Intake Valve Lift Altered Patents (Class 123/346)
  • Patent number: 10823089
    Abstract: A continuously variable valve duration (CVVD) system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to output a command for adjusting an actuator and a controller configured to determine a operation range of a control shaft of the actuator and adjust the control shaft in the determined operation range based on the command of the ECU. The controller positions the control shaft at a predetermined target phase and determines a control state of each target phase based on a target phase value transmitted from the actuator when the control shaft is positioned at the target phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: HYUNDAI KEFICO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jin Wook Baek, Lae Kyeom Kim
  • Patent number: 10711716
    Abstract: A preparation control for suppressing fluctuation of an output torque of the engine at the time of executing switching operation from the whole cylinder operation to the partial cylinder operation is executed when having made a switching request from the whole cylinder operation to the partial cylinder operation. The target switching time executing the switching operation is calculated in accordance with the valve operation phase after the preparation time is completed. The cylinder deactivation mechanism is controlled such that the switching operation is executed at the target switching time. The target switching time is set in accordance with the valve operation phase at the timing in which the abnormal noises are not generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuto Katori, Hideyuki Hayashi, Daisuke Shiomi, Yuichi Masukake, Ryuji Yokote
  • Patent number: 10519874
    Abstract: An oil supply control device for an engine includes: a hydraulic controller which outputs a control value to an adjusting device to cause a detected hydraulic pressure detected by a hydraulic pressure sensor to coincide with a predetermined hydraulic pressure value; a determination portion which compares an output control value output from the hydraulic controller to the adjusting device when the detected hydraulic pressure coincides with the predetermined hydraulic pressure value and a control value stored in a memory, to determine whether or not a difference between the output control value and the stored control value lies within a predetermined allowable range; and a device controller which allows activation of a hydraulic actuating device when an oil temperature is not lower than a first temperature in a case where the difference lies within the allowable range, inhibits activation of the hydraulic actuating device when the oil temperature is lower than a second temperature higher than the first temperat
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masanori Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10202908
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting an oil pressure supplied to an engine and a variable cam timing (VCT) responsive to a condition of the VCT system. In one example, a method may include adjusting the oil pressure based on engine speed, engine load, and engine oil temperature, and responsive to a request to shift the VCT system during specific engine operating conditions, increasing the oil pressure to an upper threshold oil pressure for the duration of the shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jamie Charles Hanshaw, Paul John Adam, Jeffrey Alan Yeager, Luke Brodbeck, Joel John Beltramo
  • Patent number: 10151253
    Abstract: A method for adapting a valve actuating variable for controlling an intake and/or an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine, including setting a predetermined operating state of the internal combustion engine; determining a charge specification, which specifies an instantaneous air charge in one of the cylinders of the internal combustion engine, in the predetermined operating state; and adapting the valve actuating variable as a function of the charge specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander Kaisser, Matthias Heinkele
  • Patent number: 10024257
    Abstract: A PCM comprises a basic target torque-deciding part for deciding a basic target torque, based on a driving state of a vehicle including an accelerator pedal operation state, a torque reduction amount-deciding part for deciding a torque reduction amount, based on a driving state of the vehicle other than the accelerator pedal operation state, a final target torque-deciding part for deciding a final target torque, based on the decided basic target torque and the decided torque reduction amount, and an engine output control part for controlling an engine to cause the engine to output the decided final target torque, wherein the engine output control part is operable to prohibit switching of an operation mode of the engine from being performed simultaneously with control of the engine according to a change in the final target torque corresponding to a change in the torque reduction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chikako Ohisa, Osamu Sunahara, Daisuke Umetsu, Takuo Hirano, Kunihiro Shishima, Takahiro Kawamura, Yasunori Takahara, Daisaku Ogawa, Takeatsu Ito
  • Patent number: 9970339
    Abstract: A system and a method for controlling valve timing of a continuous variable valve duration engine that simultaneously controls duration and timing of the valve by mounting a continuous variable valve duration device on an intake of turbo engine and mounting a continuous variable valve timing device on an exhaust is disclosed. The method includes: classifying a plurality of control regions depending on engine speed and load; applying a maximum duration to an intake valve and limiting an overlap to an exhaust valve; applying the maximum duration to the intake valve and adjusting the overlap by using an exhaust valve close timing; advancing an intake valve close timing; approaching an intake valve close timing to bottom dead center; controlling a wide open throttle valve and controlling the intake valve close timing to after bottom dead center; and controlling the wide open throttle valve and advancing the intake valve close timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: In Sang Ryu, Kyoung Pyo Ha, You Sang Son, Kiyoung Kwon
