VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH VALVE-STOP-MECHANISM-EQUIPPED INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

• US 20120318232A1
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kidooka, Akio, Miyasaka, Katsuichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,646,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/198.R
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/52 indirect, i.e. vacuum booster units
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/02 Arrangements of pumps or compressors, or control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/08 for rendering engine inoperative or idling
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/02 Cutting-out cutting-out engines in multiple engine arrangements F02D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/0012 with selective deactivation of cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/41 Control to generate negative pressure in the intake manifold, e.g. for fuel vapor purging or brake booster
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0235 in relation with the state of the exhaust gas treating apparatus control of exhaust gas treating apparatus per se F01N
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/123 the fuel injection being cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10229 the intake system acting as a vacuum or overpressure source for auxiliary devices, e.g. brake systems; Vacuum chambers air storage chamber F02B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

To provide a vehicle provided with a valve-stop-mechanism-equipped internal combustion engine capable of ensuring a negative pressure in a brake booster while preventing with reliability fresh air from flowing into a catalyst during a valve stop control. An internal combustion engine provided with a valve stop mechanism capable of changing the operational state of an intake valve between a valve operating state and a valve closed/stopped state is provided. A brake booster is provided capable of assisting operation of a brake pedal of the vehicle. Exhaust side negative pressure passages are provided as communication passages that are configured to be in communication with each branch pipe section of an exhaust manifold in a period in which a negative pressure is generated in the case where the intake valve is in the valve closed/stopped state while an exhaust valve is allowed to open and close. The remaining end of the second exhaust side negative pressure passage is connected to the brake booster.

Claims

1. A vehicle provided with a valve-stop-mechanism-equipped internal combustion engine, the vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine which includes a valve stop mechanism capable of changing an operational state of at least an intake valve of the intake valve and an exhaust valve between a valve operating state and a valve closed/stopped state;

a brake booster which is capable of assisting operation of a brake pedal of the vehicle;

an exhaust side negative pressure passage which is configured to be in communication with an exhaust passage or a cylinder of the internal combustion engine during a period in which a negative pressure is generated in the exhaust passage or the cylinder in a case in which the intake valve is in the valve closed/stopped state while the exhaust valve is allowed to open and close; and

an intake side negative pressure passage that connects an intake passage of the internal combustion engine and the brake booster,

wherein a remaining end of the exhaust side negative pressure passage is connected to the brake booster via a section at some point of the intake side negative pressure passage,

wherein the vehicle further comprises;

a pressure accumulating tank which is provided at some point of the exhaust side negative pressure passage and accumulates the negative pressure generated in the exhaust passage; and

passage switching means that is provided at a connection part between the exhaust side negative pressure passage and the intake side negative pressure passage, and

wherein the passage switching means switches between a state in which the intake passage and the brake booster are in communication with each other via the intake side negative pressure passage and a state in which the pressure accumulating tank and the brake booster are in communication with each other via the exhaust side negative pressure passage and a section of the intake passage located closer to the brake booster than the passage switching means.

2. The vehicle provided with a valve-stop-mechanism-equipped internal combustion engine according to claim 1,

wherein the vehicle further comprises opening/closing means which is configured or controlled to connect the exhaust passage and the pressure accumulating tank to each other via the exhaust side negative pressure passage when pressure in the exhaust passage is a negative pressure and to disconnect the exhaust passage and the pressure accumulating tank from each other when pressure in the exhaust passage is equal to or higher than atmospheric pressure.

3. The vehicle provided with a valve-stop-mechanism-equipped internal combustion engine according to claim 1,

wherein the vehicle further comprises opening/closing means which is configured or controlled to connect the exhaust passage and the pressure accumulating tank to each other via the exhaust side negative pressure passage when pressure in the exhaust passage is a negative pressure higher than a predetermined value and to disconnect the exhaust passage and the pressure accumulating tank from each other when pressure in the exhaust passage is a negative pressure equal to or lower than the predetermined value.

4. The vehicle provided with a valve-stop-mechanism-equipped internal combustion engine according to claim 1,

wherein the vehicle further comprises opening/closing means which is configured or controlled to connect the exhaust passage and the pressure accumulating tank to each other via the exhaust side negative pressure passage when the exhaust valve is opened and to disconnect the exhaust passage and the pressure accumulating tank from each other when a piston of the internal combustion engine reaches a vicinity of an expansion bottom dead center.

5. (canceled)

6. A vehicle provided with a valve-stop-mechanism-equipped internal combustion engine, the vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine which includes a valve stop mechanism capable of changing an operational state of at least an intake valve of the intake valve and an exhaust valve between a valve operating state and a valve closed/stopped state;

a brake booster which is capable of assisting operation of a brake pedal of the vehicle;

an exhaust side negative pressure passage which is configured to be in communication with an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine during a period in which a negative pressure is generated in the exhaust passage in a case in which the intake valve is in the valve closed/stopped state while the exhaust valve is allowed to open and close; and

an intake side negative pressure passage that connects an intake passage of the internal combustion engine and the brake booster,

wherein a remaining end of the exhaust side negative pressure passage is connected to the brake booster via a section at some point of the intake side negative pressure passage,

wherein the vehicle further comprises;

a pressure accumulating tank which is provided at some point of the exhaust side negative pressure passage and accumulates the negative pressure generated in the exhaust passage; and

one or more passage switching valves that is provided at a connection part between the exhaust side negative pressure passage and the intake side negative pressure passage, and

wherein the one or more passage switching valves switches between a state in which the intake passage and the brake booster are in communication with each other via the intake side negative pressure passage and a state in which the pressure accumulating tank and the brake booster are in communication with each other via the exhaust side negative pressure passage and a section of the intake passage located closer to the brake booster than the one or more passage switching valves.