By Changing Valve Timing Patents (Class 123/347)
  • Patent number: 8025043
    Abstract: The engine operational region in which the cylinder deactivation operation is performed in the cylinder deactivation control is switched between the cylinder deactivation region AP1 and the cylinder deactivation region AP2 depending on whether a variable valve timing mechanism is in an operation allowed state and control of the valve timing of an intake valve is being performed, or the variable valve timing mechanism is in an operation inhibited state and the control of the valve timing of the intake valve is stopped. In this way, depending on whether the variable valve timing mechanism is in the operation allowed state or in the operation inhibited state, the engine operational region in which the cylinder deactivation operation is performed can be set so that the engine operational region is made suitable for each of these state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihito Moriya
  • Patent number: 8011334
    Abstract: An exhaust valve control method for a diesel engine 6 for switching between a normal combustion mode and a premixed combustion mode according to operating conditions; an exhaust valve 9 is opened only in the exhaust stroke in the normal combustion mode, and two-stage valve opening control is carried out to open the exhaust valve 9 not only in the exhaust stroke, but also between the latter part of the air inlet stroke and the initial stage of the compression stroke in the premixed combustion mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Junichiro Nitta
  • Patent number: 8005601
    Abstract: A method controls an internal combustion engine in a drive train having a hydraulic torque converter with a pump wheel and a turbine wheel, during a changeover from an overrun mode into a traction mode. In the method, the rotational speeds of the pump wheel and of the turbine wheel are sensed simultaneously and compared with one another, and a deviation of the rotational speed of the pump wheel from the rotational speed of the turbine wheel being determined. If the rotational speed of the turbine wheel is higher than the rotational speed of the pump wheel and the deviation drops below a predefined threshold value, the torque of the internal combustion engine is set in dependence on the deviation and a rate of change of the rotational speed of the pump wheel. Furthermore a control unit is configured to carry out such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Inventor: Antoon Nicolaas Janssen
  • Patent number: 7992541
    Abstract: A method controlling combustion modes of an engine with at least a first and second cylinder, the engine having a first actuator configured to control at least intake valves of the first and second cylinder and a second actuator configured to control at least exhaust valves of the first and second cylinders, the method comprising of sending a first signal to the first actuator which adjusts operation of at least intake valves of the first and second cylinder and a second signal to the second actuator which adjusts operation of at least exhaust valves of the first and second cylinder, said first and second signals sent at different crank angles, and transitioning combustion modes of said first and second cylinders, said combustion modes including spark ignition and homogeneous compression ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Themi Philemon Petridis, Ludwig Stump, Jens Wojahn, Martin Wirth
  • Patent number: 7900598
    Abstract: A method is described for starting an internal combustion engine. During a run-up in engine speed of the engine starting, the method includes adjusting intake valve closing timing in response to barometric pressure to provide a desired air amount in the cylinder, with a longer valve opening with respect to crankshaft angle at higher altitudes as compared to a shorter valve opening with respect to crankshaft angle at lower altitudes for a given operating constraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, John D. Russell
  • Patent number: 7886714
    Abstract: An exhaust gas reflux mechanism for a multipurpose engine includes an exhaust reflux cam formed as an integral part of an single cam of the engine and having a cam lobe profiled to open an exhaust valve while an intake valve stays open during the intake stroke of the engine so that part of an exhaust gas remaining on the side of an exhaust port of the engine is drawn into a combustion chamber during the intake stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soji Kashima
  • Patent number: 7882821
    Abstract: An engine provided with a variable timing mechanism (B) able to control a closing timing of an intake valve (7) and a variable compression ratio mechanism (A) able to change a mechanical compression ratio and controlling the closing timing of the intake valve (7) to control the amount of intake air fed into a combustion chamber (5). To obtain an output torque in accordance with the required torque even when the atmospheric pressure changes, when the atmospheric pressure falls, the closing timing of the intake valve (7) is made to approach intake bottom dead center and the mechanical compression ratio is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Akihisa, Daisaku Sawada, Eiichi Kamiyama, Yukihiro Nakasaka
  • Publication number: 20100313847
    Abstract: In one example, a method is described for operating an engine of a vehicle, the engine having a combustion chamber. The method may include controlling a stability of the vehicle in response to a vehicle acceleration; and adjusting dilution in the combustion chamber of the engine to reduce surge in response to the vehicle acceleration. The dilution may be adjusted by adjusting cam timing, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Eric Tseng, Davor David Hrovat, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Diana Yanakiev
  • Patent number: 7853399
