Actuated By Fluid Or Electricity Patents (Class 464/2)
  • Patent number: 9950706
    Abstract: A driveline system includes a drive axle coupled to a load, an electric machine, and a control system. The electric machine is responsive to a commanded torque, has a rotor shaft coupled to the axle, and produces an output torque that rotates the axle and load to produce driveline oscillation at a high resonant frequency. The control system generates the commanded torque using a nested control loop architecture in which an outer control loop operates at a sampling rate that is below a critical rate necessary for controlling the resonant frequency, and an inner control loop operates at a sampling rate that is above the critical rate. The inner loop determines a modified torque command and acceleration value in response to a commanded torque from the outer loop. The electric machine is thereafter controlled via the commanded torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jie Yang, Robert L. Morris, Chia-Shang Liu, Yo Chan Son
  • Patent number: 9752409
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multistage high pressure fracturing system and tubular hydraulic valve (THV) system for connection to a completion string to enable isolation of a zone of interest within a well. In particular, the system enables access to a downhole formation for fracturing the zone of interest and for hydrocarbon production. The system generally includes an electronic plug counting system, a plug capture system and a valve system wherein dropping a series of plugs down the completion string enables successive capture of individual plugs within individual THVs for subsequent fracturing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: COMPLETIONS RESEARCH AG
    Inventors: Robert James Graf, Robert Steve Smolka
  • Patent number: 7685988
    Abstract: A coupling device for a split, in-line engine is provided. The coupling device may be configured to connect a first section of a crank shaft to a second section of the crank shaft of the engine. Further, the coupling device may be positioned at at least one main bearing of the crank shaft. Further still, the coupling device may be encircled by the at least one main bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Goran Almkvist, Borje Grandin
  • Publication number: 20100064997
    Abstract: A phase shift mechanism (A) for controlling a phase shift angle between a camshaft (12) and a drive (10) comprises a planetary gear train (20). The planetary gear train (20) has first and second planet gears (34, 26) that are united to rotate about common axis at the same angular velocity, and a carrier (32) which includes a first planet bearing (62) and a second planet bearing (64) on which the united first and second planet gears (34, 36) respectively rotate and a locking mechanism (24) carried by the carrier (32) for locking the planetary gear train (20) in a locked condition by preventing the planet gears (34, 36) from rotating relative to the carrier (32) such that the phase shift angle remains the same and the output shaft 26 rotates with the input shaft (18) at the same angular velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: THE TIMKEN COMPANY
    Inventor: Xiaolan Ai
  • Publication number: 20090223470
    Abstract: An engine assembly may include a cam phaser assembly coupled to a concentric camshaft. The cam phaser assembly may include first and second plate assemblies that have first and second vanes, an oil chamber housing located axially between the first and second plate assemblies, an oil distribution member, and a first fastener. The first and second plates may define first and second fastener passages. The oil chamber housing may define first and second chambers and a first central bore. The first vane may extend into the first chamber and the second vane may extend into the second chamber. The oil distribution member may be located within the central bore of the oil chamber housing and may define a third fastener passage. The first fastener may extend through the first, second, and third fastener passages and couple the cam phaser assembly to an outer shaft of the concentric camshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Rozario, Joseph E. Robbins
  • Publication number: 20090216428
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a cam phaser that introduces a cam phase angle ? between a camshaft intake lobe and an associated crankshaft. An engine control module communicates with the cam phaser to introduce the cam phase angle ? while an engine is being started. The cam phase angle ? is selected such that the camshaft intake lobe opens an intake valve during at least a portion of a compression stroke of a cylinder that is associated with the camshaft intake lobe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Vijay Ramappan, Jesse M. Gwidt, Stuart R. Smith, Michael J. Lucido, Scot A. Douglas, Kenneth J. Cinpinski
  • Publication number: 20090199799
    Abstract: A valve timing adjusting apparatus includes a housing, a vane rotor, at least one shaft member, and at least one annular seal member. The at least one shaft member is rotatable synchronously with a driven-side shaft and the vane rotor, and is journaled within the housing. The at least one annular seal member is provided between the at least one shaft member and the housing, and the at least one seal member limits leakage of working fluid from a receiving chamber of the housing to an exterior of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadao Ikihara
