working connection (B), and wherein the first working connection (A) is connected to the first rotor connection (11) and the second working connection (B) to the second rotor connection (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hilite Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Fatih Dogan, Andreas Knecht
  • Patent number: 8967106
    Abstract: A valve insert (8a, 8b) for a valve, in particular for a control valve (2) for controlling pressure-medium streams of a camshaft adjuster, includes an insert housing (10), in which a filter (12) and a non-return valve (14) with a closing element (24) and a seat element (20) are integrated. A configuration of the valve insert which is easy to install is ensured by at least the insert housing (10), the filter (12) and the seat element (20) being connected non-detachably to one another and forming one preassembled structural unit (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ali Bayrakdar
  • Patent number: 8967107
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster (1, 51) for an internal combustion engine, including a stator (5) which is connectable in a rotationally fixed manner to a crankshaft, a rotor which is mounted in the stator (5) so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis, a sealing cover (7, 53) for minimizing leakage, and a spring element (9, 59) for positioning the rotor with respect to the stator (5). The spring element (9, 59) is held on the sealing cover (7, 53) in the axial direction via a spring clip (3, 41). The use of a spring clip (3, 41) provides a cost-neutral and reduced-weight option for reliably positioning the rotor with respect to the stator (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Olaf Boese
  • Patent number: 8967102
    Abstract: Provided is a valve timing control device, including a drive side rotating member, a driven side rotating member, and a locking mechanism, in which the locking mechanism includes a regulating body, and n stepped portions with which the regulating body engages, the relative rotation phase is regulated in steps from a most retarded phase or most advanced phase until reaching the lock phase, and the positional relationship between the stepped portions and regulating body is set so that, among relative rotations of from a first relative rotation of from the most retarded phase or most advanced phase to a first relative rotation phase regulated by a first stepped portion to a last relative rotation to a last relative rotation, a first predetermined relative rotation other than the last relative rotation is the smallest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Kobayashi, Kenji Nonaka, Shohei Masuda
  • Patent number: 8955479
    Abstract: A variable valve timing control apparatus has a housing; a vane rotor relatively rotating with respect to the housing; a torsion spring always forcing the vane rotor in one rotation direction with respect to the housing; and a spring guide accommodating therein the torsion spring. At least a part of an outside diameter of the torsion spring, before being installed inside the spring guide, is formed to be greater than an inside diameter of an inner wall of the spring guide. In a free state of the torsion spring, after being installed inside the spring guide, in which an urging force of the torsion spring acting on the vane rotor becomes smallest, the outside diameter of the torsion spring is substantially same as the inside diameter of the inner wall of the spring guide or is smaller than the inside diameter of the inner wall of the spring guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Shinomiya
  • Patent number: 8950371
    Abstract: A triple shaft adjusting gear including a driving part (01) that can be connected rotationally fast to a drive shaft, a driven part that can be connected rotationally fast to a driven shaft and an adjusting member that can be connected to an adjusting shaft. A mechanical stop for limiting an adjusting angle between the drive shaft and the driven shaft is arranged between two of the three shafts. According to the invention, the stop is an elastic coupling member for damping an impingement in case of a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schaefer, Mike Kohrs, Jeffrey S. Balko
  • Patent number: 8935999
    Abstract: An electronic control device for controlling an internal combustion engine reduces operation amounts of a high-pressure fuel pump and a vacuum pump, which are auxiliary devices driven by drive force of an intake camshaft, when a rotor of a variable valve timing mechanism is rotated to a lock phase in the phase advancing direction at the engine starting. Thus, the rotor rotates to the lock phase quickly and is fixed to the lock phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toyokazu Nakashima
  • Patent number: 8931448
    Abstract: A cover (4) for covering an axial side of a rotor core (6) that is arranged in a camshaft adjuster (50) and has a passage bore (28) for holding a locking pin (30) with which the rotor core (6) can be secured against rotation relative to a stator (54) of the camshaft adjuster (50). The specified cover includes a base body (8) for axially covering at least one area of the rotor core (6) with the passage bore (28) and a support element (38) that is arranged on the base body (8) for the axial counter support of the locking pin (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Schelter
  • Patent number: 8931447
    Abstract: A device (1) for controlling and/or influencing the valve control times of an internal combustion engine, in particular to a camshaft adjustment device, which includes a drive element (2) which is fastened to an attachment part (3) with a screw connection (4), wherein the drive element (2) and/or the attachment part (3) are/is composed of a fiber-reinforced material. In order to obtain a more lightweight design and to be able to reduce screwing forces, the invention provides that at least one of the contact faces (5, 6) between the drive element (2) and the attachment part (3) is at least partially subjected to material-removing processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Schulte, Rene Gunther, Andreas Strauss
