Electrical System Patents (Class 123/90.11)
  • Publication number: 20140137820
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic actuating device (1) for a camshaft adjustment device of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, with an elongated actuating element (2) forming an engagement region on the end side and movable by the force of a coil device (29) provided in a stationary manner, which actuating element preferably has in parts a cylindrical covering contour and penetrates a cut-out (8) in permanent magnet means (6) arranged on the shell side, which are constructed for cooperating with a stationary core region (5) comprising a core body (15), and which actuating element lies in a switching position with a contact surface (11), on the end side on the actuating element side, against a contact surface (10) on the core region side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: ETO MAGNETIC GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Golz
  • Patent number: 8726860
    Abstract: An electrohydraulic valve controller for variable actuation of a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine. The electrohydraulic valve controller has a first hydraulic valve and, for the purpose of providing an emergency running capability, a second hydraulic valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Kufner, Michael Berger, Calin Petru Itoafa
  • 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: 20140102385
    Abstract: A control method and apparatus for a variable engine valve operating control mechanisms which move the engine valves to a safe lift/timing position with respect to a piston to minimize the potential for valve to piston contact during valve surge. At least one engine operating conditions is selected and provided with a threshold triggering a control to move the valves to a safe position in a calibrated, predictive manner in advance of any potential valve to piston contact. The control method and apparatus can be integrated into the existing engine control and variable valve operating control mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Dante T. Boutell
  • Patent number: 8688352
    Abstract: A method for automatically controlling an internal combustion engine, in which an axial displacement (s(t)) and an angle of rotation (w(t)) of a gas-exchange valve are measured during a valve stroke. A displacement deviation is computed from the displacement (s(t)) relative to a reference valve, and an angle of rotation deviation is computed from an initial value and an end value of the angle or rotation. The further operation of the internal combustion engine is set on the basis of the displacement deviation and the angle of rotation deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Hehle, Holger Frank, Michael Willmann
  • Patent number: 8682564
    Abstract: A method is provided for sensing the position of a camshaft in an internal combustion engine having a camshaft phaser for controllably varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and the camshaft, the camshaft phaser being actuated by an electric motor and having a gear reduction mechanism with a predetermined gear reduction ratio and a sensor for determining the rotational position of the electric motor. The method includes generating a rotational position signal indicative of the rotational position of the electric motor by using the sensor to determine the rotational position of the electric motor and calculating the position of the camshaft based on the rotational position signal and the gear reduction ratio of the gear reduction mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Gauthier, Sebastien Stoltz-Douchet, Jeffrey M Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 8677963
    Abstract: An electrical camshaft phaser arrangement for controllably varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an internal combustion engine includes an adjusting gear drive unit formed as a three shafts transmission having a drive shaft connected with the crankshaft, an output shaft connected with the camshaft, and an adjusting shaft connected with the control shaft of an electrical machine. The electrical machine allows phasing the camshaft with regards to the crankshaft by increasing or decreasing control shaft speed, the control shaft being spinning during phase holding modes. The adjusting gear drive unit is configured such that an energy recovering mode is provided wherein a braking torque is applied to the control shaft in order to generate electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastien Stoltz-Douchet, Sebastien Mafrica
  • Patent number: 8667935
    Abstract: An intake/exhaust valve control device for an internal combustion engine including a cylinder having an intake valve and an exhaust valve includes: solenoids for driving at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve; a battery for supplying an electric current to the solenoids, a battery state predicting unit for predicting the voltage state of the battery; and an energization start timing setting unit for setting the current carrying start timing of the battery with respect to the solenoids based on the result of the prediction by the battery state predicting unit. According to the intake/exhaust valve control device, since it is possible to obtain the amount of energization necessary for driving the solenoids at an appropriate timing, it is possible to secure the responsiveness of the solenoids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhito Imai, Ryuji Okamura
