With Means For Varying Timing Patents (Class 123/90.15)
  • Patent number: 9874153
    Abstract: The method for controlling valve timing of an engine includes: classifying control regions; applying a maximum duration to an intake valve and a long duration to an exhaust valve in a first control region; advancing Intake Valve Closing timing, applying the long duration to the exhaust valve, and maintaining a maximum valve overlap in a second control region; applying the long duration to the exhaust valve and advancing the IVC timing and Exhaust Valve Closing timing in a third control region; applying a short duration to the exhaust valve and controlling the EVC timing in a fourth control region; controlling a throttle valve, applying the short duration to the exhaust valve, and retarding Exhaust Valve Opening timing in a fifth control region; and controlling the throttle valve and the EVC timing, applying the long duration to the exhaust valve, advancing the EVO timing in a sixth control region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: In Sang Ryu, Kyoung Pyo Ha, You Sang Son, Kiyoung Kwon
  • Patent number: 9874117
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides generally for an apparatus for opening and closing a channel. A diverter valve may open and close the channel by sliding and having a pressure reducing portion at a side to decrease a side force due to hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Chung Han Oh, Hyun Kyu Lim, Yun Seok Kim, Jong Kuk Park
  • Patent number: 9874178
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine may include at least one camshaft that may have an outer shaft and an inner shaft that is adjustable relative to the outer shaft. At least one first cam may be fixedly connected to the outer shaft for actuating an outlet valve. At least one second cam may be fixedly connected to the inner shaft. The at least one second cam, in an activated angular position, may enable an internal exhaust gas recirculation via actuating the outlet valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Koolmann, Gerrit Simon
  • Patent number: 9869262
    Abstract: A process and a system for preventing pre-ignition in an internal combustion engine (ICE). The process includes providing an ICE that has a combustion chamber and an exhaust. Also provided is a total hydro-carbon (THC) sensor in communication with the combustion chamber. The THC sensor senses a THC level of the combusted gas for a given combustion cycle i (THCi) of the ICE. In the event that THCi is greater than a reference THC level (THCref), a pre-ignition countermeasure prior to an immediate subsequent combustion cycle i+1 is executed. Furthermore, the executed pre-ignition countermeasure prevents pre-ignition from occurring in the immediate subsequent combustion cycle i+1 of the ICE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: FEV North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Haenel, Henning Kleeberg, Dean Tomazic
  • Patent number: 9869214
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser including a gear arranged to receive torque from an engine, a housing non-rotatably connected to the gear and arranged to connect to a camshaft and a phase adjustment assembly including first gear teeth, second gear teeth and a hub arranged to non-rotatably connect to the camshaft and including third gear teeth and a displacement assembly arranged to for an advance mode, displace the hub in a first axial direction so that the third gear teeth non-rotatably connect to the second gear teeth and the hub is rotatable with respect to the housing in a first circumferential direction and for a retard mode, displace the hub in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction, so that the third gear teeth non-rotatably connect to the first gear teeth and the hub is rotatable with respect to the housing in a second circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Eric Berndt
  • Patent number: 9863328
    Abstract: An exhaust pipe valve system of an internal combustion engine includes: a plurality of exhaust pipe valves; and an actuator unit being an operation unit which performs an opening/closing operation of the exhaust pipe valves, wherein: the operation unit includes a first pulley and a second pulley being at least two operation parts which are connected to the plural exhaust pipe valves via wire cables respectively to open/close the exhaust pipe valves; and at least one of the operation parts has a non-operating area in which the operation part does not cause the corresponding cable to work in a predetermined operating range of the operation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayoshi Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 9863288
    Abstract: A valve opening and closing timing control device includes: a driving-side rotating body including a sprocket around which a rotating body interlocked with a driving shaft of an internal combustion engine is wound and rotates in synchronization with the driving shaft; a driven-side rotating body supported by an inside of the driving-side rotating body to be rotatable coaxially with the same rotational axis and integrally rotating with a valve opening and closing cam shaft; a bolt inserted into the driven-side rotating body to fix the driven-side rotating body to the cam shaft; a fluid pressure chamber formed by being partitioned between the driving-side and driven-side rotating bodies; and a control valve switching supplying and discharging of a hydraulic fluid with respect to the fluid pressure chamber such that a relative rotational phase of the driven-side rotating body with respect to the driving-side rotating body is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro Nagura, Yugo Nakamura, Hiromitsu Shigyo