  • Publication number: 20090151671
    Abstract: One-way valves (30, 31) are provided in a hydraulic supply passage (28) in an advance chamber (18) and a hydraulic supply passage (29) in a retard chamber (19) respectively for preventing reverse flow of oil from each chamber (18, 19) and drain oil passages (32, 33) bypassing the one-way valves respectively disposed in the hydraulic supply passages (28, 29) of the respective hydraulic chambers (18, 19) are provided to be in parallel therewith. Drain switching valves (34, 35) are disposed in the respective drain oil passages (32, 33). A hydraulic control valve (21) for controlling a hydraulic pressure supplied to the advance chamber (18) and the retard chamber (19) includes integrally a drain switching control function (38) for controlling a hydraulic pressure supplied to the respective drain switching valves (34, 35).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tokuyasu Kobaishi
  • Publication number: 20090145396
    Abstract: A coupling device for a split, in-line engine is provided. The coupling device may be configured to connect a first section of a crank shaft to a second section of the crank shaft of the engine. Further, the coupling device may be positioned at at least one main bearing of the crank shaft. Further still, the coupling device may be encircled by the at least one main bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Goran Almkvist, Borje Grandin
  • Publication number: 20090133652
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus for controlling valve timing includes a first rotor, a second rotor, and a controller. The second rotor and the first rotor defines therebetween an advance chamber and a retard chamber. The controller includes a supply passage, at least one drain passage, a spool valve, at least one connection passage, and at least one check valve. The at least one connection passage connects the supply passage to the at least one drain passage when a spool of the spool valve is moved to one of the advance and retard positions. The at least one check valve is respectively provided in the at least one connection passage. The check valve allows working fluid to flow in a direction from the at least one drain passage toward the supply passage and limits working fluid from flowing in an opposite direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiki Fujyoshi, Osamu Sato
  • Publication number: 20090123183
    Abstract: A rotation transmission device including a driving member configured to input a driving force; a rotatable member; and a joint configured to transmit the driving force to the rotatable member, wherein the driving member, joint and rotatable member are coaxially arranged, and wherein the driving member are connected with the joint in such a manner that the phase of one-revolution fluctuation of the driving member is different from the phase of one-revolution fluctuation of the joint by an angle of ?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventor: Keisuke Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7527028
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle, comprising of an internal combustion engine coupled in the vehicle, the engine having at least one cylinder with an intake and exhaust valve, where the opening and closing timing of the intake valve is adjustably retardable and the opening and closing timing of the exhaust valve is adjustably retardable, during engine operation, and an energy conversion device coupled in the vehicle capable of selectively supplying and absorbing torque during vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Publication number: 20080264364
    Abstract: A variable camshaft timing (VCT) system 10 for an internal combustion engine includes a vane 13 mounted to the end of an engine camshaft, surrounded by a housing 14. The vane 13 separates a chamber in the housing 14 into a phaser advance chamber 15 and a phaser retard chamber 16. The VCT system 10 also includes a control valve 12 having a spool 19 slidably located within a bore 18 in a valve sleeve 17. The spool 19 comprises one land dividing the bore 18 into a valve advance chamber 21 and a valve retard chamber 22, with the valve retard chamber 22 and the valve advance chamber 21 both being connected to a hydraulic oil supply. The valve advance chamber 21 and the valve retard chamber 22 are in hydraulic communication with the phaser advance chamber 15 and the phaser retard chamber 16 respectively through an advance line 11 and a retard line 23, such that displacements of the spool cause rotation of the vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventor: Quanbao Zhou
  • Publication number: 20080261771
