Variable valve timing control device for internal combustion engine

• US 6,405,694 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Ching
• Application Number:
  US09/876,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20010050067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 464/2, 123/90.15, 123/90.17, 123/90.16, 123/90.18
• US Class Current: 123/90.15
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/34 characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without changing the duration of opening and without affecting the magnitude of the valve lift
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/3442 using hydraulic chambers with variable volume to transmit the rotating force
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/0537 Double overhead camshafts [DOHC]
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/34483 Phaser return springs
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/34496 Two phasers on different camshafts
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2800/00 Methods of operation using a variable valve timing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0215 changing the valve timing only
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0219 by shifting the phase, i.e. the opening periods of the valves are constant
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0249 changing the valve timing only
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0265 Negative valve overlap for temporarily storing residual gas in the cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/006 using internal EGR control of valve overlap for internal EGR F02D13/0261; arrangements for internal EGR F02M26/01
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/01 Internal exhaust gas recirculation, i.e. wherein the residual exhaust gases are trapped in the cylinder or pushed back from the intake or the exhaust manifold into the combustion chamber without the use of additional passages
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

Either of intake and exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine is provided with a variable valve timing device. In a low-speed, low-load range, exhaust valve advanced-closing control is performed to close the exhaust valve at an earlier timing than the top dead center on the intake stroke, thereby trapping residual combustion gases in the cylinder. Furthermore, the cylinder temperature is raised by setting the intake valve opening timing at around the top dead center on the intake stroke or at a later timing thereof to thereby compress by the piston the residual gases in the cylinder during a period from closing the exhaust valve till the top dead center on the intake stroke. Thus it becomes possible to take in the air-fuel mixture into the cylinder at a higher cylinder temperature than the gas temperature of internal EGR caused by conventional valve overlap.

Claims

1. A variable valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a variable valve timing device which changes a valve timing of an exhaust valve of said internal combustion engine; and

a valve timing control means which controls said variable valve timing device, wherein

said variable valve timing control means executes an exhaust valve advanced-closing control to control an exhaust valve closing timing to an advance side of an intake top dead center.

2. A variable valve timing control device according to claim 1, wherein said valve timing control means executes the exhaust valve advanced-closing control during part-load operation.

3. A variable valve timing control device according to claim 1, wherein said valve timing control means controls the exhaust valve closing timing during the exhaust valve advanced-closing control to an advance side of the exhaust valve closing timing during idling.

4. A variable valve timing control device according to claim 1, wherein said variable valve timing device includes a phase change mechanism which changes a phase of the valve timing of said exhaust valve.

5. A variable valve timing control device according to claim 1, wherein said variable valve timing device includes an operation angle change mechanism which changes an operation angle of said exhaust valve.

6. A variable valve timing control device according to claim 1, wherein air-fuel ratio of mixture gas in a cylinder of said internal combustion engine is controlled to lean side of a theoretical air-fuel ratio.

7. A variable valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 6, wherein said internal combustion engine is a direct injection engine in which fuel is injected into the cylinder.

8. A variable valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 6, wherein said internal combustion engine is a diesel engine.

9. A variable valve timing control device according to claim 1, wherein said valve timing control means controls the exhaust valve closing timing during the exhaust valve advanced-closing control based on an engine speed and an engine load.

10. A variable valve timing control device according to claim 1, wherein

said variable valve timing device is provided on either of intake and exhaust sides of said internal combustion engine,

said valve timing control means controls an intake valve opening timing during the exhaust valve advanced-closing control to around the intake top dead center or to a retard side of the intake top dead center.

11. A variable valve timing control device according to claim 10, wherein said valve timing control means controls an intake valve closing timing during the exhaust valve advanced-closing control to an advance side of bottom dead center.

12. A variable valve timing control device according to claim 1, wherein

said valve timing control means executes the exhaust valve closing timing to around the intake top dead center during idling operation,

said valve timing control means executes the exhaust valve advanced-closing control during low-load operation, and

said valve timing control means executes the exhaust valve closing timing to around the intake top dead center or to a retard side thereof during medium-load and high-load operation.

13. A variable valve timing control device according to claim 1, wherein

said variable valve timing device is provided on either of intake and exhaust sides of said internal combustion engine,

said valve timing control means controls an intake valve opening timing to around the intake top dead center or to a retard side thereof during part-load operation, and

said valve timing control means controls the intake valve opening timing to an advance side of the intake top dead center during full-load operation.

14. A variable valve timing control device according to claim 13, wherein

said valve timing control means controls an intake valve closing timing to an advance side of bottom dead center with a decrease in load during the part-load operation, and

said valve timing control means controls the intake valve closing timing to a retard side of the bottom dead center during full-load operation.

15. A variable valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a variable valve timing device which changes a valve timing of an exhaust valve of said internal combustion engine; and

a valve timing control means which controls said variable valve timing device, wherein

said valve timing control means switches, in accordance with engine load, between an exhaust valve advanced-closing control which controls an exhaust valve closing timing to an advance side of an intake top dead center and an exhaust valve retarded-closing control which controls the exhaust valve closing timing to a retard side of the intake top dead center.

16. A variable valve timing control device according to claim 15, wherein said valve timing control means executes the exhaust valve retarded-closing control during high-load operation.

17. A variable valve timing control device according to claim 15, wherein said valve timing control means controls the exhaust valve closing timing to around the intake top dead center during idling operation.

18. A variable valve timing control device according to claim 15, wherein said valve timing control means switches between the exhaust valve advanced-closing control and the exhaust valve retarded-closing control in accordance with an engine speed.

19. A variable valve timing control device according to claim 18, wherein said valve timing control means executes the exhaust valve retarded-closing control during high-speed operation.

20. A variable valve timing control device according to claim 15, wherein said valve timing control means switches to the exhaust valve retarded-closing control or controls the exhaust valve closing timing to the retard side when the internal combustion engine knocks.