JP2016102497A - Valve mechanism for internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved valve mechanism.SOLUTION: This invention relates to a valve mechanism for an internal combustion engine having a pressurized fluid pressure source comprising a discharging or intake valve; an actuator including an actuator housing; a piston slidable within the actuator housing and having the first piston end and the second piston end; the second piston end part connected to a valve through an opening in the second housing end part; and the first chamber defined between the first piston face of the first piston end part and the first housing end part. This invention also relates to an internal combustion engine and a method for operating a valve for use in moving the intake/discharging valve of the valve mechanism.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a valve mechanism for an internal combustion engine having a pressure source of pressurized fluid. The invention also relates to an internal combustion engine comprising a valve mechanism according to the invention and a valve actuation method for moving the intake / exhaust valves of the valve mechanism according to the invention.

  In the internal combustion engine disclosed in Patent Document 1, the cylinder is emptied for exhaust gas after the end of combustion, and new gas is introduced into the cylinder during the stroke. For this purpose, it is necessary to open the exhaust valve or the intake valve. For example, when opening the exhaust valve, the pressure in the cylinder is very high, and when the valve is slightly opened, the pressure is sufficiently reduced. The electronically actuated valve is actuated by an actuator that exerts a pressure on the top of the valve rod to move the valve downwards and fully open the valve. In order to overcome the high pressure in the cylinder, the initial pressure on the valve needs to be very high, and then the operating force can be low enough to continue the movement of fully opening the valve.

  In known actuators, the actuator has a dual piston actuated by pressurized fluid, and when the initial pressure in the cylinder is overcome, the movement of the piston outside the dual piston is stopped and the valve is fully opened. Only the piston inside the dual piston moves as it is. In this way, the surface area of the resulting dual piston is substantially reduced after the initial high pressure in the cylinder is overcome, thus reducing the amount of pressurized fluid to move the valve further to the fully open position. Is done. When the inner piston has a dual piston that moves within the outer piston, the dual piston is subject to failure during operation, and such a dual piston is both very complex and expensive to manufacture. In particular, the moving parts of the dual piston were exposed to bumps, which resulted in actuator failure, initial piston wear and cracks.

U.S. Pat.No. 5,193,495

  It is an object of the present invention to overcome all or part of the above disadvantages and disadvantages of the prior art. More specifically, it is an object to provide an improved valve mechanism that is easier to manufacture and less subject to actuator failure.

The above objective, which will become apparent from the following description, is a valve mechanism for an internal combustion engine having a pressure source of pressurized fluid, along with numerous other objectives, advantages and features,
-Exhaust or intake valve,
-An actuator,
An actuator housing having an axial extension between the first housing end and the second housing end, the first housing end having a first opening in fluid connection with a pressure source; Having an actuator housing,
-A piston slidable within the actuator housing and having a first piston end and a second piston end, the second piston end being a valve between a closed position and an open position; A piston connected to the valve through an opening in the second housing for actuating the
A first chamber defined between a first piston face of the first piston end and a first housing end, wherein the first piston face is a first end of the actuator housing; An actuator comprising a first chamber facing the valve mechanism comprising:
The piston includes a second piston face arranged with displacement relative to the first piston face along an axial extension, the second piston face defined by the actuator housing and the piston. Wherein the piston comprises or defines a flow path that fluidly connects the first chamber and the second chamber, so that pressurized fluid is transferred from the first chamber to the second chamber. This is achieved by the solution according to the invention by means of a valve mechanism which is guided to push the second piston face and open the valve.

  By having a flow path in the piston, the pressurized fluid presses the first piston face and the second piston face at the same time and is therefore larger than the first piston face alone at the initial pressurization to the piston. Area is used, and thus a greater force is obtained to overcome the overpressure in the engine cylinder.

  The piston may be a single part or a plurality of non-movable parts.

  The first chamber may be separated from the second chamber.

  Further, the actuator housing can include an annular groove that defines a second chamber.

  In addition, the second piston face can have a distance within an axial extension with respect to the annular groove in the closed position of the valve.

  In addition, the piston can have an annular projection that provides a second piston face.