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine control apparatus executes an exhaust-valve-early-closing valve timing control in which an exhaust valve is closed before the intake stroke top dead center. The fuel injection timing mode is normally set to an intake-stroke non-synchronized fuel injection mode. However, if the internal combustion engine is idling and the combustion gas temperature is relatively high, the fuel injection timing mode is switched from the intake-stroke non-synchronized fuel injection mode to an intake-stroke synchronized fuel injection mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Hoshi, Makoto Tomimatsu
  • Patent number: 7848873
    Abstract: An electronic control unit 9 performs a delay control for extending the period from when an engine stop request is made to when the engine is actually stopped. During non-execution of the delay control, the electronic control unit 9 adjusts the opening degree of a throttle valve 38 according to an accelerator pedal depression degree. During the execution of the delay control, the electronic control unit 9 adjusts the opening degree of a throttle valve 38 such that the opening degree becomes less than the opening degree during the non-execution of the delay control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naohide Fuwa, Yasuomi Takeuchi, Takashi Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7823550
    Abstract: An engine equipped with an adjustable valve timing mechanism includes: an inlet valve opening term varying mechanism, which is included in the adjustable valve timing mechanism, varying an opening term of an inlet valve; and an inlet valve opening term controller controlling the inlet valve opening term varying mechanism according to a running state of the engine, the inlet valve opening term varying mechanism setting the opening term of the inlet valve to an first inlet term while the engine runs at relatively high load and relatively high speed, the inlet valve opening term varying mechanism also setting the opening term of the inlet valve to a second inlet term, termination timing of the inlet valve opening of which is retarded compared to the termination timing of the inlet valve opening in the first inlet term, while the engine runs at relatively low load and relatively low speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Murata
  • Patent number: 7802545
    Abstract: A valve timing controller has the drive circuit which performs a feedback control of the energization to the electric motor based on the target rotation speed and the actual rotation speed of the electric motor, and rotates the electric motor to the target rotation direction. An invalid switch part of the drive circuit suspends the feedback control at the time of change of the target rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7779796
    Abstract: A variable valve actuating apparatus for an internal combustion engine with an exhaust turbocharger. An intake valve characteristic varying section is arranged to vary an operating angle and a lift of an intake valve. An exhaust valve characteristic varying section is arranged to vary an opening timing and a closing timing of an exhaust valve. In response to an increase in a desired value of an output of the engine, a control section advances an opening timing of the intake valve, retards a closing timing of the intake valve, and advances the opening timing of the exhaust valve. In response to an increase in a boost pressure of the exhaust turbocharger, the control section increases the operating angle and the lift of the intake valve, and retards the opening timing and the closing timing of the exhaust valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20100199950
    Abstract: A load control system, in certain aspects, may be configured to decrease the amount of noise pollution of a prime mover (e.g., engine) of a service pack in that it may not require the prime mover to operate at higher discrete operating speeds to deliver small amounts of air from the air compressor. The load control system may also only increase the speed of the prime mover to a minimum discrete speed required, keeping noise at a minimum. The load control system may also maximize fuel efficiency by not operating the prime mover at the highest discrete speed at all times. More specifically, the lower operating speeds may lead to less fuel consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Ross Renner
  • Patent number: 7765964
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle, on a start of an engine, when an engine water temperature is low and there is a need of advancing open and close timings of an intake valve from their most delayed positions, electric power is supplied to a WT motor either via a first route or via a second route. Even when the state of charge of a low voltage battery is very low and insufficient, the required electric power is supplied from a DC-DC converter to the VVT motor without passing through the low voltage battery. On the start of the engine, such start control ensures an adequate change of the open and close timings of the intake valve set in the stop state of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Ichimoto
  • Patent number: 7753029
    Abstract: Internal combustion engine with variable actuation of the valves that provides electronic control means that considers the activation delays of the cylinders so that new operating conditions are assigned for the first time to a cylinder which firstly, following an engine operating variation request, is effectively able to satisfy such new operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Fabio Borean, Pasquale Ceres
  • Patent number: 7748363
