Valve Timing Altering Means (e.g., Axially Sliding Cam Shaft) Patents (Class 123/321)
  • Publication number: 20110023821
    Abstract: An engine brake unit may include a rocker arm having a first space defined in a valve-pressing portion thereof, wherein the first space communicates with a supply passage, through which engine brake oil is introduced, a stopper fixedly provided above the first space of the rocker arm in a predetermined distance, an actuator located inside the first space and having a pressure piston, wherein the pressure piston is selectively raised by hydraulic pressure of the engine brake oil to butt against the stopper, thereby pressing a portion of the rocker arm downwards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seock Joong Yoon, Kyung Mo Kim
  • Patent number: 7870843
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a scavenging module that generates a scavenging signal when both a driver torque request is greater than a predetermined torque threshold and a rotational speed of an engine crankshaft is less than a predetermined speed threshold. A cam phaser control module controls intake and exhaust cam phasers based on the scavenging signal such that opening times of intake and exhaust valves of a respective cylinder overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventors: Layne K. Wiggins, Michael Livshiz, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Henrik Nordin
  • Publication number: 20100319657
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing compression-release and partial bleeder braking engine valve actuation are disclosed. In an embodiment of the present invention, a cam may be provided with a main exhaust lobe and a compression-release or partial bleeder lobe and a base circle portion between the two lobes. A rocker arm including an internal rocker passage may be operatively connected to the cam. The rocker arm may contact a valve bridge at a central portion. The valve bridge may be operatively connected to first and second engine valves at its first and second ends, respectively. A slave piston incorporated into the first end of the valve bridge and a master piston may be incorporated into the central portion of the valve bridge. A hydraulic circuit may be provided between the master and slave pistons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sotir Dodi, Brian L. Ruggiero
  • Publication number: 20100307451
    Abstract: A compression release engine brake unit includes an oil outlet passage formed in a socket brake, which stores engine brake oil, and a reset member opening or closing the outlet passage. The reset member discharges the engine brake oil by opening the oil outlet passage in response to the rotation of a rocker arm during engine braking and, thereby, the engine brake restores the initial state. Since the compression release engine brake can restore the initial state, the return valve lift is the same as when the compression release engine brake is not actuated. Accordingly, the valve does not butt against an engine piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gi Ra Lee, Jung Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 7845319
    Abstract: A valve control system for an internal combustion engine includes a valve actuation system. The valve actuation system includes at least one of first and second configurations. The first configuration includes a shared lift control valve that actuates an intake valve and an exhaust valve between N open lift modes, where N is an integer greater than one. A second configuration includes a first lift control valve that actuates the intake valve and not the exhaust valve and a second lift control valve that actuates the exhaust valve and not the intake valve between the N open lift modes. A control module that enables transitioning of at least one of the intake and exhaust valves between the N open lift modes for the first and second configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Inventor: Allen B. Rayl
  • Publication number: 20100300403
    Abstract: Apparatus for modifying engine valve lift to produce an engine valve event in an internal combustion engine comprises actuation means (100) for operating at least one exhaust valve (300a or 300), and control means (50) for moving the actuation means (100) between its inoperative position (0) and operative position (1). In the inoperative position (0), the actuation means (100) is disengaged from the at least one exhaust valve (300a or 300), and in the operative position (1), the actuation means (100) holds open the at least one exhaust valve (300a or 300) to produce the modified engine valve lift for the engine valve event, which includes an engine braking event (10). The actuation means (100) includes a motion limiting means for controlling movement of the actuation means (100) between the inoperative position (0) and the operative position (1), which occurs after the at least one exhaust valve (300a or 300) is actuated by the normal exhaust valve lifter (200).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Zhou Yang
  • Publication number: 20100288229
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has intake (20) and exhaust (22) poppet valves, a first and a second set of cam lobes (64) for operating the intake and exhaust poppet valves (20,22) respectively, and a third set of cam lobes (68) for producing an additional selectable valve event in order to allow the engine to operate as a compression brake. The third set of cam lobes (68) and at least one of the first and second set of cam lobes (64) are rotatable relative to one another and form part of an assembled camshaft (60) so as to be rotatable about a common axis. A phasing system (50) acts on the assembled camshaft (60) to allow the phase of the third set of cam lobes (68) to be changed relative to the engine crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: MECHADYNE PLC
