By Changing Valve Lift Patents (Class 123/345)
  • Patent number: 10227936
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine with deactivating and non-deactivating valves are presented. In one example, a position of an engine air intake throttle is adjusted during cylinder deactivation to control intake manifold pressure for cylinder reactivation. Closing of the throttle may be timed based on an actual total number of cylinder induction events expected to provide a desired engine intake manifold pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam J. Richards, John Eric Rollinger
  • Patent number: 10132214
    Abstract: A valve device for an internal combustion engine (1) includes a camshaft (16), a cam (17), a control shaft (15), an input arm (14), a first rocker arm (13a), a second rocker arm (13b), a first valve (603a), a second valve (603b), and a slider (18). The input arm (14) is configured such that a cam torque of the cam (17) is transmitted thereto. The slider (18) is configured to allow the input arm (14) to be supported by the control shaft (15). The slider (18) is configured to support the first rocker arm (13a) in a power transmittable manner such that the cam torque transmitted to the input arm (14) is transmitted to the first rocker arm (13a). The slider (18) includes a torsion portion (23) configured to connect the first rocker arm (13a) with the second rocker arm (13b) such that the cam torque transmitted to the first rocker arm (13a) is transmitted to the second rocker arm (13b) via the torsion portion (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Eiichi Hioka
  • Patent number: 9960009
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a fault in a gas heater channel are described. One of the methods includes receiving measured parameters associated with a plurality of heater elements of the gas heater channel. The gas heater channel transfers one or more gases from a gas supply to a plasma chamber. The method further includes calculating a measured parallel resistance of the plurality of heater elements from the measured parameters, comparing the measured parallel resistance to an ideal parallel resistance of the heater elements of the gas heater channel, and determining based on the comparison that a portion of the gas heater channel is inoperational. The method includes selecting an identity of one of the heater elements from a correspondence between a plurality of identities of the heater elements and the measured parallel resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: Dirk Rudolph
  • Patent number: 9404407
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for addressing pre-ignition occurring while operating with blow-though air delivery. A variable cam timing device used to provide positive intake to exhaust valve overlap is adjusted in response to an indication of pre-ignition to transiently reduce valve overlap. Pre-ignition mitigating load limiting and enrichment applied during a blow-through mode is adjusted differently from those applied when blow-through air is not being delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Robert Sarow Baskins, James Matthew Kindree, Paul A. Pietrzyk, Mark Paul Guerrier, Rama Sanghvi
  • Publication number: 20150122222
    Abstract: An engine brake apparatus may include an exhaust rocker arm having a chamber in which an actuator is slidably inserted, an oil line coupling part which has a central portion extrapolated with an oil line, a communication line communicating with the oil line, a distribution line branched from the communication line and having one portion extending toward a check ball and another portion extending toward a relief valve, a supply line including one portion connected to the check ball and another portion connected to the chamber, and a discharge line including one portion connected to the relief valve and another portion connected to the chamber, wherein the check ball is elastically supported by a check spring in a direction in which the distribution line is closed, and wherein the relief valve is elastically supported by a relief spring in a direction in which the discharge line is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Seock Joong Yoon, Kyung Mo Kim, Min Hui Yu
  • Patent number: 9002620
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling an intake valve of a vehicular internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a variable valve operating mechanism configured to vary a valve lift and a valve phase angle of the intake valve, and a controller. The controller calculates a desired first target value at a current engine operating condition, a reacceleration estimated value based on an engine rotational speed and estimated operating load upon reacceleration, and a second target value at which engine torque is equivalent to engine torque at the first target value. The controller sets the first target value as a control target value, and then switches the control target value to the second target value when a minimum clearance between the intake valve and a piston is determined to become less than a permissible value during variation of the intake valve from the first target value toward the reacceleration estimated value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Suzuki, Hiraku Ooba, Shinobu Kamada
  • Patent number: 8955494
    Abstract: In a control apparatus for and a control method of controlling a variable valve mechanism in a hybrid vehicle, just before an engine is stopped in response to an automatic stop request, an intake valve closing timing is controlled to be set to a second closing timing near the bottom dead center to stabilize an engine stop position; when the engine is stopped, the intake valve closing timing is retarded from the second closing timing to a first closing timing that is suitable for engine start; the engine is started with the closing timing being set to the first closing timing, and the intake valve closing timing is changed towards the retard angle side beyond closing timing against rev-up of the engine just after completion of engine start, so that the rev-up can be suppressed with good response while controlling the intake valve closing timing as required for starting the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitatsu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8857409
