EP1375843B1 - Moteur à combustion interne - Google Patents

Moteur à combustion interne Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1375843B1
EP1375843B1 EP02450145A EP02450145A EP1375843B1 EP 1375843 B1 EP1375843 B1 EP 1375843B1 EP 02450145 A EP02450145 A EP 02450145A EP 02450145 A EP02450145 A EP 02450145A EP 1375843 B1 EP1375843 B1 EP 1375843B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
valve
internal combustion
cam
combustion engine
hydraulic
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP02450145A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1375843A1 (fr
Inventor
Johannes Rieger
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AVL List GmbH
Original Assignee
AVL List GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AVL List GmbH filed Critical AVL List GmbH
Priority to EP02450145A priority Critical patent/EP1375843B1/fr
Priority to DE50200400T priority patent/DE50200400D1/de
Publication of EP1375843A1 publication Critical patent/EP1375843A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1375843B1 publication Critical patent/EP1375843B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01L—CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
    • F01L1/00—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear
    • F01L1/02—Valve drive
    • F01L1/04—Valve drive by means of cams, camshafts, cam discs, eccentrics or the like
    • F01L1/08—Shape of cams
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01L—CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
    • F01L1/00—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear
    • F01L1/12—Transmitting gear between valve drive and valve
    • F01L1/18—Rocking arms or levers
    • F01L1/181—Centre pivot rocking arms
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01L—CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
    • F01L1/00—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear
    • F01L1/34—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear 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
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01L—CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
    • F01L1/00—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear
    • F01L1/46—Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01L—CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
    • F01L13/00—Modifications of valve-gear to facilitate reversing, braking, starting, changing compression ratio, or other specific operations
    • F01L13/0005—Deactivating valves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01L—CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
    • F01L13/00—Modifications of valve-gear to facilitate reversing, braking, starting, changing compression ratio, or other specific operations
    • F01L13/0015—Modifications of valve-gear to facilitate reversing, braking, starting, changing compression ratio, or other specific operations for optimising engine performances by modifying valve lift according to various working parameters, e.g. rotational speed, load, torque
    • F01L13/0036—Modifications of valve-gear to facilitate reversing, braking, starting, changing compression ratio, or other specific operations for optimising engine performances by modifying valve lift according to various working parameters, e.g. rotational speed, load, torque the valves being driven by two or more cams with different shape, size or timing or a single cam profiled in axial and radial direction
    • F01L13/0047—Modifications of valve-gear to facilitate reversing, braking, starting, changing compression ratio, or other specific operations for optimising engine performances by modifying valve lift according to various working parameters, e.g. rotational speed, load, torque the valves being driven by two or more cams with different shape, size or timing or a single cam profiled in axial and radial direction the movement of the valves resulting from the sum of the simultaneous actions of at least two cams, the cams being independently variable in phase in respect of each other
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01L—CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
    • F01L9/00—Valve-gear or valve arrangements actuated non-mechanically
    • F01L9/10—Valve-gear or valve arrangements actuated non-mechanically by fluid means, e.g. hydraulic
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01L—CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
    • F01L9/00—Valve-gear or valve arrangements actuated non-mechanically
    • F01L9/10—Valve-gear or valve arrangements actuated non-mechanically by fluid means, e.g. hydraulic
    • F01L9/11—Valve-gear or valve arrangements actuated non-mechanically by fluid means, e.g. hydraulic in which the action of a cam is being transmitted to a valve by a liquid column

