Intake Valve Timing Altered Patents (Class 123/348)
  • Patent number: 11754009
    Abstract: Proposed is a method and system for controlling an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) device in high-load driving, and an internal combustion engine vehicle including the system. The method of controlling an EGR device in high-load driving compares a ratio of pressures at a front end and a rear end of a throttle valve with a preset critical value that is a reference for determining high-load driving, performs Wide Open Throttle (WOT) control for fully opening the throttle valve when the ratio of pressures is larger than the preset critical value, determines whether engine torque due to the WOT control and use of EGR satisfies torque requested by a driver, and corrects throttle opening or stops use of EGR, depending on whether the engine torque due to use of EGR together with the WOT control satisfies the requested torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Hyundai Kefico Corporation
    Inventor: Ju-Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 11274613
    Abstract: A control system and method relating to operation of an internal combustion engine, particularly an engine for powering an unmanned aerial vehicle. The engine has a combustion chamber and a throttle for regulating fluid flow to the combustion chamber, the throttle being operable under the control of an electronic control unit. With the control system and method there are first and second modes optionally available for operation of the engine. In the first mode the engine is operable at a throttle setting set by a request from a first remote controller (e.g. a ground-based controller) via a second on-board controller. In the second mode the engine is operable at a prescribed minimum throttle setting asserted by the electronic control unit which limits the authority of the on-board controller. The engine is caused to operate in the second mode if a particular throttle setting determined from a request of the remote controller is less than the prescribed minimum throttle setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: ORBITAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
    Inventors: Callan Murray Bleechmore, John Howard Tubb, Andrew Michael Tilmouth, Richard Albert George Woolford, Geoffrey Paul Cathcart
  • Patent number: 10550771
    Abstract: The setting unit sets a first target valve-opening timing to be set when a load of the internal-combustion engine is within a first range which is a predetermined range later than both a second target valve-opening timing to be set when the load is within a second range in which the load is lower than the first range, and a third target valve-opening timing to be set when the load is within a third range in which the load is higher than the first range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noriyuki Mihara
  • Patent number: 9758162
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and a rotary electric machine. The internal combustion engine includes a variable valve actuating device configured to change an operation characteristic of an intake valve. The rotary electric machine is configured to generate driving force for propelling the hybrid vehicle. A controller for the hybrid vehicle includes a traveling control unit and a valve actuation control unit. The traveling control unit executes traveling control for causing the hybrid vehicle to travel by using the driving force of the rotary electric machine while stopping the internal combustion engine. The traveling control unit starts up the internal combustion engine while executing the traveling control. The valve actuation control unit controls the variable valve actuating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshikazu Kato, Ryuta Teraya, Yoshikazu Asami
  • Patent number: 9745912
    Abstract: A method for avoiding pre-ignitions during the operation of an internal combustion engine includes measuring a noise level of a combustion process using an acceleration sensor. An amplitude an amplitude of the measured noise level is measured to detect pre-ignitions. If, in the analysis, the measured noise level of a combustion cycle exceeds a limiting value n times, a safety operating mode of the internal combustion engine for reducing an effecting compression in the combustion chamber is activated. The safety operating mode is maintained if exceeding of the amplitude limiting value is also detected in subsequent combustion cycles of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Ruben Emiel Van den Bergh
  • Patent number: 9546607
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hisaki Ito, Takashi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9429080
    Abstract: A motor vehicle provided with an internal combustion engine having a system for variable actuation of the intake valves has a phase of activation of an operating mode with the engine off and the vehicle moving, in which the fuel supply to the engine is cut-off. After the cut-off of the fuel supply to the engine, the system for variable actuation of the intake valves is controlled to vary the opening time and/or closing time and/or the lift of the intake valves so as to control the losses due to the pumping effect which occur within the engine in cut-off condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Cosimo Carvignese, Roberto Finizio, Fabio Borean, Marco Cuniberti
  • Patent number: 9366196
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a throttle limit determination module, a throttle area adjustment module, and a throttle control module. The throttle limit determination module determines a throttle limit based on an intake cam phaser position. The throttle area adjustment module adjusts a desired throttle area based on the throttle limit when the desired throttle area is greater than the throttle limit. The throttle control module controls a throttle opening area of a throttle valve based on the desired throttle area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan N. Crombe, Andrew W. Baur