  • Patent number: 9856757
    Abstract: An arrangement of a camshaft phaser (1) which has a drive element (2) and at least two driven elements (3, 4), whereby the camshaft phaser (1) has a first control valve (7) arranged concentrically to the camshaft phaser (1), and a second control valve (8) arranged off-centered with respect to the rotational axis (5) of the camshaft phaser (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Strauss
  • Patent number: 9856760
    Abstract: A vane rotor is rotatably placed in an inside of a housing. A lock pin, which is placed in an inside of a receiving hole of the vane rotor, is insertable into a fitting hole formed in a rear plate. A second pressure chamber formed in the fitting hole is communicated with an advancing chamber. An air discharge hole communicates between the second pressure chamber and the atmosphere in a state where the lock pin is inserted into the fitting hole. The air discharge hole blocks communication between the second pressure chamber and the atmosphere in a state where the lock pin is removed from the fitting hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomonari Chiba, Shinsuke Ido
  • Patent number: 9856759
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster has multiple locking guide slots and multiple locking pins spring-loaded in the direction of engagement with the locking guide slots and which, by varying assignment to the rotor and to the stator, are arranged relative to one another such that the rotor can, under the action of fluctuating torques, be automatically locked into the predetermined center position relative to the stator proceeding from a first early or late stop position by a successive engagement of the locking pins into the locking guide slots. The locking pins and the locking guide slots are arranged so that, in the event of a rotation of the rotor in the direction of the center locking position proceeding from the respective other second early or late stop position, the locking pins lock into the locking guide slots in the reverse sequence from different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gerhard Scheidig, Olaf Boese, Kie Heon Aum
  • Patent number: 9840941
    Abstract: An internal lever for a switchable cam follower for a valve train of an internal combustion engine with two opposite side walls (1, 2), between which at least one cam roller (9) can be arranged for following a cam stroke motion and aligned opposing openings (3, 4) on a support-side lever end area for holding a shaft (7) for the pivoting support on an external lever (8) of the cam follower encompassing the internal lever at least in some sections. The side walls (1, 2) are made from sheet metal and, arranged in the area of the openings (3, 4) spaced apart from each other, define a space for the arrangement of the cam roller (9) and are connected to each other by at least one stiffening element (5). A method for producing an internal lever is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Kress, Kilian Dummer
  • Patent number: 9840942
    Abstract: A camshaft adjusting device for an internal combustion engine, comprising a housing comprising a bearing sleeve arranged to be concentrically disposed on a camshaft, the bearing sleeve arranged to be guided through a cylinder head wall, an annular gap arranged to be inside the cylinder head, the annular gap arranged to be formed between the bearing sleeve and the camshaft, an adjusting mechanism comprising a control shaft arranged within the housing, a traction mechanism comprising a drive gear secured to the bearing sleeve outside the cylinder head, and a ball bearing arranged within the drive gear and securing the control shaft within the adjusting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sebastian Zwahr, Jens Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9835057
    Abstract: A continuous variable valve duration apparatus may include a camshaft, a plurality of wheels mounted to the camshaft, of which a wheel key is formed thereto respectively, a plurality of cam portions of which a cam and a cam key are formed thereto respectively, of which the camshaft is inserted thereto, of which relative phase angle with respect to the camshaft is variable, a plurality of inner brackets connected with the each wheel key and the each cam key, a plurality of slider housings of which the each inner bracket is rotatably inserted thereto, and movable up and down direction of an engine, a control portion selectively moving the slider housings to adjust relative position of a rotation center of the inner brackets and a guider guiding movement of the sliding housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: You Sang Son, Kyoung Pyo Ha, Back Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 9828891
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a CVVT system including: an OCV supplying oil received from a cylinder block into a CVVT; an oil supply unit supplying oil from the OCV to a lock pin; and an actuator selectively opening or closing the oil supply unit such that oil is supplied to the lock pin and the lock pin is separated from a lock pin hole when the oil supply unit is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chung Han Oh, Min Su Park, Yun Seok Kim