    Abstract: Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for continuously variable transmissions (CVT). In one embodiment, a main axle is adapted to receive a shift rod that cooperates with a shift rod nut to actuate a ratio change in a CVT. In another embodiment, an axial force generating mechanism can include a torsion spring, a traction ring adapted to receive the torsion spring, and a roller cage retainer configured to cooperate with the traction ring to house the torsion spring. Various inventive idler-and-shift-cam assemblies can be used to facilitate shifting the ratio of a CVT. Embodiments of a hub shell and a hub cover are adapted to house components of a CVT and, in some embodiments, to cooperate with other components of the CVT to support operation and/or functionality of the CVT. Among other things, shift control interfaces and braking features for a CVT are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: FALLBROOK TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Jon M. Nichols, Brad P. Pohl, Daniel J. Dawe, Oronde J. Armstrong, Charles B. Lohr, Loren T. McDaniel, Matthew P. Simister, Fernand A. Thomassy, Ghayyurul I. Usmani, Paul M. Elhardt, Terry L. Stewart, Peter D. Poxton, Elton L. Eidson
  • Publication number: 20080254900
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser for varying the timing of valves in an internal combustion engine. A rotor includes a plurality of vanes disposed in a stator having a plurality of lobes, forming a plurality of alternating timing advance and timing retard chambers. Pressurized oil is supplied selectively to the chambers to change the phase angle of the camshaft with respect to the crankshaft. The rotor is captured between a stator plate and a rotor cover plate. Axial surfaces of the rotor form wiping surfaces with their respective plates. The rotor is divided equatorially into two interlocking sections, the lower section riding on the stator plate and the upper section riding on the cover plate. An axially slidable labyrintian seal formed at the juncture of the upper and lower sections prevents oil leakage. A lash spring between the upper and lower sections urges the sections into zero-lash with their respective plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventor: Jason M. Urckfitz
  • Publication number: 20080236529
    Abstract: A control valve (20) for a device for variably setting the control times of gas exchange valves (110, 111) of an internal combustion engine (100). Two working ports (A, B) and one supply port (24) are formed on an outer casing surface of a valve housing (22) of the control valve (20), the working ports (A, B) are arranged directly adjacent one another, and the supply port adjoins them. Further, two pressure medium ducts (40, 41) are formed on the control piston (30), at least one of the pressure medium ducts (40, 41) is embodied so that it is not rotationally symmetric with respect to a longitudinal axis (36) of the control piston (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Gerhard Scheidig, Ali Bayrakdar, Jens Hoppe, Rainer Ottersbach
  • Publication number: 20080230026
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transmission assembly (34), for imparting a phase difference between an outer wheel and an inner wheel of a spline VVT. The assembly comprises a tubular meshing member (36) having an inner surface (38) and an outer surface (40), wherein at least a portion of the inner surface is provided with a first spline (42) and at least a portion of the outer surface is provided with a second spline (44). The first spline and the second spline do not have the same pitch in the same groove direction. The transmission assembly further comprises a bearing arrangement (46) and an actuation member (48). The bearing arrangement is arranged between the meshing member and the actuation member to allow a transfer of an axial displacement of the actuation member to the meshing member and allow a rotation of the meshing member relative to the actuation member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Martin Litorell, Soren Eriksson, Jan Erik Andersson
  • Publication number: 20080230027
    Abstract: A variable cam timing control module for an internal combustion engine having at least one cam position sensor, at least one solenoid to actuate a cam phasing device, a driven outer cam sprocket position sensor and a microcontroller. The microcontroller may receive a set point angle signal from the engine's Electronic Control Unit, which it compares with input signals from the driven outer cam sprocket position sensor and the at least one cam position sensor to determine the proper cam phase angle. The microcontroller then sends a signal to the at least one solenoid to adjust the corresponding cam phasing device so that the cam phase angle matches the commanded set point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Roger T. Simpson, Danny R. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20080230025
    Abstract: A valve enables and disables communication of a bypass passage, which extends from a fluid supply passage and bypasses at least one fluid control valve, to at least one of a retarding passage and an advancing passage connected to a valve timing mechanism. An ECU controls the valve to enable the communication of the bypass passage to the at least one of the retarding passage and the advancing passage when a temperature is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature. The ECU controls the valve to disable the communication of the bypass passage to the at least one of the retarding passage and the advancing passage when the temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadao Ikihara, Tatsuhiko Imaizumi
  • Publication number: 20080215225
