Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090166274 | Engine valve with a combined engine oil filter and valve actuator solenoid - The disclosed fluid filter screen assembly includes a filter body with an embedded filter screen, the filter screen being disposed in a fluid flow path between flow inlet and flow outlet openings in the filter body. A magnet effectively in contact with the filter screen increases the capacity of the filter assembly to separate particles from the fluid flow path. | 07-02-2009 |
20100018482 | VALVETRAIN OIL CONTROL SYSTEM AND OIL CONTROL VALVE - A hydraulic control system includes an oil control valve to control oil flow within a valvetrain. The control valve varies the flow rate to actuate an engine component from a first position to a second position based upon fluid pressure from the control valve. Varying the flow rate through the control valve includes increasing the flow rate through the control valve to increase the pressure to a first level to actuate the engine component to the first position. After the engine component is actuated, the flow rate through the control valve is maintained at a level sufficient to maintain the engine component in the first position. To actuate the engine component to the second position the flow rate through the control valve is then decreased. The fluid flow rate through the control valve is then maintained at a level sufficient to maintain the engine component in the second position. | 01-28-2010 |
20100019186 | ENGINE VALVE ASSEMBLY WITH VALVE CAN MOUNTABLE TO AN ENGINE COVER - An engine valve assembly is provided with a valve housing configured to promote easy fastening and removal of the valve assembly from an engine cover. The housing has a first wall and a side wall that extends therefrom to partially define an interior cavity with a cavity opening opposite the first wall. In some embodiments, the first wall has a generally teardrop-shaped surface. The first wall has a valve opening and a fastener opening that is spaced from and aligned with the valve opening along the first wall. A valve body is supported by the valve housing at least partially within the interior cavity, and may be press-fit therein. The valve housing mounts to the engine cover with the fastener inserted through the fastener opening to extend through the interior cavity and fasten to the engine cover, with the valve body extending into the engine cover. | 01-28-2010 |
20100089347 | DUAL VARIABLE VALVE SOLENOID MODULE - A solenoid valve module includes a first solenoid valve having a first solenoid portion and a first valve body and a second solenoid valve having a second solenoid portion and a second valve body. The first valve body and the second valve body are integrally formed by a solenoid housing. The solenoid valve module is secured to a surface of an engine to provide hydraulic control for an engine component. | 04-15-2010 |
20110018723 | FLUID LEVEL DETECTION SYSTEM - A fluid level detection system includes a fluid reservoir defining a cavity for holding fluid therein. A fluid level sensor is mounted to the fluid reservoir. The solenoid body defines a first opening establishing fluid communication between an armature chamber and a cavity defined by the reservoir. Travel time of an armature within the armature chamber is thereby affected by fluid level in the reservoir. A controller is operatively connected to the sensor and is operable to receive a sensor signal indicative of travel time from the sensor and formulate a control signal corresponding thereto. A power source is operatively connected to the controller for energizing the coil and the controller. In some embodiments, multiple fluid containing components are connected with one or more controllers. An engine, a transmission, and rear axle differentials on a vehicle may be equipped with sensors to provide fluid level, temperature and viscosity information. | 01-27-2011 |
20110089350 | FLUID-BIASED HYDRAULIC CONTROL VALVE WITH ARMATURE PISTON - A hydraulic control valve has a solenoid body, a selectively energizable coil, and an armature positioned adjacent the coil. The coil is energizable to generate a magnetic force that moves the armature from a first position to a second position. A pole piece is positioned to establish a gap between the pole piece and the armature. The pole piece has a cavity that opens at the gap. A piston extends from the armature into the cavity and moves with the armature. The armature is biased to seat at a valve seat in the first position by pressurized fluid. Magnetic force required to move the armature away from the valve seat is a function of the difference between an area of the piston and an area defined by contact of the armature at the valve seat. | 04-21-2011 |
20110247580 | CONTROL VALVE MOUNTING SYSTEM - A system for mounting a control valve on an engine includes an engine head operatively disposed on a cylinder block of the engine. The engine head has one or more open receptacles. A retainer is operatively configured to hold the control valve in the open receptacle. The retainer is further configured to be removeably engaged with the open receptacle. The retainer is co-axial with the open receptacle. | 10-13-2011 |