  Further, the second chamber has a chamber face that is closest to the first piston face and has a distance within an axial extension relative to the second piston face in the closed position of the valve. Can do.

  The second chamber may be annular.

  Further, the chamber face may be terminated in contact with the piston.

  Furthermore, the second chamber can terminate with the second chamber face in contact with the piston.

  The flow path may have a first flow path opening and a second flow path opening, the second flow path opening faces the second chamber in the closed position, and the second flow path opening is , Arranged perpendicular to the axial extension, and therefore, as soon as the piston moves to open the valve, the second channel opening is moved past the second chamber, Disconnect the fluid connection between the two chambers.

  Furthermore, the first channel openings can be arranged in the first piston face or in the circumferential face of the piston.

  The piston may further include a plurality of first flow path openings facing the first chamber.

  In addition, the piston can further comprise a plurality of second flow path openings facing the second chamber.

  In addition, the valve mechanism can further comprise a damping device arranged in the first piston end.

  Such a damping device may comprise a damping piston arranged to be slidable into the lumen in the first piston end, the piston being arranged in the lumen and an application for pressing the damping piston. It can be compressed by a pressurized fluid.

  The piston can also include an annular protrusion that corresponds to the annular space defined by the actuator housing and the piston, and thus the protrusion confines the annular space while the piston is moving to open the valve. Can do.

  When the protrusion is able to confine the annular space while the piston is moving to open the valve, fluid is drawn into the space and the piston movement is decelerated to damp the piston oscillation. In this way, the piston stop motion is significantly damped.

  Further, the first piston face can be arranged at a distance from the first end of the actuator housing along an axial extension.

  Moreover, the annular space may be part of the first chamber.

  In addition, the annular space can be arranged in the third chamber.

  The second chamber can be arranged between the first chamber and the third chamber along an axial extension.

  Further, the actuator housing can comprise a third opening arranged at a distance from the second chamber along the axial extension, the third opening being relative to the first end of the actuator housing. Rather closer to the second end of the actuator housing.

  The third opening may be a relief opening for receiving pressurized fluid from the flow path when the second flow path opening faces the third opening.

  In addition, the third opening can be fluidly connected to the third chamber.

  The present invention also relates to an internal combustion engine including a valve mechanism as described above.

  Furthermore, the present invention relates to a container provided with an internal combustion engine as described above.

Finally, the present invention
-Pressurizing the fluid;
-Directing the pressurized fluid past the first opening in the actuator housing;
-Guiding the fluid into the flow path in the piston;
-Simultaneously pressing the first piston face and the second piston face with a pressurized fluid;
-Moving the piston towards the second end of the actuator housing to open the valve;
-Closing the fluid connection with the second chamber;
-A valve actuation method for moving the intake / exhaust valve of the valve mechanism as described above between an open position and a closed position, comprising further moving the piston to fully open the valve;

  The valve actuation method can further include the step of taking fluid into the space by moving the protrusion while the piston is moving to confine the space.

  The step of taking the fluid into the space can slow down the piston movement until the piston movement stops to damp the piston oscillation.

  The valve operating method may further include a step of compressing the spring by pressing the damping piston.

  Closing the fluid connection with the second chamber can be performed by moving the second opening past the second chamber.

  The invention and its many advantages are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which show some non-limiting embodiments for the purpose of illustration.

2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a valve mechanism of an internal combustion engine, with the valve shown in its closed position. FIG. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of another valve mechanism having a damping device and an air spring. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of another valve mechanism having a damping space and a relief opening, with the valve shown in its slightly open position. It is a fragmentary sectional view of another valve mechanism of an internal-combustion engine.

  All figures are very schematic and are not necessarily to scale, only the parts necessary to clarify the present invention are shown and the other parts are omitted or merely suggested.