  • Publication number: 20140048023
    Abstract: Periodic torque disturbances that affect cylinder valve operation are anticipated, and an appropriate reaction torque is provided by an electric motor to counteract the periodic torque disturbances to position a cylinder valve at a desired position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Douglas Ervin, Yan Wang, Ilya Vladimir Kolmanovsky
  • Publication number: 20140041605
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic variable valve lift apparatus may include an hydraulic pump body installed in an engine, a piston provided to reciprocate within the hydraulic pump body and forming an hydraulic pump chamber together with the hydraulic pump body, an hydraulic pump cam disposed to be in contact with the piston and enabling the piston to reciprocate according to a rotation thereof, a retainer provided to be slidable along the piston between the piston and the engine and forming a retainer chamber with the engine, a retainer spring elastically supporting the retainer, an oil control valve allowing the hydraulic pump chamber and the retainer chamber to selectively communicate with each other, a valve opening and closing unit communicating with the hydraulic pump chamber and opened or closed according to oil pressure supplied from the hydraulic pump chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Soo Hyung Woo, Byong Young Choi, Young Hong Kwak, Jin Kook Kong, Wonjun Lee
  • Patent number: 8646422
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic variable valve lift apparatus includes a housing, a driving cam, a pump piston which forms a main chamber with the housing, reciprocates within the housing according to rotation of the driving cam, and forms hydraulic pressure within the main chamber, a pump piston elastic portion disposed for elastically supporting the pump piston, an oil pressure controller communicating with the main chamber in order to control hydraulic pressure within the main chamber, a hydraulic piston slidably disposed within the housing, includes a first body having a first diameter and a second body having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, and is connected with a valve, and a piston guide disposed between the housing and the hydraulic piston for guiding the hydraulic piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Byong Young Choi, Jin Kook Kong, Soo Hyung Woo, Jin Soon Kim
  • Patent number: 8622035
    Abstract: In a valve drive control device, in particular for an internal combustion engine, for controlling the position of a cam element on a camshaft, the valve drive comprises at least one control armature element and a control element connected to the control armature element for engagement with a control gate of the cam element for controlling axial positioning of the cam element on the camshaft. The valve drive control device has a coupling unit which is provided to couple the control armature element and the control element movably to each other with at least one degree of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Jens Meintschel, Thomas Stolk, Alexander von Gaisberg-Helfenberg
  • Patent number: 8616167
    Abstract: Actuator device of a sliding cam system, having at least one sliding cam (2) and having an engagement pin (9) which protrudes out of a housing (6), wherein the housing (6) can be fastened to a component of a cylinder head or to the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, and it is possible for contact to be made with the engagement pin (9) by at least one groove (3) of the sliding cam system, which groove (3) has at least one ejection ramp (4), and wherein, within the housing (6), the engagement pin (9) has a permanent holding magnet (11) and, adjoining it, is a controlling stationary coil core (9) which can be magnetized by an electric coil (7), and the engagement pin (9) is spring-loaded in the direction of the sliding cam (2), and wherein an actuating device is installed at least at that end region of the engagement pin (9) which faces the sliding cam (2), which actuating device is active in the region of the run-out of the ejection ramp (4) to the high circle (18) and generates an additional force
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Nendel
  • Publication number: 20130333646
    Abstract: An engine assembly includes a uni-cast, piston-enclosing chamber structure and a solenoid valve pack. The chamber structure includes a piston-receiving chamber, a gas intake port, an intake valve port, a gas exhaust port, and an exhaust valve port. The gas intake port communicates with the intake valve port, and the gas exhaust port communicates with the exhaust valve port. The solenoid pack includes gas intake and gas exhaust solenoid valve assemblies. The solenoid pack is attachable to the chamber structure such that the gas intake valve port axially aligns with a gas intake valve-receiving column, and the gas exhaust valve port axial aligns with a gas exhaust valve-receiving column. The intake valve is bi-directionally displaceable as received in the gas intake valve port and the gas intake valve-receiving column. Similarly, the exhaust valve is bi-directionally displaceable as received in the gas exhaust valve port and gas exhaust valve-receiving column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventor: Ryan A. Flora
