JP4534157B2 - Valve timing control device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention rotates integrally with a first rotating body that rotates synchronously with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, and a camshaft that drives an intake / exhaust valve of the internal combustion engine, and rotates relative to the first rotating body. A possible second rotator, phase control means for changing the relative rotation phase between the two rotators in a control region between the most advanced angle and the most retarded angle, and the relative rotation phase as the most advanced angle. A locking mechanism that can be restrained by an intermediate locking phase located in the middle of the most retarded angle. The locking mechanism includes a locking piece that is supported so as to project and be displaced on one rotating body, and the locking piece is engaged. A locking groove formed on the other rotating body so that it can be stopped,
A phase determination mechanism for determining whether the relative rotational phase is in the advance side or the retard side with respect to the intermediate lock phase, and the internal combustion engine based on a determination result by the phase determination mechanism The present invention relates to a valve opening / closing timing control device that performs an active lock operation for displacing the relative rotation phase in a first direction opposite to the determination result when the engine is stopped or started.

  As this type of valve opening / closing timing control device, there is Patent Document 1 shown below as prior art document information related to the present invention. The valve opening / closing timing control device described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a lock mechanism capable of restraining the relative rotation phase to an intermediate lock phase suitable for starting an internal combustion engine. That is, when the internal combustion engine is stopped, the lock pieces 60a and 60B of the lock mechanism are locked in the lock groove 62, so that the intake / exhaust valve is opened / closed when the relative rotation phase is set to the intermediate lock phase. Therefore, the periodic cam fluctuation torque generated on the camshaft prevents the vane provided between the rotating bodies 1 and 2 from vibrating, and further increases the adjustment range of the relative rotational phase of the rotating bodies. Since both the corner side and the retard side can be secured, the next start can be made smoother.

  Further, in the valve opening / closing timing control device described in Patent Document 1, based on the general knowledge that the phase during idling is on the retard side with respect to the intermediate lock phase, the phase control is performed simultaneously with the ignition off when the internal combustion engine is stopped. A control operation is performed in which the relative rotational phase is led to the intermediate lock phase by controlling the crankshaft to stop when the angle is advanced to a predetermined phase by means.

  Further, in the valve opening / closing timing control device described in Patent Document 1, since the engine stall or the failure has occurred, the above basic control for advancing the relative rotational phase to the predetermined phase is unsuccessful, and the relative rotational phase Is stopped by shifting to either the advance side or the retard side from the intermediate lock phase, this stop phase is determined by the ECU, etc., and at the next start, relative to the determined stop phase in the opposite direction. By displacing the rotational phase, an active lock operation is performed to guide the shortest distance to the intermediate lock phase.

JP 2002-357105 A (paragraph numbers 0047 to 0052, FIGS. 2 and 4)

However, in an actual internal combustion engine, there may be a mechanical error of several degrees between the phase of the crankshaft and the phase of the camshaft. Therefore, in the valve opening / closing timing control device described in Patent Document 1, even if the phase control means should have advanced the relative rotational phase to the predetermined phase in the above-described control operation at the time of stop, There is a possibility that the phase is advanced to the phase on the retard side or the advance side by the error from the expected phase. In this case, the relative rotational phase cannot be successfully guided to the intermediate lock phase.
Further, even in the control operation at the time of starting described above, for example, the phase determination mechanism is stopped on the retard side based on the error, although it actually stops slightly on the advance side with respect to the intermediate lock phase. Therefore, the relative rotational phase is increasingly displaced toward the advance side, which may make it difficult to reach the intermediate lock phase. That is, in the example of the prior art valve opening / closing timing control device shown in FIG. 10A, the relative rotational phase is actually slightly smaller than the intermediate lock phase in which the two lock pieces are simultaneously locked in the locking grooves. If the phase determination mechanism determines that the phase is more advanced than the intermediate lock phase based on the error, the active lock operation based on the determination results in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4B, there is a problem that the intermediate lock phase cannot be reached indefinitely because it is displaced more and more toward the retard side.