  • Patent number: 9828919
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling a valve includes a first database which stores a plurality of first exhaust cam angles and outputs a first exhaust cam angles corresponding to a current engine speed and inflow air amount. A second database stores a plurality of second exhaust cam angles and outputs a second exhaust cam angles corresponding to the engine speed and inflow air amount. A target angle decision unit selects the exhaust cam angles outputted from the first and second databases as a target angle for controlling an operation of an exhaust valve, in accordance with a current gear stage of a vehicle. A camshaft control unit controls rotational motion of a camshaft coupled to the exhaust cam so that the exhaust cam reaches the target angle, in which the plurality of first exhaust cam angles are in a range in which the exhaust cam is not retarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jeong Ki Huh
  • Patent number: 9822672
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an exhaust valve, a plurality of cams Ca, Cb, and Cc used to drive the exhaust valve, a cam-switching variable valve mechanism that selects a use cam used to drive the exhaust valve out of the plurality of cams Ca, Cb, and Cc, and an electronic control unit that determines whether switching abnormality of the use cam in the variable valve mechanism is present on the basis of a locus M in a predetermined period K which is a period in which the exhaust valve is opened. The locus M is a locus of an in-cylinder pressure changing rate dPc/d? and is specifically a locus indicating a variation of the in-cylinder pressure changing rate dPc/d? depending on a crank angle ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Haga, Yuji Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 9810106
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes a stator having a plurality of lobes and a rotor coaxially disposed within the stator and having a plurality of vanes interspersed with the lobes defining a plurality of alternating advance chambers and retard chambers such that a phasing valve supplies and vents oil to and from the advance and retard chambers. A first check valve allows oil to flow from only one of the retard chambers to only one of the advance chambers when a first diverter valve permits communication between the one of the advance chambers and the first check valve and a second check valve allows oil to flow from the one of the advance chambers to the one of the retard chambers when a second diverter valve permits communication between the one of the retard chambers and the second check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Fischer, Thomas H. Lichti, Cai P. Shum, Jeremy N. Graves
  • Patent number: 9810107
    Abstract: An intermediate phase adjustment apparatus of a CVVT includes check valves provided to prevent backflow of oil when the oil moves from one chamber to another chamber in order to secure a parking position of a lock pin in a CVVT of which an advance chamber and a retard chamber are formed between a rotor and a stator, and an oil inlet portion formed at the stator to correspond to inlet portions of the check valves, wherein an oil inlet portion provided at one chamber is formed larger than an oil inlet portion provided at the other chamber by a predetermined size, and the open angles of the check valves for making oil to flow into a chamber are increased, thereby preventing an offset occurrence by a cam torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chung Han Oh, Yun Seok Kim, Jong Kuk Park
  • Patent number: 9810109
    Abstract: An engine variable camshaft timing phaser (10) includes a sprocket (12), three ring gears (26, 28, 30), multiple planet gears (24), and a sun gear (22). The sprocket (12) receives rotational drive input from an engine crankshaft. One or more of the three ring gear(s) (26, 28, 30) receives rotational drive input from the sprocket (12) and rotates with the sprocket (12), and the remaining ring gear(s) (26, 28, 30) transmit rotational drive output to an engine camshaft (62). All three of the ring gears (26, 28, 30) engage with the planet gears (24). And the sun gear (22) also engages with the planet gears (24). In operation, relative rotational speeds between the sprocket (12) and the sun gear (22) causes the engine camshaft (62) to advance or retard engine valve opening and closing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Pluta, Michael W. Marsh
  • Patent number: 9797497
    Abstract: A flat strain wave gearing device equipped with: a first internal gear and a second internal gear; a flexible tubular external gear; and an elliptically shaped wave generator. In the direction of a central axis, the center of support of the external teeth by the wave generator is offset, by an offset amount of ? along the direction of the central axis, with respect to the tooth-width center of the external teeth of the external gear. By setting the offset direction and the offset amount appropriately it is possible to achieve a strain wave gearing device which is suitable in terms of the operating conditions and the mechanical characteristics of the first and second internal gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: HARMONIC DRIVE SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Mizoguchi, Yoshihide Kiyosawa