    Abstract: Internal combustion engine with variable actuation of the valves providing electronic control means which, when the engine is subject to an operating variation request from a first operating condition to a second operating condition, are adapted to select a cylinder to which to assign said second operating condition based on a determined programming delay only as a function of the engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Fabio Borean, Pasquale Ceres
  • Patent number: 7743743
    Abstract: In a variable valve timing apparatus in which a phase of an intake valve is changed at an amount of change according to a rotational speed of relative rotation between an electric motor as an actuator and a camshaft, the set upper limit value of the rotational speed of relative rotation and a coefficient N? of conversion from a required phase-change amount to the rotational speed of relative rotation ?Nm in each control period are set at smaller values at the time of engine stop than at the time of engine operation. As a result, the rotational speed of the electric motor in the VVT operation at the time of engine stop is reduced thereby reducing the operation sound of the variable valve timing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasumichi Inoue, Zenichiro Mashiki, Haruyuki Urushihata
  • Publication number: 20100154740
    Abstract: A variable valve timing mechanism control apparatus which enables a valve timing of an intake valve of an internal combustion engine and a valve timing of an exhaust valve of the internal combustion engine to be varied individually, prohibits a change in the valve timing of the intake valve and changes only the valve timing of the exhaust valve when a valve overlap amount is negative. As a result, the required ignition timing will not change in a complex manner in the region where the valve overlap amount is negative so the ignition timing can be easily optimized even when the valve overlap amount is negative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Mitsuishi
  • Publication number: 20100126463
    Abstract: A control system for an engine having a cylinder is disclosed having an engine valve movable to regulate a fluid flow of the cylinder and an actuator associated with the engine valve. The control system also has a controller in communication with the actuator. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of engine speed and compare the engine speed signal with a desired engine speed. The controller is also configured to selectively regulate the actuator to adjust a timing of the engine valve to control an amount of air/fuel mixture delivered to the cylinder based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Martin L. Willi, Scott B. Fiveland, David T. Montgomery, Weidong Gong
  • Patent number: 7721693
    Abstract: A method for adjusting the rotational angle position of the camshaft (3) of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine relative to the crankshaft (5) is provided. The crankshaft (5) is drivingly connected to the camshaft (3) via an adjusting drive (1), which is embodied as a triple-shaft gear mechanism, having a crankshaft-fixed drive shaft, a camshaft-fixed output shaft, and an adjustment shaft drivingly connected to an electric motor (4). A stop element is connected to the drive shaft and a counter-stop element is connected to the camshaft (3). The crankshaft rotational angle measuring signal and a position signal for the rotational angle of the adjusting shaft are detected during the starting step of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Minh Nam Nguyen, Heiko Dell, Holger Stork
  • Patent number: 7712439
    Abstract: In this method, during the same operating cycle of the cylinder, the following phases are carried out: an opening phase at the exhaust (OE-OF); a first opening phase at the intake (OA1-FA1); a second opening phase at the intake (OA2-FA2); a fuel injection phase (OI-FI) and a combustion phase. The exhaust closing time (FE) is between the first intake opening time (OA1) and the second intake opening time (OA2). The invention also relates to an internal-combustion engine having a cylinder which operates in accordance with such a method, and a motor vehicle provided with such an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Fabien Lanteires
  • Patent number: 7685994
    Abstract: When the engine speed is high (determination of YES at S100), actual intake valve phase is calculated based on rotation phase difference between rotation angles of crankshaft and camshaft, detected by using a crank angle signal and a cam angle signal, and actual valve timing is detected therefrom. When the engine speed is low (determination of NO at S100) and the crank angle signal and cam angle signal are unstable, an amount of change in camshaft rotation phase by the VVT mechanism in accordance with the operation amount of actuator detected by a motor rotation angle signal is calculated successively, and based on an accumulation of the amount of change, the actual intake valve phase is calculated, and the actual valve timing is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Zenichiro Mashiki, Yasumichi Inoue, Noboru Takagi, Yoshihito Moriya, Haruyuki Urushihata
  • Patent number: 7673599
    Abstract: A valve timing control device includes: a unit for calculating a target valve timing for one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve in accordance with an operational state; a unit for detecting an actual valve timing of one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve; an actual valve timing control unit for generating a controlled variable for the VVT based on a difference between the target valve timing and the actual valve timing; a unit for learning a learning value of the controlled variable required for maintenance of the actual valve timing based on an integral correction value; and a unit for detecting a malfunction in a VVT from an amount of a shift in the actual valve timing when learning is not completed yet, and for detecting a malfunction in the VVT from the difference when learning is already completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Katsuma, Akira Furuta