    Inventors: Timothy Mark Lancefield, Ian Methley, Nicholas James Lawrence
  • Patent number: 7827958
    Abstract: In a gas exchange valve actuating device having a lever for transmitting a drive movement to at least one gas exchange valve of an engine braking control unit of an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine includes a compact braking control unit which is coupled to the valve operating lever for controlling actuation of the gas exchange valves in a braking mode of engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Markus Dietrich, Stefan Rudert
  • Patent number: 7823559
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine including a camshaft for operating inlet and outlet valves of the engine with lift curves EV, AV of the inlet and the outlet valves determined by the shape of cams of the camshaft, an additional auxiliary cam which acts on the outlet valve is arranged on the camshaft, as a result of which a phase-offset auxiliary lift curve AVZ is impressed onto the outlet valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Daniel Böhme, Markus Löffler, Siegfried Sumser
  • Publication number: 20100258079
    Abstract: In a method for reducing engine vibrations during engine braking with a malfunctioning engine brake, the engine brake includes an arrangement for altering a timing of at least one exhaust valve and an arrangement for varying an exhaust gas back pressure. The method includes detecting piston acceleration for each cylinder in the engine during the use of the engine brake, comparing the detected piston acceleration with a predetermined reference value, decreasing exhaust gas back pressure during engine braking if at least one piston is detected with a piston acceleration deviating more than a predefined amount from the predetermined reference value so that the piston acceleration will be falling within the predefined amount from the predetermined reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB
    Inventors: Erik Ott, Jonas Nilsson
  • Patent number: 7810468
    Abstract: A requested injection time InjT that is necessary for a fuel injector to inject a fuel per one combustion cycle is computed in response to variables of an accelerator manipulated by a driver. An injectable time InjMax per one combustion cycle is computed on the basis of an engine speed, and whether the requested injection time InjT is larger than the injectable time InjMax is determined. Then, when it is positively determined that the requested injection time InjT is larger than the injectable time InjMax, the fuel pump is subjected to load-up operation so as to increase a fuel feed pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Hirata
  • Patent number: 7798126
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a controllable throttle control device and controllable engine valves. A method for controlling the engine includes monitoring engine operation and an exhaust gas feedstream, and estimating a cylinder charge temperature based upon the monitored engine operation. Oxygen concentration of the cylinder charge is determined based upon the monitored exhaust gas feedstream, and preferred oxygen concentration of the cylinder charge and preferred cylinder charge temperature are determined. The engine valves are controlled based upon the preferred oxygen concentration of the cylinder charge, the preferred cylinder charge temperature, the oxygen concentration of the cylinder charge, and the estimated cylinder charge temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun-Mo Kang, Chen-Fang Chang, Man-Feng Chang
  • Patent number: 7793638
    Abstract: Low emission high performance engines, multiple cylinder engines and operating methods based on compression ignition of a combustion chamber charge already containing at least some fuel and air. Air is injected into the combustion chamber after top dead center is reached to maintain combustion until all fuel is consumed. Various modes of operation are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Sturman Digital Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Oded Eddie Sturman
  • Patent number: 7789065
    Abstract: An apparatus for modifying engine valve lift to produce an engine valve event in an internal combustion engine comprises actuation device for operating at least one exhaust valve, and control device for moving the actuation device between its inoperative position and operative position. In the inoperative position, the actuation device is disengaged from the at least one exhaust valve, and in the operative position, the actuation device holds open the at least one exhaust valve to produce the modified engine valve lift for the engine valve event, which includes an engine braking event. The actuation device includes a motion limiting apparatus for controlling movement of the actuation device. The actuation device can be integrated into a valve bridge and other valve train components, such as a rocker arm, wherein a plunger is slidably disposed between the inoperative position and the operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventor: Zhou Yang
  • Publication number: 20100212625
    Abstract: In a valve train of a reciprocating piston combustion engine, comprising cylinders controlled by at least three valves (1, 2) actuated by lobes (5, 6) of a camshaft (3; 4), wherein at least two valves (1; 2) operate equally in terms of function as intake or outlet valves (1; 2), the engine driving and/or braking operation are to be improved. For this purpose, such a valve train is characterized in that the lobes (3, 4) of the camshafts (3, 4) actuating the at least two equally operating valves in terms of function, which are primary and secondary valves (1p, 1s; 2p, 2s), are configured so that they are phase-adjustable in relation to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Hugh Blaxill, Falk Schneider
