Abstract: A camshaft assembly includes an actuator and an axially moveable structure mounted to a base shaft wherein the axially moveable structure includes a plurality of lobe packs and a cam barrel. The axially movable structure moves along the base shaft in the axial direction along a longitudinal axis of the base shaft, but is rotationally fixed to the base shaft. The barrel cam includes an inner wall and an outer wall which defines a control groove therebetween. The control groove further defines first and second regions wherein the first region includes a fixed narrow control groove width and the second region includes a progressively decreasing control groove width. The actuator shifts the axially moveable structure relative to the base shaft between a first position and a second position. A recess is defined in the outer wall such that the recess is disposed adjacent to the first region.

Abstract: A system and method for sensing a camshaft barrel position of a sliding camshaft includes at least one sliding camshaft having at least one camshaft barrel and at least one position shifting slot disposed in the at least one camshaft barrel. At least one actuator is provided for engaging the at least one position shifting slot on the rotating sliding camshaft and shifting position of the at least one camshaft barrel and at least one sensor is provided for detecting the shifted position of the at least one camshaft barrel wherein the camshaft barrel includes position identifying features.

Abstract: A camshaft assembly for a vehicle engine includes a camshaft member, a cam phaser and a cam nose. The camshaft member includes a front end and a rear end. The camshaft member may be configured to actuate at least one intake valve of a combustion chamber. The cam phaser affixed to the front end of the camshaft member while the cam nose may be disposed at the front end of the camshaft. The cam nose further includes a cam nose face with a curvilinear groove surrounding a central axis region of the cam nose. The curvilinear groove may be configured to engage with the cam phaser to prevent oil leakage out from the central axis region and/or to rotationally lock the cam phaser to the camshaft member.

Abstract: A system and method for sensing a camshaft barrel position of a sliding camshaft includes at least one sliding camshaft having at least one camshaft barrel and at least one position shifting slot disposed in the at least one camshaft barrel. At least one actuator is provided for engaging the at least one position shifting slot on the rotating sliding camshaft and shifting position of the at least one camshaft barrel and at least one sensor is provided for detecting the shifted position of the at least one camshaft barrel wherein the camshaft barrel includes position identifying features.

Abstract: An engine control module includes at least one high side driver connected to at least one intake camshaft actuator and at least one exhaust camshaft actuator. A plurality of low side drivers is connected to the at least one intake camshaft actuator and the at least one exhaust camshaft actuator. A sliding camshaft control module selectively actuates the at least one high side driver and the plurality of low side drivers based on a status associated with the at least one intake camshaft actuator and/or the at least one exhaust camshaft actuator.

Abstract: A variable camshaft includes a base shaft, an axially movable structure, and an actuator. The axially movable structure includes a plurality of lobe packs and at least one barrel cam defining a control groove having an engagement region, a first shift region, a balancing region, a second shift region and a disengagement region. The actuator includes at least one pin operatively configured to move relative to the actuator body between a retracted position and an extended position into the control groove. The axially movable structure moves axially relative to the base shaft the pin is in the extended position and is at least partially disposed in one of the first or second shift regions of the control groove.

Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a switching period module and at least one of a valve lift control module and a start-stop control module. The switching period module determines a switching period that elapses as a valve lift actuator of an engine switches between a first valve lift position and a second valve lift position that is different than the first lift position. The switching period begins when a measured position of the valve lift actuator corresponds to the first lift position and the switching period ends when the measured position of the valve lift actuator corresponds to the second lift position. The valve lift control module controls the valve lift actuator based on the switching period. The start-stop control module determines whether to automatically stop the engine based on the switching period.

Abstract: A camshaft assembly includes a base shaft including at least one lobe pack axially movably mounted on the base shaft, the lobe pack including a control groove therein. An actuator device includes a pin movably mounted to the actuator between a retracted position and an extended position for engaging with the control groove to cause axial movement of the lobe pack. The control groove includes a pin engagement region, a shifting region and an ejection region. The pin engagement region of the control groove has a first pair of sidewalls. The shifting region extends from the pin engagement region and has a second pair of sidewalls angled relative to the first pair of sidewalls and having a first portion with a varying groove width that varies relative to a groove width of the pin engagement region.

Abstract: A camshaft assembly includes a base shaft including at least one lobe pack axially movably mounted on the base shaft, the lobe pack including a control groove therein. An actuator device includes a pin movably mounted to the actuator between a retracted position and an extended position for engaging with the control groove to cause axial movement of the lobe pack. The control groove includes a pin engagement region, a shifting region and an ejection region. The pin engagement region of the control groove has a first pair of sidewalls. The shifting region extends from the pin engagement region and has a second pair of sidewalls angled relative to the first pair of sidewalls and having a first portion with a varying groove width that varies relative to a groove width of the pin engagement region.

Abstract: An engine control module includes at least one high side driver connected to at least one intake camshaft actuator and at least one exhaust camshaft actuator. A plurality of low side drivers is connected to the at least one intake camshaft actuator and the at least one exhaust camshaft actuator. A sliding camshaft control module selectively actuates the at least one high side driver and the plurality of low side drivers based on a status associated with the at least one intake camshaft actuator and/or the at least one exhaust camshaft actuator.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes a camshaft having an exhaust cam lobe defining an exhaust lift region and an exhaust base circle region and an EGR cam lobe defining an EGR lift region and an EGR base circle region. The EGR lift region is rotationally offset from the exhaust lift region and the EGR base circle region is rotationally aligned with the exhaust lift region. An exhaust valve lift mechanism is engaged with an exhaust valve, the exhaust cam lobe and the EGR cam lobe and is operable in first and second modes. The exhaust valve remains closed when the EGR lift region engages the exhaust valve lift mechanism during the second mode and the exhaust valve is opened when the EGR lift region engages the exhaust valve lift mechanism during the first mode to provide exhaust gas flow into the combustion chamber during an intake stroke of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a switching period module and at least one of a valve lift control module and a start-stop control module. The switching period module determines a switching period that elapses as a valve lift actuator of an engine switches between a first valve lift position and a second valve lift position that is different than the first lift position. The switching period begins when a measured position of the valve lift actuator corresponds to the first lift position and the switching period ends when the measured position of the valve lift actuator corresponds to the second lift position. The valve lift control module controls the valve lift actuator based on the switching period. The start-stop control module determines whether to automatically stop the engine based on the switching period.