    Abstract: A variable valve timing mechanism 9 includes an electric motor 10 coupled to an intake camshaft 7. A plurality of rotation sensors 18 to 20 are located about the rotor 17 of the electric motor 10. Each of the sensors 18 to 20 outputs a signal corresponding to induced voltage generated by rotation of the rotor 17. Based on the signals form the rotation sensors 18 to 20, reverse rotation of an engine is detected. A counter C is decremented every time a crank signal is output after the occurrence of reverse rotation is detected. Further, a subtraction value Y is computed that corresponds to a discrepancy between the counter C and the actual crank angle caused by a discrepancy between the actual point in time of the occurrence of reverse rotation and the point in time of the detection of the reverse rotation. The counter C is reduced by the subtraction value Y.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Munenori Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20080167785
    Abstract: In an engine provided with a valve lift amount variable mechanism and a center phase variable mechanism for an intake valve, a region between a region where a flow rate of an intake air passing through the intake valve reaches a sonic speed and a region where an intake air amount does not substantially change relative to a change in an opening area of the intake valve is made to be a learning region. Then, in order to resolve an error in intake air amount in the learning region, a correction value for correcting control process of the valve lift amount variable mechanism is learned. When the learning of the correction value is converged, the learning correction value is corrected with an occupied rate of the valve lift amount variable mechanism in the influence ratio between influences on the two mechanisms in relation to the error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo MIYAKOSHI, Kentaro Mikawa, Masahiro Arai, Hatsuo Nagaishi, Takahiro Yoshino, Yuko Nagaishi
  • Patent number: 7347173
    Abstract: A valve timing system for an internal combustion engine includes a phase alteration mechanism interposed between a driving rotator and a driven rotator and having a direction turning point at which the phase alteration direction is reversed when a movable portion of the mechanism travels from a beginning to a termination, and an operation control device for displacing the movable portion when undergoing an energization control, the movable portion being displaced toward the beginning when the energization control fails to be carried out. The rotation phase is set at a middle position between a maximum retard position and a maximum advance position when the movable portion is located at the beginning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 7343887
    Abstract: An abnormality diagnosis system 100 includes a VVT controller 110, an adjustable valve mechanism 120, a cam angle sensor 130, a model computation module 140, an abnormality detection module 150, and an alarm lamp 160. The adjusable valve mechanism 120 advances or delays a phase angle of an intake cam shaft relative to a crankshaft, thereby varying an open-close timing of a valve. The model computation module 140 computes a physical behavior of the adjustable valve mechanism 120 according to a physical model, in response to a control signal input from the VVT controller 110. The abnormality detection module 150 determines whether the adjustable valve mechanism 120 is abnormal or normal, based on a difference between a theoretical value of phase angle calculated according to the physical model and an observed value of phase angle measured with the cam angle sensor 130. The arrangement of the invention ensures highly accurate abnormality diagnosis of the adjustable valve mechanism 120.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Soejima
  • Publication number: 20080064505
    Abstract: An electromotive actuator for deflecting a mechanical part, comprising a rotatable component and a non-rotatable component of a deflection gear, whereby the rotatable component can be driven by an electric motor in such a way that it can be moved linearly relative to the non-rotatable component between a first position and a second position. The two components of the actuator are constituents of a ball-ramp adjustment device, whereby a rotatable component of the ball-ramp adjustment device is non-rotatably connected to the rotor of the electric motor and acts directly or indirectly on the mechanical part that is to be deflected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Jan Weule
  • Patent number: 7331318
    Abstract: Camshaft adjusters according to the swivel motor principle may be provided with a bar which arrests the rotor in a position relative to the stator. A bar according to the invention is provided with two portions, between which a change of power transmission takes place during the arresting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Hydraulik-Ring GmbH
    Inventor: Steffen Schweizer
  • Patent number: 7308878
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes a driving side rotational member, a driven side rotational member formed with a plurality of recessed portions into which a supporting jig is insertable at a second side thereof in the axial direction, a fluid pressure chamber, a vane, a lock member, and a cover plate formed with a plurality of through holes, through which the supporting jig is insertable, at a position in which each of the plurality of through holes is overlapped with each of the plurality of recessed portions of the driven side rotational member in a condition where the relative rotational phase is restrained at the lock phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Kira
