Coupling Facilitates Relative Rotary Displacement Between Coupled Members Patents (Class 464/160)
  • Patent number: 8820280
    Abstract: A variable cam timing phaser with a control valve for directing fluid from a fluid input to and from the advance chamber and the retard chamber of the phaser through an advance line, a retard line, a common line, an advance default line, a retard default line, and at least one exhaust line. The control valve being movable between a default mode and an oil pressure actuated mode. In the default mode, the control valve blocks exhaust lines, retaining fluid within the chambers. The oil pressure actuated mode includes at least an advance mode, a retard mode, and a holding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Franklin R. Smith
  • Patent number: 8820283
    Abstract: A camshaft may have an inner shaft and an outer shaft, each rotatable relative to the other. An adjusting device may include a first phase adjuster and a second phase adjuster. The outer shaft may be mounted in a stationary counter bearing adjacent to the adjusting device and the adjusting device may have a first phase adjuster and a second phase adjuster. The counter bearing may be designed as a slide bearing and oil supply to the phase adjusters may take place via the slide bearing. The slide bearing may have a first, second and third oil channel. The first oil channel may act on the first phase adjuster with corresponding oil flows, the second oil channel may act on the second phase adjuster with a first oil flow, and the third oil channel may act on the second phase adjuster with a second oil flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Luke Brodbeck, Thomas Flender, Michael Kreisig, Falk Schneider, Antonio Menonna, Stefan Steichele
  • Patent number: 8813702
    Abstract: Provided is a valve timing control device, including: a drive side rotating member, a driven side rotating member, fluid pressure chambers, partition portions, advanced angle control oil passages, retarded angle control oil passages, an intermediate lock mechanism, and a retarded angle lock mechanism, in which the intermediate lock mechanism is configured to include a single intermediate lock member, a biasing mechanism which biases the intermediate lock member, and an intermediate fitting depression portion, and the retarded angle lock mechanism is configured to include a single retarded angle lock member, a biasing mechanism which biases the retarded angle lock member, and a retarded angle fitting depression portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Kobayashi, Kazuo Ueda, Hiromitsu Shigyo
  • Patent number: 8813701
    Abstract: In a phase adjustment device for a valve drive mechanism of an internal combustion engine, in particular a camshaft adjustment device, with a phase adjustment unit which, for adjusting a phase position in a normal operating mode, comprises a coupling unit for controlling an adjustment gear element by applying a braking force, and with a failsafe adjustment arrangement for setting a defined fail-safe phase position in a fail-safe operating mode, the adjustment unit includes mechanical means for varying the braking force of the coupling unit of the phase adjustment unit for setting the phase angle to a controllable failsafe phase angle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Markus Lengfeld, Thomas Stolk, Alexander von Gaisberg-Helfenberg
  • Patent number: 8800515
    Abstract: A phaser with a cam torque actuated vane defining cam torque actuated advance and retard chambers and an oil pressure actuated vane defining oil pressure actuated advance and retard chambers. The phaser is moved to an advance position and a retard position through both cam torque energy and oil pressure energy. The holding position of the phaser is maintained through oil pressure energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Franklin R. Smith
  • Patent number: 8789503
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes a phase holding mechanism for holding relative phase between an inner peripheral member and an outer peripheral member to a predetermined intermediate phase between a most advanced angle phase and a most retarded angle phase, a fluid feeding device for feeding fluid to an advanced angle chamber or a retarded angle chamber through a first fluid passageway or a second fluid passageway, and a fluid control valve for switching over the passage for the fluid discharged from the fluid feeding device to either the first fluid passageway or the second fluid passageway and controlling the feeding amount of the fluid. The phase holding mechanism is configured to have its holding state for holding the relative phase released by a fluid pressure of the first fluid passageway or the second fluid passageway to whichever the fluid control valve starts the feeding of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Kobayashi, Yoshihiro Kawai
  • Patent number: 8733307
    Abstract: A sealing structure has a permanent magnet and a magnetic-flux guiding member for guiding magnetic flux of the permanent magnet to a brake shaft of a brake rotating member. The magnetic-flux guiding member surrounds an outer periphery of the brake shaft so as to form a sealing gap around the brake shaft. The sealing gap is communicated to a fluid chamber, in which magnetic viscous fluid is filled. A fluid sealing member is provided at the brake shaft at a housing outer side of the magnetic-flux guiding member to form an intermediate fluid chamber, in which an intermediate fluid made of non-magnetic liquid is filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichirou Washino, Toru Takahashi, Makoto Otsubo, Kuniaki Oka, Shuhei Oe
