The disclosure relates to a camshaft adjustment system.
In principle, it may be required to set a rotational angle position of the camshaft relative to a crankshaft differently depending on an existing temperature of the internal combustion engine (cold or warm start) before the internal combustion engine is started in order to use the resulting effects on the decompression and compression of the combustion chambers.
In addition, there is a need to further simplify a structure of adjustment mechanisms used for individual, oil pressure-independent adjustment of a camshaft adjuster and to make them as reproducible as possible using common means.
It is therefore the object of the present disclosure to provide a camshaft adjustment system which has a simple structure and at the same time enables variable adjustment of the compression of an internal combustion engine for start-up.
This is achieved according to the disclosure in that a second actuator actuated independently of the first actuator is provided, and this second actuator is arranged and formed such that, in order to release the camshaft adjuster from the late position (which can also be referred to as “the retarded position”) when in an operating state, a ram of the second actuator displaces a locking pin of a late-locking device (which can also be referred to as a “retard-locking device”) of the camshaft adjuster out of its position that locks the late position.
By providing this second actuator and coupling it to the late-locking device, the structure used for oil pressure-independent actuation/adjustment of the camshaft adjuster is significantly simplified. Furthermore, the second actuator can be arranged independently of the first actuator in order to save space.
Further example embodiments are explained in greater detail below.
Accordingly, the camshaft adjuster can be designed such that when the hydraulic pressure falls below a minimum hydraulic pressure (within the sub-chambers), the camshaft adjuster is automatically rotated into a predetermined (preferably form-fittingly supported) starting position relative to the second actuator, in which the ram is coupled in an axially displaceable manner to the locking pin. This ensures the functionality of the system in a simple manner.
If the late-locking device is designed such that, when the minimum hydraulic pressure of the camshaft adjuster falls below the minimum hydraulic pressure, the rotor is displaced into the late position and the locking pin of the late-locking device automatically locks the rotor in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the stator, the late position is reliably set when the internal combustion engine is switched off. This enables reliable camshaft adjustment.
The ram of the second actuator can be indirectly axially coupled to the locking pin of the late-locking device via a sliding element which is axially displaceably accommodated in the stator. This allows the second actuator to be arranged in as space-saving a manner as possible.
In addition, the ram and/or the sliding element can be preloaded by a (respective individual) return spring into a rest position arranged in a powerless manner relative to the locking pin (the late-locking device). This means that the camshaft adjuster can be precisely controlled in its various positions.
The second actuator is arranged relative to the camshaft adjuster in as space-saving a manner as possible if the ram is coupled to the sliding element via a plate (forming a lever).
If the plate is also fork-shaped and has two arms extending/protruding from opposite circumferential sides, which are arranged on a common (radial) diameter with the sliding element, said coupling between the ram and locking pin is reliably implemented even with different rotational positions of the camshaft adjuster relative to the second actuator.
In particular, the sliding element is reliably contacted by the plate during operation if the arms of the plate are implemented in a ramp shape on their side facing the sliding element such that they rise with this side towards their free end in the circumferential direction/extend axially away from the locking pin. The arms of the plate are therefore preferably curved. This also results in a space-saving and lightweight design of the plate.
Furthermore, the camshaft adjuster can be provided with a central locking device for locking the driven part relative to the stator in at least one center position offset from the late position towards the early position (which can also be referred to as “the advanced position”. This results in as skillful a design as possible of the camshaft adjuster for starting the internal combustion engine during a cold start.
With regard to the central locking device, it is also useful if it is designed as a multi-stage, or, in an example embodiment, a three-stage ratchet.
Furthermore, the second actuator can be an electric magnetic actuator. As a result, the structure of the second actuator is further simplified and in particular can only be switched between two states (ON and OFF), which is sufficient to ensure the reliable locking function of the second actuator.
The disclosure also relates to a method for operating a drive train having a camshaft adjustment system according to the disclosure according to any one of the aforementioned embodiments, such as a hybrid drive train of a motor vehicle. The stator is rotatably coupled to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine by means of a timing drive, the rotor is connected to a camshaft (preferably implemented as an inlet camshaft) of the internal combustion engine, and an electric machine is operatively connected to the crankshaft. The method comprises the following steps: a) unlocking the late-locking device supporting the rotor in the late position relative to the stator by activating the second actuator, and b) rotating the crankshaft via the electric machine such that the stator and the rotor of the camshaft adjuster are rotated relative to one another towards the early position until a central locking device automatically locks the camshaft adjuster in a center position.