  • Patent number: 7770558
    Abstract: An intake air control system for an internal combustion engine having at least one intake valve and a valve operating characteristic varying mechanism which continuously varies a lift amount of the at least one intake valve of the engine. A target intake air flow rate of the engine is calculated along with a command value of the lift amount according to a target engine rotational speed set in an idling condition of the engine and the target intake air flow rate when the engine is determined to be in an idling condition. The valve operating characteristic varying mechanism is controlled according to the calculated lift amount command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideharu Takamiya, Isao Komoriya
  • Publication number: 20100186710
    Abstract: In an exhaust valve mechanism for an internal combustion engine the main rocker arm is mounted on a rocker arm shaft for normal valve operation via a cam element. A secondary rocker arm is mounted on the shaft for activation of an exhaust brake mode. The activation is achieved through supply of hydraulic pressure to a piston cylinder arrangement acting between the main and secondary rocker arms. A master piston and a slave piston are connected by a hydraulic-link allowing activation by increased hydraulic pressure. When activating the exhaust gas temperature increasing mode, the master piston is moved to an active position for part of its stroke against the force of a first resilient member. When activating the exhaust brake mode, the master piston is moved the full movement of its stroke against the combined forces of the first resilient member and a second resilient member as active position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB
    Inventors: Per Persson, Göran Olsson
  • Publication number: 20100180860
    Abstract: In a valve drive train actuating device, particularly for an internal combustion engine, having at least one firing camshaft, which can be phase shifted relative to a crankshaft by means of a firing camshaft adjusting device and a decompression brake device comprising at least one brake cam and at least one decompression valve, the valve drive train actuating device comprises an adjusting device for adjusting a decompression valve drive actuating point in time depending on the speed of the crankshaft of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Marcus Hergert, Kai Kanning, Stefan Rudert
  • Publication number: 20100170472
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for converting an internal combustion engine from a normal engine operation (20) to an engine braking operation (10). The engine includes exhaust valve train components comprising at least one exhaust valve (300) and at least one cam (230) for cyclically opening and closing the at least one exhaust valve (300). The apparatus comprises actuation means (100) having at least one component integrated into at least one of the exhaust valve train components, such as a rocker arm (210) or a valve bridge (400). The actuation means (100) has an inoperative position and an operative position. In the inoperative position, the actuation means (100) is retracted and the small braking cam lobes (232 & 233) are skipped to generate a main valve lift profile (220m) for the normal engine operation (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventor: ZHOU YANG
  • Publication number: 20100170471
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for converting an internal combustion engine from a normal engine operation (20) to an engine braking (or retarding) operation (10). The apparatus has an actuation means (100) containing two braking pistons (160) slidably disposed in the valve bridge (400) between an inoperative position (0) and an operative position (1). The apparatus also has a flow control valve (50) for supplying control fluid to the actuation means (100) with two levels of pressure. At the first level or lower pressure, the braking pistons (160) will stay in the inoperative position (0), and a gap (234) is formed between the valve bridge (400) and the exhaust valves (300) to skip the motion from the lower portion of the cam (230) for the normal engine operation (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventor: Zhou Yang
  • Publication number: 20100139616
    Abstract: A device for actuating the decompression engine brake in an internal combustion engine provided with hydraulic tappets is described, characterized by: an additional rocker arm (9) for each cylinder, pivoting about an axis (4) common to the rocker arms of the exhaust valves, and suitable to engage with a corresponding additional cam (10) arranged on the cam axis (7) of the cylinders; an actuator system for said additional rocker arm (9), for each cylinder. In the actuator system of said additional rocker arm (9) there is a piston (15) hinged to an end of said rocker arm, said piston (15) being in its turn moved hydraulically or by a mechanical system comprising an additional arm (12) controlled by eccentric cams (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Daniele Mariano, Mathias Binder
  • Patent number: 7712449
    Abstract: A method and system for actuating an internal combustion engine exhaust valve to provide compression release actuation during an engine braking mode of engine operation and early exhaust valve opening actuation during a positive power mode of engine operation is disclosed. The system may include a first cam having a compression release lobe and an early exhaust valve opening lobe connected to a hydraulic lost motion system including a first rocker arm. A hydraulically actuated piston may be selectively extended from the hydraulic lost motion system to provide the exhaust valve with compression release actuation or early exhaust valve opening actuation. The hydraulically actuated piston may be provided as a slave piston in a master-slave piston circuit in a fixed housing, or alternatively, as a hydraulic piston slidably disposed in a rocker arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Schwoerer