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an internal combustion engine with at least one cylinder and with at least one gas exchange valve, which is controlled by a first camshaft via a first cam and by a second camshaft via a second cam, at least one camshaft for changing the timing of the gas exchange valve in its phase position is adjustable.
  • EP 0 596 860 A discloses a method and a device for changing the valve timing, in which each cam is composed of two half-cams which can be rotated relative to one another. In this way it is possible to change the valve opening duration.
  • an inner shaft is provided within a hollow-drilled camshaft and can be rotated with respect to the camshaft. In this way, both the start of the valve opening and the end of the valve opening can be set independently of one another within certain limits, but the valve lift is still predetermined, and the device is also complex and expensive.
  • An internal combustion engine according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from WO 0 248 510 A.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an internal combustion engine with a valve control which avoids these disadvantages and allows great degrees of freedom in the setting of the valve opening times and in the lifting height of the valve movement.
  • the mechanical effort should be as low as possible so that cost-effective production and maintenance can be achieved.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a solution in which a valve shutdown can also be implemented in a simple manner if this is necessary.
  • the first cam acts on a first hydraulic member and the second cam acts on a second hydraulic member, which two hydraulic members act together on a third hydraulic member which actuates the gas exchange valve.
  • the switching of the hydraulic elements is carried out in such a way that the gas exchange valve only opens when there is an actuation by the first cam and the second cam at the same time.
  • the cam contours are designed such that, for example, the first cam acts on the first hydraulic element before the earliest possible valve opening time. This means that only the second cam causes the actual valve opening.
  • the second cam is in turn designed such that it still acts on the second hydraulic member even at the latest possible valve closing time, so that the valve is closed when the first cam ends the application of the first hydraulic member.
  • valve lift can also be reduced in a simple manner.
  • the full advantages of the invention are only achieved when the two camshafts can be adjusted independently of one another.
  • a structurally particularly favorable solution of the invention is provided if the first cam acts on the respective hydraulic member via a first rocker arm and the second cam via a second rocker arm.
  • a particularly simple construction can be achieved if the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm are mounted on a common axis.
  • one of the rocker arms has a preferably adjustable driver for the other rocker arm, as a result of which the latter is actuated when the latter is not actuated.
  • the setting can be implemented, for example, by a screw on the driver, which makes it possible to change the coordination of the rocker arms accordingly.
  • a valve shutdown can be implemented in a simple manner in that the gas exchange valve is opened only when a switching valve is provided which is designed to prevent the gas exchange valve from being actuated.
  • the present invention is basically suitable for all types of internal combustion engines, that is to say in particular also for internal combustion engines with spark ignition and those with auto-ignition.
  • the valve control according to the invention can control both an inlet valve and an outlet valve, or both inlet valves and outlet valves can be variably controlled independently of one another.
  • a particularly simple embodiment of the internal combustion engine is achieved if the gas exchange valve, which is controlled by the first camshaft and by the second camshaft, is an intake valve and that an exhaust valve is controlled by the first camshaft.
  • the gas exchange valve which is controlled by the first camshaft and by the second camshaft, is an intake valve and that an exhaust valve is controlled by the first camshaft.
  • two camshafts can be used to control the intake and exhaust valves.
  • the control times of the exhaust valve are firmly coupled with the opening or the closing movement of the intake valve.
  • the third hydraulic element acts on a valve bridge for actuating a plurality of gas exchange valves of the same type. In this way, for example, two inlet valves can be opened and closed simultaneously.
  • a further optimization of the present invention can be achieved in that the hydraulic device comprising the hydraulic members comprises a valve play compensation device. Due to the leakage of the system, the functionality of valve clearance compensation is achieved without a noticeable increase in effort. In this way, the additional effort compared to a conventional internal combustion engine with valve clearance compensation can be kept within manageable limits.
  • a gas exchange valve 1 which can be an inlet valve or an outlet valve, is assigned to a cylinder (not shown in more detail).
  • the gas exchange valve 1 is biased into the closed position by a valve spring 2, which is supported on a plate 3.
  • a hydraulic piston 5 is movably mounted in a housing 4, which represents the third hydraulic member and acts on the gas exchange valve 1 via a piston rod 6 in order to open the latter.
  • the hydraulic piston 5 delimits a working space 7 which is in flow connection with a first hydraulic cylinder 8 and a second hydraulic cylinder 9.
  • a first and a second control piston 10, 11 are each movably arranged in the first and second hydraulic cylinders 8, 9.
  • the first piston 10 is actuated by a first rocker arm 12, which in turn is actuated by a first cam 14 which is arranged on a first camshaft 16.
  • the second piston 11 is actuated by a second rocker arm 13 and a second cam 15 on a second camshaft 17.
  • the first and the second rocker arms 12, 13 are mounted on a common axis 18.
  • the first rocker arm 12 has an integrally formed driver 19 which actuates the second rocker arm 13 when the first rocker arm 12 is not actuated.
  • the working space 7 and the associated cylinder spaces 8, 9 are connected to a switching valve 21 via a connecting line 20.