20120291727 | ADJUSTABLE-STROKE SOLENOID VALVE - An adjustable-stroke solenoid valve assembly includes supply, control, and exhaust ports, an inner cavity having first and second seats, a solenoid coil, and a plunger assembly. The plunger assembly includes an armature shifted by the coil. The plunger assembly also includes a stem having a first end adjustably engaged with the armature, and a second end adjustably engaged with a poppet. The plunger assembly additionally includes a first surface that gets pressed against the first seat to block fluid flow to the control port when the coil is de-energized and a second surface that gets pressed against the second seat to facilitate fluid flow to the control port when the coil is energized. Adjustment of the stem's first end relative to the armature and of the poppet on the stem's second end establish a predetermined stroke for the plunger assembly and a predetermined fluid flow rate to the control port. | 11-22-2012 |
20120319700 | SOLENOID-OPERATED VALVE AND METHOD OF MONITORING SAME - A method for monitoring operation of a solenoid valve having an armature and a poppet coupled to the armature includes the steps of energizing a coil in the valve to generate a current signature reflecting current vs. time, detecting a first inflection point in the current signature, wherein the first inflection point occurs when the armature starts to move from one of the open and closed positions toward the other of the open and closed positions, and detecting a second inflection point in the current signature. The second inflection point occurs when the armature moves completely to the other of the open and closed positions. In one embodiment, the first inflection point indicates when the valve begins to open, making it possible to accurately determine the elapsed opening time of the valve. | 12-20-2012 |
20130068182 | VALVETRAIN OIL CONTROL SYSTEM AND OIL CONTROL VALVE - A hydraulic control system includes an oil control valve to control oil flow within a valvetrain. The control valve varies the flow rate to actuate an engine component from a first position to a second position based upon fluid pressure from the control valve. Varying the flow rate through the control valve includes increasing the flow rate through the control valve to increase the pressure to a first level to actuate the engine component to the first position. After the engine component is actuated, the flow rate through the control valve is maintained at a level sufficient to maintain the engine component in the first position. To actuate the engine component to the second position the flow rate through the control valve is then decreased. The fluid flow rate through the control valve is then maintained at a level sufficient to maintain the engine component in the second position. | 03-21-2013 |
20140222313 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING FLUID PRESSURE-ACTUATED SWITCHING COMPONENT AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR SAME - A method includes energizing a solenoid valve of a hydraulic control system according to a predetermined timing schedule to move a valve member of the solenoid valve. The solenoid valve is operatively connected to the switching component by a fluid control passage, such as a passage in an engine block, to deliver pressurized fluid from a supply passage when the valve member moves to switch the switching component from a first mode to a second mode. An operating parameter of the control system is measured. The operating parameter may be a period of time over which the valve member moves, or a sensed operating parameter of the fluid, such as pressure or temperature. The measured parameter is then compared with a predetermined parameter. Energizing of the solenoid valve is then adjusted based on the difference. | 08-07-2014 |
20140283768 | VALVETRAIN OIL CONTROL SYSTEM AND OIL CONTROL VALVE - A hydraulic control system includes an oil control valve to control oil flow within a valve train. The control valve varies the flow rate to actuate an engine component from a first position to a second position based upon fluid pressure from the control valve. Varying the flow rate through the control valve includes increasing the flow rate through the control valve to increase the pressure to a first level to actuate the engine component to the first position. After the engine component is actuated, the flow rate through the control valve is maintained at a level sufficient to maintain the engine component in the first position. To actuate the engine component to the second position the flow rate through the control valve is then decreased. The fluid flow rate through the control valve is then maintained at a level sufficient to maintain the engine component in the second position. | 09-25-2014 |