  In view of the above-described drawbacks of the prior art valve opening / closing timing control device exemplified above, the object of the present invention is to provide some mechanical error between the phase of the crankshaft and the phase of the camshaft. It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve opening / closing timing control device capable of causing the relative rotational phase to reach the intermediate lock phase as early as possible.

A first characteristic configuration of the present invention includes a first rotating body that rotates synchronously with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, a camshaft of the internal combustion engine that rotates integrally with the first rotating body, and a relative rotation with the first rotating body. A second rotation body, phase control means for changing a relative rotation phase between the two rotation bodies in a control region located between a most advanced angle and a most retarded angle, and the relative rotation phase is changed to the most advanced angle and the most advanced angle. A locking mechanism that can be constrained to an intermediate locking phase located in the middle of the retard angle, the locking mechanism being supported so as to be able to project and displace on one rotating body, and the locking piece being engageable And a locking groove formed on the other rotating body,
A phase determination mechanism for determining whether the relative rotational phase is in the advance side or the retard side with respect to the intermediate lock phase, and the internal combustion engine based on a determination result by the phase determination mechanism A valve opening / closing timing control device for performing an active lock operation for displacing the relative rotational phase in a first direction opposite to the determination result at the time of stopping or starting
The lock piece includes a pair of lock pieces spaced apart from each other on the one rotating body, and the locking groove engages the pair of lock pieces together to change the relative rotational phase to the intermediate lock phase. Restrained,
The auxiliary locking groove having a locking depth shallower than that of the locking groove is an advance side and a retard side from the most advanced end and the most retarded end of the locking groove, respectively. It extends toward the corner side ,
A reverse lock operation for displacing the relative rotational phase in a second direction opposite to the first direction is performed after a lapse of a predetermined time from the execution of the active lock operation .

  Therefore, in the valve opening / closing timing control device according to the first characteristic configuration of the present invention, the phase region in which the locking piece can be locked is assisted in both directions of the most advanced angle side and the most retarded angle side with respect to the original locking groove. Since it is expanded by the length of the locking groove, when the relative rotation phase is advanced to the predetermined phase simultaneously with the ignition off, the lock piece is temporarily locked due to the mechanical error described above. Even if it is located at the most advanced angle side or the most retarded angle side slightly from the groove, it is expected to be locked to the auxiliary locking groove on the most advanced angle side or the most retarded angle side than the locking groove. . That is, even if the lock piece cannot be locked in the locking groove, it is locked in the auxiliary locking groove, so that the relative rotation phase can be maintained within the phase range approximate to the intermediate lock phase. As a result, at the next start-up, even if the relative rotation phase fluctuates due to vibrations generated in the internal combustion engine, the lock piece will not inadvertently escape to the position farthest from the most advanced angle side or the most retarded angle side. It moves around in a limited movement area formed by the stop groove and the auxiliary lock grooves on both sides thereof, and is naturally displaced to the lock groove adjacent to the auxiliary lock groove and locked there. Therefore, even if complicated control and a high-accuracy phase detection sensor are not provided, the restriction at the intermediate lock phase is realized relatively early after the start of the start.

  In addition, even in the control operation at the next start that is performed when the control operation at the time of stopping is unsuccessful, the phase region in which the lock piece can be locked is the most advanced angle side and the latest delay than the original locking groove. Since it is extended by the length of the auxiliary locking groove in both directions with the corner side, even if the phase determination mechanism makes an incorrect determination, the relative rotation phase is further away from the intermediate lock phase. Alternatively, the displacement operation is not performed to the most retarded angle side, and the phase is approximated to the intermediate lock phase. Then, due to the vibration from the internal combustion engine thereafter, the lock piece moves around within a limited movement region formed by the locking groove and the auxiliary locking grooves on both sides thereof, and naturally the locking groove adjacent to the auxiliary locking groove. Therefore, restraint in the intermediate lock phase is performed relatively early.

Moreover, in the valve timing control apparatus according to the first characteristic configuration of the present invention, the relative rotational phase is displaced in the second direction opposite to the first direction after a predetermined time has elapsed since the active lock operation was performed. It has a characteristic configuration in which a reverse lock operation is performed.