  • Publication number: 20100108026
    Abstract: A lost motion valve actuation system includes an engine brake housing and one or more hydraulic fluid supply passages extending through the housing. Master and slave pistons are slidably disposed corresponding bores in the housing. The master and slave pistons are used to provide selective actuation to one or more engine valves. An engine brake rocker arm disposed adjacent to the housing includes a master piston contact surface and a bias mechanism contact surface. A bias mechanism is disposed in the housing and includes a bias piston which extends from the housing. The bias piston biases the rocker arm out of contact with an engine cam during select engine operation modes, such as during a positive power mode of operation. The bias piston may be mechanically or hydraulically repositioned to permit the rocker arm to contact the engine cam during a second mode of engine operation, such as an engine braking mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Zdenek S. Meistrick, Joseph A. Bonfatto
  • Publication number: 20100065019
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for converting an internal combustion engine from a normal engine operation (20) to an engine braking (or retarding) operation (10). The engine has an exhaust valve train containing two exhaust valves (300), a valve bridge (400) and an exhaust valve lifter (200). The apparatus has an actuation means (100) including a hydraulic system integrated into the exhaust valve train. The hydraulic system contains a braking piston (160) slidably disposed in the valve bridge between an inoperative position (0) and an operative position (1). In the inoperative position, the braking piston is retracted and the actuation means disengaged from the normal engine operation. In the operative position, the hydraulic piston is extended and the actuation means opens one of the two exhaust valves (300a) for the engine braking operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventor: Zhou Yang
  • Patent number: 7676319
    Abstract: The present invention provides an intake air amount control apparatus for an engine and a control method of an intake air amount of an engine, in which, when the atmospheric pressure exceeds a threshold value, a target lift amount of an intake valve is determined based on a target intake air amount and an electronically controlled throttle is controlled to generate a target boost pressure. On the other hand, when the atmospheric pressure does not exceed the threshold value because of a vehicle traveling at a high altitude, the target lift amount of the intake valve is fixed to a maximum lift amount and the opening angle of the electronically controlled throttle is determined in response to the target intake air amount. Consequently, an actual intake air amount is controlled to be brought to the target intake air amount thereby generating negative pressure necessary for exhaust gas recirculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Hano, Kenichi Machida
  • Publication number: 20100037854
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for converting an internal combustion engine from a normal engine operation (20) to an engine braking operation (30). The engine has an exhaust valve train containing at least one exhaust valve (300a or 300) and an exhaust valve lifter (200). The apparatus has an actuation means (100) including a dedicated load supporting system and a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system is integrated into the exhaust valve train and has a hydraulic piston (160) that can slide between an inoperative position (0) and an operative position (1). In the inoperative position (0), the hydraulic piston (160) is retracted and separated from the dedicated load supporting system, and the actuation means (100) is disengaged from the at least one exhaust valve (300a or 300).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventor: Zhou Yang
  • Publication number: 20100006062
    Abstract: Apparatus for modifying engine valve lift to produce an engine valve event in an internal combustion engine comprises actuation means (100) for operating at least one exhaust valve (300a or 300), and control means (50) for moving the actuation means (100) between its inoperative position (0) and operative position (1). In the inoperative position (0), the actuation means (100) is disengaged from the at least one exhaust valve (300a or 300), and in the operative position (1), the actuation means (100) holds open the at least one exhaust valve (300a or 300) to produce the modified engine valve lift for the engine valve event, which includes an engine braking event (10). The actuation means (100) includes a motion limiting means for controlling movement of the actuation means (100) between the inoperative position (0) and the operative position (1), which occurs after the at least one exhaust valve (300a or 300) is actuated by the normal exhaust valve lifter (200).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventor: Zhou Yang
  • Patent number: 7610897