    Abstract: A method is provided for compensating for a valve lift deviation between engines equipped with a CVVL mechanism, in which the valve lift deviation is compensated for by an MAF sensor for measuring a reference air flow rate and an MAP sensor for measuring the pressure of an intake manifold. The method includes determining whether learning conditions for learning a valve lift deviation are met; after the determination, comparing a value MAP_MES measured by the MAP sensor and a modeled pressure MAP_MDL of a surge tank; if the MAP_MES value and the MAP_MDL value are different, learning the valve lift, and after the learning, calculating the final valve lift by adding the learned value of the valve lift to the basic valve lift characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Joonsuck Lee
  • Publication number: 20140261314
    Abstract: Approaches to control engine overspeed are provided. Engine overspeed is controlled by one or more mechanisms that operate the intake and/or exhaust valves of the engine to interrupt the combustion cycle. In use, the “combustion interrupter” mechanism(s) actuate the intake and/or exhaust valves according to, for example, one or more control strategies in order to interrupt the combustion cycle and/or cause the engine to expend energy to move the pistons through a complete cycle in an aim to retard engine speed. The engine's cam(s) can include one or more sets of variable valve timing lobes that operate the intake and/or exhaust valves of the engine in order to, for example, interrupt the combustion cycle. The combustion interrupter mechanism can additionally or alternatively include one or more computer controlled actuators that operate the intake and/or exhaust valves in order, for example, to interrupt the combustion cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Bryan Kelly Ross, James Castner
  • Publication number: 20140251267
    Abstract: A system and method for operating an engine is described. In one example, engine boost pressure is adjusted to improve engine starting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Sam Hashemi, Joe F. Stanek, Donald Charles Franks, John A. Lockwood
  • Publication number: 20140251268
    Abstract: It is intended to provide an exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of suppressing HC emission increase and raising the temperature of an exhaust gas purifier at an early stage while maintaining stable combustion during the warm-up operation such as immediately after the engine starting. The system is provided with: an air flow control unit 50 for reducing a flow rate of air supplied to the engine 1 to raise a temperature of the exhaust gas exhausted from the engine 1; and an activation timing control unit 52 for controlling a timing of activating the air flow control unit 50, and the activation timing control unit is configured to control the timing of activating the air flow control unit 50 so that a combustion state in the engine 1 does not become unstable when the air flow control unit 50 is activated and the air to be supplied to the engine 1 is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamada, Tomohide Yamada
  • Patent number: 8798891
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine having a cylinder provided with an intake valve, an exhaust valve, and a piston configured to rotate the engine's crankshaft. The method includes determining whether deceleration of the vehicle is desired and also includes ceasing supply of fuel to the cylinder when such condition is satisfied. The method additionally includes selecting a fuel-off actuation arrangement for the intake valve via a mechanism configured to provide variable valve timing and lift, such that a magnitude of compression pulses in the cylinder during deceleration is limited. A system for controlling the hybrid vehicle and a vehicle employing such a system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Craig D. Marriott, Ben W. Moscherosch
  • Patent number: 8776737
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a mode control module and a valve control module. The mode control module selectively sets an ignition mode for an engine to one of a spark ignition (SI) mode and a homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode. In response to the ignition mode transitioning from the SI mode to the HCCI mode during a first engine cycle, the valve control module operates an exhaust valve in a high lift mode during a second engine cycle, operates an intake valve in a low lift mode during the second engine cycle, and operates the exhaust and intake valves in the low lift mode during a third engine cycle. The first engine cycle is before the second engine cycle, and the second engine cycle is before the third engine cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventors: Ethan E. Bayer, Sai S. V. Rajagopalan, Orgun A. Guralp, Hanho Kang, Jun-Mo Kang, Paul M. Najt
  • Patent number: 8726880
    Abstract: A system for an engine includes a motor driver module, a target phase angle module, and a correlation control module. The motor driver module controls an electric motor of a camshaft phaser based on a target angle defined by a crankshaft position and a camshaft position. The target phase angle module selectively sets the target angle to a first phase angle before a deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO) event and selectively transitions the target angle to a predetermined phase angle during the DFCO event. The correlation control module selectively compares a value of the crankshaft position with a predetermined crankshaft position range during the DFCO event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Inventors: Etsuko Muraji Stewart, Vijay Ramappan
  • Patent number: 8731800
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a motor determines whether or not to control the motor in order to control the variable valve lift device by using a measurement value of a valve lift and a target value of the valve lift, compares a predetermined base voltage range with a battery voltage in order to control the motor, determines a voltage factor corresponding to the battery voltage when the battery voltage is included in the base voltage range; and determines a driving signal value for the motor by applying the voltage factor to a predetermined base signal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Chongwon Kim