Therefore, because the control operation at the time of stop or the control operation at the next start is located on the opposite side to the determination result of the phase determination mechanism due to the error or the like, the relative rotation phase is intermediated by the phase control means. Even when the control operation leading to the lock phase is not successful, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the control operation, the relative rotational phase is displaced in the second direction opposite to the first direction, that is, in the correct direction. The relative rotational phase can be led to the intermediate lock phase. As a result, when the control operation at the time of stopping or the control operation at the next start is unsuccessful, the restraint at the intermediate lock phase is early compared to the case where it is naturally displaced to the intermediate lock phase depending on vibration. Is carried out.
Even if the control operation for guiding the relative rotational phase to the intermediate lock phase is successful in the control operation at the time of stop or the control operation at the next start, the reverse lock operation after the elapse of this predetermined time is Since it does not become an obstacle, it is not particularly necessary to provide an unconstrained detection mechanism or the like for detecting an unsuccessful control operation that leads the relative rotational phase to the intermediate lock phase.

The second characteristic configuration of the present invention is provided with a biasing means for biasing the lock piece toward the bottom surface of the locking groove and the auxiliary locking groove, and the bottom surface of the auxiliary locking groove is In the point which becomes the inclined surface which increases a depth gradually toward the said locking groove.

  With this configuration, when the internal combustion engine is stopped or started, the lock piece pressed against the bottom surface of the auxiliary locking groove is increased in depth along the inclined surface due to vibration from the internal combustion engine, That is, since it is going to move positively to the side of the locking groove, the restraint in the intermediate lock phase is performed earlier than when the bottom surface of the auxiliary locking groove is a non-inclined surface with a constant depth.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the overall configuration of the valve timing control apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation configuration of a fluid control valve (OCV) provided in the valve opening / closing timing control device shown in FIG. 3 to 7 are cross-sectional views taken along line AA of FIG. 1 in each operation state of the valve timing control apparatus. FIG. 8 is a timing diagram showing changes in the relative rotational phase of the internal combustion engine rotational speed and the valve opening / closing timing control device corresponding to a series of steps from starting the internal combustion engine through normal operation to stopping the internal combustion engine. .

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the valve timing control apparatus according to the present embodiment is an external rotor 1 as a drive side rotating member that rotates synchronously with a crankshaft (not shown) of an engine (internal combustion engine). (First rotating body) and an inner rotor 2 (second rotating body) as a driven side rotating member that is coaxially disposed so as to be rotatable relative to the outer rotor 1 and rotates integrally with the cam shaft 3 for opening and closing the valve. It is configured with. A fluid pressure chamber 40 is formed between the outer rotor 1 and the inner rotor 2, and the fluid pressure chamber 40 is partitioned into a retard chamber 42 and an advance chamber 43 by a vane 5 disposed inside. It has been. When the volume of the retard chamber 42 is increased by supplying fluid, the relative rotational phase of the inner rotor 2 with respect to the outer rotor 1 is displaced to the retard side, and when the volume of the advance chamber 43 is increased, the relative relative phase is increased. The rotational phase is displaced to the advance side.

The outer rotor 1 includes a front plate 22 and a rear plate 23 that are externally rotatably mounted within a range of a predetermined relative rotational phase with respect to the inner rotor 2, and are connected to each other by screws or the like. A timing sprocket 20 is integrally provided on the outer periphery of the motor.
A power transmission member 24 such as a timing belt is installed between the timing sprocket 20 and a gear attached to the crankshaft of the engine.

When the crankshaft of the engine is rotationally driven, rotational power is transmitted to the timing sprocket 20 via the power transmission member 24, so that the external rotor 1 provided with the timing sprocket 20 follows the rotational direction S shown in FIG. Further, the internal rotor 2 is rotationally driven along the rotational direction S to rotate the camshaft 3, and the cam provided on the camshaft 3 pushes down the intake valve or exhaust valve of the engine to open the valve. Let
Further, the valve timing control device is provided with a lock mechanism 6 that restricts the relative rotation phase to an intermediate lock phase suitable for starting the internal combustion engine. The intermediate lock phase is located between the most advanced angle and the most retarded angle.