  • Patent number: 9327704
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling engine clutch delivery torque of a hybrid electric vehicle when the engine clutch delivery torque is learned includes: an engine clutch configured to control power transmission between an engine and a motor; an integrated starter-generator (ISG) configured to start the engine or to generate electric power by output of the engine; a transmission configured to change power applied to wheels; and a controller configured to control the engine, the motor, the integrated starter-generator, and the engine clutch in a predetermined condition and to check their states under the predetermined condition, wherein while learning the engine clutch delivery torque, the controller operates and controls the integrated starter-generator in order for the engine to maintain an idle speed when the idle speed is varied above a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sang Joon Kim, Tae Woo Kim
  • Publication number: 20140311449
    Abstract: A lost motion engine valve actuation system and method of actuating an engine valve are disclosed. The system may comprise a valve train element, a pivoting lever, a control piston, and a hydraulic circuit. The pivoting lever may include a first end for contacting the control piston, a second end for transmitting motion to a valve stem and a means for contacting a valve train element. The amount of lost motion provided by the system may be selected by varying the position of the control piston relative to the pivoting lever. Variation of the control piston position may be carried out by placing the control piston in hydraulic communication with a control trigger valve and one or more accumulators. Actuation of the trigger valve releases hydraulic fluid allowing for adjustment of the control piston position. Means for limiting valve seating velocity, filling the hydraulic circuit upon engine start up, and mechanically locking the control piston/lever for a fixed level of valve actuation are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Joesph M. Vorih, Jeffrey Mossberg, Richard Vanderpoel, Steven Ernest, Guy Paterson, John A. Schwoerer, Edward T. Leitkowski, Andrew Brzoska, Gheorghe Cosma
  • Patent number: 8826871
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is selectably operable in one of homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode with low lift intake and exhaust valve profiles and spark ignition (SI) mode with high lift intake and exhaust valve profiles. Transition from a current combustion mode to a desired combustion mode includes phase adjusting the one of the intake and exhaust valves exhibiting a greater effect upon an effective cylinder volume for a given phase adjustment in the desired combustion mode based upon a desired phasing for the desired combustion mode prior to lift adjusting the one of the intake and exhaust valves and adjusting the other of the intake and exhaust valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jun-Mo Kang, Jyh-Shin Chen, Chen-Fang Chang
  • Patent number: 8820297
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine includes: a variable valve timing portion changing a phase of opening and closing of each of an intake valve and an exhaust valve into a target phase; an EGR valve adjusting an exhaust gas recirculation amount recirculated from an exhaust side to an intake side; a supercharging efficiency control portion controlling a supercharging efficiency of a supercharger; a throttle valve adjusting an intake air amount; and the internal combustion engine feedback-controls at least two of the EGR valve, the supercharging efficiency control portion, and the throttle valve, and feedforward-controls the variable valve timing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuki Iwatani
  • Patent number: 8677957
    Abstract: There is provided, in one aspect of the present description, an internal combustion engine system. In one example, the system comprises a controller configured to control an intake valve closing timing varying mechanism to vary a closing timing of the intake valve to regulate air charged in a combustion chamber in accordance with engine operating conditions and, in a first engine operating condition where a least volume of air is required to be charged into the combustion chamber, retard a closing timing of the intake valve to a most retarded crank angle which is after bottom dead center during a cylinder cycle and satisfies the following formulas: ???0.2685×?02+10.723×?0+15.815 and ?0?11.0, where ? is the most retarded crank angle and ?0 is a geometric compression ratio of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Goto, Hidetoshi Kudou, Masami Nishida
  • Patent number: 8667781
    Abstract: A vehicle control device applied to a vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an electrically heated catalyst which is warmed by applying a current, and includes a catalyst carrier supporting a catalyst and a carrier retention unit that retains the catalyst carrier and has an electrical insulation property. The control unit performs a control of suppressing a supply of an unburned gas from the internal combustion engine to the electrically heated catalyst so that the carrier retention unit is maintained at a lower temperature than the catalyst, when a condition for performing a fuel cut of the internal combustion engine during a deceleration is satisfied. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a rapid cooling of the catalyst, and it becomes possible to maintain a temperature of the carrier retention unit at a lower temperature than a temperature of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mamoru Yoshioka, Noriaki Kumagai, Naoya Takagi