  • Patent number: 7669563
    Abstract: A variable valve control apparatus includes a variable valve timing mechanism that adjusts an actuation timing of an intake valve and an actuation timing of an exhaust valve; a variable working angle mechanism that adjusts a working angle of the intake valve; a variable valve control section that controls at least one of the variable valve timing mechanism and the variable working angle mechanism based on an engine load; and a negative pressure suppression control section. The negative pressure suppression control section suppresses a negative pressure of an inside of a cylinder when the negative pressure suppression control section determines that both of the intake valve and the exhaust valve close after an intake top dead center, based on opening conditions of the intake valve and the exhaust valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventor: Takeshi Fujii
  • Patent number: 7665433
    Abstract: Surging is reliably prevented from occurring even when an engine with a turbocharger is operated with reduced number of cylinders and at a low speed range. Concerned is a method for controlling actuation of valves in an engine with a turbocharger, a variable valve mechanism 18 being arranged for controlling opening/closing timing and lifts of suction and exhaust valves (only exhaust valves 17 being shown in the figure) of each of cylinders 8, an operation with reduced number of cylinders being made possible by the variable valve mechanism 18 such that valve-opening action of suction and exhaust valves in part of the cylinders 8 is disabled to conduct the operation with the remaining cylinders 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hino Motors, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sugihara
  • Publication number: 20100018499
    Abstract: A system and method for fuel tuned variable valve timing is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder being further associated with at least two exhaust valves. A first exhaust valve operates according to a first valve lift curve that is tuned for combustion of gasoline. A second exhaust valve operates according to at least two different valve lift curves that are tuned for E85 fuel. The second lift curve is associated with high engine speeds and the modified second lift curve is associated with low engine speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Marc Odell
  • Publication number: 20100006063
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine including at least one exhaust valve for withdrawal of exhaust gas from at least one combustion chamber, and an engine brake device having a hydraulic valve auxiliary control unit by means of which the exhaust valve can be held in a temporarily open position when the engine brake device is actuated. The engine also includes a hydraulic valve play compensation mechanism for the exhaust valve, and an oil channel that for supplying oil to the valve auxiliary control unit is formed between the latter and the valve play compensation mechanism. For compensation of valve play of the exhaust valve, the oil channel can be closed off via a closure unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventor: Hans-Werner Dilly
  • Publication number: 20090320792
    Abstract: An exhaust gas reflux mechanism for a multipurpose engine includes an exhaust reflux cam formed as an integral part of an single cam of the engine and having a cam lobe profiled to open an exhaust valve while an intake valve stays open during the intake stroke of the engine so that part of an exhaust gas remaining on the side of an exhaust port of the engine is drawn into a combustion chamber during the intake stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Soji Kashima
  • Publication number: 20090301434
    Abstract: In a method for operating an internal combustion engine, particularly an Otto engine having direct gasoline injection in controlled self-ignition, the internal combustion engine including a combustion chamber, at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve, whose opening times are variable, and a fuel-air-exhaust gas mixture is introduced into a combustion chamber and is compressed in a compression stroke; the fuel-air mixture self-igniting towards the end of the compression stroke, a controlled self-ignition is made possible in wide load ranges by varying the opening times of the intake valve and the exhaust valve as a function of the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Burkhard Hiller, Christina Sauer, Andre F. Casal Kulzer, Santosh Rao, Thomas Blank
  • Publication number: 20090255510
    Abstract: When the engine speed is high (determination of YES at S100), actual intake valve phase is calculated based on rotation phase difference between rotation angles of crankshaft and camshaft, detected by using a crank angle signal and a cam angle signal, and actual valve timing is detected therefrom. When the engine speed is low (determination of NO at S100) and the crank angle signal and cam angle signal are unstable, an amount of change in camshaft rotation phase by the VVT mechanism in accordance with the operation amount of actuator detected by a motor rotation angle signal is calculated successively, and based on an accumulation of the amount of change, the actual intake valve phase is calculated, and the actual valve timing is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zenichiro Mashiki, Yasumichi Inoue, Noboru Takagi, Yoshihito Moriya, Haruyuki Urushihata
  • Patent number: 7600495