  • Patent number: 8607751
    Abstract: An electro-hydro valve lift system may include a drive cam, a pump piston, a first and a second EHV apparatus, a first oil control valve, a first oil control hydraulic line fluid-communicating the main chamber with the first oil control valve, a second oil control hydraulic line fluid-communicating the first oil control valve with the first EHV apparatus, a third oil control hydraulic line fluid-communicating the main chamber with the second EHV apparatus, a fourth oil control hydraulic line selectively fluid-communicated with the second oil control hydraulic line according to the first oil control valve, an accumulator fluid-communicated with the fourth oil control hydraulic line, and a second oil control valve disposed on the fourth oil control hydraulic line, wherein the fourth oil control hydraulic line is fluid-communicated with the third oil control hydraulic line according to the second oil control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jei Choon Yang, Byong Young Choi, Young Hong Kwak, Wonjun Lee, Jin Kook Kong, Soo Hyung Woo
  • Patent number: 8602002
    Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a knock control module and a valve control module. The knock control module adjusts a period that one or more of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of a cylinder are open based on engine knock corresponding to the cylinder. The valve control module, based on the adjusted period, controls the one or more of the intake valve and the exhaust valve using one or more hydraulic actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Inventor: Daniel G. Brennan
  • Patent number: 8601990
    Abstract: In a valve operating device for an internal combustion engine with at least one actuating device which is provided to adjust an axially displaceable cam element by means of at least one slotted guide track, the valve operating device comprises a safety unit for moving the axially displaceable cam element in at least one operating mode into a defined basic safety position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Jens Meintschel, Thomas Stolk, Alexander von Gaisberg-Helfenberg
  • Patent number: 8578896
    Abstract: A method for bounce suppression of a valve member operated by a piezo actuator during the closing phase of a valve in an internal combustion engine, having the following steps: partial discharging of the piezo actuator, whereby the valve member is braked even before reaching the valve seat, interruption of the discharge of the piezo actuator, whereby the piezo actuator is upset by the valve member and builds up an electric charge, renewed discharging of the piezo actuator, the residual charge after partial discharge and the charge built up during the charge interruption being at least partially dissipated. It is provided, according to the present invention, briefly to interrupt the discharge process, whereby the piezo actuator absorbs the energy of the valve member and, even before an elastic rebound takes place, the piezo actuator is discharged again, in order to dissipate the energy absorbed by the piezo actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Violaine Chassagnoux, Stefan Schuerg, Wolfgang Stoecklein
  • Publication number: 20130284131
    Abstract: An operation control system for a solenoid valve of a combustion engine having at least one solenoid valve to hydraulically couple and decouple actuation forces of a cam with a gas valve of a cylinder. A driving unit operates the solenoid valve, and a first detection device monitors a status of the solenoid valve by supplying a status signal to a control unit during an engine intake cycle phase of the cylinder. A second detection device analyzing a system parameter corresponding to the cylinder and supplying a control signal during an engine cycle phase other than the engine intake cycle phase. The control unit delays the status signal based on the status signal to temporally synchronize the status signal with the control signal, or a secondary control signal based thereon, and compares the status signal with the control signal or the secondary signals with each other using an AND-Function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Piergiacomo Traversa
  • Patent number: 8567359
    Abstract: Periodic torque disturbances that affect cylinder valve operation are anticipated, and an appropriate reaction torque is provided by an electric motor to counteract the periodic torque disturbances to position a cylinder valve at a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Douglas Ervin, Yan Wang, Ilya Vladimir Kolmanovsky
  • Publication number: 20130276730