  • Patent number: 9784142
    Abstract: A spring arrangement for a variable valve drive of an internal combustion engine includes an intermediate lever, a control shaft, a control shaft roller, a working cam contour, and a spring element. The intermediate lever comprises a contact surface, a camshaft roller which bears against a camshaft, and a slot roller which bears against a slotted guide. The control shaft roller is arranged on the intermediate lever to face away from the slotted guide. The control shaft roller bears against the control shaft. The working cam contour is formed at an end of the intermediate lever opposite the camshaft roller. The spring element comprises a force component on the contact surface in the direction of the camshaft and the slotted guide, and an end leg. The spring element loads the camshaft roller against the camshaft and the slot roller against the slotted guide. The end leg bears against the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: PIERBURG GMBH
    Inventors: Karsten Grimm, Martin Nowak, Christoph Sadowski, Sabine Siebrandt
  • Patent number: 9784143
    Abstract: A valve timing control device, in effect a cam phaser, for an internal combustion engine. The valve timing control device includes a rotor connected to a camshaft and having a plurality of vanes. A stator is engaged with the rotor, and includes a plurality of webs. Pressure chambers are provided between each of the webs and vanes. The cam phaser is configured to automatically locate to its mid-lock position, without having to rely on electronic control. At least one embodiment of the present invention is configured to use cam torque to recirculate oil from one side of the vanes of the rotor to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: HILITE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: John Snyder, Steve Nance, Udo Diederichs, Melissa Koenig, Daniel Stanhope, Kenneth J. Parker, Guenther Benischek
  • Patent number: 9777604
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for an engine with a cam torque actuated variable cam timing phaser. Phaser positioning control is improved by reducing inaccuracies resulting from inadvertent spool valve and/or phaser movement when the spool valve is commanded between regions. In addition, improved spool valve mapping is used to render phaser commands more consistent and robust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul A. Pietrzyk, John Eric Rollinger, Ed Badillo
  • Patent number: 9771839
    Abstract: A system (44) for controlling camshaft (28) phase in an engine (20) with a crankshaft (26), including: an actuator (42) driving a phaser (38) attached to the camshaft (28). The phaser (38) has a first portion (46) in communication with the crankshaft (26), a second portion (48) attached to the camshaft (28) and in communication with the first portion (46), and a third portion (50) attached to the actuator (42) and in communication with the second portion (48). One portion includes a receiver (52), and another portion includes a lock (54) having: a first position (78) where the portions with the receiver (52) and lock (54) can rotate with respect to each other; and a second position (80) where the portions with the receiver (52) and lock (54) are coupled. The lock (54) moves between positions in response to predetermined torque differential between the actuator (42) and camshaft (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Braman C. Wing, Daniel Brown
  • Patent number: 9764730
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus is provided with: a first controlling device that controls an internal combustion engine to switch an air fuel ratio after an air intake quantity of the internal combustion engine increases to a first predetermined quantity in switching the internal combustion engine from a first combustion mode to a second combustion mode, the air fuel ratio in the second combustion mode being larger than that in the first combustion mode; and a second controlling device that controls the internal combustion engine to perform a suppression operation for suppressing a decrease of a rotation number of the internal combustion engine during at least one portion of a predetermined period at which the air intake quantity increases due to the switching from the first combustion mode to the second combustion mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihito Kanno
  • Patent number: 9759100
    Abstract: A device for changing the relative angular position of a camshaft with respect to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, wherein the drive element is rotatably mounted with respect to the crankshaft and is driven by the camshaft. Between the drive element and the camshaft at least two hydraulic chambers are formed, wherein the hydraulic chambers can be pressurized with a pressurized fluid in order to set a defined relative rotational position between the drive element and the camshaft. The device includes a housing element, wherein a pressure reservoir having a pressure chamber for pressurized fluid is arranged on the housing element and wherein the basic form of the pressure reservoir is substantially cylindrical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ali Bayrakdar, Uwe Elfers, Thomas Mueller, Holger Pieper