  • Patent number: 9964009
    Abstract: An oil supply system for an engine is provided, which includes an oil pressure controller for controlling a variable displacement oil pump to adjust a discharge pressure thereof to reach a target oil pressure corresponding to an operating state of the engine, the variable displacement oil pump capable of adjusting a discharge amount of oil, a load detector for detecting an engine load, and an oil temperature detector for detecting an oil temperature. When the engine load is low, to increase an amount of oil mist flowing inside a crank case of the engine, the oil pressure controller controls the variable displacement oil pump to increase the discharge amount as the oil temperature becomes lower, the oil mist generated by the oil flowing out of a bearing part rotatably supporting at least a crankshaft and being atomized, the engine load being considered low when below a predetermined reference load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Hashimoto, Hisashi Okazawa, Hiroaki Muranaka, Kimio Ishida, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Sho Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 9759136
    Abstract: A variable valve operating system assembled in an engine includes a first rocker arm contacting with a valve, a second rocker arm no contacting with any valve, a lost motion spring bringing the second rocker arm into contact with a cam, and switching device for switching the first/second rocker arms to a coupled or uncoupled state. An operation control apparatus for the engine includes element for determining whether or not an engine speed is higher than a first speed at which supply of fuel is allowed to be temporarily stopped, and element for setting a requested quantity of increase/decrease in internal resistance of the engine. When the engine speed is higher than the first speed and an accelerator opening degree is 0%, the switching device switches the first/second rocker arms to the coupled or uncoupled state based on the requested quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Haga
  • Patent number: 9494061
    Abstract: A control device controls a valve timing changer to retard a phase of an exhaust valve camshaft with respect to a crankshaft such that the time of opening of an intake valve is earlier than the time of closing the exhaust valve after a top dead center, when a determiner determines that an engine is not in a warm-up stage in a low-load operation. The control device controls the valve timing changer to advance the phase of the exhaust valve camshaft with respect to the crankshaft such that the time of closing the exhaust valve is earlier than the time of opening of the intake valve after the top dead center, when the determiner determines that the engine is at the warm-up stage in the low-load operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignees: OGINO KOGYO CO., LTD., HATAMURA ENGINE RESEARCH OFFICE LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Hatamura, Jun Bota, Taizo Fujimura, Susumu Takayama
  • Patent number: 9410489
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine equipped with: a cylinder block in the interior of which pistons are arranged; a cylinder head containing recessed parts; cylinder liners affixed to the surfaces of hole parts of the cylinder block; and a variable compression ratio mechanism that changes the mechanical compression ratio. The variable compression ratio mechanism is formed such that the size of the combustion chamber can be changed by moving the cylinder head relative to the cylinder block. The cylinder liners extend such that the end parts facing the cylinder head are arranged within the recessed parts of the cylinder head within the range of relative movement of the cylinder head with respect to the cylinder block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuya Miyazono
  • Patent number: 9382819
    Abstract: Provided is a variable valve device for an internal combustion engine. The variable valve device includes intake- and exhaust-side swing arms that pivot to open and close intake valves and exhaust valves in two cylinders #1, #2, intake- and exhaust-side hydraulic lash adjusters that serve as pivot points of the respective swing arms, a variable valve system that continuously varies valve lift characteristics of the intake valves and lost motion mechanisms that stop opening and closing of the intake exhaust valves by lost motion of the intake- and exhaust-side hydraulic lash adjusters on the cylinder #1. The maximum valve lifts of the intake valves are set larger than valve lifts of the exhaust valves. The minimum valve lifts of the intake valves are set smaller than the valve lifts of the exhaust valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9032921
    Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine structure defining a first combustion chamber, a first port in communication with the first combustion chamber and a second port in communication with the first combustion chamber. A first valve may be located in the first port and a second valve may be located in the second port. A first multi-step valve lift mechanism may be supported on the engine structure and engaged with the first valve. A second multi-step valve lift mechanism may be supported on the engine structure and engaged with the second valve. The first and second multi-step valve lift mechanisms may be switched between low and high lift modes independent from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Alan W. Hayman
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150090220