    Abstract: In an internal-combustion engine provided with a system for variable actuation of the intake valves of the cylinders, some of said cylinders are deactivated in given conditions of operation of the engine by interrupting the supply of fuel. During de-activation, the cycle of opening and closing of the intake valves and exhaust valves of the deactivated cylinders is maintained. The intake valves of each deactivated cylinder are opened when the exhaust valves of the same cylinders are also open. The inactive cylinders are used as reciprocating volumetric pumps for recirculation of exhaust gases from the exhaust manifold of the engine up to the intake manifold. The recirculated gases are cooled in the intake manifold by the air introduced into the latter and can consequently be fed in a larger mass to the active cylinders, which enables a better global efficiency of the engine to be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: C.R.F. SOCIETA CONSORTILE PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Fabio BOREAN, Sabino LUISI, Andrea STROPPIANA
  • Publication number: 20130255607
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuating device is being proposed for a valve train that can be adjusted on the cam side in an internal combustion engine, including a housing with a top part and a bottom part, whereby an electrically energizable solenoid device is embedded in the top part of the housing and an adjusting pin that is actuated by the solenoid device is mounted in the bottom part of the housing so as to move longitudinally, and also including a plug-in connector that is made of plastic and that runs on the top part of the housing in order to supply electricity to the solenoid device as well as a connecting flange that runs on the housing in order to attach the actuating device to the internal combustion engine. The plug-in connector and the connecting flange are integral parts of the top part of the housing made by encapsulating the solenoid device with plastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Friedrich Schuler
  • Publication number: 20130247850
    Abstract: A control unit for a variable valve timing mechanism for changing a cam phase by an electric actuator determines an influence on the operation of the variable valve timing mechanism based on the engine operating conditions. Then, based on the determination result, the control unit reduces the operation amount of the electric actuator in a predetermined range of the rotation angle of a camshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiko MATSUO, Kentaro MIKAWA
  • Patent number: 8528511
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a valve and an actuator. The valve has a portion movably disposed within a valve pocket defined by a cylinder head of an engine. The valve is configured to move relative to the cylinder head a distance between a closed position and an opened position. The portion of the valve defines a flow opening that is in fluid communication with a cylinder of an engine when the valve is in the opened position. The actuator is configured to selectively vary the distance between the closed position and the opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: JP Scope, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Price, Howard E. Moore, Kelly E. Stephenson
  • Patent number: 8522735
    Abstract: Disclosed is a valve stopping device for an internal combustion engine that does not allow valves for all cylinders to stop in the closed state even in the event of a failure. The valve stopping device includes a control device 2 and a plurality of actuators 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, which stop either an intake valve or an exhaust valve. The actuators 4A, 4D for some of a plurality of cylinders included in the internal combustion engine stop a valve in the closed state when energized. The actuators 4B, 4C for the remaining cylinders stop a valve in the closed state when energized. The control device 2 provides control on an individual actuator basis to determine whether or not to energize the actuators 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sakayanagi, Shigeki Miyashita
  • Patent number: 8516988
    Abstract: A method includes coupling a cylinder head to a cylinder block. A valve member is then moved into a valve pocket defined by the cylinder head such that a first stem portion of the valve member engages an actuator. A first portion of the biasing member is then disposed against a second stem portion of the valve member, the second stem portion being opposite the first stem portion. An end plate is then coupled to the cylinder head such that a second portion of the biasing member engages the end plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: JP Scope, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Price
  • Patent number: 8517334
    Abstract: An electromagnetic valve mechanism includes a magnetizable block, an upper permanent magnet superposed on a top of the magnetizable block, a magnetizable upper cover superposed on an upper flat surface of the upper permanent magnet, a lower permanent magnet attached to a bottom of the magnetizable block, a magnetizable lower cover attached to a lower flat surface of the lower permanent magnet, an armature movably received in the magnetizable block, a magnetizable ring located around the armature, an electromagnetic coil unit wound around two opposite protrudent rods of the magnetizable ring, and a spring unit disposed around an armature stem and a valve stem. By adding the permanent magnets and using the electromagnetic coil unit to thereby form a bypassed forward secondary magnetic channel, the electromagnetic valve mechanism can achieve the purposes of lowered energy consumption, reduced overall mechanism volume, providing demagnetization-protection for permanent magnets, and enhanced performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: National Taipei University of Technology