  • Patent number: 9759101
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus has a regulation member to fix a phase. The regulation member has a main regulation member and a sub regulation member. The main regulation member is inserted into a recess part to regulate the phase. The sub regulation member has an engagement part engageable with the main regulation member in an escape direction Y and disengageable from the main regulation member in an insertion direction X. Further, the sub regulation member has a pressure reception part that receives pressure in the escape direction Y from hydraulic fluid in an operation chamber. The main regulation member is urged in the insertion direction X by a main resilient member. Further, the sub regulation member is urged in the insertion direction X by a sub resilient member. The main regulation member moves in the escape direction Y only by hydraulic fluid, and moves in the insertion direction X only by the resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiki Fujiyoshi, Takashi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9759137
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with a plurality of cylinders, air intake valves provided to each of the cylinders, and a variable valve actuation mechanism for varying the valve actuation of the air intake valves. A motor drives the variable valve actuation mechanism. A motor controller controls the motor. The internal combustion engine is capable of operating in a cylinder deactivation mode, in which the air intake valves of some of the cylinders are kept shut. When the internal combustion engine is reactivated from the cylinder deactivation mode, the motor controller executes an air intake amount correction process, in which the opening duration of the air intake valves is temporarily increased, thereby increasing the amount of air taken in by operating cylinder for which the air intake valves have been opened or closed even during the cylinder deactivation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yohei Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 9752467
    Abstract: A variable valve device for an internal combustion engine for varying operating characteristics of engine valves by changing a relative rotational phase of a camshaft to a timing sprocket has an electric motor that rotates the camshaft relatively to the timing sprocket, a cover member provided to cover a front end section of the electric motor, and an angle sensor that detects a rotational angle position of a motor output shaft. The angle sensor includes a detected unit provided inside of a top end section of the motor output shaft and a detecting unit provided on the cover member so as to be opposed to the detected unit through a minute clearance. A metal disk-shaped reinforcing plate is molded and fixed inside of a cover main body of the cover member mainly formed of a synthetic resin material, thus enhancing the entire rigidity of the cover main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Mikihiro Kajiura, Yosuke Iwase
  • Patent number: 9739180
    Abstract: A camshaft-drive tensioner system is disclosed for an internal combustion engine having a camshaft-drive element. The camshaft-drive tensioner system includes a tensioner configured to be energized by a pressurized fluid in order to apply a force to the camshaft-drive element. The camshaft-drive tensioner system also includes a fluid pump configured to supply the pressurized fluid. The camshaft-drive tensioner system additionally includes a controller configured to regulate either volume or pressure of the fluid supplied to the tensioner by the fluid pump to thereby selectively vary the force applied to the camshaft-drive element. An internal combustion engine having such a camshaft-drive tensioner system and a method of selectively varying a force applied to the camshaft-drive element are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Spix
  • Patent number: 9732680
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle including an engine, the engine including an electric VVT mechanism, the electric VVT mechanism that changes a valve timing of at least either one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve, the control device includes an ECU. The ECU is configured to: perform a crankshaft stop position control to control a rotation stop position of a crankshaft during a stop process of stopping the engine, such that a valve opening degree in which at least either one of a first gap between the intake valve and the corresponding valve seat and a second gap between the exhaust valve and the corresponding valve seat is fully closed or becomes a predetermined gap or more is set as a target valve opening degree; and operate the electric VVT mechanism until the valve opening degree reaches the target valve opening degree, when the engine stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuta Teraya
  • Patent number: 9726053