  • Patent number: 8662036
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes controlling a variable valve drive for at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve of at least one working cylinder of an internal combustion engine in dependence on operating states of the internal combustion engine. The valve drive is variable with regard to valve control times and/or a valve lift. The operating states of the internal combustion engine are defined by load demands, rotational speeds, load conditions and/or torque conditions. Valve operating states of the variable valve drive are set in dependence on the operating states of the internal combustion engine. The valve operating states can increase a charge of a working cylinder, provide an overlap of opening times of intake and exhaust valves, minimize fuel consumption or operate an intake valve in an expansion mode or according to a Miller/Atkinson process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jens Kühlmeyer, Paul Gnegel, Florian Noodt
  • Publication number: 20140041624
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a cylinder control module and a valve control module. The cylinder control module deactivates and reactivates a cylinder of an engine based on a driver torque request while an ignition system associated with the engine is in an on position. The valve control module selectively adjusts a period for which at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of the cylinder are opened based on a first time when the cylinder is reactivated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Allen B. Rayl, Daniel G. Brennan
  • Publication number: 20140020656
    Abstract: A scavenged gas amount calculation device for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of accurately calculating a scavenged gas amount under conditions where scavenged gases are produced during a valve overlap time period, and an internal EGR amount calculation device for the engine, which is capable of calculating an internal EGR amount using the scavenged gas amount thus calculated. The internal EGR amount calculation device includes an ECU. The ECU calculates a basic blown-back gas amount using an average intake pressure, a maximum exhaust pressure, and a correction coefficient (step 6), calculates a scavenged gas amount using the average intake pressure, a minimum exhaust pressure, and a scavenge ratio (step 8), calculates a blown-back gas amount by correcting the basic blown-back gas amount by the scavenged gas amount (step 11), and calculates the internal EGR amount according to the blown-back gas amount (step 12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Yosuke KOSAKA, Koichiro SHINOZAKI
  • Publication number: 20130206104
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes controlling a variable valve drive for at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve of at least one working cylinder of an internal combustion engine in dependence on operating states of the internal combustion engine. The valve drive is variable with regard to valve control times and/or a valve lift. The operating states of the internal combustion engine are defined by load demands, rotational speeds, load conditions and/or torque conditions. Valve operating states of the variable valve drive are set in dependence on the operating states of the internal combustion engine. The valve operating states can increase a charge of a working cylinder, provide an overlap of opening times of intake and exhaust valves, minimize fuel consumption or operate an intake valve in an expansion mode or according to a Miller/Atkinson process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Jens Kühlmeyer, Paul Gnegel, Florian Noodt
  • Publication number: 20130206105
    Abstract: A control device, which is applied to an in-vehicle internal combustion engine equipped with an intake valve variable timing mechanism that varies the valve timing for an intake valve, and which intermittently operates the in-vehicle internal combustion engine by automatically stopping/restarting the engine, wherein the electronic control unit does not permit the engine operation to be automatically stopped when the intake valve variable timing mechanism malfunctions at an operating position closer to the advanced angle than the operating position for the most retarded angle of the variable range for the valve timing of intake valve, and thus preventing increased engine vibration and misfires when the engine automatically restarts, which are caused by a malfunction of the variable valve mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daigo Ando
  • Publication number: 20130199495
    Abstract: An intake and exhaust apparatus of a multi-cylinder engine is provided. The engine is provided with a plurality of cylinders having intake and exhaust valves for opening and closing intake and exhaust ports, respectively. The apparatus includes an intake system including intake ports of respective cylinders, independent intake passages connected with the respective intake ports, a surge tank connected with upstream ends of the independent intake passages, and an air cleaner connected with the surge tank. The apparatus also includes an exhaust system including independent exhaust passages connected with an exhaust port of one cylinder or exhaust ports of the plurality of cylinders that are not continuous in exhausting order, and a collecting pipe connected with downstream ends of the independent exhaust passages in a bundled manner, and for collecting exhaust gas ejected from the downstream ends of the independent exhaust passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mazda Motor Corporation
  • Patent number: 8473182