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine having a variable cam timing control system, for controlling a camshaft angle in such engine. The method includes deactivating the variable cam timing system and setting the camshaft angle to a predetermined angle for a predetermined duration after failure in a sensor used to control the variable cam timing system and then reactivating the variable cam timing system after such predetermined time. The deactivating continues during the predetermined duration in the presence of a subsequent failure of the sensor during the predetermined duration. The reactivating comprises driving the cam angle to a camshaft angle established by the variable cam timing system in a predetermined manner. The reactivating occurs over a predetermined reactivation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John E. Rollinger, Paul A. Pietrzyk, Michael Sweppy, Eric A. Luehrsen, Robert M. Grant
  • Patent number: 7594485
    Abstract: A valve actuation system for an engine is provided. The valve actuation system can include two or more engine cylinders, each cylinder having at least one intake valve configured to control air-flow into each of the two or more cylinders and at least one exhaust valve configured to control the flow of exhaust gases out of each of the two or more cylinders. The at least one first cylinder includes an exhaust cam lobe configured to control the valve timing of an exhaust valve of the at least one first cylinder and to cause an exhaust valve of a second cylinder to open during an expansion stroke of the second cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Harmon
  • Patent number: 7588013
    Abstract: When a command to stop an engine is issued, it is determined whether a current state is a speed reduction enabled state where an intake valve phase is brought into a phase region, in which speed reduction ratio is high, by the time the engine is stopped if an engine speed reduction control according to a predetermined speed reduction pattern is started at the present moment. If it is determined the current state is not the speed reduction enabled state, starting of the engine speed reduction control is not permitted, or the engine speed reduction control is restricted by reducing the deceleration, and then an intake valve phase control is executed. Thus, a required length of time before the engine is stopped is ensured, namely, a required length of period in which the intake valve phase is changed is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Ichimoto
  • Publication number: 20090223484
    Abstract: A six-cylinder engine includes a stop-cylinder-setting section. The stop-cylinder-setting section sets to-be-stopped cylinders such that cylinders operated in a four-cylinder operation mode (two cylinders stopped) are stopped in a two-cylinder operation mode (four cylinders stopped), and the cylinders operated in the two-cylinder operation mode are stopped in the four-cylinder operation mode. The stop-cylinder-setting section stops operations of intake valves corresponding to stopped cylinders in each operation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shuichi EZAKI
  • 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: 7549406
    Abstract: A method for discontinuing combustion in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and an emission control device coupled downstream of thereof, where the cylinder has at least one valve, the method comprising during a shut-down and after a final combustion event in the cylinder, adjusting valve timing of the valve to reduce a flow of gasses from the engine to the emission control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Donald J. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20090132154
    Abstract: An electronic control unit 9 performs a delay control for extending the period from when an engine stop request is made to when the engine is actually stopped. During non-execution of the delay control, the electronic control unit 9 adjusts the opening degree of a throttle valve 38 according to an accelerator pedal depression degree. During the execution of the delay control, the electronic control unit 9 adjusts the opening degree of a throttle valve 38 such that the opening degree becomes less than the opening degree during the non-execution of the delay control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naohide FUWA, Yasuomi Takeuchi, Takashi KAWASAKI
  • Patent number: 7513233
    Abstract: In a case of switching the control mode between the reference timing control mode and the F/B control mode, when an engine speed is greater than or equal to a predetermined speed, and when target advanced amount of intake valve timing is lower than a switching threshold (vicinity of the most retarded timing), an intake VCT is switched into the reference timing control mode. And when engine speed is more than the predetermined rotating speed, and when the target retarded amount of exhaust valve timing is less than the switching threshold (vicinity of the most advanced timing), an exhaust VCT is switched to the reference timing control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuki Ichimura, Yasuo Hirata
  • Patent number: 7513227
    Abstract: A valve timing control device includes a driving side rotational member, a driven side rotational member, a retarded angle chamber, an advanced angle chamber, a first control valve, a supply passage supplying the fluid to the first control valve, a first pump pumping the fluid to a vapor liquid separating portion, a second pump pumping the fluid in the vapor liquid separating portion to the first control valve, a discharge passage discharging the fluid from the first control valve toward the operational fluid reservoir, and a second control valve provided at the discharge passage and operated to switch the discharge passage between a first discharge passage is discharging the fluid discharged from the first control valve to the operational fluid reservoir and a second discharge passage flowing the fluid to be drawn into the first pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazumi Ogawa, Mitsuru Uozaki
  • 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20080302330
