Abstract: A method of braking for a vehicle with a multi-phase electric motor, said motor including at least one stator group including a first stator arrangement and a second stator arrangement, each arrangement including three coils, each arrangement connected to respective low side and/or high side circuitry, each low side and/or high side circuitry including respective low side switches and high side switches, said method including: for either of said second or first arrangements, i) setting any two of said switches in said low side circuitry to a closed state and the other switch in an open state, and setting all the switches in the high side to an open state; and/or ii) setting any two of said switches in said high side circuitry to a closed state and setting the other switch to an open state, and setting all the switches on the low side to an open state.

Abstract: A method of braking in an electrically powered vehicle, said vehicle including a drive system which includes a multi-phase motor electric motor, said motor comprising at least one stator group; said stator group comprising a first stator arrangement including three coils (e2, e4, e6) and a second stator arrangement including threes coils, (e2* e4* e6*) being angularly offset from said first coil arrangement, and where, said first arrangement is connected to respective low side and/or high side circuitry, including a low side switches (32, 34, 36) and/or high side switches (31, 33, 35) for each of the said coils respectively, adapted to selectively allow current to flow through said respective coils of said first stator arrangement from a power source, and where said second arrangements is connected to respective low side and/or high side circuitry, including a low side switches (32*, 34, *36*) and/or high side switches (31*, 33*, 35*) for each of the said coils respectively, adapted to selectively allow curre

Abstract: A device for controlling a camshaft phaser includes a hydraulic element with a body, a slide assembly having a slide body, and a valve assembly with a first valve, a second valve, and a third valve. The device also includes an actuator which moves along a longitudinal axis between 1) a first position in which the first valve opens or closes a first fluid communication, 2) a second position in which the second valve and the tray open or close a second fluid communication, and 3) a third position in which the third valve and the slide body open or close a third fluid communication between a retard port and a retard chamber.

Abstract: A device for controlling a camshaft phaser includes a hydraulic element with a body, a slide assembly having a slide body, and a valve assembly with a first valve, a second valve, and a third valve. The device also includes an actuator which moves along a longitudinal axis between 1) a first position in which the first valve opens or closes a first fluid communication, 2) a second position in which the second valve and the tray open or close a second fluid communication, and 3) a third position in which the third valve and the slide body open or close a third fluid communication between a retard port and a retard chamber.

Abstract: A method is provided for sensing the position of a camshaft in an internal combustion engine having a camshaft phaser for controllably varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and the camshaft, the camshaft phaser being actuated by an electric motor and having a gear reduction mechanism with a predetermined gear reduction ratio and a sensor for determining the rotational position of the electric motor. The method includes generating a rotational position signal indicative of the rotational position of the electric motor by using the sensor to determine the rotational position of the electric motor and calculating the position of the camshaft based on the rotational position signal and the gear reduction ratio of the gear reduction mechanism.

Abstract: An electrical camshaft phaser arrangement for controllably varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an internal combustion engine includes an adjusting gear drive unit formed as a three shafts transmission having a drive shaft connected with the crankshaft, an output shaft connected with the camshaft, and an adjusting shaft connected with the control shaft of an electrical machine. The electrical machine allows phasing the camshaft with regards to the crankshaft by increasing or decreasing control shaft speed, the control shaft being spinning during phase holding modes. The adjusting gear drive unit is configured such that an energy recovering mode is provided wherein a braking torque is applied to the control shaft in order to generate electrical energy.

Abstract: An eVCP camshaft phaser comprising a harmonic gear drive unit having a circular spline and a dynamic spline linked by a common flexspline, and a single wave generator disposed within the flexspline. The circular spline is connectable to either of a crankshaft-connectable sprocket or an engine camshaft, the dynamic spline being connectable to the other thereof. The wave generator is driven selectively by an eMotor to cause the dynamic spline to rotate past the circular spline, thereby changing the phase relationship between the crankshaft and the camshaft. A coaxial coil spring is connected to the sprocket and to the phaser hub and is positioned and tensioned to bias the phaser and camshaft to a stop position wherein the engine can run or be restarted after the eMotor is de-energized. Preferably, the spring comprises a spring cassette for easy assembly into the eVCP.

Abstract: Improved stiffening and minimized distortion of a housing for an eVCP achieved by forming a plurality of radial housing stiffeners into the housing around the motor mount end and into the eVCP's hub. A back plate is press fit into the rear of the housing, and a straight axial knurl is applied to the surface of the back plate or housing, which knurl permits a larger tolerance-higher press fit class to be used without resulting in significant deformation of the housing. The knurled back plate is harder than the housing, causing the high points of the knurl to plastically deform or plow the housing material during assembly, resulting in less radial deformation of the bore and the journal bearing. An interface between the housing and the hub provides a journal bearing interface to improve axial stability between the hub and housing.

Abstract: An electrical camshaft phaser arrangement for controllably varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an internal combustion engine includes an adjusting gear drive unit formed as a three shafts transmission having a drive shaft connected with the crankshaft, an output shaft connected with the camshaft, and an adjusting shaft connected with the control shaft of an electrical machine. The electrical machine allows phasing the camshaft with regards to the crankshaft by increasing or decreasing control shaft speed, the control shaft being spinning during phase holding modes. The adjusting gear drive unit is configured such that an energy recovering mode is provided wherein a braking torque is applied to the control shaft in order to generate electrical energy.

Abstract: A method is provided for sensing the position of a camshaft in an internal combustion engine having a camshaft phaser for controllably varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and the camshaft, the camshaft phaser being actuated by an electric motor and having a gear reduction mechanism with a predetermined gear reduction ratio and rotational position means for determining the rotational position of the electric motor. The method includes generating a rotational position signal indicative of the rotational position of the electric motor by using the rotational position means to determine the rotational position of the electric motor and calculating the position of the camshaft based on the rotational position signal and the gear reduction ratio of the gear reduction mechanism.

Abstract: An eVCP camshaft phaser comprising a harmonic gear drive unit having a circular spline and a dynamic spline linked by a common flexspline, and a single wave generator disposed within the flexspline. The circular spline is connectable to either of a crankshaft-connectable sprocket or an engine camshaft, the dynamic spline being connectable to the other thereof. The wave generator is driven selectively by an eMotor to cause the dynamic spline to rotate past the circular spline, thereby changing the phase relationship between the crankshaft and the camshaft. A coaxial coil spring is connected to the sprocket and to the phaser hub and is positioned and tensioned to bias the phaser and camshaft to a stop position wherein the engine can run or be restarted after the eMotor is de-energized. Preferably, the spring comprises a spring cassette for easy assembly into the eVCP.

Abstract: Improved stiffening and minimized distortion of a housing for an eVCP achieved by forming a plurality of radial housing stiffeners into the housing around the motor mount end and into the eVCP's hub. A back plate is press fit into the rear of the housing, and a straight axial knurl is applied to the surface of the back plate or housing, which knurl permits a larger tolerance-higher press fit class to be used without resulting in significant deformation of the housing. The knurled back plate is harder than the housing, causing the high points of the knurl to plastically deform or plow the housing material during assembly, resulting in less radial deformation of the bore and the journal bearing. An interface between the housing and the hub provides a journal bearing interface to improve axial stability between the hub and housing.