  • Patent number: 7270096
    Abstract: A twin vane-type phaser is described which is provided with a locking mechanism for locking the drive member to the driven members when the pressure in the working chambers is a below is predetermined value. The locking mechanism comprises two coaxial locking pins 114, 118 mounted in a common bore 110 in the centrally located member 32. The locking pins are resiliently urged apart by a spring 120 into bores in the two outer members 38, 40 and are retracted by pistons 112, 116 when the hydraulic pressure in the working chambers attains the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Mechadyne PLC
    Inventors: Timothy Mark Lancefield, Richard Alwyn Owen
  • Patent number: 7252073
    Abstract: Each of paired centrifugal weights are interlockingly connected to an advancing spring, which is interlockingly connected to a temperature-sensing operation device. When cold-starting the engine, the advancing spring is maintained extensible based on a state of the temperature-sensing operation in which the temperature-sensing operation device senses a temperature to operate. This advancing spring exerts a spring force, which pushes and widens the paired centrifugal weights to an advancing position. While the engine is warm, the advancing spring is held contracted based on another state of the temperature-sensing operation device, in which the temperature-sensing operation device senses a temperature to operate, so that the spring force of the advancing spring does not act on the paired centrifugal weights. A shape memory spring composed of a compression coil spring is used for the temperature-sensing operation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Nakahira, Atsushi Yamaguchi, Mikio Ishida
  • Patent number: 7225772
    Abstract: To operate a steplessly adjustable camshaft control device, particularly reliably and safely, an adaptation of the camshaft and the crankshaft is performed so that a phase angle (actual value) of the camshaft to the crankshaft is determined, the phase angle is monitored while operating the internal combustion engine and the camshaft control device is controlled as a function of a variable setpoint value so that the phase angle is equivalent to the setpoint value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Mezger, Oliver Krannich
  • Patent number: 7214153
    Abstract: A chain drive having a phaser such as a hydraulic vane phaser interposed between a timing chain and a driving or driven shaft is provided. The phaser or the vane are controlled to oscillate more at certain engine speeds to thereby reduce the tensioning force on the chain at the certain engine speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Roger T. Simpson
  • Patent number: 7213554
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus for controlling an opening and closing timing of a valve of an internal combustion engine includes a driving side rotational member synchronously rotated with a crankshaft, a driven side rotational member provided coaxially with the driving side rotational member and synchronously rotated with a camshaft, a fluid pressure chamber being separated into an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber, a phase control apparatus for displacing a relative rotational phase between the driving side rotational member and the driven side rotational member, a locking mechanism having a movable member, a judging device for judging a supply condition of the operation fluid relative to the fluid pressure chamber, and a control device for controlling a rotational speed of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoji Kanada, Osamu Komazawa
  • Patent number: 7204217
    Abstract: In a hydraulic camshaft adjuster for a camshaft of an internal combustion engine, with an inner body connected for rotation with the camshaft and having at least one vane extending into a chamber formed in an outer body mounted rotatably relative to the camshaft and connected for rotation with a crankshaft for driving the camshaft and with a hydraulic control mechanism for adjusting the relative angular position between the inner and the outer bodies and including a locking structure for selectively locking and releasing the inner body with respect to the outer body, at least one bolt is slidably supported in an opening in the inner body so as to be movable into a guide slot in the outer body by the force of an axially acting spring element, said bolt when released from the guide slot against the axially acting spring force by the pressure force of a hydraulic operating fluid being retainable laterally displaced out of alignment with the guide slot by centrifugal forces against the force of a radially acting
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Dzoni Bilic, Jens-Uwe Plank
  • Patent number: 7159549