  • Patent number: 8733308
    Abstract: A camshaft adjusting device (1) including at least two hydraulic chamber (A, B) disposed between a stator (3) and a rotor (4) and separated by a vane (5) and supplied with pressure oil from a pressure oil source (P) by a hydraulic oil controller (6). In order to achieve improved filling and emptying of the hydraulic chambers, the hydraulic oil controller according to the invention provides: first and second supply lines (7, 9) disposed between the pressure oil source (P) and one of the hydraulic chambers (A), wherein check valves (8, 10) are disposed in the supply lines (7), wherein the supply lines (7) are free of further switchable valve elements, and wherein the supply lines (7) are the sole inlet line for hydraulic oil from the pressurized oil source (P) into the hydraulic chambers (A, B), and a 4/3-way valve element (11) that is effectively disposed between the hydraulic chambers (A, B) and a tank (T) has three valve positions (I, II, III).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Steffen Racklebe, Jochen Auchter, Jochen Broz
  • Patent number: 8726865
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes a housing with an array of internal splines formed within a bore. A harmonic gear drive unit is disposed within the housing and includes a circular spline and a dynamic spline, a flexspline disposed within the circular spline and the dynamic spline, a wave generator disposed within the flexspline, and a rotational actuator connectable to the wave generator. One of the circular spline and the dynamic spline is fixed to the housing. A hub is rotatably disposed within the housing and attachable to the camshaft and fixed to the other of the circular spline and the dynamic spline. An oil passage is provided for receiving oil from an internal combustion engine for lubricating the harmonic gear drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Pascal David, Pierre Kimus
  • Patent number: 8714830
    Abstract: A wheel bearing unit which has an outer ring, one or two inner rings and load-transmitting rolling elements arranged between the two rings. An orbitally formed shoulder of a wheel hub is provided for the pre-stressing of the wheel bearing unit via the inner ring, and a toothed ring which has an outward-facing radial tooth system is arranged on the inner ring, as is usual in wheel bearing units with all-wheel drive capability. The wheel bearing unit has a small axial width which benefits the handling characteristics of a vehicle by attaching the toothed ring to the orbitally formed shoulder and transmitting the drive torques via this attachment. Welding and a plastically formed tooth system on the orbitally formed shoulder are proposed as examples of such fastening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Roland Langer, Peter Niebling, Florian Koeniger, Berthold Krautkraemer, Johannes Schottdorf, Frank Eichelmann, Andreas Becker
  • Patent number: 8707920
    Abstract: In an intake valve timing control apparatus, a lock member is arranged to lock a vane rotor with respect to a housing when the vane rotor is in a most retarded position within which rotation of the vane rotor is restricted by a stopper mechanism. In an exhaust valve timing control apparatus, a lock member is arranged to lock a vane rotor with respect to a housing when the vane rotor is in a most advanced position within which rotation of the vane rotor is restricted by a stopper mechanism. The exhaust valve timing control apparatus further includes a biasing member arranged to bias the vane rotor with respect to the housing in a direction toward the most advanced position. In each valve timing control apparatus, a housing body of the housing and a vane rotor are formed by extruding an aluminum-based metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8695548
    Abstract: A springless check valve enables flow of hydraulic fluid from a supply port toward a corresponding one of an advancing port and a retarding port in a connection passage upon lifting of a valve member from a valve seat and limits flow of the hydraulic fluid from the corresponding one of the advancing port and the retarding port toward the supply port upon seating of the valve member against the valve seat. In a synchronously rotatable member, a drain passage is circumferentially displaced from the drain port, and an advancing passage is placed at a corresponding circumferential position, which coincides with a circumferential position of the advancing port. Furthermore, a retarding passage is placed at a corresponding circumferential position, which coincides with a circumferential position of the retarding port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Kato, Tadao Ikihara, Yuuki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 8689749
    Abstract: A valve timing controller has a control valve and a linear solenoid. The control valve is disposed in an interlocking rotor constructed by a vane rotor and a camshaft. The linear solenoid includes a movable member having an output shaft, and a bearing portion supporting the movable member to reciprocate and rotate. A spool of the control valve is contact with the output shaft. The output shaft contacts a sphere-shaped end surface of the spool, at a contact position offset in a radial direction from a center axis of the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Murao