  • Patent number: 8925507
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster (1) is disclosed that has a spring (4) that is supported by spring supports (5), and these spring supports (5) have lubricant reservoirs (6) for the lubrication of the contact area between the spring wire (10) and the spring support (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jurgen Weber
  • Patent number: 8925503
    Abstract: A variable valve actuation device for an internal combustion engine includes a variable valve timing mechanism and a valve timing restricting mechanism. When the operating state of the variable valve timing mechanism is in the phase restricting state and the operating state of the variable valve timing mechanism is changed to the phase releasing state on the basis of pressing the accelerator pedal, a torque limiting control is then performed to limit an increase in the torque of the internal combustion engine. With this control the rate of increase of the torque is set less than the rate of increase of the torque corresponding to the operation of pressing the accelerator pedal by retarding and correcting the ignition timing. Thus, when the operating state of the variable valve timing mechanism is changed from the phase restricting state to the phase releasing state, thereby reducing discomfort experienced by the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Miyazato, Toshio Imamura, Yuu Yokoyama, Masaki Numakura
  • Patent number: 8919309
    Abstract: A mechanism and method of confirming engine timing in an internal combustion engine includes two embodiments, which delay the rotation of the camshaft until confirmation that the engine is properly timed based upon the sensors provided by the electronic control systems of the motor vehicle. In one embodiment, a cam gear assembly is joined to the camshaft to enable proper confirmation that the engine is properly timed before enabling the rotation of the camshaft. In a second embodiment, a gear assembly is used in conjunction with a crankshaft. The crank gear assembly includes an outer ring and an inner ring. A brake is provided in the inner ring to prevent movement until sensors in the vehicle have confirmed proper timing of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Inventors: Braydon Jensen, Val Jensen
  • Patent number: 8919306
    Abstract: A controller for a variable valve device of an internal combustion engine includes a hydraulic valve timing changing mechanism that changes the valve timing VT of an intake valve, a valve timing locking mechanism that locks the valve timing VT to an intermediate phase, and an electronic controller that controls the operation of the valve timing changing mechanism. The electronic controller limits the variable range of the valve timing VT in accordance with the composition of hydraulic oil, when the operational state of the valve timing changing mechanism is a phase-unlocked state in which the valve timing VT can be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toyokazu Nakashima
  • Patent number: 8915221
    Abstract: A valve timing control having a stator body constructed of a plastic material. The stator body has an annular side wall and a front plate which, together, define a plurality of annularly spaced internal cavities within the stator body. A rotor having a plurality of vanes is positioned within the stator body so that one vane is positioned within each cavity. The rotor is movable relative to the stator body between a first and second rotational position. A plurality of threaded metal inserts are embedded within the stator body and used to attach a metal sprocket to the stator body at a position opposed to the front plate. Two of these inserts also receive the impact load from the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Taylor, Andrew Turner
  • Patent number: 8904980
    Abstract: A resin member may include a first side wall, which is placed between a first housing and a laminated body, and a second side wall, which is placed between a second housing and the laminated body. A vane rotor may include a pressing oil passage that is configured to guide hydraulic oil to a first seal member and a second seal member to exert a pressing force, which radially outwardly and axially urge the first seal member and the second seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Hayashi, Tomonori Suzuki, Isao Hattori
  • Patent number: 8904978
    Abstract: A method for operation of an engine is provided. The method includes operating an engine with independent variable intake and exhaust valve timing with an intake valve timing actuator and an exhaust valve timing actuator, locking both the intake and exhaust valve timing actuators in a mid-lock position, and unlocking both the intake and exhaust valve timing actuators via a common locking-control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jamie Charles Hanshaw, Jonathan Denis Crowe, John Eric Rollinger
  • Patent number: 8899199
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser for varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft includes stator having a plurality of lobes. A rotor rotatable about a camshaft axis is disposed coaxially within the stator and has a plurality of vanes interspersed with the lobes to define advance chambers and retard chambers. A lock pin is slidably disposed along a lock pin axis within the rotor for selective engagement with a first lock pin seat and for selective engagement with a second lock pin seat. The lock pin has a lock pin width in a circumferential direction relative to the camshaft axis and a lock pin length perpendicular to the lock pin width and to the lock pin axis such that the lock pin width is less than the lock pin length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Waters