    Abstract: A valve opening/closing timing control device includes: an intermediate lock mechanism switchable between a locked state constraining a relative rotation phase to an intermediate locked phase, and an unlocked state releasing the constraint; a phase control unit controlling fluid supply to a retard chamber and fluid discharge from an advance chamber, or controlling fluid discharge from the retard chamber and fluid supply to the advance chamber, such that the lock member attains the intermediate locked phase; and a determination unit determining whether the lock member will attain the determination phase, when control has been performed to move the lock member toward a determination phase that has been set at a different position than the intermediate locked phase, after execution of control to either supply fluid to the retard chamber and discharge fluid from the advance chamber, or discharge fluid from the retard chamber and supply fluid to the advance chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Nunami, Takashi Iwaya, Hiroyuki Amano, Masaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9725085
    Abstract: An engine has a variable valve actuation device for controlling an actuation characteristic of an intake valve that is an amount of lifting the intake valve and/or a working angle on the intake valve. When the intake valve, having the actuation characteristic (or lifted in an amount and/or worked by a working angle), as controlled by the variable valve actuation device, has the actuation characteristic fixed (YES in S120), a range applied to set therewithin an output that the engine is required to provide is limited to be narrower and a power storage device's controlled target SOC is raised to be higher (S150, S160, S170) than when said actuation characteristic is not fixed (NO in S120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuta Teraya, Toshikazu Kato, Yoshikazu Asami
  • Patent number: 9719605
    Abstract: A valve element for a hydraulic control device, in particular valve sleeve (1) or valve housing for a control valve on internal combustion engines or transmissions of motor vehicles, wherein the valve element has a displaceable control piston (2) which is subjected to load on one side by a spring (3) which is supported on a spring support (4) which is fixed to the valve element. The spring support (4) has at least one opening (7) which is connected to a pressure medium line, and the pressure medium line is in the form of a pressure medium inlet line. An axial filter (8) is arranged at the opening (7) of the spring support (4) and/or the opening (7) of the spring support (4) is provided with a check valve (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Ross, Alexander Backer, Josef Groschel
  • Patent number: 9719381
    Abstract: A valve gear for an engine, includes: a camshaft phase varying device by which a rotational phase of a camshaft for opening/closing valves of the engine can be changed relatively to that of a crankshaft; and a holder that is provided so that the holder can be removably attached to the camshaft in a state where the holder has held constituent components of the camshaft phase varying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Yoshimoto, Shuichi Yokota
  • Patent number: 9719430
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine has an intake valve, an exhaust valve, and an exhaust purifying catalyst that purifies exhaust gas after combustion of a fuel. During a fuel cut in which no fuel is supplied, a closing timing of the intake valve is controlled to a delayed angle side more than at a timing when the fuel is supplied and to a delayed angle side more than at a timing at a bottom dead center of an intake stroke, and an opening timing of the exhaust valve is controlled to an advanced angle side more than at the timing when the fuel is supplied and to an advanced angle side more than at the timing at the bottom dead center of an expansion stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuaki Ueda, Tomoaki Nakano, Shigeru Maeda, Masataka Nishikori, Shuhei Oe, Hikaru Kokumai
  • Patent number: 9708941
    Abstract: A valve timing control device of internal combustion engine comprises a chain case 6 that is fixed to a cylinder head 101 of the engine and has a circular opening 55 for receiving therein a cylindrical housing 5a of an electric motor 8, an annular seal member 58 that is operatively received in an annular clearance defined between an outer cylindrical wall of the cylindrical housing 5a and an inner cylindrical wall of the circular opening 55, and a cover member 4 that is connected to the chain case 6 to cover the circular opening thereby concealing the annular seal member from the outside, wherein when the cover member 4 is removed from the chain case 6, the annular seal member 58 becomes exposed to the outside through the circular opening 55 of the chain case 6 for a visual inspection of the annular seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Mikihiro Kajiura, Yosuke Iwase
  • Patent number: 9702786
    Abstract: Process for identifying edges on a camshaft target (30) having a plurality of teeth on the periphery thereof, the plurality of teeth forming a series of M edges when the camshaft rotates through one revolution, the process including the following steps: calculating, for each of the M edges, the characteristic: CP ? ( j ) = [ ? i = 1 N ? ? P ? ( j - i + 1 ) + ? i = 3 ? ? N 4 ? ? N - 1 ? ? P ? ( j - i ) ? i = N 3 ? ? N - 1 ? ? P ? ( j - i ) ] N ? 1 P(i) denoting the angular distance between the edge i and the preceding edge, during the movement of the camshaft target, calculating, during an edge detection, an index: CT ? ( k ) = [ ? i = 1 N ? ? T ? ( k - i + 1 ) + ? i = 3 ? ? N 4 ? ? N - 1 ? ? T ? ( k - i ) ? i = N 3 ? ? N - 1 ? ? T ? ( k - i ) ] N ? 1 T(i) denoting the time elapsed since the appearance of the edge i?1 to the ed