  • Patent number: 8689748
    Abstract: In a valve timing control apparatus, phase-retard and phase-advance hydraulic chambers are defined among a plurality of shoes formed in a housing and a plurality of vanes formed integral with a rotor fixed to a camshaft. The rotor has a large-diameter portion formed between a first group of adjacent vanes and a small-diameter portion formed between a second group of adjacent vanes. The innermost end of a shoe of the shoes, opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion, is configured to protrude radially inward rather than the innermost end of a shoe of the shoes, opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion. A lock pin is located in the large-diameter portion of the rotor, whereas a lock hole, with which the lock pin slides into and out of engagement, is located in the inner face of a sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8689750
    Abstract: A camshaft phase adjustment device comprises a housing receiving a camshaft. A driving gear member has a first gear and a camshaft receiving portion. The driving gear member transfers motion from the driveshaft to the first gear, which is meshed with a second gear. A second and third gear are mounted on an axle parallel to the camshaft. The second gear and third gear rotate with the same angular velocity. The third gear transfers motion to a fourth gear. The fourth gear is coupled to the camshaft for transferring angular motion to the camshaft such that the camshaft rotates with the angular velocity of the fourth gear. An actuator rotates the housing about the axis of the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: David Gerard Genise
  • Patent number: 8677960
    Abstract: A valve train comprises a double camshaft with an inner camshaft and an outer camshaft. The two camshafts are preferably designed coaxially. By means of a rotatory change in position of the inner camshaft to the outer camshaft, the angular position of at least one cam of the inner camshaft is adjusted or set relative to a cam of the outer camshaft. The cams are divided into sets that can occupy variable cam positions relative to one another. Various configurations of a camshaft adjuster are provided for this purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hilite Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Knecht, Sebastian Borchelt, Dirk Pohl
  • Patent number: 8677963
    Abstract: An electrical camshaft phaser arrangement for controllably varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an internal combustion engine includes an adjusting gear drive unit formed as a three shafts transmission having a drive shaft connected with the crankshaft, an output shaft connected with the camshaft, and an adjusting shaft connected with the control shaft of an electrical machine. The electrical machine allows phasing the camshaft with regards to the crankshaft by increasing or decreasing control shaft speed, the control shaft being spinning during phase holding modes. The adjusting gear drive unit is configured such that an energy recovering mode is provided wherein a braking torque is applied to the control shaft in order to generate electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastien Stoltz-Douchet, Sebastien Mafrica
  • Publication number: 20140066216
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus absorbing a torsional vibration includes a plate member configured to be provided at a power transmission system and including a rolling guide surface, and a mass member rolling on the rolling guide surface of the plate member. The rolling guide surface includes plural first rolling guide surfaces each formed in an arc shape and provided radially inward relative to an outer circumferential portion of the plate member to be arranged in a circumferential direction and a second rolling guide surface allowing the mass member to roll on a locus which is different from a locus on the first rolling guide surface formed in the arc shape. Loci of the mass member are seamlessly switched from the locus in which the mass member rolls on the first rolling guide surface to the locus in which the mass member rolls on the second rolling guide surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto TONE, Suguru Jimbo
  • Patent number: 8640661
    Abstract: A continuously variable valve timing apparatus may include an end plate connected to a camshaft, a drive sprocket rotating the end plate, a first friction plate disposed to be coaxial to the end plate, a second friction plate disposed to be coaxial to the end plate, a first brake selectively braking the first friction plate, a second brake selectively braking the second friction plate, and a control gear portion which changes relative phase between the end plate and the drive sprocket according to braking of the first friction plate or the second friction plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jin Kook Kong, Soo Hyung Woo, Jin Soon Kim, Sang Won Kim
  • Patent number: 8635978