    Abstract: When a command to stop an engine is issued, it is determined whether a current state is a speed reduction enabled state where an intake valve phase is brought into a phase region, in which speed reduction ratio is high, by the time the engine is stopped if an engine speed reduction control according to a predetermined speed reduction pattern is started at the present moment. If it is determined the current state is not the speed reduction enabled state, starting of the engine speed reduction control is not permitted, or the engine speed reduction control is restricted by reducing the deceleration, and then an intake valve phase control is executed. Thus, a required length of time before the engine is stopped is ensured, namely, a required length of period in which the intake valve phase is changed is ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Ichimoto
  • 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: 7451730
    Abstract: In a method for setting the rotary-angle position of the camshaft of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine relative to the crankshaft, in which the crankshaft has a drive connection to the camshaft via an adjusting gear which is embodied as a triple shaft gear with a drive shaft which is fixed to the crankshaft, an output shaft which is fixed to the camshaft and an adjusting shaft, a phase angle signal for the rotary-angle position of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft is registered. Travel up to a stop is carried out, during which a stop element which is connected to the drive shaft is moved towards a counterstop element which is connected to the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Minh Nam Nguyen, Holger Stork, Helko Dell
  • Patent number: 7441524
    Abstract: In a structure with a variable valve timing mechanism which varies an opening-and-closing timing of an intake valve and/or an exhaust valve due to a rotational phase of a camshaft with respect to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine being varied, the rotational phase is detected in an arbitrary timing regardless of a rotational period of the camshaft, and the variable valve timing mechanism is controlled on the basis of the detected rotational phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Okamoto, Masahiko Watanabe, Yoshiyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7424872
    Abstract: A failure diagnosis for a slide sensor of a variable valve mechanism is performed when a valve working angle is at a value in the initial state. The initial state is set to a valve characteristic state where the valve working angle is at the maximum value. The maximum valve working angle corresponds to the refuge running performable region in which an engine can be started and refuge running can be performed. Therefore, even when it is difficult to adjust the valve working angle using rotation of a spiral cam due to a failure in the slide sensor, the refuge running can be performed only by maintaining the initial state by maintaining control. It is thus possible to increase reliability of the refuge running in the case where a failure has occurred in the variable valve mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naohide Fuwa, Harufumi Muto
  • Patent number: 7415966
    Abstract: An engine includes an in-cylinder injector injecting fuel into a cylinder, a port injector injecting fuel into an intake manifold, and a valve-opening-characteristic changing mechanism changing at least lift or opening duration of an intake valve. When the engine is in a predetermined operating region and the valve-opening-characteristic changing mechanism decreases the lift or the opening duration of the intake valve, the ratio of fuel injected by the in-cylinder injector is increased according to an amount of the decrease of the lift or the opening duration and accordingly a decrease in tumble ratio is compensated for by the injection flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Irisawa
  • Patent number: 7406931
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with a plurality of valves, including a main driving valve and a driven valve, each of which can be lifted in response to an instruction from a control apparatus, and a lift sensor which detects a lift amount of the main driving valve. The control apparatus controls the lift of the driven and main driving valves based on an output of the lift sensor. The engine may also include a proximity sensor which detects whether the position of the driven valve is within a predetermined range, and a crank angle sensor. The control apparatus monitors the output of the proximity sensor to determine whether the driven valve is out of synchronization with respect to the crank angle, and performs an initial driving control that initializes the positions of the driven and main driving valves corresponding to the driven valve when loss of synchronization is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyoharu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7401579
    Abstract: An intake port of an internal combustion engine 10 is provided with a fuel injection valve 22. An intake adjustment mechanism 30 for varying the valve timing of an intake valve 24 and an exhaust adjustment mechanism 32 for varying the valve timing of an exhaust valve 26 are furnished. Immediately after internal combustion engine startup, fuel atomization is facilitated by exercising control so that the valve opening timing for the intake valve 24 coincides with a retarded valve opening timing after exhaust top dead center. In such an instance, the fuel introduced into a cylinder is inhibited from adhering to the exhaust valve 26 and its neighborhood by exercising control in such a manner that the valve closing timing for the exhaust valve 26 coincides with a retarded vale closing timing, which is retarded from a normal valve closing timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nao Murase, Hiroki Ichinose, Yuuichi Katou