  FIG. 1 shows a valve mechanism 1 for operating an exhaust or intake valve 2 of an internal combustion engine 100 using pressurized fluid from a pressure source P. When combustion ends in the cylinder 3 of the engine 100, the exhaust gas is discharged through the exhaust valve 2, and new diesel fuel is put into the cylinder 3. The valve mechanism 1 includes an exhaust or intake valve 2 that needs to be opened, and an actuator 4 for opening the valve. The actuator 4 includes an actuator housing 5 having an axial extension 6 between a first housing end 7 and a second housing end 8. The first housing end 7 has a first opening 9 fluidly connected to the pressure source P, so that pressurized fluid, also called high pressure fluid, is directed into the actuator housing 5. The piston 10 is slidably arranged in the actuator housing 5 and has a first piston end 11 and a second piston end 12. The second piston end 12 is connected to the rod 14 of the exhaust valve 2 through an opening 15 in the second housing end 8 to operate the valve 2 between a closed position and an open position. Valve 2 is shown in FIG. 1 in its closed position. The actuator 4 has a first chamber 16 defined between the first piston face 17 of the first piston end 11 and the first housing end 7. The first piston face faces the first end 7 of the actuator housing 5. The piston 10 includes a second piston face 18 arranged to be displaced with respect to the first piston face 17 along the axial extension 6. The second piston face 18 is arranged in a second chamber 19 defined by the actuator housing 5 and the piston 10. The piston 10 comprises or defines a flow path 20 that fluidly connects the first and second chambers 16, 19, so that pressurized fluid is directed from the first chamber 16 to the second chamber 19, The second piston face 18 is pressed, thereby opening the valve 2 and thus bringing the valve 2 from the closed position to the open position.

  By having the flow path 20 in the piston 10, the pressurized fluid simultaneously presses the first piston face 17 and the second piston face 18, creating a common area that is larger than just the first piston face 17. . Therefore, the fluid for opening the valve 2 presses a larger area and generates a greater force to overcome the initial overpressure in the fuel cylinder 3. The initial larger area that the pressurized fluid presses is on the inner side where the flow path 20 in the piston 10 distributes the fluid to the second chamber 19 and is thus slidable inside the outer piston. Since the known and more complicated design of the piston is avoided, an integral piston 10 is obtained. The piston 10 of the present invention is thus a single part or a plurality of fixed mounting parts in a non-movable relationship.

  Only one fluid pressure source is used to supply pressurized fluid into the first chamber 16, and the flow path 20 in the piston 10 allows fluid to flow from the first chamber 16 to a separate second chamber. Lead to 19. The second chamber 19 is annular and is formed by the actuator housing 5 with an annular groove 21 that defines the second chamber 19 with the piston 10. The channel 20 is formed by an axially extending lumen 20a that is fluidly connected to a radially extending lumen 20b. The axially extending lumen 20a is arranged radially with respect to the first opening 9 in the actuator housing 5, so that the pressurized fluid applies pressure to the first piston face 17. It is guided but not directly into the flow path 20. The first piston face 17 is arranged at a distance from the first end 7 of the actuator housing 5 along the axial extension 6.

  The second chamber 19 is designed such that the second piston face 18 has a distance d in the axial extension 6 relative to the annular groove 21 in the closed position of the valve 2. In this way, the pressurized fluid can press the second piston face 18 to move the piston 10 downward in FIG. When the piston 10 connected to the rod 15 of the valve 2 moves downward, the disc part 31 of the valve 2 leaves the seat 32 in the cylinder 3, so that the exhaust gas passes through the disc part 31 of the valve 2 and flows into the exhaust. You can exit through road 30.

  In FIG. 1, the piston 10 includes an annular protrusion 22 that provides a second piston face 18. The protrusion 22 protrudes into the second chamber 19 as an annular ring and defines the second chamber 19. The first portion of the piston 10 facing the first housing end 7 has a first diameter that matches the inner diameter of the actuator housing 5, and the second portion of the piston 10 is less than the first diameter. Large and has a second diameter that matches the second inner diameter of the actuator housing 5. Opposing to the second chamber 19, the actuator housing 5 has a third inner diameter that is larger than both the first and second inner diameters of the actuator housing 5. The piston 10 is fixedly connected to the rod 14 of the valve 2.