    Abstract: A rotor (1, 21, 41) for a camshaft adjuster (61), having a rotor base body (3, 23, 43) and a number of rotor blades (5, 25, 45) extending radially outwards and located on the rotor base body (3, 23, 43), each of the blades having a blade end (7, 27, 47). To reduce leakage, the blade ends (7, 27, 47) of the rotor blades (5, 25, 45) take the form of sealing fins (9, 31, 49) that can be deformed radially outwards. A rotor (1, 21, 41) of this type affords the possibility of reducing leakage in a camshaft adjuster (61) using simple engineering and without added costs. The invention also relates to a camshaft adjuster (61) for an internal combustion engine, including a rotor (1, 21, 41) of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Armin Braun
  • Patent number: 8631774
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes a partitioning portion in a driven-side rotary member for partitioning the fluid pressure chamber into an advance angle chamber and a retard angle chamber, a restricting member in the driven-side rotary member and projectable and retractable relative to a driving-side rotary member, a restricting recess in the driving-side rotary member and restricting a relative rotational phase to a predetermined range in association with projection of the restricting member therein, a locking member disposed in the driven-side rotary member and projectable and retractable relative to the driving-side rotary member, a locking recess formed in the driving-side rotary member and locking the relative rotational phase to the predetermined phase in association with projection of the locking member therein, a communication passage formed between the restricting member and the locking member, and an urging passage for feeding fluid for projecting the restricting member into the restricting
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Fujiwaki, Masaki Kobayashi, Yoshihiro Kawai, Kenji Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8627792
    Abstract: An adjusting device including an electric motor that has a motor housing, the shaft of the motor running perpendicularly upwards from the electric motor and supporting a gearwheel of an actuating transmission. Oil is conducted from an oil outlet of an oil circuit to the actuating transmission. The upper face of the motor housing has one or more oil inlet openings and the lower face has one or more oil outlet openings, the region of the oil inlet openings being covered by a filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Noll
  • Patent number: 8627795
    Abstract: A camshaft arrangement (1) for changing the relative angle position of at least one cam of a camshaft (2) relative to a second cam of the camshaft (2), wherein the arrangement includes an angular adjustment device (3) having a stator (4) and a rotor (5) which is arranged such that it can be rotated relative thereto. The rotor (5) is connected to a shaft (6) in a rotationally fixed manner, the stator (4) is connected to a hollow shaft (7) in a rotationally fixed manner, and the shaft (6) and the hollow shaft (7) are arranged concentrically to one another. The at least one first cam is connected to the shaft (6) in a rotationally fixed manner and the at least one second cam is connected to the hollow shaft (7) in a rotationally fixed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Kapp, Craig Dupuis, Inhwa Chung
  • Patent number: 8627794
    Abstract: A fluid brake device has a case defining a fluid chamber. Magneto-rheological fluid is contained in the fluid chamber. A brake member is rotatably supported on the case and receives a braking torque according to the viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid. The device has a movable member driven by a thermo-sensitive wax so that a volume of the fluid chamber is increased as the temperature in the fluid chamber is increased. The movable member is driven to maintain a pressure in the fluid chamber within an allowable range when the temperature in the fluid chamber is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shuhei Oe, Kuniaki Oka, Makoto Otsubo, Jun Yamada, Kenichi Nara, Seiichiro Washino
  • Publication number: 20130324269
    Abstract: Provided is a camshaft phaser (1) having a driving member (2), a driven member (3), and a spring (4). The spring (4) is axially preloaded in the spring cavity (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHOLOGIES AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Josef Janitschek, Juergen Weber, Christinel-Viorel Rotaru
  • Patent number: 8596236
    Abstract: A variable valve driving apparatus includes a driving shaft including a first camshaft and a second camshaft coaxially disposed to the first camshaft, a driving cam including an opening cam disposed to the first camshaft and a closing cam disposed to the second camshaft, a phase control portion controlling relative phases between the first camshaft and the second camshaft and a valve opening portion opened by the opening cam and the closing cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Young Chong Chung, Tae Hoon Roh
  • Patent number: 8584634
    Abstract: A camshaft assembly for an internal combustion engine comprising: a hollow outer shaft 2, an inner shaft 4, cam lobes 6, 8, a phaser 42, 32, and a remote control valve 16. The inner shaft 4 is received within the hollow outer shaft 2. The phaser 42, 32 is mounted to the inner and outer shafts 4, 2. The remote control valve 16 controls the flow of fluid to and from the phaser 42, 32 through a plurality of passages 22, 24, 26, 28 and the inner shaft 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Mark M. Wigsten