  • Patent number: 8899198
    Abstract: A fastening assembly for fastening a camshaft adjuster to a camshaft, having an input part that can be brought into driving engagement with a crankshaft, an output part that is non-rotationally connected to the camshaft, the output part being mounted rotationally adjustably with respect to the input part, and a control mechanism, by which a rotational angle position between the input and output parts can be adjusted. The output part is provided with a central axial opening penetrated by an end section of the camshaft. The end section has a thread-bearing thread section, which is screwed together with a tension nut acting on the output part such that the output part and the camshaft are axially loaded for the non-rotational connection thereof. To this end, the tension nut is elastically loaded in the axial direction or relieved in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Hoppe, Ali Bayrakdar
  • Patent number: 8888602
    Abstract: An electric tool may include an electric motor, a spindle to which a working tool may be attached, and a torque transmission path provided between the electric motor and the spindle and including a first rotary member and a second rotary member. A torque transmission device may be provided between the first rotary member and the second rotary member and may include a plurality of resiliently deformable torque transmission members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Fumitoshi Numata
  • Patent number: 8881702
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser is provided for varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an engine. The camshaft phaser includes a stator having lobes. A rotor disposed within the stator and rotatable between a full retard position to a full retard position includes vanes interspersed with the stator lobes to define alternating advance and retard chambers. A lock pin selectively engages a lock pin seat for preventing a change in phase relationship between the rotor and the stator at a predetermined aligned position between the full advance and full retard positions. A counterbalancing member is located within one of the advance chambers or the retard chambers, attached to a vane to thereby apply a torque between the rotor and the stator only when the rotor is between the predetermined aligned position and one of the full retard position and the full advance position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Lichti, Cai P. Shum, Paul A. Armour
  • Patent number: 8869759
    Abstract: In a variable valve actuation system capable of changing the angle of action of intake valves by using an actuator whose movement range is between a high end and a low end at which the movement of the actuator is mechanically stopped, it is determined that a fixation is present on condition that the actual amount of movement of the actuator in response to a command A for movement toward the low end that is issued when the present movement position of the actuator is unknown is not more than a prescribed movement criterion value a and that the actual amount of movement in response to a command B output subsequently to the command A in order to cause the actuator to operate in a direction opposite to the direction of the movement in response to the command B is not more than a prescribed movement criterion value b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Nakagawa, Shunsuke Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8863711
    Abstract: An adjustable camshaft sprocket assembly includes a hub and a sprocket body secured to the hub. A stud-receiving opening is defined in one of the hub flange and the sprocket body, and a tool-receiving opening is defined in the other of the hub flange and the sprocket body. The tool-receiving opening is aligned with the stud-receiving opening and is adapted to receive a body portion of an adjustment tool, and the stud-receiving opening is adapted to receive an eccentric stud of the adjustment tool. Either the stud-receiving opening or the tool-receiving opening is elongated. Rotation of the adjustment tool when its body is located in the tool-receiving opening and its eccentric stud is located in the stud-receiving opening causes relative angular movement between the hub and the sprocket body. One or more fasteners are used to immovably secure the sprocket body to the hub after adjustment. A tool includes cylindrical base, a driving head, and an eccentric stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Cloyes Gear and Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy R. Allen
  • Patent number: 8863708
    Abstract: Even if an internal combustion engine is stopped having a lock pin of a vane rotor kept disengaged from a lock recess, subsequent engine starting can instantly move the vane rotor to a desired angular position where the lock member an be engaged with the lock recess. The vane rotor has therein two passage control mechanisms each having a hydraulically actuated valve body. When the valve body is moved to a given position, retarding and advancing hydraulic holes become communicated to each other through an annular groove of the valve body. Due to this ON communication, retarding and advancing operation chambers become communicated, so that reciprocative swing movement of the vane rotor induced by an alternating torque produced at the starting of the engine is effectively made and thus the vane rotor can be quickly turned to the desired angular position for ease of engine starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Watanabe, Yasuhide Takada, Osamu Fujita, Tetsuya Shibukawa
