The present invention relates to a control device and a method for adjusting the angular velocity ratio (ωN(t)/ωK(t)) between a camshaft and a crankshaft.
In internal combustion engines, the crankshaft drives one or more camshafts via a primary drive, which is implemented as a toothed belt, for example. For this purpose, a cam wheel, via which the primary drive drives the camshaft, is attached to each camshaft. The angular velocity ωK(t) of the crankshaft is converted at each instant, whereby the angular velocity of the crankshaft ωK(t) can be used in determining the angular velocity of the camshaft ωN(t), using ωN(t)=½*ωK(t). The ratio of the two angular velocities is constant due to this coupling. In most applications, this fixed coupling between camshaft and crankshaft results in a ratio of (ωN(t)/ωK(t))=½.
However, the operating properties of an internal combustion engine may be optimized, particularly in regard to fuel consumption, exhaust gas emission, and smooth running, if the system coupled between the camshaft and crankshaft via the primary drive may be altered.
A control unit for adjusting the rotational angle of a camshaft in relation to the rotational angle of a crankshaft using a wobble plate mechanism is disclosed in DE 100 38 354 A1. In this case, an additional drive also acts on the camshaft via a wobble plate mechanism which is positioned between the cam wheel and the camshaft. This results in the camshaft being able to be adjusted in relation to the crankshaft. The additional drive may act on the camshaft in both directions via the wobble plate mechanism, so that its angular velocity in relation to the camshaft, and therefore the fixed ratio (ωN(t)/ωK(t)), changes.
However, this has the disadvantage that the drive must have right-handed rotation and left-handed rotation, in order to move the wobble plate both in one direction and in the other direction, or two motors which have different rotational directions are necessary. In the event of sudden changeover from one rotational direction to the other rotational direction in order to return the camshaft into the original starting position, for example, all components are strongly loaded and, in addition, in the case of electric motors which have right-handed rotation and left-handed rotation, bridge circuits are then necessary, which require costly power components.
The objective of the present invention is to specify a simple and cost-effective alternative for adjusting the camshaft in relation to the crankshaft.
This objective is achieved according to the present invention by using an additional drive in one direction that elevates the angular velocity ωN(t) of the camshaft and a braking device reduces the angular velocity ωN(t) of the camshaft, this additional drive having no influence on the angular velocity of the crankshaft. Due to the additional drive, the camshaft may lead the crankshaft somewhat in relation to the exclusively coupled system of camshaft and crankshaft, correspondingly, the lead is canceled again or the crankshaft is now caused to lead the camshaft by the braking of the camshaft, so that the valves close earlier or later, depending on whether the crankshaft leads the camshaft or the camshaft leads the crankshaft.
The advantages of the present invention are that such a construction is very cost-effective, because the drive only has to have one rotational direction, and therefore controlling it is also very simple. Likewise, a braking device is very simple to construct, independently of whether it is an electromagnetic or mechanical braking device.
Advantageous refinements result from the subclaims. With an electric motor in two quadrant mode, the motor may be used the as the drive device and as the braking device. In one exemplary embodiment in particular, a further, second braking device has been shown to be advantageous in order to reach the desired adjustment positions more rapidly.
The present invention will be described in greater detail in the following on the basis of exemplary embodiments and the drawing figures.
In the exemplary embodiment, the angular velocity of the camshaft 7 is reduced using the same electric motor 3 which is also responsible for the drive. However, this motor is then used not as a drive, but rather as a braking device. The electric motor 3 has a controller which allows a two quadrant mode, i.e., using the electric motor 3, a driveshaft 5 may be both driven in one direction and braked. During braking, the electric motor 3 acts as a generator which causes the driveshaft 5 to be braked. This regenerative braking causes the angular velocity of the camshaft 7 to be reduced in the actuator 4 having the wobble plate mechanism. The braking is performed until the desired offset between crankshaft 6 and camshaft 7 is achieved. The angular velocity of the camshaft 7 is then again determined exclusively by the angular velocity of the crankshaft 6, which is transmitted to the cam wheel of the camshaft 7 using primary drive 11. The electric motor 3 is controlled in the two quadrant mode via a controller 1 having setpoint value presets which relate to comparative data of sensors (not shown), for example. This comparative data includes, for example, the current actual values, such as the speed of the electric motor 3 and/or the position of the camshaft 7 and the crankshaft 6. The controller 1 is connected to a final stage 2 which causes the electric motor 3 to exert a driving function or regeneratively brake. This final stage 2 makes the two quadrant mode of the electric motor 3 possible with the aid of a cost-effective half bridge circuit. In order to close the control circuit between the controller 1 and electric motor 3, it is necessary to detect an actual value which describes the status of the system, particularly the electric motor 3, and feed it into the control unit 1.
The electric motor 3 in two quadrant mode is advantageous because only a few power components are necessary for controlling it. In contrast to typical electric motors in four quadrant mode, for example, which have left-handed rotation and right-handed rotation, only one half-bridge circuit is necessary for control here. Such a circuit is more cost-effective, space-saving, and less susceptible to breakdown. The primary statement in this exemplary embodiment is that to adjust the offset between crankshaft and camshaft, an electric motor which has a drive function in one direction and a braking function may be used. These two functions: driving and braking, allow the camshaft to lead and/or trail in relation to the crankshaft, so that the fixed coupling factor between crankshaft and camshaft may be altered. The regenerative braking of the electric motor 3 may be used so that the increase of the angular velocity of the camshaft 7 may be ended more rapidly, so that the camshaft is brought back into the basic setting in relation to the crankshaft, or even to achieve a negative offset between camshaft and crankshaft.
Likewise, other variations which have any arbitrary drive in one direction and a braking device are also conceivable, the drive not only able to be of electrical origin, but rather all other types of drive which achieve the same result also being able to be used. The braking device may also be constructed independently from the drive and other types of braking devices which cause braking may be used. The position of the braking device is unimportant, it may act on the camshaft either directly or indirectly via the wobble plate mechanism.
In order to be able to adjust camshafts rapidly in both directions, the properties of an electric motor 3 in two quadrant mode and, in addition, the additional braking device are used. This means that they act as a drive on the camshaft in one adjustment direction and act as a brake in the other adjustment direction. As shown in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102 42 659 | Sep 2002 | DE | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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5361736 | Phoenix et al. | Nov 1994 | A |
Number | Date | Country |
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36 38 527 | May 1988 | DE |
198 04 942 | Aug 1999 | DE |
199 10 210 | Sep 2000 | DE |
100 38 354 | Feb 2002 | DE |
0 274 019 | Jul 1988 | EP |
2 814 604 | Mar 2002 | FR |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20050183681 A1 | Aug 2005 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/DE03/02875 | Aug 2003 | US |
Child | 11079044 | US |