  • Publication number: 20140096743
    Abstract: The present invention comprises apparatus and methods for releasing internal combustion engine compression during cranking to reduce cranking effort and the size and weight of the starter motor and battery. It is particularly suitable for fuel conservation systems that stop the engine when the vehicle is stopped in traffic, and restart the engine when the driver steps on the accelerator petal, since such systems place heavy demands on the starter motor and battery. The apparatus provides a means for automatically shifting the valve gear such that exhaust and/or inlet valves are held slightly open during the intake compression strokes to reduce compression torque during initial cranking, and restoring the valves to normal operation before the first firing event. The method provides a sequence of steps executed by the engine electronic control module to control the compression release apparatus to carry out the engine starting process safely and reliably.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventor: G. B. Kirby Meacham
  • Publication number: 20140069372
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating an internal combustion engine in a two-stroke mode or a four-stroke mode to achieve greater fuel efficiency and minimize emissions. The system comprises a mode-adaptable valve; a valve rocker arm to actuate opening and closing of the mode adaptable valve; a cam follower of a first cam for carrying out a two-stroke mode; a cam follower of a second cam for carrying out a four-stroke mode; and a pin to mechanically couple the valve rocker arm to the cam follower of the first cam or the cam follower of the second cam. Coupling the valve rocker arm to the cam follower of the first cam enables a two-stroke mode and coupling the valve rocker arm to the cam follower of the second cam enables a four-stroke mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Torsten Tietze, Christian Winge Vigild, Andreas Kuske, Wilbert Hemink
  • Publication number: 20130306025
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder engine intake and exhaust having a plurality of independent exhaust passages each connected to an exhaust port in a respective one of a plurality of cylinders, a collecting pipe connected to downstream ends of the plurality of independent exhaust passages, and a volume-enlarged portion provided downstream with respect to the collecting pipe. Each of at least a downstream portion of each of the plurality of independent exhaust passages and at least an upstream portion of the collecting pipe is formed such that a cross-sectional area thereof gradually decreases toward a downstream direction. The volume-enlarged portion is formed such that a cross-sectional area thereof is relatively increased so as to cause a positive pressure wave of exhaust gas reaching the volume-enlarged portion to be reflected and converted to a negative pressure wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takamasa Matsumoto, Mikihito Fujii
  • Patent number: 8573180
    Abstract: A method for determining a cylinder charge of an internal-combustion engine having valves with a variable valve gear, may include determining a maximum intake valve lift, calculating a standardized cylinder charge relative to at least one of a defined intake spread of an intake valve opening phase and a defined exhaust spread of an exhaust valve opening phase, as a function of the maximum intake valve lift, determining an overlap value, which characterizes an actual overlap of the intake valve opening phase and the exhaust valve opening phase, and determining a corrected cylinder charge based on the standardized cylinder charge and the overlap value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center GmbH
    Inventors: Patrizio Agostinelli, Juergen Werner
  • Publication number: 20130233276
    Abstract: An embodiment of an engine is described. The engine includes a first throttle valve. The first throttle valve is provided in a first intake passage coupled to an intake manifold. The first throttle valve has a default closed position. The engine further includes a second throttle valve. The second throttle valve is provided in a second intake passage coupled to the intake manifold. The second throttle valve has a default open position. The engine further includes a venturi pump that is provided between the second throttle valve and the intake manifold. When the second throttle valve is in the default open position, intake air flows through the venturi pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Patent number: 8511266
    Abstract: A valve control apparatus is provided for an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a variable phase angle mechanism configured to continuously change a valve opening phase angle of a valve, a variable valve mechanism configured to continuously change at least one of a valve opening duration and a valve lift of the valve, and a controller configured to control the variable phase angle mechanism and the variable valve mechanism. The variable phase angle mechanism is configured to set the valve opening phase angle at a retarded phase angle in a startup operation as compared with a normal phase angle in a normal operation. After an engine stop command is generated, the controller controls the variable valve mechanism such that an integrated valve opening value is increased to be larger than an idle state integrated valve opening value in an idle state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukihiro Fujioka
  • Patent number: 8499742