  • Patent number: 8578900
    Abstract: A profile of a cam (33) of a camshaft (32) is set based on a relationship of a stop position of a vane rotor (36) at a most retarded phase relative to a housing rotor (37). In other words, the profile of the cam (33) arranged in the camshaft (32) is set so that a second opening (110B) of a communication passage (100), which opens in a second retardment chamber (52B), is located upward in a vertical direction from the axis C of the camshaft (32) when the camshaft (32) is at a neutral position, that is, when torque applied from the cam (33) to the camshaft (32) is the smallest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichiro Kikuoka, Masaki Numakura
  • Patent number: 8573091
    Abstract: A compliant mechanism includes a first unit, a second unit, at least one elastic member and a driver for driving the elastic member to rotate through a predetermined angle. The first and second units collectively define a passage about which the second unit is rotatable relative to the first unit. The elastic member has a plate and first and second shafts which are coaxially connected to two opposite ends of the plate respectively and rotatably connected with the first and second units respectively. The elastic member is rotatable about a co-axis of the first and second shafts and elastically deformable when the second unit rotates relative to the first unit. The elastic member can change its resistance to the rotation of the second unit by rotating; therefore the compliant mechanism has a great safety upon receiving load and is widely applicable in many fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Precision Machinery Research Development Center
    Inventors: Che-Chien Chen, Tzu-Min Yi, I-Ping Chang, Cheng-Wei Tung
  • Patent number: 8561583
    Abstract: A variable cam timing phaser for adjusting phase between a first shaft and a second shaft using oil pressure from an oil pressure source including a housing assembly and a rotor assembly together defining a plurality of segments. The segments include at least one operating segment including an advance chamber and a retard chamber, the advance chamber and the retard chamber being oppositely switchable between at least a source of oil pressure and a drain, the vane being movable by oil pressure from the oil source applied to either the advance chamber or the retard chamber with the other of the advance chamber and the retard chamber being coupled to the drain and at least one assist segment including an assist chamber and a vent chamber, the vent chamber being vented to atmosphere; such that oil supplied to the assist chamber assists the motion of the vane in a direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Roger P. Butterfield
  • Patent number: 8550045
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes: a driving force transmission member; a driving side rotational member, to which a driving force is transmitted; a driven side rotational member coaxially provided to the driving side rotational member, and rotating relative to the driving side rotational member, thereby rotating a camshaft for opening and closing a valve; and a hydraulic pressure chamber formed by the driving side rotational member and the driven side rotational member. The driving side rotational member includes a housing formed into a closed-end cylindrical shape and having a bottom portion formed to close one end of the housing in an axial direction thereof and an opening portion formed to be opened at the other end the housing in the axial direction thereof, and a plate member closing the opening portion. The driving force transmission member, formed into a ring shape, is attached to the bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Noguchi, Takeo Asahi
  • Patent number: 8544433
    Abstract: A variable valve timing control apparatus, includes a drive-side rotary member, a driven-side rotary member, a partition portion arranged at least one of the drive-side rotary member and the driven-side rotary member to partition a fluid pressure chamber into an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber, a seal member arranged at a portion of the partition portion, which faces the other one of the drive-side rotary member and the driven-side rotary member, the seal member avoiding a hydraulic fluid from leaking between the advanced angle chamber and the retarded angle chamber, and a biasing member biasing the seal member, wherein at least one of the partition portion and a facing surface of the other one of the drive-side rotary member and the driven-side rotary member facing the partition portion is defined by an inclined surface of a tapered portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Noguchi, Kazunari Adachi, Takeo Asahi, Atsushi Homma
  • Patent number: 8534246
    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 includes vanes interspersed with the stator lobes to define alternating advance and retard chambers. A lock pin is provided for selective engagement with a lock pin seat for preventing relative rotation between the rotor and stator. Pressurized oil disengages the lock pin from the seat while oil is vented for engaging the lock pin with the seat. A phase relationship control valve is located coaxially within the rotor to control the flow of oil into and out of the chambers. A lock pin oil passage communicates oil to and from the lock pin based on input from a lock pin control valve located outside of the camshaft phaser. The control valves are operational independent of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Lichti, Thomas H. Fischer