    Abstract: A valve control system includes a vehicle control module that generates a lift mode command signal to transition one of intake and exhaust valves between N open lift modes. A time module generates a response time signal that indicates a duration of the transition and a lift limit signal that disables the transition. The time module generates the response time and lift limit signals based on current lift mode and status signals. The current lift mode signal indicates a current lift state of one of the intake and exhaust valves. The status signal indicates status of a lift control valve. The lift control valve actuates one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve. The event module generates the current lift mode and status signals based on the lift command signal, the response time signal, and the lift limit signal. One of the time and event modules enables the transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Inventor: Allen B. Rayl
  • Patent number: 7591244
    Abstract: This method is for controlling the intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders of an internal combustion engine which is capable of operating either in four-stroke positive mode or in two-stroke braking mode. The control means pilot the valves so that at least a first exhaust valve of each cylinder (1) is opened (C43) prior to a first instant (t1) when the piston of said cylinder reaches its top dead center position and so that the first exhaust valve is kept in an open state (C43) with a first lift (L1) and for a first predetermined period of time (?t1), prior to said first instant (t1), and at least an exhaust valve is kept in an open state, with a second lift (L2) higher than the first lift and for a second predetermined period of time (?t2), after the first instant (t1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Renault Trucks
    Inventors: Nicolas Auffret, Nicolas Dronniou
  • Patent number: 7581527
    Abstract: The present invention is relative to an internal combustion engine equipped with a plurality of combustion chambers such to allow the variation of the opening of the valves of said chambers by means of an actuator. The engine according to the invention comprises a cylinder head having a supporting axle (2) on which a plurality of bushings (16, 16?) is mounted. Said bushings are made integral one another in rotation around the supporting axle by means of a plate (12) rigidly connected at least in the direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Iveco S.p.A.
    Inventor: Pietro Bianchi
  • Patent number: 7571709
    Abstract: A method for controlling stopping and starting of an engine having a variable event valvetrain is described. According to the method engine valves may be used to reduce engine evaporative emissions as well as engine starting emissions. Since the engine configuration shown has electrically actuated intake and exhaust valves it is possible to reconfigure the engine operating sequence during a start. For example, the pistons for cylinders two and three are in the same position at the same time. This allows either cylinder to be set to an intake stroke during a subsequent engine restart when the piston is traveling away from the cylinder head while the companion cylinder is set to the expansion or power stroke. Thus, the cylinder having the first intake stroke could be configured to provide a first combustion event during an engine restart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Lewis, Nate Trask
  • Patent number: 7568465
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of retarding an engine. The method includes selectively retarding the engine in a first mode configured to produce a first level of retarding at a first intensity of noise by selectively opening at least one exhaust valve between ninety degrees and zero degrees of an engine crank angle prior to top-dead-center of a compression stroke. The method also includes selectively retarding the engine in a second retarding mode configured to produce a second level of retarding at a second intensity of noise by maintaining an opening of at least one exhaust valve throughout the entire compression stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen M. Wiley
  • Patent number: 7565896
    Abstract: A control method for transitioning from positive power to engine braking (and vice-versa) is disclosed. This transition may be made using variable valve actuation and two-stroke braking. The process may involve three engine operation modes: positive power (i.e., firing or non-braking), engine braking, and transition between engine braking and positive power. The intake and exhaust valve actuations provided for each of the different modes of operation may be different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Zhou Yang
  • Publication number: 20090178644
    Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine with variable valve lift has the following steps: Determining the pressure in the intake manifold; predetermining the pressure in the intake manifold following a changeover of the valve lift; determining a selection criterion for a valve lift to be set; and setting that valve lift at which the higher pressure is reached in the intake manifold, unless the selection criterion requires the use of the valve lift at which the lower pressure is reached in the intake manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Matthias Delp, Jurgen Dingl
  • Patent number: 7556027
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling an internal-combustion engine comprising at least one cylinder (10) with at least one burnt gas exhaust means (12) including an exhaust valve (16) whose opening/closing is controlled by control means (22) and an exhaust pipe (14) connected to an exhaust line (18, 20), at least two intake means (26, 28) comprising each a valve (32, 36) whose opening/closing is controlled by a dedicated actuating means (46, 48) and a pipe (30, 34). The method, during low load or medium load running of the engine: controls the closed position of exhaust valve (16) and controls one (36) of the intake valves so as to operate it as a burnt gas discharge valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventor: Pierre Duret
  • Publication number: 20090139486