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine control device is provided which can accurately estimate intake pipe temperature behavior during transient time even in an internal combustion engine embedded with a variable valve or a turbocharger. The internal combustion engine control device estimates transient behavior of the intake pipe temperature, on the basis of a flow rate (dGafs/dt) of gas flowing into the intake pipe, a flow rate (dGcyl/dt) of gas flowing from the intake pipe, an intake pipe pressure Pin, and a temporal changing rate (dPin/dt) of the intake pipe pressure. The device performs knocking control during transient time, on the basis of the estimated transient behavior of the intake pipe temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Suzuki, Seiji Asano
  • Patent number: 8375904
    Abstract: An early intake valve closing (EIVC) and variable valve timing (VVT) assembly and method are provided for an internal combustion engine. The method includes operating an intake valve to open and close an intake port and allow intake gas to enter a cylinder of the internal combustion engine containing a piston, where the timing of the closing of the intake valve occurs at or before bottom dead center (BDC) of the compression stroke of the piston. The method further includes selectively extending duration of the opening of the intake port by an amount that delays closing timing of the intake valve until after BDC of the piston compression stroke. An assembly for EIVC and VVT includes a cylinder head including an intake valve and intake port and a rotatably mounted camshaft including an intake lobe operatively connected to the intake valve to periodically move the valve into the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Gustafson
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130019840
    Abstract: An engine includes: a cylinder block with a piston being able to reciprocate therein; a carburetor configured to supply an air-fuel mixture into the cylinder block; a crankcase formed with a crank chamber; a reed valve made of a magnetic material and provided in an air-fuel mixture passage through which the air-fuel mixture passes; an electromagnet including an iron core having at least two magnetic pole pieces facing the reed valve, and a coil wound around a portion of the iron core; and a control unit configured to control the electromagnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirohide Kawada, Shigetoshi Ishida
  • Patent number: 8347857
    Abstract: A charged engine may utilize a plurality of independently controllable intake valves for a cylinder of the engine. A method to operate the engine includes monitoring an unmodified timing for the plurality of independently controllable intake valves for the cylinder, monitoring operation of the engine, determining a delayed timing for a first intake valve of the independently controllable intake valves for the cylinder based upon the monitored operation of the engine and the unmodified timing for the plurality of independently controllable intake valves for the cylinder, controlling the first intake valve based upon the determined delayed timing for the first intake valve, and controlling a second intake valve of the independently controllable intake valves for the cylinder based upon the monitored unmodified timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David J. Cleary, Paul M. Najt
  • Publication number: 20120285420
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine includes: a variable valve timing portion changing a phase of opening and closing of each of an intake valve and an exhaust valve into a target phase; an EGR valve adjusting an exhaust gas recirculation amount recirculated from an exhaust side to an intake side; a supercharging efficiency control portion controlling a supercharging efficiency of a supercharger; a throttle valve adjusting an intake air amount; and the internal combustion engine feedback-controls at least two of the EGR valve, the supercharging efficiency control portion, and the throttle valve, and feedforward-controls the variable valve timing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuki Iwatani
  • Patent number: 8302572
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine with a variable valve gear, which comprises a first intake valve and a second intake valve for each cylinder, configured to be driven by a first intake cam and a second intake cam, respectively, and a cam phase change mechanism configured to vary at least the phase of the second intake cam, the second intake cam is set so that the open period of the second intake valve is longer than that of the first intake valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Murata
  • Patent number: 8210154
    Abstract: In a variable valve actuation apparatus of an internal combustion engine configured to variably control at least a working angle of an engine valve, a valve actuation mechanism is configured to control a valve acceleration characteristic of the engine valve depending on an engine operating condition. The valve actuation mechanism is configured to bring about a first state where a maximum positive valve-closing acceleration of the engine valve becomes less than a maximum positive valve-opening acceleration of the engine valve, at a maximum working angle. The valve actuation mechanism is further configured so that a second state where the maximum positive valve-opening acceleration of the engine valve becomes less than the maximum positive valve-closing acceleration of the engine valve, exists at a working angle less than the maximum working angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Nakamura, Masahiro Shoji
  • Patent number: 8200387