  The second chamber 19 has a chamber face 23 that is closest to the first piston face 17 and terminates in contact with the piston 10. The chamber face 23 has a distance d in the axial extension 6 relative to the second piston face 18 in the closed position of the valve 2. Opposing the chamber face 23, the second chamber 19 has a second chamber face 24 that also terminates in contact with the piston 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the flow path 20 has a first flow path opening 25 and a second flow path opening 26, and the second flow path opening 26 is connected to the second chamber 19 in the closed position. Opposite, in which case the second flow path opening 26 is arranged perpendicular to the axial extension 6 so that the piston 10, i.e. the second flow path opening 26 moves, the second The channel opening 26 is moved past the second chamber 19 to disconnect the fluid connection between the first chamber 16 and the second chamber 19. The first flow path openings 25 are arranged in the first piston face 17.

  The downward movement of the piston 10 to open the valve 2 is effected by the high pressure fluid from the pump P, the coil spring 46 shown in FIG. 1, the air or gas spring shown in FIG. 2, the compressive elasticity shown in FIG. The movement is stopped by stop means, such as element 44 or similar stop means. When the valve 2 is opened, the spring or elastic element 44 is compressed, thereby inducing an inherent force in the spring or element, which is used to return the valve to its closed position, and thus upwards Used to bring movement. While the valve is returning, the high pressure fluid passes through the first opening 9 and is returned to the tank T controlled by the valve 46.

  In FIG. 2, the actuator 4 of the valve mechanism 1 is damped when the valve 2 is closed and has a damping device 27 arranged in the first piston end 11 in order to avoid the desired vibration. The damping device 27 comprises a damping piston 28 slidably arranged in the lumen 33 in the first piston end 11, where the spring 29 is driven by pressurized fluid that presses the damping piston 28. Compressed so that the damping device 27 is spring loaded and ready to absorb the bumps when the valve 2 closes. To close the valve 2 once opened, the valve mechanism 1 includes an air spring 40 having air spring pistons 41 arranged around the rod 14 containing air in the space 42 when the rod 14 moves downward. Prepare. The piston 10 includes a plurality of second flow path openings 26 facing the second chamber 19. As shown, the first portion of the flow path 20 is a groove 20c in the piston 10 that is continued by an angular portion that terminates in a radially extending lumen 20b.

  In FIG. 3, the valve 2 is in a slightly open position. The piston 10 includes a plurality of first flow path openings 25 facing the first chamber 16, so that the flow path 20 starts as a plurality of channels from the first piston face 17 and faces the annular groove 21. Converge in one central lumen in the piston 10 to terminate in a lumen 20b extending at an angle. Furthermore, the piston 10 comprises an annular protrusion 34 corresponding to the annular space 35 defined by the actuator housing 5 and the piston 10, so that the protrusion 34 is moved while the piston 10 is moving to open the valve 2. The annular space 35 can be confined and fluid can be compressed therein. While the piston 10 moves to open the valve 2, when the protrusion 34 confines the annular space 35, fluid is taken into the space 35 and the piston 10 is decelerated to dampen the oscillation of the piston. In this way, the stopping action of the piston 10 is significantly damped and thus undesirable vibrations are avoided. In FIG. 3, the annular space 35 is a part of the first chamber 16, but in FIG. 4, the annular space 35 is arranged in the third chamber 36. The second chamber 19 is arranged between the first chamber 16 and the third chamber 36 along the axial extension 6.

  In FIG. 3, the actuator housing comprises a third opening 37 arranged further away from the first chamber 16 and spaced from the second chamber 19 along the axial extension 6. The third opening 37 is therefore closer to the second end 8 of the actuator housing 5 than to the first end 7 of the actuator housing 5. The third opening 37 functions as a relief opening for receiving pressurized fluid from the flow path 20 when the second flow path opening 26 faces the third opening 37. During operation, if the air spring 40, the compressible element 44 or similar stopping means fails, it is extremely important that the disk part 31 of the valve 2 stops and then the disk part 31 hits the combustion piston in the combustion cylinder 3 It is. By having the third opening 37, the downward movement of the piston 10 stops at the third opening 37 because the pressurized fluid is then led from the pressure source P and out of the third opening 37. Is done. The third opening 37 therefore functions as a safety measure in case of failure of other stopping means. When the third opening 37 functions as a safety measure, the first opening 9 in the actuator housing 5 is composed of the flow path 20, the first flow path opening 25, the second flow path opening 26, and the third opening. It has a cross-sectional area smaller than 37.