    Inventors: Yaojung Shiao, Yi-Jie Zeng
  • Patent number: 8490588
    Abstract: There is provided an actuator device for a variable valve apparatus. The variable valve apparatus has a control shaft to vary operation characteristics of an engine valve by an axial movement thereof. The actuator device has a rotatable screw shaft, a movable member axially movable with rotation of the screw shaft and a transmission mechanism unit that converts an axial movement of the movable member to the axial movement of the control shaft. An amount of the axial movement of the movable member is larger than an amount of the axial movement of the control shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8490586
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuating unit of a hydraulic control valve which has an armature disposed inside an armature chamber in an axially displaceable manner, and a pole core disposed in a recess. The pole core limits the armature chamber in a direction of movement of the armature. The geometry of the armature serves to adjust the characteristic line of the electromagnetic actuating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Ross, Josef Groeschel
  • Patent number: 8474421
    Abstract: In a valve drive train device, in particular for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine, with a switching unit comprising an actuator with a solenoid unit and with a control unit for monitoring switching operations of the switching unit provided for switching an axially displaceable cam element by means of a switch gate, the control unit for monitoring the switching unit is taking into account at least one characteristic value of a voltage integral over a voltage which is induced in a coil of the switching unit during the switching operation and is adjusting the value with respect to a characteristic limit value stored in the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Matthias Gregor, Richard Jakobi
  • Patent number: 8468991
    Abstract: An axially short electromagnetic-clutch rotation stopping structure for use with a phase varying apparatus (30) of an automobile engine, adapted to stop the rotation of an electromagnetic clutch (35) relative to an electromagnetic clutch cover (70) while braking the brake drum (34) of the phase varying apparatus (30) to vary the phase angle of the camshaft (45) of the apparatus (30) relative to the crankshaft of the engine. An electromagnetic clutch cover (70) has a clutch holding section (71) for accommodates a substantially C-shaped leaf spring (73). The electromagnetic clutch (35) is held unrotatable with respect to the clutch holding section (71) by first rotation stopping means (71e, 73a) provided between the electromagnetic clutch (35) and by second rotation stopping means (73b, 35d) provided between the leaf spring (73) and the electromagnetic clutch (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Nittan Valve Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Niiro
  • Publication number: 20130146003
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for controlling an actuator that controls opening and closing of an intake valve. The apparatus includes an input shaft connected to a motor and an output shaft rotatable in conjunction with the input shaft, a magnet unit including a first magnet and a second magnet provided on concentric circles, wherein the first magnet is provided such that different poles are alternately arranged at an angle of 90° and the second magnet is provided such that different poles are alternately arranged at a predetermined angle, and a control unit wherein a first hall sensor is disposed in a rotational section of the first magnet to sense a change in polarity of the first magnet, and a second hall sensor and a third hall sensor are disposed in a rotational section of the second magnet to sense a change in polarity of the second magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicants: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, LEEHAN CORPORATION, DAESUNG ELECTRIC CO., LTD., KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sang Chul Baek, Min Yong Park, Ho Sung Kim, Jin Kyu Kim, Byeong Kook Han, Byoung Ook Son, Kyoung Won Kim
  • Publication number: 20130146002
    Abstract: An electro-hydro valve lift system may include a drive cam, a pump piston, a first and a second EHV apparatus, a first oil control valve, a first oil control hydraulic line fluid-communicating the main chamber with the first oil control valve, a second oil control hydraulic line fluid-communicating the first oil control valve with the first EHV apparatus, a third oil control hydraulic line fluid-communicating the main chamber with the second EHV apparatus, a fourth oil control hydraulic line selectively fluid-communicated with the second oil control hydraulic line according to the first oil control valve, an accumulator fluid-communicated with the fourth oil control hydraulic line, and a second oil control valve disposed on the fourth oil control hydraulic line, wherein the fourth oil control hydraulic line is fluid-communicated with the third oil control hydraulic line according to the second oil control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jei Choon Yang, Byong Young Choi, Young Hong Kwak, Wonjun Lee, Jin Kook Kong, Soo Hyung Woo