    Abstract: A variable valve device for an internal combustion engine is equipped with a variable valve mechanism capable of changing the working angle of an intake valve while holding the maximum lift amount of the intake valve constant. The variable valve device retards the timing for closing the intake valve as the load of the internal combustion engine rises, and enlarges the working angle, while holding the timing for opening the intake valve constant. Operating characteristics of the intake valve are provided in accordance with the load of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hisaki Ito, Takashi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8991357
    Abstract: There is provided efficient compression auto-ignition combustion over intermediate load range extended towards a low and high load range. An internal combustion engine enables compression auto-ignition combustion by securing a so-called sealed duration created by negative valve overlap. It includes a cylinder head, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder having a top coupled to the cylinder head, a combustion chamber between an inner surface of a cylinder head and a top of the piston, and intake and exhaust valves. Two intake valves are arranged per each combustion chamber and made to differ in valve lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20150053174
    Abstract: A control device of a multi-cylinder engine is provided. The control device includes an auxiliary component and a valve stopping device having a locking mechanism for stopping an operation of at least one of intake and exhaust valves of a specific cylinder of the multi-cylinder engine according to an engine operating state. The control device includes an angular speed variation detecting device for detecting an angular speed variation of a crankshaft, an auxiliary component control device for controlling a drive load of the auxiliary component. In an all-cylinder operation, when an engine load is lower than a predetermined value and the detected angular speed variation exceeds a predetermined threshold, the auxiliary component control device performs an auxiliary component drive load increase control in which the drive load of the auxiliary component is increased to reduce the angular speed variation to be lower than the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nishimoto, Hisashi Okazawa, Masanori Hashimoto, Junsou Sasaki
  • 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: 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: 20130125544
    Abstract: A method for switching between low- and high-dilution combustion modes in an internal combustion engine having an intake passage with an exhaust-driven turbocharger, a crankshaft-driven positive displacement supercharger downstream of the turbocharger and having variable boost controllable with a supercharger bypass valve, and a throttle valve downstream of the supercharger. The current combustion mode and mass air flow are determined. A switch to the target combustion mode is commanded when an operating condition falls within a range of predetermined operating conditions. A target mass air flow to achieve a target air-fuel ratio corresponding to the current operating condition and the target combustion mode is determined. The degree of opening of the supercharger bypass valve and the throttle valve are controlled to achieve the target mass air flow. The amount of residual exhaust gas is manipulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Robert Bosch GmbH
  • Patent number: 8360021
    Abstract: Disclosed is a variable valve gear comprising a camshaft phase change mechanism, which variably controls a phase of an intake cam with respect to a crankshaft, and a variable valve lift mechanism, which changes an opening timing of an intake valve more than a closing timing and basically continuously varies a lift and an open period of the intake valve. The lift and the open period are set lest the intake valve interfere with a piston of an engine, with the phase controlled to be most advanced by the camshaft phase change mechanism and the lift controlled to be maximal by the variable valve lift mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Toda, Masayuki Takagaki, Shinichi Murata
  • Patent number: 8312849
    Abstract: In a dual intake valve arrangement for an internal combustion engine, a variable valve lift system controls two intake valves for one or more engine cylinders. In each cylinder, one of the intake valves includes an associated two-step actuation device, and the other includes an associated valve deactivation device. To improve in-cylinder air flow turbulence, one valve may be operated in a high-lift or low-lift state while the other valve may be deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Roe, Jongmin Lee
  • 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: 8215285
    Abstract: A controller of a variable valve device is configured to, before starting an internal combustion engine, set an operation angle varying mechanism to control an intake valve of the engine to have such an operation angle as to retard a valve close timing of the intake valve relative to a piston bottom dead center; define a given period from a instruction time when an instruction signal is fed to the controller for starting the engine to a time when a combustion of air/fuel mixture is actually commenced in the engine; and when, in the given period, a temperature representing the temperature of the engine is lower than a predetermined temperature, reduce the operation angle of the intake valve so as to bring the valve close timing of the intake valve near to the piston bottom dead center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8146567
    Abstract: A valve lifter control system includes a valve lifter control module and a forced transition determination module. The valve lifter control module determines a desired lift state of a valve lifter based on at least one of engine speed and engine load. The forced transition determination module initiates a forced transition of the valve lifter from the low-lift state to the high-lift state based on manifold vacuum independently of the desired lift state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventors: Scot A. Douglas, Donovan L. Dibble, Joshua D. Cowgill