  • Patent number: 8534242
    Abstract: A device for variably adjusting the timing control of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine. The device has a hydraulic phase adjustment device, a control valve and an auxiliary pressure source. The phase adjustment device can be brought into driving connection with a crankshaft and a camshaft, the phase adjustment device has at least two counter-working pressure chambers, and a phase relation of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft is variably adjustable by charging of the pressure chambers with pressure medium. The control valve has at least one inflow port and a first and a second working port. The inflow port is connectable to a pressure medium pump, and the first working port is connectable to the first pressure chamber and the second working port to the second pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Busse
  • Patent number: 8505506
    Abstract: An oil pressure control apparatus includes a control valve mechanism being in communication with a pump via a first fluid passage and being in communication with a control apparatus via a second fluid passage, a third fluid passage diverging from the first fluid passage to supply oil to a predetermined portion other than the control apparatus, and a fluid passage dimension regulating mechanism including a movable member provided at the third fluid passage and including an opening for regulating a fluid passage dimension of the third fluid passage. The fluid passage dimension regulating mechanism is in communication with a fourth fluid passage diverging from the second fluid passage and biases the movable member to a side increasing the fluid passage dimension by applying the hydraulic pressure of the fourth fluid passage to the movable member separately from the hydraulic pressure of the third fluid passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Miyachi, Yasuo Ozawa
  • Patent number: 8505507
    Abstract: A flow rate control valve includes a housing having an accommodation chamber in communication with oil passages, and a spool accommodated in the accommodation chamber movably in a reciprocating manner. The housing includes a bolt for fastening a movable member of a variable valve timing mechanism, and a sleeve inserted in an insertion portion provided in the bolt and having the accommodation chamber. The bolt is provided with a port through which the oil passages communicate with the insertion portion. The sleeve is provided with a through hole penetrating the sleeve. Furthermore, an annular protrusion and a recess are provided as a phase adjustment portion that adjusts a phase of rotation of the sleeve with respect to the bolt to a phase in which the port coincides in position with the through hole and holds the phase of rotation of the sleeve with respect to the bolt equal thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoharu Nakamura, Jyunji Yokota
  • Patent number: 8500564
    Abstract: Provided is a shaft-and-yoke coupling structure for coupling a steering transmission shaft and a yoke of a universal joint. An end portion of the steering transmission shaft joined to the yoke has a stepped portion and an insertion convex portion protruding from the stepped portion in the axial direction of the steering transmission shaft. The yoke has an annular receiving portion facing and fixed to the stepped portion via a welded portion and an insertion recess portion surrounded by the receiving portion in which the insertion convex portion is inserted. The insertion convex portion and the insertion recess portion are arranged to be engaged with each other with a predetermined amount of play in the direction of rotation when the welded portion is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignees: JTEKT Corporation, Koyo Machine Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Shibahiraki
  • Patent number: 8499733
    Abstract: A device for adjusting the relative rotation angle position of a rotating shaft (1), in particular of a camshaft, relative to a drive element (2), including a substantially hollow-cylindrical displacement member (3), which is arranged coaxially to the shaft (1) and to the drive element (2) and is coupled to the shaft (1) and to the drive element (2) such that an axial displacement of the displacement member (3) effects an adjustment of the relative rotation position of the shaft (1) relative to the drive element (2), and an actuating unit (4) for axially displacing the displacement member (3), the actuating unit comprising two brake actuators (5, 6) and two counter-rotating threaded drives (7, 8) for coupling the brake actuators (5, 6) to the displacement member (3) such that, upon selective actuation of a brake actuator (5, 6), an axial displacement of the displacement member (3) takes place in one direction or the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sebastian Zwahr, Jens Schafer
  • Patent number: 8499732