  • Publication number: 20130133596
    Abstract: An internal-combustion engine with two intake valves for each cylinder is provided with a system for variable actuation of the intake valves, comprising a single solenoid valve for each cylinder that controls communication of the pressurized-fluid chamber of the system with an exhaust channel. The solenoid valve is a three-way, three-position solenoid valve, comprising an inlet permanently communicating with the pressurized-fluid chamber and with the hydraulic actuator of an intake valve, and two outlets communicating, respectively, with the actuator of the other intake valve and with said exhaust channel. The solenoid valve has a first position, in which the inlet communicates with both of the outlets, a second position, in which the inlet communicates only with the aforesaid outlet connected to the actuator of an intake valve and does not communicate, instead, with the outlet connected to the exhaust channel, and a third position, in which the inlet does not communicate with any of the two outlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Sergio STUCCHI, Onofrio DE MICHELE, Raffael RICCO, Marcello GARGANO, Francesco VATTANEO, Domenico LEPORE
  • Patent number: 8448615
    Abstract: An electromagnetic camshaft-adjuster device having an armature unit (14, 42) drivable along an axial direction in reaction of a current feed of a stationary inductor unit (10), which for interacting with an adjusting unit (16, 48) causing adjustment of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine is configured with a slide and/or tappet unit, wherein on and/or in the armature unit and/or the adjusting unit, a permanent magnet element (20, 44) is provided and the inductor unit and the armature unit are at least partially received in a housing or supporting unit, and wherein the supporting unit is associated with a configured stationary magnetic field detection element (22, 38) preferably for contactless magnetic interaction with the permanent magnet element, which is configured so that in a current feed condition and a non current feed condition the inductor unit an axial position of the armature unit and/or the adjusting unit can be determined electronically by evaluating a magnetic field detection signal of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignees: Eto Magnetic GmbH, Daimler AG
    Inventors: Markus Laufenberg, Thomas Schiepp, Simone Nowak, Bernd-Heinrich Schmitfranz
  • Patent number: 8443771
    Abstract: A valve actuator for a combustion engine has a movable member for collaborating with a stem of a valve, and an electromagnetic device with a permanent magnet associated with a resilient device for moving the movable member between an extreme valve-closed position and an extreme valve-open position. A method of controlling the valve actuator has the steps of determining a clearance range between the movable member and the valve stem during the movement of the movable member between the extreme closed and open positions, determining, in the clearance range, intermediate positions reached by the movable member as a function of different values of an electrical control parameter of the electromagnetic device, and using positional feedback control to control the electromagnetic device, using one of the intermediate positions as a setpoint value, according to the desired performance of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes de Controle Moteur
    Inventors: Nicolas Gelez, Emmanuel Talon, Boris Bouchez
  • Patent number: 8443839
    Abstract: A hydraulic control valve has a valve body, a selectively energizable coil, and an armature positioned adjacent the coil. The coil is energizable to generate a magnetic force that moves the armature from a first position to a second position. A pole piece is positioned to establish a gap between the pole piece and the armature. The pole piece has a cavity that opens at the gap. A piston extends from the armature into the cavity and moves with the armature. The armature is biased to seat at a valve seat in the first position by pressurized fluid. Magnetic force required to move the armature away from the valve seat is a function of the difference between an area of the piston and an area defined by contact of the armature at the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Gerrit V. Beneker, Robert D. Keller
  • Publication number: 20130112160
