Dana Corporation

Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC

Timothy A Hegemier

Mark Allen Stamback

Alexander S Williamson

Robert W Lehmann

John D Binford

Troy Daniel McArthy

Edward E Lafever

Troy D Mc Arthy

John Gilbert Spoonamore

Cathy Stamback, Legal Representative

Steven M Fisher

A valve stem seal assembly has an elastomeric seal with first and second radially inwardly directed sealing lips that are in intimate sealing contact with a valve stem. The assembly also has a metal seal retainer with a first metal seal retainer portion that has a surface axially slanted inward and downward from a top of the elastomeric seal. This slanted portion forms a metal frustoconical foundation with a second metal seal retainer portion that directly radially extends from the metal frustoconical foundation. The axially slanted inward surface of the metal retainer is directly radially outward from the radially inwardly directed first sealing lip.

Frustoconically supported valve stem seal assembly

A valve stem seal assembly has a metal retainer, an elastomeric seal, and a metal valve guide. The metal retainer and the elastomeric seal are attached to each other, and the elastomeric seal is in sealable contact with the metal valve guide, while the metal retainer is in metal-to-metal gripping contact with the metal valve guide. A stop may be formed in the metal retainer that cooperates with a shoulder formed in the metal valve guide in order to prevent over-installation of the assembly of the elastomeric seal with attached metal retainer, when this assembly is installed over the metal valve guide.

Hybrid valve stem seal retainer assembly

An eccentricity tolerant valve stem seal assembly includes an elastomeric seal having an upper metal retainer extending down and within an upper seal portion which has an inwardly directed sealing lip for contacting a valve stem. There are also a flexible middle and a lower seal portions. The lower seal portion is connected to a lower metal seal retainer that is disposed up to a lower edge of the middle seal portion. The flexible middle seal portion allows the upper seal portion to flex from an eccentric valve stem without losing the sealing function of the sealing lip. In cooperation with the above described structure, a separate cover may be in a tight tolerance fit with the lower seal retainer over top of the eccentricity tolerant valve stem seal, in order to limit axial displacement of the upper portion of the seal due to high manifold pressure.

Eccentricity tolerant valve stem seal assembly

A valve stem seal of an internal combustion engine is described wherein the valve stem seal includes an outer peripheral surface and an inner sealing surface. The inner sealing surface minimizes ingress of a liquid upwardly from an intake port area into an overhead engine area by having at least one sealing lip disposed on an upper portion of the inner sealing surface and extending away from the inner sealing surface. The sealing lip includes a generally square lower corner.

Upside-down square-up valve stem seal

A tool for grooving an outer surface of a valve guide comprising a tool body, a tightening nut disposed about a portion of the tool body, one or more rollers rotatably mounted within a bushing, and a handle for rotating the one or more rollers of the tool about the outer surface of the valve guide, wherein the tool is capable of grooving the outer surface of the valve guide while the cylinder head is mounted to an engine. The grooves on the outer surface of the valve guide allow the valve stem seal to grip the valve guide more effectively, thereby improving the retention force on the valve guide. As a result, the movement of the valve stem seal is minimized. A method of using the tool is also described.

Valve guide grooving tool

A valve stem seal assembly includes a retainer and a sealing element disposed within the retainer. The retainer includes a step and one or more installation pads. The sealing element includes a first sealing lip for sealing a valve stem, and a second sealing lip for sealing a chamfer of a valve guide. The step of the retainer exerts a compression force, F, against the second sealing lip to seal the second sealing lip against the chamber of the valve guide. The one or more installation pads exerts a frictional force against the valve guide to prevent movement of said valve stem seal assembly. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Valve stem seal assembly

A valve stem seal assembly includes several protrusions or bumps on the bottom of a spring seat flange or on a spring wear washer surrounding the seal. The protrusions can be either cast formed or machined in place. In described embodiments, the protrusions are adapted to engage corresponding depressions, holes, or receptors in a cylinder head deck surface against which the flange or wear washer abuts. A positive mechanical anchor is thereby created for resisting any torque applied to the flange or washer through mechanical vibration induced rotation of the valve spring. Sliding contact is thereby avoided at the interface between the flange or washer and the cylinder head, and wear is prevented. Use of one disclosed embodiment will require that the cylinder head manufacturer provides a cylinder head that includes several small depressions or apertures in the valve spring seat area that correspond with the disclosed protrusions or bumps.