  • Patent number: 8126635
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control apparatus includes a learning unit learning amounts of divergence of a correction amount from a reference value thereof respectively as to a plurality of set lift amount regions as divergence amount learning values, a correction unit calculating a divergence amount correction value and correcting a fuel injection amount command value, and a reflection unit reflecting a learning result of the divergence amount learning value of a specific one of the plurality of the set lift amount regions on the divergence amount learning value of another one of the lift amount regions when there is a history indicating that the divergence amount learning value of the specific one of the lift amount regions has been learned and there is no history indicating that the divergence amount learning value of that another one of the lift amount regions has been learned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Iwahashi, Hiroshi Morita
  • Patent number: 8001936
    Abstract: In a control apparatus and a method for an internal combustion engine, a first cylinder group in which both of the intake and exhaust valves of each of the engine cylinders thereof are controllably stopped; and a second cylinder group in which a lift of the intake valve of each of the engine cylinders thereof is variably controlled are provided. The lift of the intake valve of each of the engine cylinders of the second cylinder group is controlled in order for an engine torque when the intake and exhaust valves of each of the cylinders of the first cylinder group are controlled to be stopped to be approximately equal to the engine torque by the first cylinder group and the second cylinder group before the intake and exhaust valves of each of the cylinders of the first cylinder group are controlled to be stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7938100
    Abstract: A variable valve device, which is capable of controlling a fuel injection amount or the like if a control shaft sensor has a failure, uses a brushless DC motor to rotate the control shaft, detects the rotation angle of the motor using its magnetic pole sensors, and calculates an estimated rotation angle of the control shaft based on the rotation angle. The variable valve device further determines that the control shaft sensor has a failure if the difference between the actual rotation angle of the control shaft detected by the control shaft sensor and the calculated estimated rotation angle exceeds a prescribed value and controls the fuel injection amount, fuel injection timing and ignition timing of the engine based on the calculated estimated rotation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seigo Takahashi, Hidetoshi Ishigami
  • 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: 7806105
    Abstract: When it is determined that an engine speed NE rapidly decreases (positive outcome at S210), a throttle increase amount TAu and a valve lift increase amount VLu are computed based on a decrease rate NEd of the engine speed NE (S220). Then, a target throttle opening degree TAt of a throttle valve and a target maximum valve lift VLt of an intake valve are increased by using the throttle increase amount TAu and the valve lift increase amount VLu (S230). As a result, a drop in the engine speed during idling is reliably suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Naohide Fuwa, Hisayo Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7793625
    Abstract: A variable valve actuating apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes an intake valve operating angle varying mechanism, and an intake valve timing varying mechanism. The intake valve timing varying mechanism includes a housing rotating in synchronization with a crankshaft, and a vane member coupled to a drive shaft for intake valve operation, and movably mounted in the housing. The vane member includes a vane defining first and second fluid pressure chambers on first and second opposite sides of the vane. A hydraulic circuit is arranged to rotate the vane member relative to the housing by supply and return of a brake fluid to and from the first and second fluid pressure chambers so as to change the intake valve maximum lift phase. Coil springs are arranged to bias the vane member relative to the housing in a direction to retard the intake valve maximum lift phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Nakamura, Yoshinori Ichinosawa, Tomoya Tsukada, Seinosuke Hara, Tomoyuki Murakami
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7769528
    Abstract: A fuel injection controller for an engine that injects fuel to an inlet passage in an upstream side of an inlet valve from a fuel injection unit, includes: a first calculator, configured to calculate a basic fuel injection quantity from the fuel injection unit based on an operating condition of the engine; a second calculator, configured to calculate a first direct transport rate of fuel directly transported into a cylinder of the fuel injected from the fuel injection unit when the inlet valve is closed; a third calculator, configured to calculate a second direct transport rate of fuel directly transported into a cylinder of the fuel injected from the fuel injection unit when the inlet valve is opened; and a corrector, configured to correct the basic fuel injection quantity based on the first direct transport rate and the second direct transport rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Kawakita, Katsunori Ueda, Toshiyuki Miyata, Hiroki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7703424