  • the connecting line 20 is supplied with engine oil from the engine oil circuit via a supply line 22 in which a check valve 23 is provided.
  • a foreign oil supply is also possible possible.
  • the variability of the valve train according to the invention is shown using a diagram.
  • the valve stroke h is plotted in arbitrary units over the crank angle KW.
  • 30 designates a first curve section, which corresponds to an early opening of the gas exchange valve 1.
  • the curve section 30 continues in the curve sections 31, 32 or 33, with 31 corresponding to a very early closing, 32 a medium closing and 33 a late closing.
  • the maximum valve lift h is not reached, since the closing movement begins before the opening movement is completed.
  • further curves 40, 41, 42 and 43 are entered with broken lines, which correspond to curves 30, 31, 32 and 33, but with a later valve opening time.
  • the length of the valve opening and the stroke corresponding to curves 41, 42 and 43 are identical to those in the case of curves 31, 32 and 33, respectively.
  • the curve 51 represents the elevation of the first cam 14, which alternates between n 0 , the base circle, and n 1 , the cam elevation.
  • the curve 52 represents the situation on the second cam 15, which changes between the basic position m 0 and the raised position m 1 .
  • t 0 which corresponds to a crank angle of 0 °
  • the first cam 14 is in the raised position n 1
  • the second cam 15 is in the basic position m 0 . Accordingly, the gas exchange valve 1 is in its closed position.
  • the rising edge begins at second cam 15, which continues until time t 2 , in which second cam 15 has reached the raised position m 1 .
  • This time period between t 1 and t 2 corresponds to the opening movement of the gas exchange valve 1.
  • both cams 14, 15 remain in the raised position n 1 , m 1 , and the gas exchange valve 1 remains completely open.
  • the first cam 14 sinks to its base circle at n 0 , and accordingly the gas exchange valve 1 closes and is completely closed from time t 4 .
  • the descending flank of the second cam 15 begins at an arbitrary point in time t 5 , which in any case must be after the latest possible point in time t 4 , as can be seen from curve 52.
  • the driver 19 of the first rocker arm 12 holds down the second rocker arm 13, it lifts off the second cam 15, so that a fictitious cam curve 53 results, which is shown with dash-dotted lines is shown.
  • the time t 6 corresponds to the reaching of the base circle of the second cam 15, but this is meaningless for the system.
  • Only at a point in time t 7 does the rising flank of the first cam 14 begin with a corresponding movement of the first rocker arm 12, as a result of which the driver 19 accordingly releases the second rocker arm 13 until it finally rests on the second cam 15.
  • time t 8 which corresponds to 720 ° crank angle, this movement has ended and a new work cycle begins at t 0 .
  • the present invention makes it possible in a simple manner to determine the valve timing with large degrees of freedom.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Valve Device For Special Equipments (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Moteur thermique à combustion interne comportant au moins un cylindre et au moins une soupape d'échange de gaz (1) commandée par un premier arbre à cames (16) et une première came (14) ainsi qu'un second arbre à cames (17) et une seconde came (15), la position de phase d'au moins un arbre à cames (16, 17) étant réglable pour modifier les temps de commande de la soupape d'échange de gaz (1),
    la première came (14) agissant sur un premier organe hydraulique (10) et la seconde came (15) sur un second organe hydraulique (11),
    ces deux organes hydrauliques (10, 11) agissant en commun sur un troisième organe hydraulique (5) qui actionne la soupape d'échange de gaz (1),
    caractérisé par
    un mécanisme à levier qui assure que la soupape d'échange de gaz (1) ne s'ouvre que si et seulement si, à la fois la première came (14) et la seconde came (15) agissent sur l'organe hydraulique correspondant (10, 11).
  2. Moteur thermique selon la revendication 1,
    caractérisé en ce que
    la première came (14) agit sur le premier organe hydraulique (10) par l'intermédiaire d'un premier culbuteur (12).
  3. Moteur thermique selon l'une des revendications 1 ou 2,
    caractérisé en ce que
    la seconde came (15) agit sur le second organe hydraulique (11) par l'intermédiaire d'un second culbuteur (13).
  4. Moteur thermique selon les revendications 2 et 3,
    caractérisé en ce que
    le premier culbuteur (12) et le second culbuteur (13) sont montés sur un axe commun (18).
  5. Moteur thermique selon les revendications 2 et 3 ou 4,
    caractérisé en ce que
    l'un des culbuteurs (12) comporte un organe d'entraînement (19) de préférence réglable pour l'autre culbuteur (13), celui-ci étant actionné lorsque le premier ne l'est pas.
  6. Moteur thermique selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5,
    caractérisé par
    une vanne de commutation (21) réalisée pour interdire l'actionnement de la soupape d'échange de gaz (1).
  7. Moteur thermique selon l'une des revendications 1 à 6,
    caractérisé en ce que
    les organes hydrauliques (10, 11) sont des vérins hydrauliques.
  8. Moteur thermique selon l'une des revendications 1 à 7,
    caractérisé en ce que
    la soupape d'échange de gaz (1) commandée par le premier arbre à cames (16) et le second arbre à cames (17) est une soupape d'admission et, une soupape d'échappement est commandée par le premier arbre à cames (16).
  9. Moteur thermique selon l'une des revendications 1 à 8,
    caractérisé en ce que
    la position de phase du premier arbre à cames (16) et du second arbre à cames (17) sont réglables indépendamment.
  10. Moteur thermique selon l'une des revendications 1 à 9,
    caractérisé en ce que
    le troisième organe hydraulique (5) agit sur un pont de vanne pour actionner plusieurs soupapes de gaz (1) de même type.
  11. Moteur thermique selon l'une des revendications 1 à 10,
    caractérisé en ce que
    l'installation hydraulique comprenant les organes hydrauliques (5 ; 10, 11) comprend une installation de compensation de jeu soupape.
EP02450145A 2002-06-28 2002-06-28 Moteur à combustion interne Expired - Lifetime EP1375843B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02450145A EP1375843B1 (fr) 2002-06-28 2002-06-28 Moteur à combustion interne
DE50200400T DE50200400D1 (de) 2002-06-28 2002-06-28 Brennkraftmaschine mit innerer Verbrennung