    Abstract: In a housing body of an engine valve timing control apparatus, a vane rotor includes a vane, wherein the vane and shoes of the housing body define advance and retard chambers. The housing body is formed with a pulley adapted to winding of a belt, and formed with first bolt holes extending axially through the housing body, and formed with a sealing recess at an open axial end. A plate is fixedly inserted in the sealing recess, and formed with second bolt holes facing the first bolt holes. An annular first sealing ring is arranged between an inside periphery of the sealing recess and an outside periphery of the plate. An annular second sealing ring is arranged between the plate and an axial end surface of one of the shoes, wherein the second sealing ring extends circumferentially around one of the second bolt holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8485151
    Abstract: A sealing structure seals a clearance between a housing and a brake rotor. The housing defines a fluid chamber for sealing a magnetic viscous fluid inside. The brake rotor penetrates through the housing and generates brake torque by contacting the magnetic viscous fluid. The housing has a magnetic sleeve section and a magnetic screw section provided to the brake rotor. The magnetic sleeve section is continuous in a rotational direction of the brake rotor and generates a magnetic flux. The magnetic screw section is an external screw having a screw thread, which extends away from a fluid chamber side toward a phase adjusting mechanism side when traced in a rotational direction of the brake rotor. The magnetic flux is guided to the magnetic screw section through a sealing gap between the magnetic screw section and an inner peripheral section of the magnetic sleeve section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Morishima
  • Patent number: 8485150
    Abstract: Groups of camshafts (6) are connected to camshaft adjusters (1) via adapters. According to prior art, adaptations to the camshaft adjuster (1) are necessary for different mounting conditions and/or different geometries of camshafts (6). Here, an adapter (32) is provided between camshaft (6) and camshaft adjuster (1), which adapter can then be adapted to different geometries of the camshaft (6) and/or mounting positions. By this, the multiplicity of parts can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Mike Kohrs
  • Patent number: 8453614
    Abstract: A variable valve timing device for an internal combustion engine includes: a variable valve timing mechanism that changes a valve timing; and a phase limiting mechanism that locks a rotational phase between a housing rotor and a vane rotor at an intermediate phase. The phase limiting mechanism engages a first limiting pin with a first engaging groove and engages a second limiting pin with a second engaging groove to lock the housing rotor to the vane rotor. A retard-side side surface of an engaging hole is configured so as to be able to adjust a clearance between the second limiting pin and the retard-side side surface when the first limiting pin is engaged with a first advance end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Imamura, Akihiko Takenaka
  • Patent number: 8443774
    Abstract: The invention relates to a camshaft variator device for an internal combustion engine which includes a crankshaft and a camshaft. The invention includes: a first component which is rigidly connected to the camshaft of the engine, such that the rotation of the first component causes the camshaft to rotate; a second component which is rotated by the crankshaft of the engine; a third component which connects the first and second components to one another and which, in turn, rotates the first component in relation to the second component in order to vary the position and partial speed of the camshaft in respect of the crankshaft; and a fourth component which is used to impart a longitudinal and reciprocating longitudinal movement to the third component. The purpose of the device is to enable the opening and closing time and duration of the valves to be varied by varying the position and partial speed of the camshaft in relation to the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventor: Pedro A. Plasencia Marichal
  • Publication number: 20130079164
    Abstract: The torsion angle between a first rotation member and a second rotation member can be increased to lower the rigidity of a resilient member, thereby enhancing the attenuation property of torsional vibration. The torsional vibration damping apparatus 1 comprises a pair of disc plates 4, 5 having the rotation torque from an internal combustion engine transmitted thereto, input gears 9, 10 rotatably supported on the disc plates 4, 5, an output gear 13 provided to be relatively rotatable with respect to the disc plates 4, 5 and held in mesh with the input gears 9, 10, a boss member 7 splined to an input shaft 8 of a power transmission train, and a coil spring 14 having one end portion fastened to the input gear 9 and the other end portion fastened to the input gear 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinichiro Watarai
  • Patent number: 8398495
