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US 6,681,733 B2Granted
Valve opening/closing timing control apparatus and method
AssigneeToyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsKazuhiro Ichimoto, Ikuo Ando, Yusuke Kamijo
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AssigneeToyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsKazuhiro Ichimoto, Ikuo Ando, Yusuke Kamijo
Estimating the term…
A valve opening/closing timing control apparatus and method can be used with a camshaft whose rotation is synchronized with opening/closing timing of an intake valve or an exhaust valve in an internal combustion engine; a relative rotation angle adjustment mechanism which transmits torque of a crankshaft in the internal combustion engine to the camshaft and which adjusts a relative rotation angle between the crankshaft and the camshaft; and a lock mechanism which depends on hydraulic fluid, and which mechanically locks or unlocks the relative rotation angle that is adjusted by the relative rotation angle adjustment mechanism. The apparatus and method determine the duration of a time period from a start of the internal combustion engine until a start of relative rotation angle adjustment, based upon an unlocking force of the hydraulic fluid that is applied to the lock mechanism when the lock mechanism is locked and the internal combustion engine is started.
A valve opening/closing timing control apparatus, comprising:
A method of controlling a valve opening/closing timing of a system that includes:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear: characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without…
Changing the angular relationship between crankshaft and camshaft, e.g. using helicoidal gear: using hydraulic chambers with variable volume to…
Details relating to the hydraulic means for changing the angular relationship: locking means between driving and driven members
Methods of operation using a variable valve timing mechanism: timing control under consideration of oil condition
Term ended 15 May 2023 (estimated)
The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-156347 filed on May 29, 2002, including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a valve opening/closing timing control apparatus and method.
The above mentioned and other objects, features, advantages, technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a power system including a valve opening/closing timing control apparatus according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view showing a relative rotation angle adjustment mechanism J in which a lock mechanism L is provided;
In the following description and the accompanying drawings, the invention will be described in more detail in terms of exemplary embodiments.
Hereafter, a valve opening/closing timing control apparatus according to an embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a power system including a valve opening/closing timing control apparatus. This power system is mounted on a vehicle, and includes an internal combustion engine for rotating a wheel of the vehicle.