    Abstract: In a method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine, a target torque to be produced is determined in several steps: In a first step a torque requested by a user is determined and modified in subsequent steps by different functions, which reproduce the influences of at least one continuously determined working and/or operating parameter of the engine on the torque that is actually produced, in such a way that at the end of the steps the target torque required during the engine operation is defined and the engine operation and the determination of the working and/or operating parameter are monitored for errors. If errors occur, diagnostic values that describe or indicate the errors are generated and used to modify, in particular limit the target torque. The diagnostic values are individually assigned to the individual steps to modify the determination or modification of the torque performed in each step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Maier, Martin Prenninger
  • Patent number: 8171901
    Abstract: In an engine which comprises a first intake valve and a second intake valve for each cylinder, configured to be driven by a first intake cam and a second intake cam, respectively, and a cam phase change mechanism configured to vary the phase of the second intake cam, the cam phase change mechanism is controlled so that the opening timing of the second intake valve is advanced ahead of that of the first intake valve in a start mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Murata
  • Patent number: 8160801
    Abstract: A valve drive system comprises a power transmitting mechanism (13) that converts rotary motion of an electric motor (12) into opening and closing motion of an intake valve (3) provided in a cylinder (2) of an internal combustion engine (1) to transmit power from the electric motor (12) to the valve (3) via a cam (152); and a rotational angle restricting mechanism (16) that is provided in a motion transmission path that extends from the electric motor (12) to the cam (152) and restricts rotation of the cam (152) within a predetermined angular range that is set so that a piston (5) of the engine (1) and the intake valve (3) do not interfere with each other. The rotational angle restricting mechanism (16) comprises a flange (161) that rotates as a unit with a camshaft (151) and forms a slotted groove hole (161a) thereon; and a stopper pin (162) that is inserted into and retracted from the groove hole (161a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Ezaki, Manabu Tateno, Akio Kidooka
  • Patent number: 8155862
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling an internal combustion engine are provided. The method may include closing said intake valve at a timing in a first range, which is before a maximum charge closing timing with which an amount of air inducted into said cylinder from said air intake passage would be maximized at a given engine speed, during a cylinder cycle when a desired amount of air to be inducted into said cylinder is less than or equal to a predetermined air amount at the given engine speed. The method may further include closing said intake valve at a timing in a second range, which is after said maximum charge closing timing and separated from said first range during a cylinder cycle, when a desired amount of air to be inducted into said cylinder is greater than said predetermined air amount at the given engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nishimoto, Naohiro Yamaguchi, Masahisa Yamakawa, Takashi Youso, Kouji Shishime, Hiroaki Abe, Hiroki Morimoto, Naoya Matsuo, Naoya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8150597
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling an internal combustion engine are provided. One example method may include closing an intake valve later during a cylinder cycle than a timing with which an amount of air inducted into a cylinder from an air intake passage would be maximized, and earlier during the cylinder cycle as a desired amount of air to be inducted into the cylinder increases, while an engine is operating at a given engine speed. The method may further include closing the intake valve earlier during a cylinder cycle as the engine speed increases when the desired amount of air to be inducted into the cylinder is at a maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masahisa Yamakawa, Toshiaki Nishimoto, Hirokazu Matsuura, Takashi Youso, Kouji Shishime, Mikinori Ohashi
  • Patent number: 8113157
    Abstract: A variable valve control apparatus includes: a variable valve actuating mechanism arranged to vary a closing timing of an intake valve; and a controller configured to advance the closing timing of the intake valve before a bottom dead center of a piston of an intake stroke until a load of an engine increases from a minimum load to a predetermined load, and to retard the closing timing of the intake valve from a timing before the bottom dead center of the piston, to a timing after the bottom dead center of the piston when the load becomes the predetermined load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8042516
    Abstract: In a diesel engine equipped with an injector 1 having a plurality of intersections between an axis line of the injector 1 and the axes of injection holes 10a bored in the injector 1, an air intake valve 25 is controlled so that it is closed at timing before a BDC (at timing when a piston comes to a bottom dead center) by an ECU 50, which controls the timing of closing the air intake valve 25 based on operating conditions of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignees: Yanmar Co., Ltd., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Takahashi, Hidenori Nomura, Terumitsu Takahata, Kouji Shimizu, Takao Kawabe, Gou Asai, Yukihiro Shinohara, Tomoyuki Tsuda
  • Patent number: 8028679
