Intake valve timing in multi-valve, camless engines
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMazen Hammoud, Mohammad Haghgooie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Two intake valves are independently operated by electromechanical actuators and activated by the engine electronic controller. One tumble-type intake valve and one conventional intake valve are provided in each cylinder. The valve members are individually opened and closed to achieve a desired air flow pattern in the combustion chamber to optimize combustion which increases fuel economy and reduces undesirable emissions. The opening and closing of the valve members depends on the engine speed, engine load, and other factors.
Claims60
A method for generating turbulence of an air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of a multi-valve engine, said engine having at least first and second intake valve members each independently activated by an actuator member, with the activation of the actuator member being controlled by an engine controller unit, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining a first operating condition, a second operating condition, and a third operating condition of the engine;
- separately operating the intake valve members to generate an air-fuel turbulence in the engine combustion chamber corresponding at least In in part to the first, second and third operating conditions, so that under a first operating condition a high swirl, no tumble turbulence is formed, under a second operating condition a swirl and tumble turbulence is formed, and under a third operating condition a tumble, no swirl turbulence is formed;
- wherein the optimum air-fuel turbulence is created for the operating condition to maximize fuel efficiency and minimize undesirable emissions.
A process for optimizing the air-flow motion in the cylinder combustion chambers of a multi-valve engine, each of said cylinders having a first intake valve and a second intake valve, both of said first and second intake valves being individually and independently operated, and the engine having an electronic controller for operating said first and second intake valves, said process comprising the steps of:
- establishing a plurality of operating conditions for the engine based on engine load and speed;
- preparing a look-up table based on said plurality of operating conditions;
- operating said first and second intake valves depending on the look-up table relative to a first engine load and speed;
- and
- generating an air flow motion in the cylinder combustion chamber corresponding to one of said plurality of operating conditions, so that under a first operating condition of said plurality of operating conditions a high swirl, no tumble turbulence is formed, under a second operating condition of said plurality of operating conditions a swirl and tumble turbulence is formed and, and under a third operating condition of said plurality of operating conditions a tumble, no swirl turbulence is formed.
A system for generating turbulence of an air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of a multi-valve engine, said engine having at least first and second intake valve members, and a controller unit, said system comprising:
- means for determining a first operating condition, a second operating condition, and a third operating condition of the engine;
- means for separately operating said first and second intake valve members in order to generate a desired air-fuel turbulence in the engine combustion chamber corresponding at least in pan part to said first, second and third operating conditions, so that under a first operating condition a high swirl, no tumble turbulence is formed, under a second operating condition a swirl and tumble turbulence is formed, and under a third operating condition a tumble, no swirl turbulence is formed;
- wherein an optimum air fuel turbulence is created for said operating condition to maximize fuel efficiency and minimize undesirable emissions.
A multi-valve engine for a vehicle, the multi-valve engine comprising:
- at least one cylinder including:
- a combustion chamber;
- an air intake passageway;
- a first intake valve positioned at the interface of the combustion chamber and the air intake passageway;
- a first electromechanical actuator configured to operate the first intake valve;
- a second intake valve positioned at the interface of the combustion chamber and the air intake passageway;
- and
- a second electromechanical actuator configured to operate the second intake valve;
- a controller configured to independently operate each intake valve via the first and second electromechanical actuators;
- the controller being further configured to produce time phasing of the opening and closing of the valve members relative to each other during the intake stroke;
- where variable operation of the first and second intake valves produces varying amounts of swirl and/or tumble turbulence.
An electromechanical valve control system for a multi-valve engine for a vehicle, the control system comprising:
- a cylinder including
- a first electromechanically-operated intake valve;
- and
- a second electromechanically-operated intake valve;
- a controller in electronic communication with the first and second intake valves, the controller being configured to receive information related to the operating condition of the vehicle and independently operate the first and second intake valves in response to the operating condition;
- where, under a first operating condition, the first intake valve is operated and the second intake valve is not operated, and under a second operating condition, the second intake valve is operated and the first intake valve is not operated;
- and
- where variable operation of the first and second intake valves produces varying amounts of swirl and/or tumble turbulence.
A multi-valve engine for a vehicle, the multi-valve engine comprising:
- at least one cylinder including:
- a combustion chamber;
- an air intake passageway;
- a first intake valve positioned at the interface of the combustion chamber and the air intake passageway;
- a first electromechanical actuator configured to operate the first intake valve;
- a second intake valve positioned at the interface of the combustion chamber and the air intake passageway;
- and
- a second electromechanical actuator configured to operate the second intake valve;
- a controller configured to independently operate each intake valve via the first and second electromechanical actuators;
- and
- the controller being further configured to produce time phasing of the opening and closing of the valve members relative to each other during an intake stroke.
An electromechanical valve control system for a multi-valve engine for a vehicle, the control system comprising:
- a cylinder including
- a first electromechanically-operated intake valve;
- and
- a second electromechanically-operated intake valve;
- a controller in electronic communication with the first and second intake valves, the controller being configured to receive information related to the operating condition of the vehicle and independently operate the first and second intake valves in response to the operating condition;
- wherein, under a first operating condition, the first intake valve is operated and the second intake valve is not operated;
- and under a second operating condition, the second intake valve is operated and the first intake valve is not operated.
A method for operating a multi-valve engine under various operating conditions, the multi-valve engine including at least one cylinder having at least a first and a second electrically-controlled intake valve, the method comprising:
- under a first vehicle operating condition, operating the first intake valve but not the second;
- and
- under a second vehicle operating condition, operating the second intake valve but not the first.
A method for operating a multi-valve engine under various operating conditions, the multi-valve engine including at least one cylinder having at least a first and a second electrically-controlled intake valve, the method comprising:
- under a first operating condition, time phasing the operation of the first and second valves relative to each other during an intake stroke.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.