US 11,788,479 B2Granted

Internal combustion engine comprising a decentralized valve-control arrangement and method therefor

AssigneeFreevalve AB

InventorsLars Ivarsson, Eric Griess

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Abstract

Disclosed is an internal combustion engine including: an actuator for axial displacement of at least one gas exchange valve of the internal combustion engine, wherein the actuator includes: an actuator piston disc, a cylinder volume adapted for the actuator piston disc, wherein the actuator piston disc is movably arranged in an axial direction between a rest position and an active position, wherein the position sensor arrangement is configured for determining the position of the at least one gas exchange valve, the at least one gas exchange valve being displaced by the movement of the actuator piston disc, and a local control unit associated with the actuator, wherein the local control unit is operatively connected to the at least one controllable inlet valve and the controllable outlet valve of the actuator and operatively connected to the position sensor arrangement.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An internal combustion engine comprising:

an actuator for axial displacement of at least one gas exchange valve of said internal combustion engine, wherein said actuator comprises:
an actuator piston disc,
a cylinder volume adapted for said actuator piston disc, wherein said actuator piston disc divides said cylinder volume in a first portion and a second portion, wherein said actuator piston disc is movably arranged in an axial direction between a rest position and an active position,
an actuator piston rod connected to said actuator piston disc for guiding said actuator piston disc in an axial direction,
an inlet channel arranged between a pressure fluid inlet and the first portion of the cylinder volume,
at least one controllable inlet valve arranged in said inlet channel,
an outlet channel arranged between said first portion of the cylinder volume and a pressure fluid outlet,
a controllable outlet valve arranged in said outlet channel,
a position sensor arrangement associated with said actuator, wherein the position sensor arrangement is configured for determining the position of said at least one gas exchange valve, said at least one gas exchange valve being displaced by the movement of said actuator piston disc, and
a local control unit associated with said actuator, wherein the local control unit is operatively connected to said at least one controllable inlet valve and said controllable outlet valve of the actuator and operatively connected to said position sensor arrangement, the entire or part of the local control unit is attached to said actuator or in close vicinity to said actuator, the local control unit is configured for controlling the opening and closing of said at least one controllable inlet valve and said at least one controllable outlet valve by operating respective electromagnetic solenoids, wherein said local control unit is configured for receiving information from an engine control unit ECU.

7 more elements

A method for controlling an internal combustion engine comprising an actuator for axial displacement of at least one gas exchange valve of said internal combustion engine, wherein said actuator comprises:

an actuator piston disc,
a cylinder volume adapted for said actuator piston disc, wherein said actuator piston disc divides said cylinder volume in a first portion and a second portion, wherein said actuator piston disc is movably arranged in an axial direction between a rest position and an active position,
an actuator piston rod connected to said actuator piston disc for guiding said actuator piston disc in an axial direction,
an inlet channel arranged between a pressure fluid inlet and the first portion of the cylinder volume,
at least one controllable inlet valve arranged in said inlet channel,
an outlet channel arranged between said first portion of the cylinder volume and a pressure fluid outlet,
a controllable outlet valve arranged in said outlet channel,
said method comprising the steps of:
determining, by means of a position sensor arrangement associated with said actuator, the position of said at least one gas exchange valve, said at least one gas exchange valve being displaced by the movement of said actuator piston disc,
determining, by means of a local control unit associated with said actuator, a measured value of at least one of:
time of opening of said at least one gas exchange valve of said internal combustion engine,
time of closing of said at least one gas exchange valve of said internal combustion engine, and
lift height of said at least one gas exchange valve of said internal combustion engine,
comparing, by means of said local control unit, each mean value with a corresponding predetermined value, and
correcting, by means of said local control unit, any deviation between each mean value and the corresponding predetermined value by adjusting at least one of opening time of said at least one controllable inlet valve, closing time of said at least one controllable inlet valve and/or opening time of said controllable outlet valve.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/908,848Filed 1 Mar 2021
Priority: SE 2050229-02 Mar 2020
Published: US 2023/0103945 A16 Apr 2023
Granted: 17 Oct 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

F01L 9/10
Valve-gear or valve arrangements actuated non-mechanically: by fluid means, e.g. hydraulic
F02D 13/0253
During engine operation: fully variable control of valve lift and timing using camless actuation systems such as hydraulic, pneumatic or…
F01L 9/16
By fluid means, e.g. hydraulic: pneumatic means
F01L 9/40
Valve-gear or valve arrangements actuated non-mechanically: methods of operation thereof; Control of valve actuation, e.g. duration or lift