  While the valve 2 moves to open the valve 2, the lumen 20b moves past the annular groove 19 and the piston 10 moves further to open the valve 2 further, so the space between the piston 10 and the groove 19 As the pressure increases, the pressure in the annular groove 19 decreases. In order to avoid the pressure becoming too low in the annular groove 19, the annular groove is connected to the low-pressure fluid supply 45 and substantially 3 in order to avoid the vaporization of the fluid inside the annular groove. Has a bar pressure.

  As can be seen from FIG. 4, the first flow path openings 25 are arranged in the circumferential face 38 of the piston 10 and are not arranged in the first piston face 17. In another embodiment, the first flow path openings 25 are arranged both in the circumferential face 38 of the piston 10 and in the first piston face 17. In FIG. 4, the third opening 37 is fluidly connected to the third chamber 36.

  The exhaust or intake valve 2 first pressurizes the fluid and then moves the actuator 4 to move between the open and closed positions by directing the pressurized fluid past the first opening 9 in the actuator housing 5. Operated by. The fluid is further guided into the flow path 20 in the piston 10 and exits into the second chamber 19 where the pressurized fluid is used to simultaneously bring the first piston face 17 and the second piston face 18 together. Press. In this way, the piston 10 is moved towards the second end 8 of the actuator housing 5 to open the valve 2. Pressurized fluid moves through both the first and second piston faces 17, 18 until the second flow path opening 26 moves past the second chamber 19 and closes the fluid connection with the second chamber 19. Press simultaneously. After closing the fluid connection of the second chamber 19, the piston 10 moves further to fully open the valve 2 with pressurized fluid pressing only the first piston face 17. In this way, the consumption of pressurized fluid is such that the pressurized fluid acting on the second piston face 18 is used only at the initial stage of the opening of the valve 2, during which the overpressure in the cylinder 3 is high and subsequently The pressurized fluid is minimized because it is used only to press the first piston face 17 and fill the first chamber 16 and not the second chamber 19.

  In order to prevent oscillation or vibration during the movement of the piston 10 to stop, the fluid is moved into the first space by moving the protrusion of the piston 10 to confine the space 35 and compressing the fluid taken therein. Into the space 35 arranged either in the chamber 16 or in the third chamber 36. Therefore, by taking the fluid into the space 35, the movement of the piston 10 is decelerated in order to attenuate the oscillation of the piston. When the valve 2 is closed again, the spring 29 in the damping piston 28 is compressed during initial pressurization to guide the fluid through the first opening 9 in order to further avoid vibrations in the valve mechanism 1.

  The internal combustion engine means an internal combustion engine having a cylinder with a piston diameter of at least 20 cm, for example, for a marine vessel or a fixed engine for operating a generator of a power plant. The engine may be a 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine and typically has 4-15 cylinders. An internal combustion engine is a low speed engine typically used as a main propulsion engine having a speed in the range of 50 to 200 rpm. The engine can be powered by fuel such as marine diesel fuel or heavy oil with a sulfur content of at least 0.05%, or gaseous fuel such as methane, ethane, methanol, natural gas or petroleum gas or liquefied fuel gas.

  Although the present invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that several modifications can be made without departing from the invention as defined by the following claims. Will be clear.