    Abstract: A camshaft is formed at a generally middle portion with an enlarged cylindrical portion. An annular vane member is mounted on the enlarged cylindrical portion and secured thereto by means of a nut. An annular housing or sprocket is arranged to receive therein the annular vane member in a manner to permit a rotation of the vane member relative to the annular housing. Each of a circular opening of the vane member and a circular opening of the annular housing is so sized as to permit cam lobes of the camshaft to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Tsukada, Kotaro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7152561
    Abstract: A control structure for the adjusting motor of an electric camshaft adjuster in an internal combustion engine is provided. The control structure includes a controller which processes measuring signals of the internal combustion engine to control data for the adjusting motor. A controller which has meaningful values for the adjusted setpoint rotational speed of the adjusting motor, even when the input differential signal has a zero value, is obtained by applying the signal of an uncontrolled rotational speed to the output signal of a controlled setpoint rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Martin Overberg
  • Patent number: 7150251
    Abstract: The invention intends to improve a response by utilizing a rotational variable torque of a cam shaft. Communication paths respectively communicating an advance hydraulic chamber and a retard hydraulic chamber provided in a second rotary member and a hydraulic connecting passage are provided so as to be communicated, at a time when a control member intending to improve a response by moving a phase angle control slider in an axial direction or a rotational direction in correspondence to an operating state such as an advance, a retard or the like so as to intermittently communicate an advance chamber communication path and a retard chamber communication path with a hydraulic chamber connecting groove only in a section in which a cam shaft variable torque in an operating direction is applied, is controlled in a rotating region, and a relative rotation of a third rotary member and the second rotary member stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Watanabe, Isao Hayase, Seiji Suga, Takanori Sawada, Tomoya Tsukada
  • Patent number: 7143730
    Abstract: A valve timing system for an internal combustion engine includes a phase alteration mechanism interposed between a driving rotator and a driven rotator and having a direction turning point at which the phase alteration direction is reversed when a movable portion of the mechanism travels from a beginning to a termination, and an operation control device for displacing the movable portion when undergoing an energization control, the movable portion being displaced toward the beginning when the energization control fails to be carried out. The rotation phase is set at a middle position between a maximum retard position and a maximum advance position when the movable portion is located at the beginning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 7117832
    Abstract: A device for adjusting a camshaft of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle has a stator and a rotor fixedly connected to a camshaft and rotatable relative to the stator. A drive wheel is fixedly connected to the stator and is centered by the camshaft. The stator has a peripheral area provided with a centering element interacting with a counter element provided on the drive wheel for aligning the drive wheel in a rotational direction relative to the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Hydraulik-Ring GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Naumann, Gerold Sluka, Andreas Knecht
  • Patent number: 7089898
    Abstract: In a valve timing control device, a control means is configured to carry out feeding one of retarding and advancing chambers with a hydraulic pressure upon starting of the engine; actuating one of first and second disengaging mechanisms to cancel the engagement of one of first and second projectable members with the corresponding one of first and second engaging portions; feeding the other of the retarding and advancing chambers with a hydraulic pressure to turn a vane member in a housing within a range determined by each of the first and second engaging portions; and actuating, while the vane member is under the rotational movement within the range, the other of the first and second disengaging mechanisms to cancel the engagement of the other of the first and second projectable members with the corresponding one of the first and second engaging portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoya Tsukada
  • Patent number: 7059286
    Abstract: In a valve timing control apparatus, hydraulic oil is supplied into retarding and advancing chambers, and first and second hydraulic chambers, when hydraulic pressure is less than a predetermined pressure and when a phase difference between a most advancing target phase and actual phase of a driver-side rotating member relative to a driven-side rotating member is small. Hydraulic pressure is applied from the first and second hydraulic chambers to the stopper pin, so that the stopper piston is restricted from protruding to the engaging ring before the actual phase coincides with the most advancing target phase. Hydraulic oil is drained from the retarding chamber and the first hydraulic chamber, and hydraulic pressure in the second hydraulic chamber is small, so that the stopper pin protrudes and engages with an engaging ring at the most advancing target phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Kusano, Yasushi Morii
