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US 6,575,128 B2Granted
Variable-valve-actuation apparatus for internal combustion engine
AssigneesUnisia Jecs Corporation, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsMakoto Nakamura, Naoki Okamoto, Seinosuke Hara, Akinori Suzuki, Tsuneyasu Nohara, Shinichi Takemura, Takanobu Sugiyama, Shunichi Aoyama
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a VVA apparatus, when an actual lift amount detected by a lift-amount detecting sensor exceeds a basic lift-amount target value by a predetermined value or more, ECU corrects a lift phase through a lift-phase varying mechanism to separate from a piston TDC with respect to a basic lift-phase target value.
Claims17
A variable-valve-actuation (VVA) apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a first varying mechanism which controls a lift amount of an engine valve in accordance with engine operating conditions;
- a second varying mechanism which controls a lift phase of the engine valve in accordance with the engine operating conditions;
- a first sensor which detects an actual position of the first varying mechanism, the actual position corresponding to an actual lift amount;
- a second sensor which detects an actual position of the second varying mechanism, the actual position corresponding to an actual lift phase;
- and
- an electronic control unit (ECU) which controls the lift amount and the lift phase to first and second basic target values through the first and second varying mechanisms, respectively,
- wherein when the actual lift amount exceeds the first basic target value by a predetermined value or more, the ECU corrects the lift phase through the second varying mechanism to separate from a top dead center (TDC) of a piston with respect to the second basic target value.
4 more elements
A variable-valve-actuation (VVA) apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a first varying mechanism which controls a lift amount of an engine valve in accordance with engine operating conditions;
- a second varying mechanism which controls a lift phase of the engine valve in accordance with the engine operating conditions;
- a first sensor which detects an actual position of the first varying mechanism, the actual position corresponding to an actual lift amount;
- a second sensor which detects an actual position of the second varying mechanism, the actual position corresponding to an actual lift phase;
- and
- an electronic control unit (ECU) which controls the lift amount and the lift phase to first and second basic target values through the first and second varying mechanisms, respectively,
- wherein when the actual lift phase varies to approach by a predetermined value or more a top dead center (TDC) of a piston with respect to the second basic target value, the ECU corrects the lift amount through the first varying mechanism to be smaller than the first basic target value.
4 more elements
A variable-valve-actuation (VVA) apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a first varying mechanism which controls a lift amount of an engine valve in accordance with engine operating conditions;
- a second varying mechanism which controls a lift phase of the engine valve in accordance with the engine operating conditions;
- a first sensor which detects an actual position of the first varying mechanism, the actual position corresponding to an actual lift amount;
- a second sensor which detects an actual position of the second varying mechanism, the actual position corresponding to an actual lift phase;
- an auxiliary sensor which detects at least one of the lift amount and the lift phase;
- and
- an electronic control unit (ECU) which feedback-controls the lift amount to a first basic target value through the first varying mechanism in accordance with a signal derived from the first sensor and the lift phase to a second basic target value through the second varying mechanism in accordance with a signal derived from the second sensor,
- wherein the ECU determines if a failure of one of the first and second sensors occurs in accordance with signals derived from one of the first and second sensors and the auxiliary sensor.
5 more elements
A variable-valve-actuation (VVA) apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a first varying mechanism which controls a lift amount of an engine valve in accordance with engine operating conditions;
- a second varying mechanism which controls a lift phase of the engine valve in accordance with the engine operating conditions;
- a drive circuit which actuates the second varying mechanism;
- a mechanical-switch mechanism logically connected to the drive circuit, the mechanism providing one of on and off signals in accordance with the lift amount;
- and
- an electronic control unit (ECU) which controls the lift amount and the lift phase to first and second basic target values through the first and second varying mechanisms, respectively,
- wherein when the lift amount is greater than a predetermined value, the ECU controls through the second varying mechanism and in accordance with the off signal the lift phase to separate from a top dead center (TDC) of a piston.
4 more elements
A variable-valve-actuation (VVA) apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a first varying mechanism which controls a lift amount of an engine valve in accordance with engine operating conditions;
- a second varying mechanism which controls a lift phase of the engine valve in accordance with the engine operating conditions;
- a drive circuit which actuates the first varying mechanism;
- a mechanical-switch mechanism logically connected to the drive circuit, the mechanism providing one of on and off signals in accordance with the lift phase;
- and
- an electronic control unit (ECU) which controls the lift amount and the lift phase to first and second basic target values through the first and second varying mechanisms, respectively,
- wherein when the lift phase approaches a top dead center (TDC) of a piston by a predetermined value or more, the ECU controls through the first varying mechanism and in accordance with the off signal the lift amount to be smaller.
4 more elements
A variable-valve-actuation (VVA) apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a first varying mechanism which controls a lift amount of an engine valve in accordance with engine operating conditions;
- a second varying mechanism which controls a lift phase of the engine valve in accordance with the engine operating conditions;
- a drive circuit which actuates the first varying mechanism;
- a first mechanical-switch mechanism logically connected to the drive circuit, the mechanism providing one of on and off signals in accordance with the lift amount;
- a second mechanical-switch mechanism logically connected to the drive circuit, the mechanism providing one of on and off signals in accordance with the lift phase;
- an electronic control unit (ECU) which controls the lift amount and the lift phase to first and second basic target values through the first and second varying mechanisms, respectively,
- wherein when the lift amount is greater than a predetermined value, the ECU controls through the first varying mechanism and in accordance with the off signal of the first mechanical-switch mechanism the lift amount to be smaller,
- wherein when the lift phase approaches a top dead center (TDC) of a piston by a predetermined value, the ECU controls through the first varying mechanism and in accordance with the off signal of the second mechanical-switch mechanism the lift amount to be smaller.
5 more elements
A variable-valve-actuation (VVA) apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a first varying mechanism which controls a lift amount of an engine valve in accordance with engine operating conditions;
- a second varying mechanism which controls a lift phase of the engine valve in accordance with the engine operating conditions;
- a drive circuit which actuates the second varying mechanism;
- a first mechanical-switch mechanism logically connected to the drive circuit, the mechanism providing one of on and off signals in accordance with the lift amount;
- a second mechanical-switch mechanism logically connected to the drive circuit, the mechanism providing one of on and off signals in accordance with the lift phase;
- an electronic control unit (ECU) which controls the lift amount and the lift phase to first and second basic target values through the first and second varying mechanisms, respectively,
- wherein when the lift amount is greater than a predetermined value, the ECU controls through the second varying mechanism and in accordance with the off signal of the first mechanical-switch mechanism the lift phase to separate from a top dead center (TDC) of a piston,
- wherein when the lift phase approaches the TDC by a predetermined value or more, the ECU controls through the second varying mechanism and in accordance with the off signal of the second mechanical-switch mechanism the lift phase to separate from the TDC.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.