Valve spring anti-rotation apparatus

A valve stem seal assembly includes an elastomeric sealing member for sealing between a reciprocally moveable valve stem and an associated valve guide in an internal combustion engine. The assembly includes a cylindrical retainer that incorporates an end wall at a first end thereof for securing the elastomeric sealing member to the retainer. The valve assembly is installed over the valve guide, and the retainer is adapted for frictional securement to the guide, whereas the retainer extends down to and engages the surface or deck of the associated engine cylinder head. The retainer includes a radially extending bottom flange at a second end opposite the end wall, wherein the flange bears directly against the cylinder head deck. The upper surface of the flange provides a bearing surface for valve return springs, while the bottom surface of the flange includes an elastomeric sealing media bonded thereto. The sealing media assures positive sealing against oil leakage between the valve guide and the cylinder head deck.

Valve seal assembly with bottom flange seal

A radially compliant valve stem seal assembly is adapted for installation over a valve guide of an internal combustion engine. The assembly includes a metallic cylindrical straight-walled retainer with an elastomeric sealing element chemically bonded to the interior surface of the retainer. The sealing element includes upper and lower portions; the upper portion includes a pair of sealing lips comprising an oil sealing lip and a gas sealing lip. The lips are adapted to meter oil through an interface between the seal assembly and the associated valve stem for assuring proper lubrication at the interface. The lower portion of the elastomeric sealing element provides one or more annular radially inwardly oriented gripping ribs adapted to engage the guide via an interference fit. The gripping ribs are adapted to balance forces of installation against those of securement of the valve stem seal assembly over a wide valve guide diameter tolerance range.

Valve seal assembly with straight-walled retainer

An integral valve stem seal retainer and spring seat for a valve seal subassembly is disclosed having lower and upper portions. An annular sealing member engages the upper portions of the metal retainer and an annular flange extends radially outwardly of the lower portion of the retainer to engage at least one coil of a valve spring. The annular sealing member further includes upper and lower portions, wherein the upper portion engages an outer surface of a valve stem while the lower portion engages a transitional surface of a valve guide.

Heavy-duty valve stem seal assembly

A coextruded valve stem seal is provided that includes a sleeve having an upper and lower portion, a central vertical axis, and a generally concentric aperture. The sleeve includes an inner layer an inner layer of a resilient sealing material, such as a rubber, and an outer layer of a coextrudable rigid material, such as a plastic material. The lower portion of a preferred embodiment of the sleeve may include a radially extending flange. A method for making the valve stem seal in accordance with the principles of the invention is also disclosed.

Coextruded valve stem seal

An integral valve stem seal retainer and spring seat for a valve seal subassembly is disclosed having lower, intermediate and upper portions. An annular sealing member is bonded to the intermediate and upper portions of the metal retainer and an annular flange extends radially outwardly of the lower portion of the retainer to engage at least one coil of a valve spring. The annular sealing member further includes upper and lower portions, wherein the upper portion engages an outer surface of a valve stem while the lower portion engages a top of a thin-walled valve guide.

An integral valve stem seal retainer and spring seat for a reduced diameter valve seal subassembly is disclosed having lower and upper portions. An annular sealing member is bonded to the upper portion of the metal retainer and an annular flange extends radially outwardly of the lower portion of the retainer to engage at least one coil of a reduced diameter valve spring. The annular sealing member further includes upper and lower portions, wherein the upper portion engages an outer surface of a valve stem while the lower portion engages a top of a thin-wall valve guide.

Heavy-duty valve stem seal

An internal combustion engine cylinder bore has a hybrid surface to optimize both wear of the cylinder and oil consumption of the engine. The surface has a coarsely honed surface over at least one of a top portion and a bottom portion of the bore surface. A mid-portion disposed between the top portion and the bottom portion has a finely honed surface.

Cylinder with hybrid bore surface

A system for precisely measuring the amount of oil consumed during operation of an internal combustion engine includes a float chamber which communicates with an oil sump in the engine. A float is disposed within the chamber which moves upwardly and downwardly therein, depending upon the level of oil. A precision level detector is mounted in the upper end of the chamber for generating an electrical signal which is representative of the position of the float within the chamber. A microprocessor receives this signal, along with signals from various other sensors representing engine speed, engine torque, and oil temperature. In response thereto, the microprocessor controls the operation of a pump connected between an external supply of oil and the engine sump. When predetermined conditions are met, the microprocessor activates the pump to add oil from the system. The microprocessor also records the oil level over a period of time to determine the rate of oil consumption.

Growing community of inventors

Avilla, IN, United States of America

Timothy A Hegemier