    Abstract: A coupling device comprises a drive portion formed on a drive shaft and having a drive wall surface extending in the direction of a rotation axis; a driven portion formed on a driven shaft and having a driven wall surface extending in the direction of the rotation axis; a convex curved portion formed on one of the drive wall surface and the driven wall surface and extending along the rotation axis at a position spaced from the rotation axis as viewed in the direction of the rotation axis; and a concave curved portion having a smaller curvature than that of the convex curved portion and formed on the other of the drive wall surface and the driven wall surface to contact the convex curved portion and extending along the rotation axis at a position spaced from the rotation axis as viewed in the direction of the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignees: Advics Co., Ltd., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamaguchi, Junichi Maeda
  • Patent number: 8387578
    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 is disposed within the stator and includes vanes interspersed with the stator lobes to define alternating advance and retard chambers. A primary lock pin is provided for selective engagement with a primary lock pin seat for limiting rotation between the rotor and stator to a range between full advance and full retard. A secondary lock pin is provided for selective engagement with a secondary lock pin seat for preventing rotation between the rotor and the stator at a predetermined position within the range. A cap is disposed axially adjacent the rotor to define a bridging lock pin oil passage therebetween. The bridging lock pin oil passage provides fluid communication between the primary lock pin and the secondary lock pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. Fischer
  • Patent number: 8371257
    Abstract: A cam phaser assembly may include a first stator, a first rotor, a second stator and a second rotor. The first stator may be driven by an engine crankshaft. The first rotor may be coupled to a first end of a concentric camshaft and located within the first stator. The first rotor and the first stator may cooperate to define a first set of fluid chambers. The second stator may be fixed for rotation with the first rotor and the first shaft. The second rotor may be coupled to the first end of the concentric camshaft and fixed for rotation with the second shaft and located within the second stator. The second rotor and the second stator may cooperate to define a second set of fluid chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Inventors: Joseph J. Moon, Timothy L. Neal
  • Patent number: 8366560
    Abstract: A coupling device has a flexible member that is vertically connected to a rotating shaft and of which the length can be varied in an inward and outward direction with respect to the rotating shaft, an elastic member that is connected to the flexible member and causes the flexible member to receive an elastic force in the outward direction with respect to the rotating shaft, and a cam member that is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft and delivers a rotating force of the rotating shaft to a rotating member. The cam member has a through-hole having an initial-position portion in which the flexible member is positioned at the initial stage and a displaced-position portion which has a smaller diameter than the initial-position portion and of which the diameter is constant about the rotating shaft, and an another through-hole having an initial-position portion in which the flexible member is positioned and a return-position portion of which the radius decreases from the initial-position portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Woo Sub Lee, Sung Chul Kang, Mun Sang Kim, Jun Ho Choi, Chang Mook Chun
  • Publication number: 20130023349
    Abstract: A device for adjusting the relative rotation angle position of a rotating shaft (1), in particular of a camshaft, relative to a drive element (2), including a substantially hollow-cylindrical displacement member (3), which is arranged coaxially to the shaft (1) and to the drive element (2) and is coupled to the shaft (1) and to the drive element (2) such that an axial displacement of the displacement member (3) effects an adjustment of the relative rotation position of the shaft (1) relative to the drive element (2), and an actuating unit (4) for axially displacing the displacement member (3), the actuating unit comprising two brake actuators (5, 6) and two counter-rotating threaded drives (7, 8) for coupling the brake actuators (5, 6) to the displacement member (3) such that, upon selective actuation of a brake actuator (5, 6), an axial displacement of the displacement member (3) takes place in one direction or the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Sebastian Zwahr, Jens Schafer
  • Patent number: 8322317
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes a driving side rotational member, a driven side rotational member, a fluid pressure chamber, a dividing portion formed at the other one of the driving side rotational member and the driven side rotational member so as to divide the fluid pressure chamber into an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber, and a fluid control valve portion arranged orthogonally relative to the camshaft at an opposite side of the camshaft so as to dispose the driving side rotational member and the driven side rotational member between the fluid control valve portion and the camshaft, the fluid control valve portion including a first linearly moving member linearly moving in an orthogonal direction relative to the camshaft, thereby controlling supplying and discharging of a fluid relative to the advanced angle chamber and the retarded angle chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigemitsu Suzuki, Naoto Toma, Takeo Asahi