The engine is provided with a sensor for detecting the current crank angle and a sensor for detecting the angle phase of the camshaft, and an ECU 9 (electronic control unit) for controlling the valve opening / closing timing control device according to the present invention is provided. The relative phase between the external rotor 1 and the internal rotor 2 is detected from the detection results of these sensors, and it is determined whether the relative rotational phase is on the advance side or the retard side with respect to the intermediate lock phase. A phase determination mechanism for determination is configured.
Further, the ECU 9 stores and stores the optimum relative rotation phase corresponding to the operating state of the engine in its memory, and is optimal for the operating state (engine speed, cooling water temperature, etc.) detected separately. The relative rotational phase can be recognized. Therefore, the ECU 9 generates and outputs a control command for controlling the relative rotation phase so as to obtain an optimum relative rotation phase suitable for the engine operating state at that time. Further, the ECU 9 is configured to incorporate ON / OFF information of the ignition key, information from an oil temperature sensor that detects the engine oil temperature, and the like.
Hereinafter, the structure of the valve timing control apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail.

(Fluid pressure chamber 40)
As shown in FIG. 3, the outer rotor 1 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 4 functioning as shoes protruding in the radially inward direction and spaced apart from each other along the rotational direction. The fluid pressure chamber 40 described above is formed between the adjacent protrusions 4 of the outer rotor 1.
A vane groove 41 is formed in a portion of the outer peripheral portion of the inner rotor 2 facing each fluid pressure chamber 40, and the inside of the fluid pressure chamber 40 is moved in the relative rotation direction (the arrow in FIG. 3). A vane 5 that divides into an advance chamber 43 and a retard chamber 42 that are adjacent to each other along the S1 and S2 directions) is slidably supported along the radial direction.
The advance chamber 43 communicates with the advance passage 11 formed in the inner rotor 2, and the retard chamber 42 communicates with the retard passage 10 formed in the inner rotor 2. The retard passage 10 and the advance passage 11 are connected to a hydraulic circuit 7 described later.

  Supply and discharge of fluid to and from the fluid pressure chamber 40 (advance chamber 43 and retard chamber 42) are performed via a spool-type OCV (fluid control valve) 76. As shown in FIG. 2, the OCV 76 can supply fluid to the advance chamber 43 and can supply fluid to the advance chamber 43 in the first state W <b> 1 in which the fluid can be discharged from the retard chamber 42. In addition, the second state W2 in which the retard passage is closed, and the third state W3 in which both the advance passage and the retard passage are closed and the supply of fluid to both the advance chamber 43 and the retard chamber 42 is stopped. A fourth state W4 in which the advance passage is closed and fluid can be supplied to the retard chamber 42, and a fifth state in which fluid can be discharged from the advance chamber 43 and fluid can be supplied to the retard chamber 42 The supply amount and the discharge amount of the fluid to the advance chamber 43 and the retard chamber 42 can be adjusted by switching and controlling the spool position with respect to W5.

  Specifically, the ECU 9 controls the energization amount to a linear solenoid (not shown) provided in the OCV 76, so that the position of the spool slidably supported in the housing of the OCV 76 is illustrated by the linear solenoid. It is adjusted in the left / right direction. However, in FIG. 2, the opening to the advance passage gradually decreases as the spool position shifts from Duty 0% to Duty 50%. Similarly, as the spool position shifts from Duty 100% to Duty 75%, the opening to the retarded passage gradually decreases.

  Supply and discharge of the fluid to and from the lock mechanism 6 are performed using an OSV (fluid switching valve) 77 different from the OCV 76. The OSV 77 supplies and discharges the fluid to and from the lock mechanism 6 separately from the supply and discharge of the fluid to the advance chamber 43 and the retard chamber 42 to lock and unlock in the intermediate phase state of the relative rotation phase. Do. That is, the engagement operation of the lock pieces 60A and 60B, which will be described later, into the lock recess 62 is performed by the OSV 77 independent of the hydraulic control of the advance hydraulic pressure path and the retard hydraulic pressure path by the OCV 76. Even in an unstable state, the lock pieces 60A and 60B can be easily engaged with the lock recess 62 reliably.

