Eaton Corporation

Eaton Intelligent Power Limited

Michigan State University

Andrew Paul Harman

Austin Robert Zurface

Kynan L Church

David Gerard Genise

Thomas A Genise

Robert Joseph Kyle

Gregory L Heatwole

Daniel Stanley Frazier

Patrick John McMillan

Richard Kukucka

Farhang Pourboghrat

Michael A Zampaloni

Robert Michael Arnsparger

Jamie Gerad Cullen

Suzanne M Zampaloni

Gabriela Florentina Radulescu

David G Genise

A differential assembly with at least a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio that can be integrated with an automatic transmission system thereby increasing the total number of available gear ratios is presented. A method of shifting to improve engine efficiency is also provided.

Differential assembly

A dual body rocker arm comprises an outer arm, an inner arm, a substantially cylindrical pivot axle, a pivot foot and a first and second pivot foot retaining ring. The inner arm is disposed between side arms of the outer arm. The pivot axle is mounted to both the inner and outer arm. The pivot foot has a cylindrical axle interfacing surface and a valve tip interface. Retaining rings mount the pivot foot to the axle, allowing partial rotation of the pivot foot about the axle. Interfering protrusions on the retaining rings limit the range of motion of the pivot foot. A pivot foot having at least one interfering block is configured to restrict motion of the pivot foot by interfering with at least one interfering tab.

Pivot foot for deactivating rocker arm

A dual body rocker arm comprising an outer arm, an inner arm, a substantially cylindrical pivot axle, a pivot foot and a first and second pivot foot retaining ring. The inner arm is disposed between side arms of the outer arm. The pivot axle is mounted to both the inner and outer arm. The pivot foot has a cylindrical axle interfacing surface and a valve tip interface. Retaining rings mount the pivot foot to the axle, allowing partial rotation of the pivot foot about the axle. Interfering protrusions on the retaining rings limit the range of motion of the pivot foot. A pivot foot having at least one interfering block is configured to restrict motion of the pivot foot by interfering with at least one interfering tab.

A rocker arm assembly includes first and second rocker arms defining a pivot location. The first rocker arm includes, toward a first axial end thereof adjacent the pivot location, a fulcrum surface and, toward a second axial end thereof, a latch assembly including a latch member moveable between latched and unlatched conditions relative to a latch surface defined by an adjacent portion of the second rocker arm. The latch assembly further including a spring biasing the latch member toward one of the latched and unlatched conditions, and a pressure chamber operable to bias the latch member toward the other of the latched and unlatched conditions. The first rocker arm further includes a fluid passage having a first end in open fluid communication with the fulcrum surface and a second end in open fluid communication with the pressure chamber of the latch assembly.

Dual lift rocker arm latch mechanism and actuation arrangement therefor

A valve control system including a camshaft having first and second cam profiles, the valve control system comprising a rocker arm assembly () including a first rocker arm () having a first cam follower () in engagement with the first cam profile, and a second rocker arm () having a second cam follower () in engagement with the second cam profile. The engine includes a fulcrum location (P) operable to provide a source of pressurized fluid, and the first rocker arm includes a latch member () moveable between latched (FIG.) and unlatched conditions. The latch member is biased toward the latched condition by a fluid pressure in a chamber (), and the first rocker arm defines a fluid passage () having a first end () in open fluid communication with the pressure source, and a second end () in open fluid communication with the pressure chamber ().

A valve control system for an engine having a camshaft with first and second cam profiles, the valve control system comprising a rocker arm assembly including a first rocker arm having a first cam follower in engagement with the first cam profile, and a second rocker arm having a second cam follower in engagement with the second cam profile. The first rocker arm includes a latch member biased toward a latched condition by a fluid pressure in a chamber, and the first rocker arm defines a fluid passage having a first end in open fluid communication with the pressure source, and a second end in open fluid communication with the pressure chamber. An alignment feature cooperates with the latch member to ensure proper alignment with a latch surface.

A cylinder head () for an internal combustion engine has hydroformed port liners () positioned within selected ports, either exhaust and/or intake ports (). The hydroformed port liner () includes an air gap () for an insulation layer within the selected port () between an outer surface () of the hydroformed port liner () and the wall of the port (). A cylinder head () with a predetermined port configuration has selected ports () cast with protrusions (). The selected ports () have a larger diameter than a standard size port diameter for that cylinder head to provide a predetermined port configuration by a preset amount based on the thickness of the hydroformed port liner () and a desired air gap (). Protrusions () in the wall of the selected ports () or on the insert sleeves () facilitate formation of the air gap during the hydroforming process.

Growing community of inventors

Battle Creek, MI, United States of America

Andrew Paul Harman