    Abstract: In a gas exchange valve actuating device for transmitting a drive movement to at least one gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine which includes a braking unit having at least one actuator, the gas exchange valve actuating device is provided with a locking unit for locking the actuator counter to an opposing force when the actuator has reached a specific position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventor: Marc Oliver Wagner
  • Patent number: 7530337
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a drive axle, an engine assembly, a coupling device, and an engine load management system. The engine assembly may include a valvetrain including a fixed-lobe camshaft and intake and exhaust valves supported by the engine assembly. The fixed-lobe camshaft may include a first lobe engaged with the intake valve to open the intake valve and a second lobe engaged with the exhaust valve to open the exhaust valve. The first and second lobes may be fixed relative to one another to define a constant valve overlap condition that provides for opening of the intake valve before the exhaust valve is fully closed, creating an engine operating condition that results in combustion instability below an engine load limit. The engine load management system may be in communication with the engine to prevent engine operation below the engine load limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Stephen Davis, Ronald J. Herrin, Gary J. Patterson
  • Patent number: 7520262
    Abstract: An integrated type engine brake for a diesel engine includes: a cam cap; a valve integral with the cam cap, the valve including an oil inlet and an oil outlet; and a rocker shaft with a brake oil passage in fluid communication with the oil inlet and the oil outlet. The cam cap also has a brake oil passage in fluid communication with the oil inlet and the oil outlet. The brake oil passages of the cam cap and the rocker shaft are in direct fluid communication with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jong Yun Jeong, Jung Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20090078233
    Abstract: The invention concerns a procedure for the braking of a vehicle, especially a motor vehicle, that is operated by a combustion engine, at which the braking torque is initiated into a drive train of the vehicle, by compressing gas in at least one cylinder of the combustion engine during the compression stroke and by discharging the compressed gas at the end of the compression stroke through at least one opened outlet valve from the cylinder. It is provided that the outlet valve is slightly opened before or during the compression stroke and widely opened at the end of the compression stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andre F. CASAL KULZER, Martin A. Rauscher
  • Publication number: 20090071436
    Abstract: In a gas exchange valve actuating device having a lever for transmitting a drive movement to at least one gas exchange valve of an engine braking control unit of an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine includes a compact braking control unit which is coupled to the valve operating lever for controlling actuation of the gas exchange valves in a braking mode of engine operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Markus Dietrich, Stefan Rudert
  • Patent number: 7500466
    Abstract: Systems and methods of actuating two engine valves associated with a common engine cylinder using one or more lost motion systems and one or more control valves are disclosed. The control valves are capable of selectively trapping hydraulic fluid in the lost motion systems for auxiliary engine valve actuations and selectively releasing the hydraulic fluid to default to cam controlled valve seating of the engine valves. The systems may provide a combination of main exhaust, compression release, exhaust gas recirculation and early exhaust valve opening in preferred embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan C. Noss, Brian L. Ruggiero
  • Patent number: 7493207
    Abstract: A control apparatus which is capable of compensating for a control error properly and quickly even under a condition where the control error is temporarily increased e.g. by degradation of reliability of the detection results of reference parameters other than controlled variables, thereby making it possible to ensure a high accuracy of control. An air-fuel ratio controller of the control apparatus calculates modified errors by multiplying e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Ikue Kawasumi, Kosuke Higashitani
  • Publication number: 20090038584
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine which is alternatively operated in a powered four-stroke engine driving mode and in a two-stroke engine braking mode with an inlet and an outlet valve stroke curve control device which is provided for adjusting the stroke of both the inlet and of the outlet valves, the valve stroke curve control device holds the outlet valve continuously open in the engine braking mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Wolfram Schmid, Stephan Kraetschmer, Siegfried Sumser
  • Patent number: 7489999
    Abstract: In an engine provided with a valve lift amount variable mechanism and a center phase variable mechanism for an intake valve, a region between a region where a flow rate of an intake air passing through the intake valve reaches a sonic speed and a region where an intake air amount does not substantially change relative to a change in an opening area of the intake valve is made to be a learning region. Then, in order to resolve an error in intake air amount in the learning region, a correction value for correcting control process of the valve lift amount variable mechanism is learned. When the learning of the correction value is converged, the learning correction value is corrected with an occupied rate of the valve lift amount variable mechanism in the influence ratio between influences on the two mechanisms in relation to the error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Miyakoshi, Kentaro Mikawa, Masahiro Arai, Yuko Nagaishi, legal representative, Takahiro Yoshino, Hatsuo Nagaishi