  • Patent number: 7025023
    Abstract: In a hydraulic camshaft adjuster for an internal combustion engine including a hydraulic operating unit for adjusting the angular position of the camshaft relative to a camshaft drive by way of a hydraulic control valve with a valve housing in which a control piston is disposed for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to, and its removal from, the hydraulic operating unit and to which hydraulic fluid is supplied from the camshaft by way of a pressure channel which is formed into the valve housing so as to extend along the outer surface thereof and a sleeve tightly surrounds at least the part of the valve housing which includes the channel for tightly covering the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Kai Lehmann, Jens-Uwe Plank, Jörg Rösener, Holger Rudzinski
  • Patent number: 6997150
    Abstract: A variable camshaft timing phaser for an internal combustion engine having at least one camshaft comprising a plurality of vanes in chambers defined by a housing and a spool valve. The vanes define an advance and retard chamber. At least one of the vanes is cam torque actuated (CTA) and at least one of the other vanes is oil pressure actuated (OPA). The spool valve is coupled to the advance and retard chamber defined by the CTA vane and the advance chamber defined by the OPA vane. When the phaser is in the advance position, fluid is routed from the retard chamber defined by the OPA vane to the retard chamber defined the CTA vane. When the phaser is in the retard position fluid is routed from the retard chamber defined by the CTA vane to the advance chamber defined by the CTA vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Roger T. Simpson
  • Patent number: 6971351
    Abstract: A region including an engaging hole is given surface treatment such as partial quench hardening by induction hardening for improving surface hardness of the region. The partial quench hardening by induction hardening provides the region with satisfactory mechanical strength or surface hardness enough for resisting deformation of the engaging hole and wear-out of an edge of opening of the engaging hole caused by putting in and out of the lock pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kinugawa, Makoto Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6968816
    Abstract: In an oil flow control valve (OCV) according to the present invention, a first volume varying chamber is adapted to communicate with a second volume varying chamber through a second plunger breathing path, and the second volume varying chamber is adapted to communicate with a first breathing hole through an intra-plunger breathing path, an intra-shaft breathing path, and a third volume varying chamber. That is, the breathing path to the second volume varying chamber is long and the volume thereof is large, and the breathing path to the first volume varying chamber is still longer and larger in its volume. Consequently, the amount of foreign matters getting into the first and second volume varying chambers can be decreased and therefore it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an operation defect of the OCV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Isobe, Jiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 6962133
    Abstract: A variable valve timing control device comprises a housing member integrally rotating with either one of a crankshaft or a camshaft of an internal combustion engine, a rotor member assembled to the housing member so as to be rotatable relative thereto, including at least one of vane portions forming an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber within the housing member, and integrally rotating with the other one of the crankshaft or the camshaft; a fluid pressure circuit for controlling operation fluid to be supplied to or discharged from the advanced angle chamber and the retarded angle chamber, an engaging groove formed at the housing member in circumferential direction and including an advanced angle side end portion and a retarded angle side end portion, a lock member provided at the housing member and being freely projecting/retreating, and a projecting portion provided at the rotor member and projecting outward, which is sandwiched between either one of the end portions of the engaging groove
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazumi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6920853
    Abstract: A variable valve timing control device includes a rotation member for opening or closing a valve, a rotation transmission member engaged with the rotation member to be relatively rotatable, a vane provided on either one of the rotation member or the rotation transmission member, a hydraulic chamber formed between the rotation member and the rotation transmission member and including an advance angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber, the advance angle chamber and the retarded angle chamber being formed by dividing the hydraulic chamber by the vane, a first hydraulic passage for supplying and discharging a fluid to the advance angle chamber, and a second hydraulic passage for supplying and discharging the fluid to the retarded angle chamber. The vane includes a surface hardness determined to be higher than a surface hardness of a sliding surface of the rotation member or the rotation transmission member for sliding the vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Nakajima, Taiyu Iwata, Ichiro Hiratsuka, Takayuki Kurumi, Kazumi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6892685