    Abstract: In a variable valve actuation system of an internal combustion engine employing a variable valve actuator capable of variably adjusting at least intake valve closure timing depending on engine operating conditions, a processor of a control unit is programmed to phase-advance the intake valve closure timing to a predetermined timing value after a piston top dead center position and before a piston bottom dead center position on intake stroke during at least one of an engine starting period and an engine stopping period. The variable valve actuator includes a biasing device by which the intake valve closure timing is permanently biased toward the predetermined timing value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Nakamura, Seinosuke Hara
  • Patent number: 7597074
    Abstract: An engine includes two or more banks, VVTL mechanisms provided for the respective banks for changing the operating characteristics of intake valves, and a control device that controls the VVTL mechanisms. The control device controls the VVTL mechanisms by integrating a plurality of pieces of control information corresponding to the respective VVTL mechanisms. When one of the pieces of control information becomes unknown, the control device performs a process of learning the control information with respect to the VVTL mechanism for the bank involving the unknown control information, and continues to control the VVTL mechanism for the other bank or banks, using the corresponding control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naohide Fuwa
  • Patent number: 7568454
    Abstract: There is provided an intake air amount control system for an internal combustion engine, which controls the amount of intake air by executing both cam phase control and valve lift control, and is capable of enhancing response and accuracy of the intake air amount control, while avoiding interaction between the cam phase control and the valve lift control. In the intake air amount control system 1, an ECU 2 controls the amount of intake air according to a target valve lift Liftin_cmd and a target cam phase Cain_cmd. The Liftin_cmd and Cain_cmd are respectively calculated as the sums of master values Liftin_cmd_ms and Cain_cmd_ms for causing an actual intake air amount Gcyl to converge to a target intake air amount Gcyl_cmd, and slave values Liftin_cmd_sl and Cain_cmd_sl set according to the master values Liftin_cmd_ms and Cain_cmd_ms (steps 56 and 64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Noriaki Fujii, Hisao Sakai
  • Publication number: 20090151694
    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: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Young Hong KWAK, Kiyoung Kwon, Jin Kook Kong, Kyoung Joon Chang
  • Patent number: 7458348
    Abstract: In a V-type engine provided with a variable valve timing mechanism and variable valve lift mechanism for an intake valve, a torque difference between respective banks is obtained. In a region in which an opening area of the intake valve is larger than a threshold, valve timing of the intake valve by the variable valve timing mechanism is corrected so as to reduce the torque difference, whereas in a region in which the opening area of the intake valve is smaller than the threshold, lift characteristics of the intake valve by the variable valve lift mechanism is corrected so as to reduce the torque difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Machida, Hidekazu Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 7458347
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine equipped with a variable valve operating mechanism that performs a valve timing control and a valve lift amount control of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve, target values of the valve timing and the valve lift amount set based on an engine operating condition are limited by a limit value to limit a control range of one of the valve timing and the valve lift amount in accordance with a control state of the other of the valve timing and the valve lift amount, so that the valve timing and the valve lift amount are controlled based on the respective target values one of which has been limited as above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 7444965
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a supercharger system and a system for adjusting the control times of at least one intake valve of a cylinder within a predefined adjustment range, in which the control times are adjustable between starting from a zero position up to a maximum adjustment position, adjusting it by a defined maximum possible crank angle range in the direction of advanced ignition, and the intake length of the intake cam assigned to the intake valve is designed so that the control time for closing the intake valve is at or before bottom dead center when the zero position prevails in the system for adjusting the control times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Frehland
  • Patent number: 7444975
    Abstract: A method of controlling an intake air passage of an internal combustion engine is provided. The intake air passage cyclically communicates to a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, thereby inducting fresh air into said combustion chamber. The cyclic communication of the intake air passage to the combustion chamber generates a pressure wave in the intake air passage. The method comprises reducing an effective length of a transmission path of the pressure wave in an upstream direction of the intake air passage as a desired air flow to the combustion chamber decreases. In accordance with the method, the effective length of the pressure wave transmission path is reduced as desired air flow decreases. With the reduced effective length, the pressure wave bounces back and forth between ends of the transmission path more often before the next cyclic communication. The more bouncing attenuates the pressure wave at the next cyclic communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Kishi, Shinichi Sugihara, Masashi Marubara, Toshihide Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7441522