  • Patent number: 7487751
    Abstract: A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine improve the response of the internal combustion engine and increase its torque. An exhaust valve of the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine is opened during a discharge phase of the internal combustion engine for discharging exhaust gas, generated via combustion, from a combustion chamber into an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine. The exhaust valve is closed again and re-opened during this discharge phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Baeuerle
  • Patent number: 7484497
    Abstract: Provided is a control device for an internal combustion engine, including a crank angle sensor, a cam angle sensor, a real phase angle detector for detecting a real phase angle of a cam shaft based on a detection signal of the sensors, a target phase angle setting unit including a temperature parameter and battery voltage, for setting a target phase angle of the cam shaft based on an operating state of the internal combustion engine, and a phase angle feedback control unit for conducting feedback control operation so that the real phase angle coincides with the target phase angle, and for calculating an operation quantity to a hydraulically controlled solenoid valve, in which the feedback control unit sets an integral term initial value when starting the feedback control operation according to the temperature parameter, corrects a control correction quantity by the battery voltage, and outputs the operation quantity to the solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Watanabe, Toru Tanaka, Tatsuhiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7487031
    Abstract: A control apparatus which is capable of compensating for a control error properly and quickly even under a condition where the control error is temporarily increased e.g. by degradation of reliability of the detection results of reference parameters other than controlled variables, thereby making it possible to ensure a high accuracy of control. An air-fuel ratio controller of the control apparatus calculates an air-fuel ratio error estimated value and an error weight, calculates an modified error, calculates a basic lift correction value such that the modified error becomes equal to 0, calculates a lift correction value, calculates corrected valve lift by adding the lift correction value to valve lift, calculates a first estimated intake air amount for feedforward control of an air-fuel ratio according to the corrected valve lift, calculates an air-fuel ratio correction coefficient for feedback control of the air-fuel ratio, and calculates a fuel injection amount according to these.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Ikue Kawasumi, Kosuke Higashitani
  • Patent number: 7469676
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a device for determining an internal combustion engine phase. Said device comprises an intake zone, an exhaust zone, at least one camshaft which acts on the gas exchanging valves and whereof the phase can be adjusted relative to that of a crankshaft by means of a phase adjusting device, and at least one sensor whereof the measurement signal enables a specific phase to be determined. The phase adjusting device is controlled in accordance with phase adjustment of the camshaft until detection of a gas reflux from the exhaust zone to the intake zone. A correction value is determined based on the associated specific phase and on a specific allocated phase. In the next operating mode, the respectively specific phase is corrected based on the correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Weiss, Hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 7461619
    Abstract: A method includes operating a first cylinder defined by an internal combustion engine in a combustion mode and operating selectively a second cylinder defined by the internal combustion engine in one of a combustion mode or a pumping mode. When the first cylinder is operating in the combustion mode, air is conveyed into the first cylinder from an intake manifold, the air is mixed with fuel and the mixture of the fuel and the air is combusted within the first cylinder. When the second cylinder is operating in the combustion mode, air is conveyed into the second cylinder from the intake manifold, the air is mixed with fuel and the mixture of the fuel and the air is combusted within the second cylinder. When the second cylinder is operating in the pumping mode, air is conveyed into the second cylinder from the intake manifold, the air is compressed without being mixed with fuel and without being combusted, and the compressed air is conveyed into the intake manifold from the second cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: JP Scope LLC
    Inventor: Charles E. Price
  • Publication number: 20080295485
    Abstract: An regeneration system for use in a power system is disclosed. The regeneration system may include a source of intake air, an engine brake configured to reduce the speed of an engine by compression and release of the intake air, and a valve configured to divert a portion of the intake air to an auxiliary device. The regeneration system may further include a controller in communication with the engine brake and the valve. The controller may be configured to move the valve to reduce the portion of intake air diverted to the auxiliary device when the engine brake is active.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Stephen M. Wiley, Robert L. Miller