According to a method of detecting a lift amount of a valve, an area-increasing jig is attached to an upper surface of a retainer attached to the valve. The area-increasing jig has a larger width than a width of the upper surface of the retainer. Then a lift amount of the valve is detected by measuring a distance to the area-increasing jig by using a non-contact sensor disposed above the retainer.

According to a method of detecting a lift amount of a valve, an area-increasing jig is attached to an upper surface of a retainer attached to the valve. The area-increasing jig has a larger width than a width of the upper surface of the retainer. Then a lift amount of the valve is detected by measuring a distance to the area-increasing jig by using a non-contact sensor disposed above the retainer.

A tube assembly for monitoring a fluid dispensed into a fluid fill port is disclosed. The tube assembly may include a tube body disposed between a first and second open end. A locking portion including a circumferential groove may be defined adjacent to the first open end and a fill portion may be defined at the second open end of the tube body. An aperture may extend through an outer surface of the tube body and a sensor may be inserted into the aperture such that at least a portion of the sensor is positioned within the interior portion of the tube body. The sensor may be configured to monitor at least one fluid characteristic of the fluid that is dispensed into the tube assembly and flows into the fluid fill port.

Each time a highly-viscous substance is extruded, a variation in weight of each cut piece of the highly-viscous substance is minimized. Metallic sodium (5) loaded in an extruder main body (3) is extruded from a nozzle (7) of the extruder main body (3) with a pressing tool (4) and, when it is detected that the metallic sodium (5) is extruded to a predetermined position, the movement of the pressing tool (4) is stopped and the extruded metallic sodium (5) is cut. In this case, an impulse (P) after stop is brought closer to a constant value until a load no longer acts on the metallic sodium (5) in the extruder main body (3) after stopping the movement of the pressing tool (4) by adjusting the movement speed of the pressing tool (4).

Each time a highly-viscous substance is extruded, a variation in weight of each cut piece of the highly-viscous substance is minimized. Metallic sodium (5) loaded in an extruder main body (3) is extruded from a nozzle (7) of the extruder main body (3) with a pressing tool (4) and, when it is detected that the metallic sodium (5) is extruded to a predetermined position, the movement of the pressing tool (4) is stopped and the extruded metallic sodium (5) is cut. In this case, an impulse (P) after stop is brought closer to a constant value until a load no longer acts on the metallic sodium (5) in the extruder main body (3) after stopping the movement of the pressing tool (4) by adjusting the movement speed of the pressing tool (4).

A method is disclosed for adaptively controlling an engine system of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of evaluating the outputs from angular position sensors associated with inlet and exhaust camshafts of an engine of the engine system to establish whether differences between the currently measured positions and previously saved positions are the result of elongation of an endless drive used to drive the camshafts or due to some other reason. If it is confirmed that the differences are due to elongation of the endless drive then the measured values of angular position are used in the control of a number of engine functions.

A method is disclosed for adaptively controlling an engine system of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of evaluating the outputs from angular position sensors associated with inlet and exhaust camshafts of an engine of the engine system to establish whether differences between the currently measured positions and previously saved positions are the result of elongation of an endless drive used to drive the camshafts or due to some other reason. If it is confirmed that the differences are due to elongation of the endless drive then the measured values of angular position are used in the control of a number of engine functions.

A valvetrain for an internal combustion engine of the type that has a combustion chamber, a moveable valve having a seat formed in the combustion chamber, and a camshaft includes a rocker arm assembly, a pivot providing a fulcrum for a rocker arm of the rocker arm assembly, and a latch assembly. An electrical device mounted to the rocker arm assembly receives power or communicates through a circuit that includes an electrical connection formed by abutment between surfaces of two distinct parts. The rocker arm assembly is operative to move one of the two abutting surfaces relative to the other in response to actuation of the cam follower. Forming an electrical connection through abutting surfaces that are free to undergo relative motion may reduce or eliminate the need to run wires to a mobile portion of the rocker arm assembly.

An assembling apparatus places a retainer on a valve spring to surround an upper end of a valve stem. The apparatus includes an assembling head, and a moving unit configured to move the assembling head between the supply position of the retainer and an assembling position. The assembling head includes a holding unit configured to hold the retainer, and a push unit configured to push out the retainer. The push unit includes a push member supported to be able to advance/retreat along an elevating direction of the assembling head, and a biasing member configured to bias the push member in an advancing direction.

An assembling apparatus assembles a retainer by engaging a pair of cotter pieces with a valve stem. The apparatus includes an assembling head configured to hold, in a separated state, the pair of cotter pieces in the separated state prepared by a preparation unit and engage the pair of cotter pieces with the upper end of the valve stem. The head includes a storage member including a storage chamber, and a holding unit capable of pressing the pair of cotter pieces stored in the storage chamber against the upper end of the valve stem. The storage member includes first and second abutting portions. The second abutting portion positions the valve stem in the axial direction, and the first abutting portion positions the pair of cotter pieces in the axial direction.