    Abstract: A lift time area is calculated based on an actual valve working angle of an intake valve and an engine rotational speed. Then, a control gain of a feedback control is set based on the lift time area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Naohide Fuwa, Hisayo Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7373922
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the intake air amount in an internal combustion engine provided with a throttle valve and an intake air amount changing means linked with the same, the intake air amount control apparatus and method of an internal combustion engine finding a target intake air amount mcta based on an accelerator opening degree and engine speed (step 101), determining a target setting Cvta for said intake air amount changing means based on at least said target intake air amount (step 103), and finding a target throttle opening degree ?tta based on model equations creating a model of an engine intake system and expressing the air passing through the engine intake system from said target intake air amount mcta and the target setting Cvta (step 107).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Harufumi Muto, Yuji Miyanoo, Akira Eiraku, Masashi Hakariya
  • Patent number: 7363889
    Abstract: A control device of a multicylinder internal combustion engine provided with a valve operating characteristic control means for controlling a valve operating characteristic of at least one of an intake valve and exhaust valve, which estimates an intake difference of cylinders and limits a control range of said valve operating characteristic in accordance with said estimated intake difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Tsunooka, Keizo Hiraku, Yukihiro Nakasaka, Akira Hashizume, Hiroshi Kanai, Naohide Fuwa, Tomoyuki Kaga
  • Patent number: 7360515
    Abstract: A variable valve mechanism performs a valve lift switching operation for an intake valve. ECU defines valve lift switching characteristics corresponding to the engine operating region and executes the valve lift switching operation based on the switching characteristics. ECU calculates a parameter fluctuation amount of an engine occurring in response to the valve lift switching operation, and corrects the valve lift switching characteristics when the calculated parameter fluctuation amount exceeds a predetermined judgment value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keiji Hoshino
  • Patent number: 7357119
    Abstract: The operation modes of plural intake valves 7a and 7b provided in one cylinder is independently changed according to the drive region of the internal combustion engine. In the low air amount region, the intake airflow is controlled only with intake valve 7a which operates in the low air amount region and the other intake valve 7b is operated in the medium and high air amount regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshida, Yoshihiro Sukegawa
  • Patent number: 7308873
    Abstract: A variable valve control system for an internal combustion engine, includes a valve to open and close an opening of a combustion chamber of the engine, a variable lift characteristic control mechanism to adjust a valve lift characteristic of the valve, a sensing section to collect information needed to determine an estimated valve lift characteristic of the valve, an input section to receive an externally input calibration-mode command. The variable valve control system is configured to perform: controlling the valve lift characteristic to be a mechanically defined small setting in response to the calibration-mode command; collecting the information when the valve lift characteristic is the small setting; and calibrating the sensing section in accordance with the collected information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Arai, Katsuhiko Kawamura
  • Patent number: 7305945
    Abstract: In a method for changing the lift of inlet valves of an internal combustion engine between a partial lift and a full lift, the lift of the inlet valves being controlled by at least one camshaft, which comprises partial lift cams and full lift cams acting alternatively on the inlet valves, the control times of an inlet valves assigned to the camshaft are adjusted by rotating the camshaft by a certain angle so that the changeover between the partial lift cams and the full lift cams can be carried out at points within a characteristic performance graph of the internal combustion engine at which the suction capacity of the internal combustion engine when using the partial lift cams corresponds essentially to the suction capacity of the internal combustion engine when using the full lift cams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Martin Glose, Arkadi Kudashev
  • Patent number: 7240664
    Abstract: The operation modes of plural intake valves 7a and 7b provided in one cylinder is independently changed according to the drive region of the internal combustion engine. In the low air amount region, the intake airflow is controlled only with intake valve 7a which operates in the low air amount region and the other intake valve 7b is operated in the medium and high air amount regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshida, Yoshihiro Sukegawa
  • Patent number: 7237530
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine provided with a fuel vapor treatment system according to the invention includes a controller that discharges fuel vapor into an intake passageway by using the intake negative pressure, and which adjusts the amount of the intake air through the cooperative control of a variable control of at least one of the lift amount of an intake valve and the working angle of the intake valve, and a control of the degree of opening of a throttle valve. In addition, the control apparatus executes the variable control so that at least one of the lift amount and the working angle of the intake valve changes in accordance with the fuel vapor concentration in the fuel vapor treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuuji Miyanoo, Kiyoo Hirose