In an example embodiment, the electric machine rotates/reverses the crankshaft in step b) against a main direction of rotation implemented during operation of the internal combustion engine. This allows the crankshaft to be turned as gently as possible.
The disclosure is now be explained in more detail with reference to drawings, in which context various exemplary embodiments are also shown.
In the figures:
The figures are merely schematic in nature and serve solely for understanding the disclosure. Identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols.
An electric machine 23 is also attached/rotatably connected to the crankshaft 21 via its rotor, which is not shown in further detail for the sake of clarity. The electric machine 23 is designed such that it serves as a generator in the hybrid drive train of the motor vehicle, but is used in at least one further operating state as a drive machine, for example as a starter of the internal combustion engine 20.
Furthermore, a camshaft sensor 24 is provided on the internal combustion engine 20, which detects the speed and rotation angle position of the camshaft 5 via a first trigger wheel 39a, and a crankshaft sensor 25, which detects the speed and angle of rotation position of the crankshaft 21 via a further second trigger wheel 39b. The crankshaft 21 is used in the usual manner to drive a wheel 26 of the motor vehicle, shown in simplified form.
The camshaft adjustment system 1 according to the disclosure can be seen in a simplified representation in
To control/adjust the camshaft adjuster 3, a control valve 9 is used as a central valve. The control valve 9, which is hydraulically coupled on the input side with a pump (not shown for the sake of clarity), can be moved into various positions in the usual manner in order to, among other things, create a first sub-chamber 7a or a second sub-chamber 7b of each working chamber 2, which, as shown in more detail in connection with the second exemplary embodiment, are intended to apply hydraulic pressure and thereby rotate the stator 4 and the rotor 6 relative to one another, or to block them relative to one another and to set the different switching states/operating states of the camshaft adjustment system 1.
It can also be seen that the control valve 9 is controlled/adjusted via a first actuator 8, which is designed as a central actuator. The first actuator 8 has an armature 27 or an armature ram, which is arranged coaxially to an axis of rotation of the camshaft 5. The control valve 9 is arranged radially inside the rotor 6. The first actuator 8 is arranged axially offset from the control valve 9 and fixed to the housing/accommodated on a housing of the internal combustion engine 20.
Furthermore, according to the disclosure, a second actuator 10 is present, which can be actuated independently of the first actuator 8. The second actuator 10 is used to adjust, in particular to unlock, a locking pin 12 of a late-locking device 13. The second actuator 10 is arranged radially offset from the first actuator 8. Furthermore, the second actuator 10 is arranged axially next to the camshaft adjuster 3. The second actuator 10 is also fixed to the housing/accommodated on a housing of the internal combustion engine 20.
Both actuators 8, 10 are connected to a control device 28, indicated in
In the exemplary embodiment of
A movement coupling of the ram 11 with the locking pin 12 in the locked late position of the camshaft adjuster 3 shown in
It can also be seen that the sliding element 14 is preloaded towards the ram 11 via a first return spring 15a. As can be seen in more detail in connection with the second exemplary embodiment, inside the second actuator 10, the ram 11 is preloaded away from the locking pin 12 via a further second return spring 15b. As already mentioned, the locking pin 12 is preloaded towards the cover 30 via the third return spring 15c and into the receiving hole 29 in the locked late position.
It should also be noted that the second actuator 10 is implemented as an electric magnetic actuator. Consequently, the second actuator 10 can only be switched between a switched-on state and a switched-off state, wherein the ram 11 pushes the locking pin 12 out of the receiving hole 29 via the sliding element 14 in order to unlock the camshaft adjuster 3 from the late position in the switched-on state until the camshaft adjuster 3 is completely unlocked (from its late position). In the switched-off state, however, there is no magnetic displacement force acting on the ram 11 and consequently no displacement force on the sliding element 14 and the locking pin 12.
In conjunction with
In
In this regard, a more detailed design of the plate 16 can be seen in connection with
The arms 17a, 17b are bent towards their free ends such that they each form a ramp with their end faces facing axially towards the sliding element 14. The ramp is implemented such that the end face facing the sliding element 14 extends towards the free end of the respective arm 17a, 17b axially from the web area 33 to an axial side facing away from the camshaft adjuster 3. This enables the sliding element 14 to be cleverly captured when the camshaft adjuster 3 is rotated relative to the second actuator 10.