(Hydraulic circuit)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the hydraulic circuit 7 supplies engine oil as hydraulic oil to / from one or both of the advance chamber 43 and the retard chamber 42 via the advance passage 11 and the retard passage 10. By executing the discharge, the position of the vane 5 in the fluid pressure chamber 40 is changed, and the relative rotational phase of the inner rotor 2 with respect to the outer rotor 1 is set to the most advanced angle phase (when the volume of the advanced angle chamber 43 becomes maximum). And a phase control means capable of adjusting displacement between the most retarded angle phase (relative rotation phase when the volume of the retarded angle chamber 42 is maximized).
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the hydraulic circuit 7 includes a pump 70 that is driven by the driving force of the engine and supplies engine oil serving as hydraulic oil or lock oil described later to the OCV 76 and OSV 77 side. The operation and non-operation of the pump 70 are controlled in accordance with a control command from the ECU 9.

The OCV 76 is provided downstream of the pump 70 of the hydraulic circuit 7 and upstream of the advance chamber 43 and the retard chamber 42. On the other hand, the OSV 77 is provided downstream of the pump 70 and upstream of the lock oil passage 63 communicating with the lock recess 62. The pump 70 is connected to an oil pan 75 that stores engine oil.
In the hydraulic circuit 7, the advance passage 11 and the retard passage 10 are connected to a predetermined port of the OCV 76, and the lock oil passage 63 is connected to a predetermined port of the OCV 76.

(Biasing mechanism)
As shown in FIG. 1, a torsion spring 8 is provided between the inner rotor 2 and the outer rotor 1 as a biasing mechanism that biases the relative rotational phase of the rotors 1 and 2 toward the advance side. .
For example, in FIG. 3, the torsion spring 8 biases the inner rotor 2 in a direction (advance side) indicated by S <b> 2 with respect to the outer rotor 1. As a result, the relative phase of the internal rotor 2 that rotates integrally with the camshaft 3 serves to eliminate the tendency for the camshaft 3 to be delayed from the rotation of the external rotor 1 due to the resistance that the camshaft 3 receives from the valve spring. .

(Lock mechanism 6 and lock oil chamber)
As shown in FIG. 3, the lock mechanism 6 includes a retard lock portion 6 </ b> A and an advance lock portion 6 </ b> B provided on the external rotor 1, and a lock formed on a part of the outermost peripheral surface 2 </ b> A of the internal rotor 2. And a recess 62. The retard lock portion 6A and the advance lock portion 6B are provided on the outer rotor 1 so that the lock pieces 60A and 60B, which are slidably displaceable in the radial direction, and the lock pieces 60A and 60B in the radial direction. It has a spring 61 that projects and biases in the direction.
As a feature of the valve opening / closing timing control device according to the present invention, the lock recess 62 is simply provided with a length in the circumferential direction of the inner rotor 2 as in the prior art, and in a single-stage groove in which the lock pieces 60A and 60B are engaged. As shown in FIG. 4, there are provided a locking groove 62M for performing the original locking function, and auxiliary locking grooves 62a and 62b having a locking depth shallower by the locking pieces 60A and 60B than the locking groove 62M. It is a two-stage groove. The auxiliary locking grooves 62a and 62b extend from the end portion on the most advanced angle side and the end portion on the most retarded angle side of the locking groove 62M toward the advance side and the retard side, respectively. The length is negligible. Further, the bottom surfaces of the locking grooves 62M and the auxiliary locking grooves 62a and 62b against which the tips of the lock pieces 60A and 60B are pressed extend substantially parallel to the outermost peripheral surface 2A of the inner rotor 2.
In addition, as the shape of the lock pieces 60A and 60B, a plate shape, a pin shape, or the like can be appropriately employed.