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02450145A EP1375843B1 (fr) 2002-06-28 2002-06-28 Moteur à combustion interne

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1375843A1 EP1375843A1 (fr) 2004-01-02
EP1375843B1 true EP1375843B1 (fr) 2004-04-28

Family

ID=29717040

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02450145A Expired - Lifetime EP1375843B1 (fr) 2002-06-28 2002-06-28 Moteur à combustion interne

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1375843B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE50200400D1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE602004004997T2 (de) * 2004-01-16 2007-11-08 C.R.F. S.C.P.A. Brennkraftmaschine mit einer einzigen obenliegenden Nockenwelle zur mechanischen Steuerung der Auslassventile und zur elektrohydraulischen Steuerung der Einlassventile
AT500600B1 (de) * 2004-07-20 2007-09-15 Avl List Gmbh Brennkraftmaschine mit innerer verbrennung
DE112005001390A5 (de) 2004-06-24 2007-05-10 Avl List Gmbh Brennkraftmaschine
KR101272942B1 (ko) 2011-09-30 2013-06-11 현대자동차주식회사 가변밸브 장치
FR2986558B1 (fr) * 2012-02-02 2014-03-07 Melchior Jean F Dispositif de commande variable d'au moins une soupape, par exemple pour un moteur alternatif
EP3184761B1 (fr) * 2015-12-24 2018-04-18 C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni Système d'actionnement variable d'une soupape d'un moteur à combustion interne

