System for controlling electromechanical valves in an engine

• US 6,978,745 B1
• Filed: 07/13/2004
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Flohr, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Riddle, Kyle M.
• Application Number:
  US10/890,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20060011157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 123/90.11, 251/129.07, 251/120.09, 251/129.18
• US Class Current: 123/90.11
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 9/20 by electric means

Abstract

A system for electronically actuating valves in an engine. The system includes first and second voltage sources, and a plurality of valve actuator subsystems coupled therebetween. Each valve actuator subsystem has a valve actuator and a switch configured to selectively control application of voltage to the valve actuator to thereby selectively control energization of the valve actuator. The system also includes a dissipation switch operatively coupled with the valve actuator subsystems, the dissipation switch being selectively operable to control dissipation of energy from any of the valve actuators.

Claims

1. A system for electronically actuating valves in an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a first voltage source;

a second voltage source;

plural cylinder valve actuator subsystems coupled between the first voltage source and the second voltage source, each having a valve actuator and a switch configured to selectively control application of voltage to the valve actuator to thereby selectively control energization of the valve actuator;

a dissipation switch operatively coupled with the valve actuator subsystems, the dissipation switch being selectively operable to control dissipation of energy from any of the valve actuators;

wherein the second voltage source is connected in parallel with the plural valve actuator subsystems; and

wherein freewheel current from each of the plural valve actuator subsystems is configured to be recycled though the second voltage source and made available to any of the plural valve actuator subsystems, the second voltage source not being a battery.

2. The system of claim 1, where the dissipation switch is configured to vary a rate at which energy is dissipated from the valve actuators.

3. The system of claim 1, where the dissipation switch is configured to vary a terminal voltage of the valve actuators to control dissipation of freewheel current from the valve actuators.

4. The system of claim 1, where the valve actuator subsystems are configured as boost subsystems, such that, for each valve actuator subsystem, current flows from the first voltage source to the valve actuator when the switch is in a first position, and current is permitted to flow from the valve actuator to the second voltage source when the switch is in a second position.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising plural additional valve actuator subsystems coupled between the first voltage source and the second voltage source, each additional valve actuator subsystem having a valve actuator and a switch in a buck configuration, such that current flows from the second voltage source to the valve actuator when the switch is in a first position, and current is permitted to flow from the valve actuator to the first voltage source when the switch is in a second position.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a second dissipation switch operatively coupled with the additional valve actuator subsystems and configured to selectively control energy dissipation from the valve actuators of the additional valve actuator subsystems.

7. The system of claim 5, where for each the plural valve actuator subsystems, the valve actuator and the switch are coupled in series between the first voltage source and a ground voltage, and where for each of the plural additional valve actuator subsystems, the valve actuator and the switch are coupled in series between the second voltage source and the first voltage source.

8. The system of claim 1, where the second voltage source includes a capacitor, the capacitor being selected to charge to a voltage higher than a voltage of the first voltage source.

9. The system of claim 1, where for each valve actuator subsystem, the valve actuator subsystem further includes a freewheel diode configured to permit freewheel current to circulate from the valve actuator to one of the first voltage source and the second voltage source upon opening of the switch.

10. The system of claim 9, where for each valve actuator subsystem, the switch and the freewheel diode provide alternate pathways for current flowing through the valve actuator, the alternate pathways being selected based on whether the switch is opened or closed.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second stage, in which plural additional valve actuator subsystems are coupled between the second voltage source and a third voltage source, each of the additional valve actuator subsystems having a valve actuator and a switch configured to selectively control application of voltage to the valve actuator to thereby selectively control energization of the valve actuator, the system further comprising an additional dissipation switch operatively connected with and associated with the additional valve actuator subsystems of the second stage and selectively operable to control dissipation of energy from any of the valve actuators of the second stage.

12. A system for electronically actuating valves in an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a first voltage source;

a second voltage source;

a first bank of valve actuator subsystems coupled between the first voltage source and the second voltage source, each having a valve actuator and a switch and configured so that, during operation, current flows from the first voltage source through the valve actuator when the switch is in a first position, and when the switch is in a second position, current is permitted to flow from the valve actuator to the second voltage source;

a second bank of valve actuator subsystems coupled between the first voltage source and the second voltage source, each having a valve actuator and a switch and configured so that, during operation, current flows from the second voltage source through the valve actuator when the switch is in a first position, and when the switch is in a second position, current is permitted to flow from the valve actuator to the first voltage source; and

a dissipation switch selectively operable to vary dissipation of freewheel current from at least some of the valve actuators.

13. The system of claim 12, where the dissipation switch is associated with the first bank of valve actuator subsystems so as to control dissipation of freewheel current from valve actuators of the first bank of valve actuator subsystems, and where the system further comprises a second dissipation switch associated with the second bank of valve actuator subsystems and selectively operable to vary dissipation of freewheel current from valve actuators of the second bank of valve actuator subsystems.

14. The system of claim 12, where for said at least some of the valve actuators, the dissipation switch is configured to vary a terminal voltage of the valve actuators to control dissipation of freewheel current from the valve actuators.

15. The system of claim 12, where the second voltage source includes a capacitor, the capacitor being selected to charge to a voltage higher than a voltage of the first voltage source.

16. An internal combustion engine, comprising:

a plurality of cylinders, each having one or more valves that are selectively openable and closable; and

a system for electronically actuating the valves, the system including;

a first voltage source;

a second voltage source;

plural cylinder valve actuator subsystems coupled between the first voltage source and the second voltage source, each having a valve actuator and a switch configured to selectively control application of voltage to the valve actuator to thereby selectively control energization of the valve actuator;

a dissipation switch operatively coupled with the valve actuator subsystems, the dissipation switch being selectively operable to control dissipation of energy from any of the valve actuators; and

wherein freewheel current from each of the plural valve actuator subsystems is configured to be recycled though the second voltage source and made available to any of the plural valve actuator subsystems through a continuously connected current path.

17. The engine of claim 16, where the dissipation switch is configured to vary a rate at which energy is dissipated from the valve actuators.

18. The engine of claim 16, where the dissipation switch is configured to vary a terminal voltage of the valve actuators to control dissipation of freewheel current from the valve actuators.

19. The engine of claim 16, where the valve actuator subsystems are configured as boost subsystems, such that, for each valve actuator subsystem, current flows from the first voltage source to the valve actuator when the switch is in a first position, and current is permitted to flow from the valve actuator to the second voltage source when the switch is in a second position.

20. The engine of claim 19, further comprising plural additional valve actuator subsystems coupled between the first voltage source and the second voltage source, each additional valve actuator subsystem having a valve actuator and a switch in a buck configuration, such that current flows from the second voltage source to the valve actuator when the switch is in a first position, and current is permitted to flow from the valve actuator to the first voltage source when the switch is in a second position.

21. The engine of claim 20, further comprising a second dissipation switch operatively coupled with the additional valve actuator subsystems and configured to selectively control energy dissipation from the valve actuators of the additional valve actuator subsystems.

22. The engine of claim 16, where the second voltage source includes a capacitor, the capacitor being selected to charge to a voltage higher than a voltage of the first voltage source.

23. The engine of claim 16, where for each valve actuator subsystem, the valve actuator subsystem further includes a freewheel diode configured to permit freewheel current to circulate from the valve actuator to one of the first voltage source and the second voltage source upon opening of the switch.

24. The engine of claim 23, where for each valve actuator subsystem, the switch and the freewheel diode provide alternate pathways for current flowing through the valve actuator, the alternate pathways being selected based on whether the switch is opened or closed.