1 Valve mechanism
2 Exhaust or intake valve
3 cylinders, combustion cylinders
4 Actuator
5 Actuator housing
6 Axial extension
7 First housing end
8 Second housing end
9 First opening
10 piston
11 First piston end
12 Second piston end
14 bars
15 opening
16 First chamber
17 First piston face
18 Second piston face
19 Second chamber, annular groove
20 channels
20a Axially extending lumen
20b radially extending lumen
20c groove
21 annular groove
22 Annular projection
23 Chamber face
24 Second chamber face
25 First channel opening
26 Second channel opening
27 Attenuator
28 Damping piston
30 Exhaust flow path
31 Disc
32 seats
33 Lumen
34 Annular protrusion
35 Annular space
36 Third chamber
37 3rd opening
38 Circumference face
40 Air spring
41 air spring piston
42 space
44 Compressible elements
45 Low pressure fluid supply
46 Valve, coil spring
100 Internal combustion engine
d distance
P Pressure source, pump
T tank

Claims (10)

A valve mechanism (1) for an internal combustion engine (100) having a pressure source (P) of pressurized fluid,
An exhaust or intake valve (2),
An actuator (4),
An actuator housing (5) having an axial extension (6) between a first housing end (7) and a second housing end (8), wherein the first housing end (7 The actuator housing (5) having a first opening (9) fluidly connected to the pressure source (P);
An actuator (4) comprising a piston (10) slidable within the actuator housing (5) and having a first piston end (11) and a second piston end (12); In the valve mechanism (1) with
The second piston end (12) passes through an opening (15) in the second housing end (8) to actuate the valve (2) between a closed position and an open position. Connected to a valve (2), the actuator is defined between a first piston face (17) of the first piston end (11) and the first housing end (8). Further comprising a first chamber (16), the first piston face (17) facing the first end (7) of the actuator housing (5),
The piston (10) includes a second piston face (18) arranged to be displaced with respect to the first piston face (17) along the axial extension (6). A piston face (18) is arranged in a second chamber (19) defined by the actuator housing (5) and the piston (10), the piston (10) comprising the first chamber and A flow path (20) fluidly connecting the second chamber (16, 19) is provided or defined so that the pressurized fluid is transferred from the first chamber (16) to the second chamber (19). The valve mechanism (1) is guided to the second piston face (18) and presses the second piston face (18) to open the valve (2).   The valve mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the actuator housing (5) comprises an annular groove (21) defining the second chamber (19).   The second piston face (18) has a distance (d) in the axial extension (6) relative to the annular groove (21) in the closed position of the valve (2). 2. The valve mechanism according to 2.   The valve mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the piston (10) comprises an annular protrusion (22) providing the second piston face (18).   The second chamber (19) has a chamber face (23) closest to the first piston face (17), and the chamber face (23) is in the closed position of the valve (2). 5. The valve mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the valve mechanism has a distance (d) within the axial extension (6) with respect to the second piston face (18).   The flow path (20) has a first flow path opening (25) and a second flow path opening (26), and the second flow path opening (26) is the first flow path in the closed position. The piston (2) facing the second chamber (19), the second channel opening (26) being arranged perpendicular to the axial extension (6) and thus opening the valve (2) As soon as 10) moves, the second flow path opening (26) is moved past the second chamber (19), the first chamber (16) and the second chamber (19). 6. The valve mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fluid connection between the first and second fluids is disconnected.   The piston (10) comprises an annular protrusion (34) corresponding to an annular space (35) defined by the actuator housing (5) and the piston (10), thus opening the valve (2) The valve mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the protrusion (34) can confine the annular space (35) while the piston (10) moves for this purpose.   The actuator housing (5) comprises a third opening (37) arranged at a distance from the second chamber (19) along the axial extension (6), the third opening (37) is closer to the second end (8) of the actuator housing (5) than to the first end (7) of the actuator housing (5). Item 8. The valve mechanism according to any one of Items 1 to 7.   An internal combustion engine (100) comprising the valve mechanism (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8. A valve actuation method for moving the intake / exhaust valve (2) of the valve mechanism (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, between an open position and a closed position,
Pressurizing the fluid; and
Directing the pressurized fluid past the first opening (9) in the actuator housing (5);
Directing the fluid into the flow path (20) in the piston (10);
Simultaneously pressing the first piston face (17) and the second piston face (18) using the pressurized fluid;
Moving the piston (10) toward the second end (8) of the actuator housing (5) to open the valve (2);
Closing the fluid connection with the second chamber (19);
Further moving the piston (10) to fully open the valve (2).

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