    Abstract: A control system for an engine having a first cylinder and a second cylinder is disclosed having a first engine valve movable to regulate a fluid flow of the first cylinder and a first actuator associated with the first engine valve. The control system also has a second engine valve movable to regulate a fluid flow of the second cylinder and a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a pressure within the first cylinder. The control system also has a controller that is in communication with the first actuator and the sensor. The controller is configured to compare the pressure within the first cylinder with a desired pressure and selectively regulate the first actuator to adjust a timing of the first engine valve independently of the timing of the second engine valve based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Martin L. Willi, Scott B. Fiveland, David T. Montgomery, Weidong Gong
  • 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: 20100269785
    Abstract: When fuel cut permission conditions are satisfied, a guard provided by an ignition timing retardation limit is relieved. In the resulting state, the ignition timing is retarded to decrease the output torque of an internal combustion engine. After the output torque of the internal combustion engine is decreased to a predetermined minimum torque, the supply of fuel is shut off. When, on the other hand, recovery from a fuel cut is to be achieved, the guard provided by the ignition timing retardation limit is relieved until completion conditions for recovery from the fuel cut are satisfied. In the resulting state, the ignition timing is retarded to decrease the output torque of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tanaka, Kaoru Ohtsuka
  • Patent number: 7802543
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine provided with a variable compression ratio mechanism able to change a mechanical compression ratio and an actual compression action start timing changing mechanism able to change a start timing of an actual compression action. An amount of intake air in accordance with the required load is fed into a combustion chamber by controlling the closing timing of the intake valve, while a pressure, temperature or density in the combustion chamber at the end of a compression stroke is maintained substantially constant regardless of the engine load by controlling the mechanical compression ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Akihisa, Daisaku Sawada, Eiichi Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 7789051
    Abstract: A variable valve actuating apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a valve actuating mechanism to vary an actual valve operating characteristic of the engine. A controller sets a target valve operating characteristic in accordance with a crank angle position of the engine before a start of the engine, and delivers a changeover control signal to the valve actuating mechanism to control the actual valve operating characteristic to the target valve operating characteristic before an end of a cranking operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20100212629
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises an intake valve deactivation module and an exhaust valve deactivation module. The intake valve deactivation module deactivates an intake valve of a cylinder of an engine based on an engine stop request such that the intake valve remains closed. The exhaust valve deactivation module deactivates an exhaust valve of the cylinder after the intake valve deactivation module deactivates the intake valve such that the exhaust valve remains closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Mike M. Mc Donald, William C. Albertson
  • Patent number: 7685976
    Abstract: A tuned induction control system for an engine at or near full load having a piston that is reciprocally disposed in a cylinder includes a first module that actuates an intake valve associated with the cylinder and a second module that determines a second intake valve open timing based on an intake air temperature, pressure and an engine speed. The first module actuates the intake valve during a first intake event and actuates the intake valve during a second intake event that is subsequent to the first intake event. The first and second intake events occur during a common intake stroke of the piston and the intake valve is opened at the second intake valve open timing during the second intake event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig D. Marriott
  • Patent number: 7640901
    Abstract: An engine intake control apparatus for an engine that comprises at least one combustion chamber operatively connected to an intake port and an intake valve associated with each intake port, wherein the intake valve is adapted to open and close the intake port is disclosed herein. The intake control apparatus comprises a variable valve operating mechanism and a controller. The variable valve operating mechanism is configured and arranged to selectively change a valve closing timing and a valve lift amount of the intake valve. The controller is configured and arranged to control the variable valve operating mechanism when the engine is in a low load condition. The valve closing timing is determined such that an actual compression ratio of the engine is reduced relative to the actual compression ratio when the engine is operating in a high load condition. The valve lift amount is smaller when the engine is in the low load condition relative to the valve lift amount when the engine is in the high load condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunichi Aoyama, Shinichi Takemura, Ryosuke Hiyoshi
  • Patent number: 7607410