    Abstract: There are output pistons 18 for opening intake valves 11, an intake cam 19 coaxial with a crankshaft 7 to actuate an input piston 22, a hydraulic control valve 20, output passageways 25A, 25B connecting the output pistons 18 to the hydraulic control valve, and an input passageway 24 connecting an input hydraulic chamber 21 to the hydraulic control valve. The hydraulic control valve has one state, which enables pressure-transmission communication between the input passageway and the output passageway 25A at least during a period for one cycle of reciprocating motion of the input piston 22, and another state, which enables pressure-transmission communication between the input passageway and the output passageway 25B at least during the period for one cycle of reciprocating motion of the input piston 22. The hydraulic control valve assumes the states alternately in every rotation of the intake cam 19.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8434436
    Abstract: An electronically actuated valve assembly for an internal combustion engine is disclosed, wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve stem, and a plurality of shape memory alloy segments in operative communication with the valve stem, wherein each shape memory alloy segment is individually actuatable, and wherein actuation of different shape memory alloy segments is configured to cause different valve lifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Riley, Mark Zagata, Michael Schrader, Gregory McConville, M. Matthews Hall, Nicole Williams
  • Publication number: 20130098318
    Abstract: Actuator device of a sliding cam system, having at least one sliding cam (2) and having an engagement pin (9) which protrudes out of a housing (6), wherein the housing (6) can be fastened to a component of a cylinder head or to the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, and it is possible for contact to be made with the engagement pin (9) by at least one groove (3) of the sliding cam system, which groove (3) has at least one ejection ramp (4), and wherein, within the housing (6), the engagement pin (9) has a permanent holding magnet (11) and, adjoining it, is a controlling stationary coil core (9) which can be magnetized by an electric coil (7), and the engagement pin (9) is spring-loaded in the direction of the sliding cam (2), and wherein an actuating device is installed at least at that end region of the engagement pin (9) which faces the sliding cam (2), which actuating device is active in the region of the run-out of the ejection ramp (4) to the high circle (18) and generates an additional force
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Nendel
  • Publication number: 20130074790
    Abstract: An electrohydraulic valve actuator with cylinder and reciprocating cam includes: a valve-actuating hydraulic cylinder (2) which opens a valve of an internal combustion engine (100) via a valve-opening solenoid valve (4), a valve-opening high-pressure duct (11), and an incoming high-pressure hydraulic circuit (5), and which closes the valve via a valve-closing solenoid valve (6), a valve-closing high-pressure duct (12) and an outgoing high-pressure circuit (7), a hydraulic positive displacement pump (8) cooperating with a pump non-return valve (14) and a pump outlet sealing solenoid valve (13) and the outlet of which is connected to a low-pressure circuit (9) and to a low-pressure reservoir (10) supplied by a replenishing pump (52) and a replenishing reservoir (53).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventor: Vianney RABHI
  • Patent number: 8402934
    Abstract: An electromagnetic camshaft adjusting device has an armature unit, which can be moved relative to a yoke and core unit by energizing a stationary coil unit and which is designed to carry out an axial actuating movement and to exert a correspondingly axially directed actuating force on a rotating internal combustion engine camshaft by a slider unit interacting with the armature unit. The yoke and core unit is mounted such that it can rotate relative to the coil unit and provides a receptacle for the armature unit that is guided such that it can move axially in the yoke and core unit and has the slider unit firmly seated thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: ETO Magnetic GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Bender
  • Publication number: 20130068180
    Abstract: A camshaft for actuating the gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine. The camshaft includes a camshaft tube, a hydraulic camshaft adjuster, a valve for controlling the hydraulic fluid supplied to the camshaft adjuster and an actuation device, arranged in the interior of the camshaft tube, for actuating the valve. The actuation device is secured against displacement in the axial direction. The camshaft is light-weight and functional elements in addition to the actuation device and optionally the valve can be integrated into the interior of the camshaft. It should furthermore be possible to arrange an oil or vacuum pump at the end of the camshaft opposite the camshaft adjuster, the pump being drivable by the camshaft. The actuation device is designed as an electromagnetic, piezoelectric or electrical actuator and is connected to the camshaft tube such that they rotate together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Jonathan Heywood, Sebastian Wappler, Mario Lindner
  • Publication number: 20130068181