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Pierre Zouboff, Jerome Lachaize
  • Patent number: 9695716
    Abstract: A variable camshaft timing device can operate using pressure generated by camshaft torque energy to transfer fluid from one working chamber to another work chamber or operate via an external fluid pressure source to fill one working chamber while simultaneously exhausting an opposing working chamber or operate using both modes simultaneously. The mode of the variable camshaft timing device is determined by the position of the control valve. The lock pin is controlled by fluid from one of the working chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin R. Smith, Brian T. Kenyon
  • Patent number: 9695717
    Abstract: A control device for an engine includes a variable valve timing mechanism. The control device performs learning a holding control amount of a hydraulic valve when actual valve timing is held at a fixed timing in each of spring and non-spring regions, and an updating. The updating includes updating the control amount for the non-spring region whenever the control amount for the spring region learned drops below the control amount for the non-spring region to satisfy a relationship with the control amount for the non-spring region being less than or equal to the control amount for the spring region, and/or updating the control amount for the spring region whenever the control amount for the non-spring region learned exceeds the control amount for the spring region to satisfy a relationship with the control amount for the spring region being greater than or equal to the control amount for the non-spring region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yamamoto, Toyokazu Nakashima
  • Patent number: 9689284
    Abstract: A camshaft adjusting device, including a camshaft (1) and a camshaft adjuster (2) having a stator (5) that can be connected to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine and a rotor (4) that is rotatably mounted in the stator (5) and can be connected to the camshaft (1) and a clamping device (3) for clamping the rotor (4) to the camshaft and a rolling bearing (8) absorbing both axial and radial forces for mounting the camshaft adjusting device in a stationary housing (11), wherein the rotor (4) is clamped to the camshaft (1) by the clamping device (3) via an inner ring (12) or an outer ring (13) of the rolling bearing (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Boris Putz, Ali Bayrakdar
  • Patent number: 9683465
    Abstract: A valve-timing control apparatus varies a relative phase between a cam shaft and a crankshaft by energizing an electric motor through a power-feeding brush provided to be in contact with a slip ring. The valve-timing control apparatus includes a retaining member slidably retaining the power-feeding brush; a connector provided in the retaining member and connected to a power source; a pigtail harness including one end portion connected with the power-feeding brush, and another end portion connected with a terminal of the connector through a fixing portion; and a guide portion provided in the retaining member and including an outer circumferential surface formed in an arc-shape. The pigtail harness bends along the outer circumferential surface of the guide portion. The another end portion extends substantially in a linear arrangement from the fixing portion to a bending portion at which the pigtail harness bends along the outer circumferential surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Tadokoro, Seiichi Sue, Shinichi Kawada, Hiroyuki Nemoto, Isao Doi
  • Patent number: 9683468
    Abstract: Various methods for operating a camshaft are provided. In one example, a method of operating a camshaft comprises: adjusting the camshaft based on a desired camshaft position, the desired camshaft position determined based on a camshaft position indicated by a camshaft sensor and a camshaft position indicated by a camshaft actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Yan Wang
  • Patent number: 9677478
    Abstract: A cylinder deactivation arrangement and method of cylinder deactivation are disclosed for an internal combustion engine having a number of cylinders with at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve per cylinder. Each intake valve includes two different lifting levels, wherein the cylinder deactivation arrangement has an even number of cylinders. A first set of cylinders constituted by half of the even number of cylinders have intake valves configured for fully opened and partly opened lifting levels, and a second set of cylinders constituted by the other half of the even number of cylinders have intake valves configured for fully opened and closed lifting levels. The first set of cylinders have exhaust valves configured for fully opened lifting levels and the second set of cylinders have exhaust valves configured for fully opened and closed lifting levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Mats Moren
  • Patent number: 9677433
    Abstract: A phase control apparatus in a variable cam timing (VCT) system of an engine is described herein. The phase control apparatus includes a locking pin coupled to a vane, the locking pin extending into a locking pin recess in a cover plate in a locked configuration, the locking pin and locking pin recess having a backlash and a housing at least partially enclosing the vane and spaced away from the vane forming a gap in the locked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Ali Moetakef, Jamie Charles Hanshaw, Wesley Kridner, Georg Festag, Steve Poe