    Abstract: A valve train of an internal combustion engine having a swing of a link mechanism that is stabilized to stabilize the operating characteristics of an engine valve. A camshaft is provided together with a valve operating cam pivotally supported by the camshaft so as to operatively open and close an engine valve. A link mechanism allows a drive cam rotated integrally with the camshaft to swing the valve operating cam, and a drive mechanism swings the link mechanism, wherein opening and closing of the engine valve are started in a buffer section of the valve operating cam, and opening/closing timing of the engine valve is controlled by the drive mechanism swinging the valve operating cam via the link mechanism, without the provision of a buffer transition section and a buffer constant-speed section encountered at the time of transiting from a base circle to a cam lobe of the drive cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Cho, Tadashi Niino, Toshiyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 8473184
    Abstract: A control method and a control system for deceleration of a vehicle including a continuous valve lift apparatus (CVVL) may include determining whether fuel cutting condition is satisfied, determining whether brake pedal input signal is detected and controlling deceleration according to brake pedal input signal by at least one of controlling throttle opening angle and controlling valve lift of the CVVL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, KIA Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Maru Yoon, Hakmo Yoo
  • Patent number: 8371264
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an engine via an outlet control device of an intake manifold, such as via variable valve lift operation. The engine may further include an inlet control device, such as an electronic throttle, as well as coordination between the inlet and outlet control devices for controlling airflow in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John David Russell, Allan J. Kotwicki, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 8335630
    Abstract: A method for determining a cylinder charge of an internal-combustion engine having valves with a variable valve gear, may include determining a maximum intake valve lift, calculating a standardized cylinder charge relative to at least one of a defined intake spread of an intake valve opening phase and a defined exhaust spread of an exhaust valve opening phase, as a function of the maximum intake valve lift, determining an overlap value, which characterizes an actual overlap of the intake valve opening phase and the exhaust valve opening phase, and determining a corrected cylinder charge based on the standardized cylinder charge and the overlap value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motor Corporation, Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center GmbH
    Inventors: Patrizio Agostinelli, Juergen Werner
  • Patent number: 8271180
    Abstract: An intake control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of suppressing a change in an intake pressure caused by a change in a target intake air amount even in a transient operating condition in which the target intake air amount is varied, thereby making it possible to control the intake pressure stably and accurately. The intake control system controls an intake air amount by an intake valve lift, and controls intake negative pressure by a throttle valve. The system limits a target intake air amount based on upper and lower limit values set according to the intake valve lift and an intake cam phase, and corrects the target intake air amount by averaging the same using averaging calculation such that the change therein is delayed. A throttle valve opening is set according to the corrected target intake air amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideharu Takamiya
  • Patent number: 8251043
    Abstract: An intake valve control system comprises a torque control module and an opening control module. The torque control module controls torque output by an engine based on a torque output target. The opening control module opens intake valves of M cylinders of the engine to a first lift position when the torque output target is less than a torque threshold and selectively transitions the intake valves of N of the M cylinders to a second lift position. N and M are integers greater than zero, and N is less than M. The second lift position is open further than the first lift position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventor: Stuart R. Smith
  • Patent number: 8251044
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an engine via an outlet control device of an intake manifold, such as via variable valve lift operation. The engine may further include an inlet control device, such as an electronic throttle, as well as coordination between the inlet and outlet control devices for controlling airflow in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John David Russell, Allan J. Kotwicki, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 8191531
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system is equipped with a controllable engine valve actuation system. Controlling lift of an engine valve includes periodically monitoring engine valve lift and engine crank angle. A preferred engine valve lift profile is determined in a crank angle-domain. A preferred engine valve position is determined in the crank angle-domain. The preferred engine valve position is interpolated to determine a preferred engine valve position in the time-domain. The control circuit is actuated to control the engine valve in the time-domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jun-Mo Kang, Hanho Yun, Chen-Fang Chang
  • Patent number: 8166959
    Abstract: A system and a method of facilitating fuel vaporization in a directly injected internal combustion engine are provided. As one example, the method comprises: closing an exhaust valve of the cylinder; opening an intake valve after the exhaust valve has closed; moving a piston of the cylinder away from top dead center between the closing of the exhaust valve and the opening of the intake valve to expand the cylinder volume and reduce a pressure within the cylinder to below a pressure of an air intake manifold of the cylinder; and initiating an injection of fuel directly into the cylinder via an in-cylinder injector after the exhaust valve has closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianwen James Yi, Claudia Olivia Iyer, FooChern Ting, George Carver Davis
  • Patent number: 8161938