Abstract: A detent assembly and a method of assembling the detent assembly are disclosed. The detent assembly includes a first shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis and has an outer surface. The first shaft defines a cavity having an opening defined by the outer surface. The detent assembly further includes a camshaft defining an aperture along the longitudinal axis to present an inner wall of the camshaft that circumscribes the longitudinal axis. The inner wall defines a plurality of recesses spaced from each other. The detent assembly also includes a self-contained plunger unit that is secured to the first shaft in the cavity as a unit. A plunger of the self-contained plunger unit engages the inner wall as the camshaft is disposed over the self-contained plunger unit so that the plunger rests in one of the recesses of the camshaft to selectively secure together the first shaft and the camshaft.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes a motor driver module, a correlation triggering module, a target phase angle module, and a correlation control module. The motor driver module controls an electric camshaft phaser of an engine based on a desired phase angle between a position of a crankshaft and a position of a camshaft. The correlation triggering module selectively generates a signal based on the position of the camshaft. The target phase angle module adjusts the desired phase angle to a predetermined phase angle in response to the generation of the signal. The correlation control module, in response to the generation of the signal: determines the position of the crankshaft when the camshaft is in a predetermined position; and selectively outputs a fault indicator based on a comparison of the position of the crankshaft and a predetermined crankshaft position range corresponding to the predetermined position.

Abstract: A detent assembly and a method of assembling the detent assembly are disclosed. The detent assembly includes a first shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis and has an outer surface. The first shaft defines a cavity having an opening defined by the outer surface. The detent assembly further includes a camshaft defining an aperture along the longitudinal axis to present an inner wall of the camshaft that circumscribes the longitudinal axis. The inner wall defines a plurality of recesses spaced from each other. The detent assembly also includes a self-contained plunger unit that is secured to the first shaft in the cavity as a unit. A plunger of the self-contained plunger unit engages the inner wall as the camshaft is disposed over the self-contained plunger unit so that the plunger rests in one of the recesses of the camshaft to selectively secure together the first shaft and the camshaft.

Abstract: A camshaft assembly includes a camshaft rotatable about a cam axis, and a lobe pack slideably attached to the camshaft. The lobe pack includes a barrel cam that defines a control groove disposed annularly about the cam axis. When the camshaft and the lobe pack rotate about the cam axis in a first rotational direction, the control groove is shaped to react against either a first or second shifting pin, to guide the lobe pack along a first or third path respectively, into a first or second axial position respectively. When the camshaft and the lobe pack rotate about the cam axis in a second rotational direction, the control groove is shaped to react against the first and second shifting pins to guide the lobe pack along a second path, into the second axial position.

Abstract: A camshaft assembly includes a camshaft rotatable about a cam axis, and a lobe pack slideably attached to the camshaft. The lobe pack includes a barrel cam that defines a control groove disposed annularly about the cam axis. When the camshaft and the lobe pack rotate about the cam axis in a first rotational direction, the control groove is shaped to react against either a first or second shifting pin, to guide the lobe pack along a first or third path respectively, into a first or second axial position respectively. When the camshaft and the lobe pack rotate about the cam axis in a second rotational direction, the control groove is shaped to react against the first and second shifting pins to guide the lobe pack along a second path, into the second axial position.

Abstract: A camshaft assembly can control the motion of the intake or exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine and includes a base shaft extending along a longitudinal axis. The camshaft assembly further includes an axially movable structure mounted on the base shaft and axially movable relative to the base shaft. The axially movable structure includes a plurality of lobe packs. Each lobe pack includes a plurality of cam lobes. The axially movable structure includes a barrel cam defining a control groove. The camshaft assembly additionally includes an actuator including an actuator body and a pin movably coupled to the actuator body between a retracted position and an extended position. The axially movable structure can move axially relative to the base shaft when the base shaft rotates about the longitudinal axis and the pin is in the extended position and at least partially disposed in the control groove.

Abstract: A camshaft assembly can control the motion of the intake or exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine and includes a base shaft extending along a longitudinal axis. The camshaft assembly further includes an axially movable structure mounted on the base shaft and axially movable relative to the base shaft. The axially movable structure includes a plurality of lobe packs. Each lobe pack includes a plurality of cam lobes. The axially movable structure includes a barrel cam defining a control groove. The camshaft assembly additionally includes an actuator including an actuator body and a pin movably coupled to the actuator body between a retracted position and an extended position. The axially movable structure can move axially relative to the base shaft when the base shaft rotates about the longitudinal axis and the pin is in the extended position and at least partially disposed in the control groove.

Abstract: A method for starting an engine includes sensing a triggering event and monitoring pressure in a fuel rail. A cam shaft of the engine is oscillated with a cam phaser. The cam shaft does not complete a full rotation during the oscillation. A fuel rail pump is operated with the oscillating cam shaft until the monitored pressure in the fuel rail reaches a minimum level, and the engine is started after reaching the minimum level.