US 10,119,431 B2 · Camshaft phaser systems and method of commutating an electric motor for the same

Abstract

A system (42) including a phaser (28), a motor (38), and a controller (40) for controlling the phase between a camshaft (18) and a crankshaft (16) of an engine (10). The phaser (28) is attached to the camshaft (18), is in communication with the crankshaft (16), and is configured to adjust the phase of the camshaft (18). The motor (38) actuates the phaser (28) and is operatively attached to and in communication with the phaser (28) such that rotation of the crankshaft (16) back-drives the motor (38) to subsequently generate a signal. The controller (40) is in electrical communication with the motor (38), is responsive to the signal, and uses the signal to determine the rotational speed of the motor (38) to thereby commutate the motor (38) and subsequently drive the motor (38) so as to actuate the phaser (28) and control the phase of the camshaft (18).

Claims14

Dependent claims

A camshaft (18) phaser (28) system (42) for use in controlling the phase between a camshaft (18) and a crankshaft (16) of an internal combustion engine (10), said system comprising:

a phaser (28) operatively attached to the camshaft (18) and in rotational communication with the crankshaft (16) for adjusting the phase of the camshaft (18) with respect to the crankshaft (16);
an electric motor (38) that actuates said phaser (28), said electric motor (38) operatively attached to and in rotational communication with said phaser (28) such that rotation of the crankshaft (16) back-drives said electric motor (38) and said electric motor (38) generates a signal;
and
a controller (40) in electrical communication with said electric motor (38), said controller (40) being responsive to said signal to thereby commutate said electric motor (38) and subsequently drive said electric motor (38) so as to actuate said phaser (28) and control the phase of the camshaft (18).

1 more element

A method of commutating a synchronous electric motor (38) for use in actuating a phaser (28) used to control the phase between a camshaft (18) and a crankshaft (16) of an internal combustion engine (10), said method comprising the steps of:

providing a phaser (28) operatively attached to the camshaft (18) and in rotational communication with the crankshaft (16);
providing an electric motor (38) operatively attached to and in rotational communication with said phaser (28);
providing a controller (40) in electrical communication with said electric motor (38);
rotating the crankshaft (16) at a predetermined speed such that said phaser (28) back-drives said electric motor (38);
generating a signal with said electric motor (38) in response to being back-driven;
detecting said signal using said controller (40);
determining a back-drive speed of said electric motor (38) based on said signal using said controller (40);
commutating said electric motor (38) based on said signal using said controller (40);
and
driving said electric motor (38) using said controller (40) so as to actuate said phaser (28) and control the phase of the camshaft (18).

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Camshaft phaser systems and method of commutating an electric motor for the same

Life of this patent

Camshaft phaser systems and method of commutating an electric motor for the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14