  The retarding lock portion 6A is configured such that the retarding lock piece 60A is engaged with the locking recess 62 (the locking groove 62M or the auxiliary locking grooves 62a and 62b), so that the internal rotor 2 is in contact with the external rotor 1. Relative rotation from the intermediate lock phase to the retard side (the direction indicated by S1 in FIG. 3) is prevented. On the other hand, the advance lock piece 6B engages the advance lock piece 60B in the lock recess 62, so that the internal rotor 2 is advanced from the intermediate lock phase to the external rotor 1 (S2 in FIG. 3). To prevent relative rotation in the direction indicated by. That is, when either one of the retard lock 6A or the advance lock 6B is engaged in the lock recess 62, the retard lock 6A is moved to either the retard side or the advance side. Phase change is regulated and phase change to the other is allowed.

The locking groove 62M, which is deeper than the auxiliary locking grooves 62a and 62b in the lock recess 62, has the width of the retard lock piece 60A and the advance lock piece 60B that are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the internal rotor 2. The distance is approximately the same. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, by engaging both the retard lock piece 60A and the advance lock piece 60B into the engaging groove 62M at the same time, the relative rotational phases of the rotors 1 and 2 are changed. In other words, a so-called locked state in which the intermediate lock phase having substantially no width is constrained can be obtained.
On the other hand, the auxiliary locking grooves 62a and 62b having a locking depth shallower than that of the locking groove 62M are used as the auxiliary locking grooves 62a and 62b. By engaging, the relative rotation phases of the rotors 1 and 2 are held in the phase range close to the intermediate lock phase even if they are not locked.

The lock recess 62 communicates with a lock oil passage 63 formed in the internal rotor 2, and the lock oil passage 63 is connected to a predetermined port in the OCV 76 of the hydraulic circuit 7.
Therefore, the hydraulic circuit 7 can supply / discharge engine oil as lock oil to the lock recess 62 via the lock oil passage 63, and when lock oil is supplied from the OCV 76 to the lock recess 62, As shown in FIG. 5, the pair of lock pieces 60 </ b> A and 60 </ b> B engaged with the lock recess 62 has the tips of the lock pieces 60 </ b> A and 60 </ b> B positioned slightly radially outside the outermost peripheral surface 2 </ b> A of the inner rotor 2. Until it is retreated to the external rotor 1 side, the locked state of both rotors 1 and 2 is released, and a relative rotation is possible.

In the valve timing control device of the present invention, based on the determination result by the phase determination mechanism that determines whether the relative rotation phase is in the advance side or the retard side with respect to the intermediate lock phase, as described above. When the internal combustion engine is stopped, an active lock operation for displacing the relative rotational phase in the first direction opposite to the determination result of the phase determination mechanism can be performed.
Hereinafter, the control operation of the valve timing control apparatus of the present invention performed when the engine is started and stopped will be described.
FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing changes in the engine rotational speed and the relative rotational phase of the valve timing control device corresponding to a series of steps from engine startup to normal operation and engine shutdown.

(Starting control)
As shown in FIG. 8, before the time t0 when the ignition key is turned ON, the relative rotation phase is in a locked state constrained to the intermediate lock phase by the lock mechanism 6 as a result of stop control described later. Further, the supply / discharge of hydraulic oil to / from the advance chamber 43 and the retard chamber 42 by the OCV 76 is stopped.
When engine start is commanded by turning on the ignition key at time t0, cranking by the cell motor is performed from time t1 to time t2. The engine is started from time t2, and hydraulic oil can be supplied to the advance chamber 43 and the retard chamber 42. Further, as a result of operating the OSV 77 in a state in which the lock oil is discharged, the ECU 9 maintains the lock mechanism 6 in the locked state, so that the volumes of the advance chamber 43 and the retard chamber 42 do not change, and from time t2. The advance chamber 43 and the retard chamber 42 can be filled with hydraulic oil.