In
In other words, according to the disclosure, a camshaft adjuster 3 is equipped with a locking pin 12 in the late position, which locking pin 12 is supplied with oil pressure from a second sub-chamber 7b (also referred to as the A-chamber) and can thus unlock, but which can also can be unlocked mechanically by an additional unlocking mechanism comprising the ram 11 and the sliding element 14 and preferably also the plate 16.
The camshaft adjuster 3 has two additional central locking pins 19a, 19b, which in the locked state enable locking in the center/a center position. These central locking pins 19a, 19b can be unlocked hydraulically via a so-called C-channel 37. A mechanical ratchet is also integrated into the camshaft adjuster 3 by means of these two central locking pins 19a, 19b, which can prevent the camshaft adjuster 3 from moving back in three stages from the late position to the center position.
The camshaft adjuster 3 has two locking covers (referred to here as the first and second cover segments 35a, 35b) and can be designed both with and without a smart phasing function.
The control valve 9 is also a 5/4-way proportional central valve, comprising a pump connection (P), a connection to the first sub-chambers 7a (B), a connection to the second sub-chambers 7b (A), a C-channel 37 (C), and a tank connection (T) respectively and is designed to implement four positions or switching positions.
To control the control valve 9, a proportional central magnet in the form of the first actuator 8 is electrically controlled.
The further second actuator 10 is implemented as an electric magnetic actuator with an on/off function. This second actuator 10 has the task of pressing the unlocking mechanism formed by the sliding element 14 and the locking pin 12 of the late-locking device 13 in the camshaft adjuster 3 upon activation, preferably via a lever mechanism formed by the plate 16, and thus locking between the rotor 6 and stator 4 without releasing oil pressure.
Both actuators 8, 10 are controlled via the control device 28 or engine control device of the internal combustion engine 20.
In conjunction with the previously described drive train 36, a method according to the disclosure for operating the camshaft adjustment system 1 is implemented according to the following scheme:
When the engine is stopped/switched off, the internal combustion engine 20 is rotated with the aid of the electric machine 23 until a constantly identical standstill position (e.g., a top dead center (TDC) of a first cylinder/cylinder 1 of the internal combustion engine 20) is reached. A defined positive connection between the camshaft adjuster 3 and the camshaft 5 (timing pin) ensures that the sliding element 14 in the camshaft adjuster 3 is always in the same position (starting position; e.g., 6 o'clock) when at a standstill and thus the second actuator 10 is in this position via the ram 11, preferably the lever mechanism, and the sliding element 14 can unlock the locking pin 12 of the late-locking device 13. The standstill position of the internal combustion engine 20 is selected so that the camshaft 5 remains stationary such that a cam of the camshaft 5 exerts a torque in the late direction on the rotor 6 so that a wing 38 rests on the late stop 40 (
The second actuator 10 has a fork-shaped plate 16 or fork, which is connected to the ram 11 of the second actuator 10 so that it is mounted in the second actuator 10 such that it cannot rotate. The width of this plate 16 makes it possible to compensate for certain tolerances in finding the starting position. The two arms 17a, 17b or wings of the plate 16 are slightly bent upwards (as a ramp), which enables the unlocking mechanism (sliding element 14) to be actuated even if it is not in the region of the plate when the second actuator 10 is activated 16, but is then pressed over the ramp on the plate 16 by “screwing in” the camshaft adjuster 3 in front of the plate 16.
The second actuator 10, the sliding element 14 in the camshaft adjuster 3 and the locking pin 12 in the camshaft adjuster 3 each have an integrated return spring 15a, 15b, 15c, which the second actuator 10 can then switch/compress together in series with its magnetic force when activated. After deactivation of the second actuator 10, all three components (armature unit in the magnet of the second actuator 10 with the ram 11, sliding element 14 and locking pin 12) are pressed back into their starting position in order to avoid contact between the second actuator 10 and the camshaft adjuster 3 when the internal combustion engine 20 is rotating.
The logic of the 5/4-way proportional valve is shown in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2021 115 590.8 | Jun 2021 | DE | national |
This application is the U.S. National Phase of PCT Application No. PCT/DE2022/100422 filed on Jun. 7, 2022, which claims priority to DE 10 2021 115 590.8 filed on Jun. 16, 2021, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/DE2022/100422 | 6/7/2022 | WO |