    Abstract: The invention concerns a control device for adjusting the relative angular position of a driven shaft, particularly a camshaft of an internal combustion engine, said device comprising a drive pinion that is rotatably connected to the shaft, an adjusting element (1) for the angular adjustment of the drive pinion relative to the shaft, two chambers (2, 3) that are alternately supplied with hydraulic fluid and a control valve (6) for actuating the adjusting element (1), said control valve being connected to the chambers (2, 3) of the adjusting element (1) through pressure medium channels (4, 5). The control valve (6) comprises a valve body (7) that has two working connections A and B for the pressure medium channels (4, 5), a delivery connection P for the supply of hydraulic fluid and a discharge connection T for the discharge of hydraulic fluid, and the control valve (6) further comprises a sliding valve control piston (8) for setting different hydraulic resistances W between the individual connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler oHG
    Inventors: Rainer Ottersbach, Andreas Strauss, Mike Kohrs, Jochen Auchter
  • Patent number: 6889641
    Abstract: The invention concerns a control device for adjusting the relative angular position of a driven shaft, particularly a camshaft of an internal combustion engine, said device comprising a drive pinion that is rotatably connected to the shaft, an adjusting element (1) for the angular adjustment of the drive pinion relative to the shaft, two chambers (2, 3) that are alternately supplied with hydraulic fluid and a control valve (6) for actuating the adjusting element (1), said control valve being connected to the chambers (2, 3) of the adjusting element (1) through pressure medium channels (4, 5). The control valve (6) comprises a valve body (7) that has two working connections A and B for the pressure medium channels (4, 5), a delivery connection P for the supply of hydraulic fluid and a discharge connection T for the discharge of hydraulic fluid, and the control valve (6) further comprises a sliding valve control piston (8) for setting different hydraulic resistances W between the individual connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler oHG
    Inventors: Rainer Ottersbach, Andreas Strauss, Mike Kohrs, Jochen Auchter
  • Patent number: 6883480
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster for internal combustion engines of motor vehicles has a stator having a casing and stays connected to the casing and projecting radially inwardly. A rotor rotatable relative to the stator is fastened on the camshaft. The rotor has a rotor base member and vanes connected thereto. The vanes project into spaces between the stator stays. The stays each have an end face that rest sealingly against the rotor base member. The vanes of the rotor each have an end face resting sealingly against an inner peripheral wall of the stator. At least one of the vanes of the rotor has a damping element and the stator has at least one counter damping element. Upon rotation of the rotor into its end position, the damping element interacts with the counter damping element and slows the movement of the rotor into the end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Hydraulik-Ring GmbH
    Inventors: Gerold Sluka, Guido Schneider
  • Patent number: 6866013
    Abstract: A variable camshaft timing mechanisms having a vane/housing format is provided. Working hydraulic chambers are created by imposing either single or multiple vanes of a rotor attached to the camshaft into a cavity in a housing that is attached to the camshaft sprocket. Fluid is allowed to normally exhaust from the hydraulic chamber during normal phasing until the rotor nears the end of its travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Borgwarner Inc.
    Inventor: Franklin R. Smith
  • Patent number: 6827053
    Abstract: The invention concerns a control device for adjusting the relative angular position of a driven shaft, particularly a camshaft of an internal combustion engine, said device comprising a drive pinion that is rotatably connected to the shaft, an adjusting element (1) for the angular adjustment of the drive pinion relative to the shaft, two chambers (2, 3) that are alternately supplied with hydraulic fluid and a control valve (6) for actuating the adjusting element (1), said control valve being connected to the chambers (2, 3) of the adjusting element (1) through pressure medium channels (4, 5). The control valve (6) comprises a valve body (7) that has two working connections A and B for the pressure medium channels (4, 5), a delivery connection P for the supply of hydraulic fluid and a discharge connection T for the discharge of hydraulic fluid, and the control valve (6) further comprises a sliding valve control piston (8) for setting different hydraulic resistances W between the individual connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Ina Walzlager
    Inventors: Rainer Ottersbach, Andreas Strauss, Mike Kohrs, Jochen Auchter