    Abstract: In a method for operating an internal combustion engine (10) having a plurality of combustion chambers (12), wherein the combustion chambers (12) make moment contributions during operation of the internal combustion engine (10) to the resulting engine moment of the internal combustion engine (10) and each combustion chamber (12) is assigned at least one inlet valve (14) which is actuated on the basis of a predefined valve lift cam which can be selected from a plurality of valve lift cams, the moment contribution of each combustion chamber (12) is selected, in the case of a valve lift switchover from a first valve lift cam to a second valve lift cam, for a following ignition cycle in such a way that a deviation of a sliding mean value of the moment contributions of all the combustion chambers (12) over a plurality of consecutive ignition cycles from a predefined moment setpoint value is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Helge Frauenkron
  • Patent number: 8122869
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control system of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine provided with a throttle valve and opening characteristic control means, which system performs feedback control of an air-fuel ratio based on an output of a sensor detecting an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas and is capable of performing more accurate air-fuel ratio control, is provided. In the feedback control, the relationship of the output of the sensor and a feedback value is corrected based on a feedback learning correction value learned and determined based on the output of the sensor during the feedback control, and, when newly learning the feedback learning correction value, the intake air amount is controlled by only the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiko Fujiwara, Norihisa Nakagawa, Taiga Hagimoto, Junichi Kako, Naoto Kato, Shuntaro Okazaki, Koji Ide
  • Patent number: 8095292
    Abstract: A system includes a control module, a valve control module, and a diagnostic module. The control module controls a valve of a variable intake manifold when the system operates in a first mode. The control module commands the valve to a first position when a desired airflow through the variable intake manifold is greater than a threshold and commands the valve to a second position when the desired airflow is less than the threshold. The valve control module controls the valve when the system operates in a second mode. The valve control module commands the valve to move from the second position to the first position when the desired airflow is less than the threshold. The diagnostic module determines an operating state of the valve based on whether the valve is detected at the first position a predetermined period after the valve control module commands the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventors: Kurt D. McLain, Layne K. Wiggins, Elizabeth Sarah Peterson
  • Patent number: 8061136
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (30) with a supercharger device (50, 52) for increasing the charging pressure in an air inlet system (33) has a number of cylinders (32). Each cylinder (32) has at least one exhaust valve (36) which is connected to the exhaust system (40) and at least one inlet valve (34), which is connected to the air inlet system (33). Scavenging is carried out with a valve overlap between the inlet valve (34) and the exhaust valve (36). For controlling the operation of the internal combustion engine the system monitors whether the scavenging was successful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Delp, Gerhard Eser
  • Publication number: 20110232603
    Abstract: A four-stroke internal combustion engine, having a brake controller by which pressure is built up in the exhaust system and/or at least one exhaust valve is additionally opened is provided. A hydraulic valve clearance compensation element is incorporated in at least one transmission element between the camshaft and at least one intake and exhaust valve and has at least one piston (3), a cylinder housing part (2) that interacts with the piston (3), a return spring (16) disposed therebetween, a check valve (4), and an actuatable locking device is provided which limits the movement of the piston (3) relative to the cylinder housing part (2) and/or limits the movement of the cylinder housing part (2) relative to an exterior housing (1) connected to one of the transmission elements or relative to a transmission element at least in one direction of movement, and the piston (3) is supported on a stop element (5) connected to the exterior housing (1) or the transmission element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Frank Bolte, Stefan Hubel, Oliver Schnell, Peter Sailer, Franz Huschka
  • Patent number: 8019527
    Abstract: In a method for operating an internal combustion engine including inlet valves with variably adjustable opening curves, during part-load operation, the closing time of the inlet valves and the fuel injection time are controlled as a function of the cylinder internal temperature so as to maintain the cylinder internal temperature relatively low in a controllable manner for reducing NOx emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Wolfram Schmid, Siegfried Sumser
  • Patent number: 7975672
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a controllable throttle and controllable engine valves and is selectively operative in one of a plurality of combustion modes. An engine control method includes monitoring engine operation, determining a desired air flow, estimating a cylinder air charge, and estimating an intake air partial pressure. The throttle control device and engine valves are controlled based upon the intake air partial pressure and the cylinder air charge to achieve the desired air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jun-Mo Kang, Chen-Fang Chang, Jyh-Shin Chen
  • Patent number: 7966992
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having at least one actuator for controlling charge dilution of at least one cylinder and at least one spark plug per cylinder include attempting to improve combustion quality by modifying ignition energy of the at least one spark plug before modifying charge dilution of the cylinder, and modifying both ignition energy and charge dilution substantially simultaneously to establish combustion if an ionization sense signal associated with the cylinder indicates a misfire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Damian Czekala, Garlan J Huberts, Daniel Lawrence Meyer