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2480854A1 (fr) * 1980-04-22 1981-10-23 Renault Commande de soupapes de moteurs a combustion interne par distributeur hydraulique a faible consommation de puissance
US4716863A (en) * 1985-11-15 1988-01-05 Pruzan Daniel A Internal combustion engine valve actuation system
US4771742A (en) 1986-02-19 1988-09-20 Clemson University Method for continuous camlobe phasing
GB9001793D0 (en) * 1990-01-26 1990-03-28 Baker David J Multiple cam mechanism
DE4018586A1 (de) * 1990-06-09 1991-12-12 Audi Ag Zylinderkopf fuer eine ventilgesteuerte hubkolben-brennkraftmaschine
DE4236600C2 (de) * 1992-10-29 1999-03-11 Audi Ag Ventilbetätigungsmechanismus für eine Mehrzylinder-Brennkraftmaschine
DE19745761A1 (de) 1997-10-16 1999-04-22 Daimler Chrysler Ag Variable Ventilsteuerung für Hubkolben-Brennkraftmaschinen
US7011056B2 (en) * 2000-12-15 2006-03-14 Melchior Jean Frederic Variable timing device for reciprocating engines, engines comprising same and distribution and turbocharging method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE50200400D1 (de) 2004-06-03
EP1375843A1 (fr) 2004-01-02

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
DE112004001450B4 (de) Vorrichtung für eine Brennkraftmaschine
DE10314683B4 (de) Variable Ventilhubsteuerung für einen Verbrennungsmotor mit untenliegender Nockenwelle
DE19908286B4 (de) Variable Ventilsteuerung für Brennkraftmaschinen
EP1760278A2 (fr) Système de contrôle de course variable de soupape pour un moteur à combustion
DE102006033559A1 (de) Hubvariabler Ventiltrieb für eine Brennkraftmaschine
EP1561011B1 (fr) Systeme d'actionneur oscillant servant a commander la levee d'une soupape de changement des gaz dans la culasse d'un moteur a combustion
DE102004008350A1 (de) Motorventilbetätigungssystem
DE10228022A1 (de) Ventilhubvorrichtung zur Hubverstellung der Gaswechselventile einer Verbrennungskraftmaschine
DE10113079A1 (de) Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Deaktivierung von Zylindern einer Brennkraftmaschine
EP1375843B1 (fr) Moteur à combustion interne
DE10311275A1 (de) Ventiltrieb für einen Verbrennungsmotor
DE69303740T2 (de) Ventilantrieb für eine Brennkraftmaschine
DE102004023451A1 (de) Direkt wirkender differenzieller zweistufiger Ventiltrieb
EP3887656A1 (fr) Mécanisme de distribution à course variable présentant au moins deux positions de travail
DE102006002133A1 (de) Ventiltrieb zur hubvariablen Betätigung eines Gaswechselventils einer Brennkraftmaschine
EP2619422B1 (fr) Moteur à combustion interne à quatre temps avec frein moteur
EP1608852B1 (fr) Dispositif d'actionnement variable des soupapes d'echange des gaz de moteurs a combustion interne et procede permettant de faire fonctionner un dispositif de ce type
EP3440322A1 (fr) Distribution et module moteur
WO1999006678A1 (fr) Systeme de commande de soupapes d'un moteur a combustion pouvant etre commute en mode entrainement ou en mode freinage
DE19807351C2 (de) Brennkraftmaschine mit innerer Verbrennung
AT500600B1 (de) Brennkraftmaschine mit innerer verbrennung
WO2004085805A1 (fr) Dispositif permettant de faire fonctionner des soupapes d'echange des gaz dans des moteurs alternatifs a pistons
EP1722076B1 (fr) Entraînement de soupapes pour moteur à combustion interne
DE102007049110B4 (de) Brennkraftmaschine mit zwei gemischten Nockenwellen
DE202004019202U1 (de) Vollvariable Hubventilsteuerung einer Brennkraftmaschine

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20030125

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL LT LV MK RO SI

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: NOT ENGLISH

GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)

Effective date: 20040428

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: GERMAN

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 50200400

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20040603

Kind code of ref document: P

AKX Designation fees paid

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

LTIE Lt: invalidation of european patent or patent extension

Effective date: 20040428

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FD4D

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20050131

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20120726

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20120719

Year of fee payment: 11

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20120727

Year of fee payment: 11

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20120629

Year of fee payment: 11

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20130628

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20140228

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 50200400

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20140101

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20130628

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20140101

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20130628

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20130701