Eaton Corporation

Lawrence L Meyer

Erlen B Walton

Robert S Mueller

Michael M Walsh

Lawrence J Kamm

A viscous damped driveline coupling has two concentric tubes concentric with a torsion bar where the torsion bar is nonrotatably connected to both a drive coupling and a driven coupling. An outer tube has a first end connected to the drive coupling and a second end connected to a driven ring where the driven ring contacts ring forks contacting the driven coupling at travel stops thereby providing for lost motion between the driven coupling and the outer tube. A concentric inner tube is connected to the driven coupling and is viscously coupled to the outer tube. As the torsion bar transfers relatively low levels of torque between the drive and driven couplings, the viscous layer between the outer and inner tubes provides viscous damping. Upon contacting the travel stops, the outer tube then carries any additional torque in the driveline coupling.

Torsion bar drive coupling

An engine valve hydraulic actuator having an upper actuator housing slidably attached to a lower actuator housing is disposed between an oil supply header and an engine cylinder head where the supply header and the cylinder head are fixed relative to one another. The upper actuator housing is allowed to position and seal itself relative to the oil supply header and the lower actuator housing is allowed to position itself relative to the engine cylinder head to minimize friction and wear and thereby improve overall performance.

Engine valve hydraulic actuator locating mechanism

A lightweight spool valve for an engine hydraulic valve actuator having a lightweight main body with a center bore therethrough with one end plugged to balance hydraulic forces and a soft iron magnetic ring attached to the main body where the magnetic sleeve is castellated to minimize oil film stiction forces and magnetically interacts with an electrical coil which induces axial motion to control the flow of hydraulic oil within the valve actuator.

Engine hydraulic valve actuator spool valve

A method of operating at least two exhaust valves in an engine cylinder using a four-way hydraulic actuator to open a first exhaust valve and after a time delay using a three-way hydraulic actuator to open a second exhaust valve to minimize the overall energy consumption in operating engine valves using hydraulic actuators.

Method of reducing the pressure and energy consumption of hydraulic

An engine valve control mechanism (12) for varying the amount of opening and/or timing of a cylinder valve (16) in a valve gear train (14) of a multi-cylinder, internal combustion engine having an overhead camshaft (24) which actuates the valve via a rocker arm (18) pivotally bridged between a valve stem end (16e) and a hydraulic lash adjuster (31). The valve gear train portion for each intake is provided with a valve control mechanism by providing the camshaft with a high lift lobe (24c) and two low lift lobes (24a) for actuating the valve and by providing the rocker arm with a rigid link, two low lift cam roller followers (36) fixed to a shaft (40) rotatably mounted on the link, and a high lift cam follower (38) rotatably mounted on the shaft (40) and rotatable between first and second positions for respectively engaging and not engaging the high lift cam lobe (24c). A latch member (44) and a solenoid (54) control the position of the high lift cam follower (38).

Engine valve control mechanism

A device for disabling a poppet valve in an internal combustion engine. The engine includes a valve actuating drive train having an overhead camshaft, a hydraulic lash adjuster, and a rocker arm which pivots at one end about the lash adjuster. The disabling device is secured to the valve stem and is drivingly interposed between the valve and the other end of the rocker arm. The disabling device includes a cap and drum or first drive means moveable with the rocker arm and relative to the valve stem, first and second springs concentric to the valve stem and respectively applying a biasing force to the first and second drive means, and a rotatable latch. The latch is moveable between a valve enabling position and a valve disabling position. The valve is enabled for normal opening and closing when the latch is in the valve enabling position; in this position the latch prevents relative movement between the first and second drive means and both springs bias the valve closed. The valve is disabled when the latch is in the valve disabling position; in this position the latch allows relative movement between the first and second drive means and the first spring biases the first drive means into contact with the rocker arm and the second spring biases the valve closed.

Valve selector

A device for disabling a poppet valve in an internal combustion engine. The engine includes a valve actuating drive train having an overhead camshaft, a hydraulic lash adjuster, and a rocker arm which pivots at one end about the lash adjuster. The disabling device is secured to the valve stem and is drivingly interposed between the valve and the other end of the rocker arm. The disabling device includes a cap and drum or first drive means moveable with the rocker arm and relative to the valve stem, first and second springs concentric to the valve stem and respectively apply a biasing force to the first and second drive means and a rotatable latch. The latch is moveable between a valve enabling position and a valve disabling position. The valve is enabled for normal opening and closing when the latch is in the valve enabling position; in this position the latch prevents relative movement between the first and second drive means and both springs bias the valve closed. The valve is disabled when the latch is in the valve disabling position, in this position the latch allows relative movement between the first and second drive means and the first spring biases the first drive means into contact with the rocker arm and the second spring biases the valve closed.

A positioning device for motor vehicle adjustable steering columns which includes antifriction strips disposed between slideably engaged inner and outer sleeve members and a locking cam member to allow locking at infinitely variable axial positions of the sleeve members.

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Northville, MI, United States of America

Lawrence L Meyer