  • Patent number: 8857395
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes a driving-side rotation member, a driven-side rotation member, a fluid chamber, an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber, a fluid control valve portion controlling supply and discharge of fluid relative to each of the advanced angle chamber and the retarded angle chamber, an accumulator accumulating a portion of fluid supplied to the fluid control valve portion from a pump at a fluid storage portion during an operation of an internal combustion engine and supplying fluid accumulated at the fluid storage portion to the fluid control valve portion at a start of the internal combustion engine, and a supply flow passage connecting the pump, the fluid control valve portion, and the accumulator in series. The accumulator includes a relief control valve portion configured to maintain a pressure of fluid accumulated at the fluid storage portion equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Mukaide, Shigemitsu Suzuki, Naoto Toma
  • Patent number: 8857388
    Abstract: Provided is a valve open/close timing control system where a valve open/close timing control device includes a drive-side rotating member, a driven-side rotating member, a relative rotational phase control mechanism, and a first locking member, in which the internal combustion engine is configured to be started by a drive force generated by a traveling motor or by a drive force generated by a starter motor, and the valve open/close timing control system also includes a control unit which is configured, for starting the internal combustion engine while changing the relative rotational phase at the time of starting the internal combustion engine, to drive the starter motor or the traveling motor at the time of starting the internal combustion engine at the first locking phase, and to drive the traveling motor at the time of starting the internal combustion engine at the second locking phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Kobayashi, Kazunari Adachi, Kazuo Ueda
  • Patent number: 8851034
    Abstract: A hydraulic camshaft phaser includes an outer rotor and an inner rotor rotationally adjustable and arranged concentrically about a common axis of rotation. At least one hydraulic chamber is formed between the outer rotor and the inner rotor, into which hydraulic chamber at least one connected vane extends from each of the outer rotor and the inner rotor, thereby dividing the hydraulic chamber into at least one pressure chamber pair formed by two pressure chambers. The inner rotor has a circular opening extending concentrically along the axis of rotation, a sealing portion being formed on the inner surface of the circular opening between two axial faces of the inner rotor, and the opening having a larger inner diameter on both sides of the sealing portion than in the sealing portion. The inner rotor is a sintered part, and the sealing portion of the inner rotor is calibrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Olaf Boese, Christoph Betz
  • Patent number: 8844486
    Abstract: In a valve timing control apparatus, a supply oil passage, which supplies hydraulic oil to advancing chambers, is formed separately from a discharge oil passage, which discharges the hydraulic oil from the advancing chambers. A spool is configured to reciprocate in a sleeve to enable and disable communication between each corresponding two of an intake oil passage, the supply oil passage, the discharge passage, and a supply and discharge passage. An isolating member is fixed to one end portion of the spool and isolates an air chamber, which is formed between the one end portion of the spool and a bottom portion of the sleeve, from each of the oil passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Hayashi, Tomonobu Ikuma
  • Patent number: 8839751
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (1) having a device (2) for changing the relative angular position of a camshaft (3) with respect to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, wherein the device (2) includes a drive element (4) driven by the crankshaft and a housing element (5). The drive element (4) together with the housing element (5) rotates about an axis (a) during operation of the internal combustion engine and the device (2) is at least partially surrounded by a casing (6) of the internal combustion engine (1). In order to improve the oil exchange in the housing bell of the internal combustion engine, and to prevent deposition of particles in the housing bell, the housing element (5) is provided with at least one fluid-conveying element (7), wherein the fluid-conveying element (7) is intended and suitable for conveying fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Dietz, Rudiger Herzog
  • Patent number: 8820278
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes a driving-side rotary body, a driven-side rotary body, a fluid pressure chamber partitioned into a retard angle chamber and an advance angle chamber by a partitioning portion provided in at least one of the driving-side rotary body and the driven-side rotary body, a fluid control mechanism for controlling feeding of working fluid from a working fluid pump for feeding the working fluid to the fluid pressure chamber and controlling also discharging of the working fluid from the fluid pressure chamber, a first lock mechanism capable of restraining a relative rotational phase to a first predetermined phase between a most retarded angle phase and a most advanced angle phase, and a second lock mechanism capable of restraining the relative rotational phase to a second predetermined phase different from the first predetermined phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Kobayashi, Kazunari Adachi, Mitsuru Uozaki, Kenji Fujiwaki, Shohei Masuda