  • Patent number: 7946263
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling cylinder valve switching between a first valve condition and a second valve condition for transitioning between combustion modes of an engine. The method includes adjusting timing of a signal to switch between the valve conditions based on an oil degradation condition from an oil sensor, wherein the combustion modes include spark ignition and homogenous charge compression ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jon O'Neill, Themi Philemon Petridis
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7836863
    Abstract: A variable lift apparatus of an engine for a vehicle may include a camshaft in which a cam is formed, a swing arm one side of which is supported by a supporting portion and another side of which operates a valve, an output arm including a roller press portion extended in one direction and a rotating arm extended in another direction, a first roller disposed in the connecting portion in which the rotating arm and the roller press portion are connected and that contacts the cam, a second roller disposed in the swing arm and contacting a roller contacting surface, a variable link connected with a lower end side of the rotating arm protruding in a lower side of the output arm by a hinge shaft and moves the hinge shaft according to a guide slot formed in a guide and a variable rotation shaft for operating the variable link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Young Hong Kwak, Kiyoung Kwon, Jin Kook Kong, Kyoung Joon Chang
  • Patent number: 7819097
    Abstract: A poppet valve operating system for an internal combustion engine features variable valve lift and camshaft phasing. A planetary phaser uses control inputs which are shared with a variable lift mechanism. The phaser adjustment and the variable lift mechanism are controlled by a single positioning motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventor: Fang Shui
  • Patent number: 7814873
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a variable valve operating device and a valve opening amount adjustment method, and can accurately control the amount of in-cylinder air and the strength of a swirl flow. The variable valve operating device according to the present invention includes a valve mechanism that can select a dual valve variable control mode in which the valve opening amounts of a first valve and a second valve, which are of the same type and provided for the same cylinder, can be varied continuously or in multiple steps. A valve opening amount difference is provided when the valve opening amounts are minimized in the dual valve variable control mode so that the valve opening amount of the first valve is larger than that of the second valve. In addition, adjustments are made so that the minimum valve opening amount of the first valve does not vary from one cylinder to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Tateno, Shuichi Ezaki, Toshiyuki Maehara
  • 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: 7802546
    Abstract: A variable valve actuating apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a first valve actuating mechanism to vary a first valve operating condition, and a second valve actuating mechanism to vary a second valve operating condition. A controller controls the first valve actuating mechanism to satisfy a predetermined engine starting condition before a start of a cranking operation or during the cranking operation, with respect to an engine operating condition including the second valve operating condition controlled by the second valve actuating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Nakamura, Seinosuke Hara
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7779798
    Abstract: In a method for determining the switchover condition in order to initiate a valve lift changeover in an internal combustion engine, the torque requirement (TQ REQ) is determined. Also, an operational variable of the internal combustion engine, which is representative for an operational state of the internal combustion engine, is determined. According to the operational variable, a duration of time (T), which is required in the current operational state in order to carry out at least one prepared amount for the valve lift changeover, is determined. An alteration value, which is representative for the alteration of the torque condition (TQ_REQ), is determined. The valve lift changeover is initiated by the duration of time (T) and the alteration value (TQ_REQ) according to the torque requirement (TQ REQ).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Weiss
  • Patent number: 7740003
    Abstract: A valve control system for an internal combustion engine includes a valve actuation system. The valve actuation system actuates at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve between N open lift modes via lift control valves. The control module enables transitioning of at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve between the N open lift modes. The control module defines M valve leading modes that indicate whether the intake valve transitions between the N open lift modes before, during the same time period, or after the exhaust valve. The control module selectively transitions the intake valve and the exhaust valve based on a current one of the M valve leading modes. N and M are integers greater than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventor: Allen B. Rayl
  • Publication number: 20100139618
    Abstract: A control method and a control system for deceleration of a vehicle including a continuous valve lift apparatus (CVVL) may include determining whether fuel cutting condition is satisfied, determining whether brake pedal input signal is detected and controlling deceleration according to brake pedal input signal by at least one of controlling throttle opening angle and controlling valve lift of the CVVL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Maru YOON, Hakmo Yoo