    Abstract: An control apparatus for a variable valve mechanism, is capable of executing fail safe control in a case in which locking occurs in either one of a cam shaft of a double shaft structure. The control apparatus for a variable valve mechanism has a cam shaft of a double shaft structure including an outer cam shaft and an inner cam shaft, such that it is possible to adjust the phase of a sub cam of inner cam shaft with respect to an main cam of outer cam shaft, and by means these cams, at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine is operated. When an abnormality is detected in one of the cam shafts, the control apparatus controls the phase of the cam of the other cam shaft, in accordance with the determined current phase of the cam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Norihiro ARAYA, Kenichi Machida
  • Publication number: 20130055973
    Abstract: In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, valves of the engine, in particular the exhaust valves (3), are actuated by rocker arms (18) each of which is rotatably mounted on the structure of the engine with the interposition of an eccentric bushing (39), whose rotation allows varying the position of the rotational axis of the respective rocker arm, so as to activate and deactivate an extra-lift of the engine valve. The eccentric bushings (38) associated to the rocker arms (18) of the various cylinders of the engine are all connected in rotation with a common shaft (100) which is rotatably supported on the structure of the engine and which can be rotated through actuator means (105) preferably arranged outside the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: FIAT POWERTRAIN TECHNOLOGIES S.P.A.
    Inventors: Clino D'epiro, Antonio Balzano
  • Publication number: 20130047941
    Abstract: A control device for an engine variably controls electricity power supplied to a motor driving a valve to open or close a fluid passage based on operation condition of the engine. The valve has a full close range in which the fluid passage is closed. When the engine has low load and low rotation, the control device stops supplying the electricity power to the motor, and the valve is held at a neutral position where a biasing force of a first biasing portion and a biasing force of a second biasing portion are balanced. The neutral position is set within the full close range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuusuke NIWA, Ryo SANO
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130014715
    Abstract: An intake/exhaust valve control device for an internal combustion engine including a cylinder having an intake valve and an exhaust valve includes: solenoids for driving at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve; a battery for supplying an electric current to the solenoids, a battery state predicting unit for predicting the voltage state of the battery; and an energization start timing setting unit for setting the current carrying start timing of the battery with respect to the solenoids based on the result of the prediction by the battery state predicting unit. According to the intake/exhaust valve control device, since it is possible to obtain the amount of energization necessary for driving the solenoids at an appropriate timing, it is possible to secure the responsiveness of the solenoids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhito Imai, Ryuji Okamura
  • Publication number: 20130008397
    Abstract: A directional control valve is configured to switch among a first position at which a discharge passage communicates with a phase-advance passage and a phase-retard passage and a lock passage communicates with a drain passage, a second position at which the discharge passage communicates with the phase-advance passage and the lock passage and the phase-retard passage communicates with the drain passage, a third position at which the discharge passage communicates with the phase-retard passage and the lock passage and the phase-advance passage communicates with the drain passage, and a fourth position at which the discharge passage communicates with the lock passage and fluid-communication between the discharge passage and each of the phase-advance passage and the phase-retard passage is blocked. The directional control valve is further switchable to a sixth position at which the phase-advance passage, the phase-retard passage, and the lock passage all communicate with the discharge passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventor: Yasuhide Takada
  • Patent number: 8342144
    Abstract: A motor control strategy for a hydraulic camshaft adjuster. The motor control strategy has a mechanical central lock which in turn has at least one rotor and one stator, between which hydraulically loadable chamber A and chambers B are provided. Locking pistons supported in an axially displaceable manner are provided in the rotor for the mechanical central lock. A hydraulic system and an electrically controllable solenoid valve are provided. The valve is powered in a controlled manner by a motor control device, which receives an “ignition off” signal; the motor being turned off, and at least one signal for current angular position of the camshaft adjuster, which compares the angular position to at least one zone definition stored in the motor control device, forms control commands from the same, and transmits said the control commands to the electric solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Busse, Lutz Witthoeft