    Abstract: An approach is provided for compensating engine fueling during starting conditions in which positive valve overlap is enabled early in the start. In one example, the valve timing is adjusted to increase positive overlap during cold starting conditions, and fuel adjustments are provided to compensate for the evaporation effects of the increased residual push-back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Magner, Xiaoying Zhang, John Rollinger, Mrdjan Jankovic, Sue Wagers
  • Publication number: 20090217906
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling an internal combustion engine are provided. The method may include closing said intake valve at a timing in a first range, which is before a maximum charge closing timing with which an amount of air inducted into said cylinder from said air intake passage would be maximized at a given engine speed, during a cylinder cycle when a desired amount of air to be inducted into said cylinder is less than or equal to a predetermined air amount at the given engine speed. The method may further include closing said intake valve at a timing in a second range, which is after said maximum charge closing timing and separated from said first range during a cylinder cycle, when a desired amount of air to be inducted into said cylinder is greater than said predetermined air amount at the given engine speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki NISHIMOTO, Naohiro YAMAGUCHI, Masahisa YAMAKAWA, Takashi YOUSO, Kouji SHISHIME, Hiroaki ABE, Hiroki MORIMOTO, Naoya MATSUO, Naoya WATANABE
  • Patent number: 7559304
    Abstract: The present invention has an object of providing a technology capable of stopping and starting an internal combustion engine more preferably by restraining vibrations when the internal combustion engine stops and a scatter in crank angle when the internal combustion engine stops. For a period till an actual stop of the internal combustion engine since a stopping condition of the internal combustion engine was established, an air quantity of air flowing into a cylinder of the internal combustion engine is decreased when a number of revolutions of the engine is higher than a specified number of revolutions (S102) and is increased when the number of revolutions of the engine is equal to or lower than the specified number of revolutions (S106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Kataoka, Kimitoshi Tsuji, Yasushi Kusaka, Toyoaki Kurita, Masaki Takeyama
  • Publication number: 20090114194
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing two features that improve fuel economy of four stroke internal combustion engines. The first is the provision of a compression ratio which is higher than normal when the engine is operating at light load; and which varies from very high at idling, down to normal at full power. This is effected by a movable piston associated with the inlet valve and connected to the throttle. The second is the provision of variable timing as well as a variable amount of opening of the inlet valve, such that at idle, the valve opens at top center of the main piston, opens only a fraction of its full lift, and closes about 70° crankshaft past top center. As the throttle is opened, the inlet valve opens farther at each open excursion to create as little flow resistance as possible to the inlet draw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: Rollin A. Armer
  • Patent number: 7527028
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle, comprising of an internal combustion engine coupled in the vehicle, the engine having at least one cylinder with an intake and exhaust valve, where the opening and closing timing of the intake valve is adjustably retardable and the opening and closing timing of the exhaust valve is adjustably retardable, during engine operation, and an energy conversion device coupled in the vehicle capable of selectively supplying and absorbing torque during vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Publication number: 20090095250
    Abstract: A controller sets a negative valve overlap period, during which both of an intake valve and an exhaust valve are closed, such that not all the burned gas is discharged from the combustion chamber. When switching the combustion mode from the spark ignition combustion to the HCCI combustion, the controller executes following operations a), b), and c): a): switching the intake lift amount from a first intake lift amount to a second intake lift amount, such that intake opening timing is delayed relative to an exhaust top dead center; b): switching the exhaust lift amount from a first exhaust lift amount to a second exhaust lift amount after the operation a); and c) delaying the exhaust closing timing relative to a reference exhaust closing timing, such that the internal EGR amount is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kuzuyama
  • Patent number: RE43034
    Abstract: An engine intake control apparatus for an engine that comprises at least one combustion chamber operatively connected to an intake port and an intake valve associated with each intake port, wherein the intake valve is adapted to open and close the intake port is disclosed herein. The intake control apparatus comprises a variable valve operating mechanism and a controller. The variable valve operating mechanism is configured and arranged to selectively change a valve closing timing and a valve lift amount of the intake valve. The controller is configured and arranged to control the variable valve operating mechanism when the engine is in a low load condition. The valve closing timing is determined such that an actual compression ratio of the engine is reduced relative to the actual compression ratio when the engine is operating in a high load condition. The valve lift amount is smaller when the engine is in the low load condition relative to the valve lift amount when the engine is in the high load condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunichi Aoyama, Shinichi Takemura, Ryosuke Hiyoshi