  • Patent number: 9650924
    Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a variable valve timing device configured to selectively adjust opening and closing of an exhaust valve of the engine, a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a condition associated with pre-ignition of air and fuel in a cylinder of the engine, and a controller in communication with the variable valve timing device and the sensor. The controller is configured to control the variable valve timing device to selectively initiate a conventional valve timing or a quick-open valve timing based on the signal. In the quick-open valve timing the exhaust valve is moved from a closed position to a maximum lift position in a shorter amount of time than in the conventional valve timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Deep Bandyopadhyay, Vijaya Kumar
  • Patent number: 9638115
    Abstract: A control device of a multi-cylinder engine is provided. The device includes first and second auxiliary components. The first auxiliary component generates energy. The device includes an angular speed variation detecting device for detecting an angular speed variation of a crankshaft, and an auxiliary component control device for controlling drive loads of the first and second auxiliary components. When an engine load is low and the angular speed variation exceeds a predetermined threshold, the auxiliary component control device increases a total drive load of the auxiliary components. Here, if the drive load of the first auxiliary component is increasable, the drive load of the first auxiliary component is increased, and when this increase amount is insufficient, the drive load of the second auxiliary component is increased, whereas if the drive load of the first auxiliary component is not increasable, the drive load of the second auxiliary component is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nishimoto, Hisashi Okazawa, Masanori Hashimoto, Junsou Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9631524
    Abstract: In a hydraulically-operated multi-vane equipped valve timing control apparatus of an internal combustion engine, at least one of a plurality of vanes is equipped with a fluid-communication control mechanism FCCM, whereas the other vanes are configured as non-FCCM equipped vanes. At least one of the non-FCCM equipped vanes is configured such that a summed pressure-receiving surface area of the non-FCCM equipped at least one vane, facing a phase-retard chamber, and a summed pressure-receiving surface area of the non-FCCM equipped at least one vane, facing a phase-advance chamber, are set to differ from each other, thereby permitting a vane rotor to be biased in a specified rotation direction by the unbalanced pressure-receiving surface area configuration as well as establishment of fluid-communication between the two adjacent chambers through the fluid-communication control mechanism, when starting the engine from its stopped state where there is no hydraulic-pressure supply from an oil pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Kenji Sato
  • Patent number: 9631525
    Abstract: A cam phaser including an electromagnetically actuated hydraulic valve; and a hollow piston inserted in a borehole and longitudinally movable by an electromagnet so that a hydraulic fluid is distributed to operating connections associated with pressure cavities of the cam phaser, wherein a first operating connection branches off from a borehole directly adjacent to the electromagnet, wherein the hollow piston includes a circumferential bar with a control edge oriented towards the electromagnet so that a cavity within the borehole is defined on one side by the circumferential bar and on another side by the electromagnet, wherein a drain opening extends from the cavity, wherein the drain opening hydraulically connects the cavity with a drain channel leading towards a tank drain, wherein the bar is movable into a direction expanding the first operating connection in the flow cross section by a force of the electromagnet that is loaded with electrical current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Hilite Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Oppel, Matthias Lang, Marc Hohmann
  • Patent number: 9624796
    Abstract: A valve-timing control apparatus includes an electric motor; a speed-reduction mechanism configured to reduce a rotational speed of the output shaft of the electric motor; a slip ring provided on a surface of a tip portion of the electric motor; a cover member provided to cover at least a part of the surface of the tip portion of the electric motor; a power-feeding brush disposed in the cover member and being in contact with the slip ring; and an angle sensing mechanism configured to sense a rotational angle of the output shaft of the electric motor. The angle sensing mechanism includes a detected portion attached to the output shaft of the electric motor, and a detecting portion attached to the cover member and opposed to the detected portion. The power-feeding brush is located so as not to overlap with the detected portion in a vertically-upper direction from the detected portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Mikihiro Kajiura, Yosuke Iwase