Next, the ECU 9 operates the OSV 77 so as to supply lock oil to the lock oil passage at time t3, and as a result, unlocking is performed at time t4. FIG. 5 shows the unlocked state. Note that when the lock mechanism 6 is unlocked, since the advance chamber 43 and the retard chamber 42 have already been filled with the hydraulic oil, the control of the relative rotation phase can be started immediately after the lock is released.
After time t5, the ECU 9 appropriately supplies hydraulic oil to the advance chamber 43 and the retard chamber 42, adjusts the relative rotation phase, and starts normal operation.

(Stop control)
Next, the control operation of the valve timing control apparatus of the present invention performed when the engine is stopped will be described.
When the engine stop is instructed by turning off the ignition key at time t7 in the idling period of FIG. 8, the cranking rotational speed starts to decrease toward 0 rpm. In the cranking lowering process, the following active lock operation is performed.
Specifically, based on the ignition OFF signal input, the ECU 9 operates the OSV 77 in a state in which the lock oil is discharged. As a result, the lock pieces 60A and 60B of the lock mechanism 6 project radially inward by the spring 61. Be energized. Simultaneously with the operation of operating the OSV 77, the ECU 9 detects the relative rotational phase of the internal rotor 2 with respect to the external rotor 1 by the phase determination mechanism, and operates the OCV 76 to displace the relative rotational phase to the side opposite to the detection result. To do. Hereinafter, the control operation will be described according to a specific situation.

  First, as shown in FIG. 8, the ignition OFF operation is generally performed when the engine is in an idling state (time t6 to time t7). In the idling state, as shown in FIG. There is a high possibility that the relative rotational phase is near the most retarded angle. Therefore, normally, the phase determination mechanism of the ECU 9 can detect without error that the relative rotation phase is on the retard side with respect to the intermediate lock phase, and the advance side (the direction of the arrow S2) opposite to the detection result. ) To perform an active lock operation to displace the relative rotational phase. That is, here, by operating the OCV 76 to the first state W1, the fluid is supplied to the advance chamber 43 and the fluid is discharged from the retard chamber 42. By this advance angle displacement, the advance angle lock piece 60B already engaged in the lock groove 62M abuts on the retard side end of the lock groove 62M. At the same time, the retard locking piece 60A initially pressed against the bottom surface of the auxiliary locking groove 62a is also engaged with the locking groove 62M and substantially contacts the advance side end of the locking groove 62M. Therefore, the intermediate lock phase (state shown in FIG. 3) is reached at time t8 before time t9 when the crank is completely stopped. After a lapse of a predetermined time of several seconds from the active lock operation, a reverse lock operation is performed to displace to the retard side opposite to the active lock operation. The pair of lock pieces 60A and 60B are already engaged with the locking groove 62M. Since it is stopped, there is no influence on the maintenance state of the intermediate lock phase.

  On the other hand, for some reason caused by mechanical error between the crankshaft and the camshaft 3, the phase determination mechanism causes the relative rotational phase shown in FIG. If it is erroneously detected as being on the corner side, the ECU 9 carries out an active lock operation for displacing the relative rotational phase to the retard side (in the direction of the arrow S1) opposite to the detection result based on the detection result. . That is, here, by operating the OCV 76 to the fifth state W5, the fluid is supplied to the retard chamber 42 and the fluid is discharged from the advance chamber 43. However, since the retardation locking piece 60A is already engaged in the auxiliary locking groove 62a, the relative rotational phase is not further displaced to the retardation side. Then, after a lapse of a predetermined time of several seconds from the active lock operation, a reverse lock operation is performed to displace to the advance side opposite to the active lock operation. As a result of this reversal locking operation, the advance lock piece 60B already engaged in the engagement groove 62M abuts on the retard side end of the engagement groove 62M. At the same time, the retard locking piece 60A initially pressed against the bottom surface of the auxiliary locking groove 62a is also engaged with the locking groove 62M and substantially contacts the advance side end of the locking groove 62M. As a result, the intermediate lock phase shown in FIG. 3 is eventually reached.

This time, when the engine is not in the idling state, when the ignition is turned OFF, as shown in Fig. 7, when the stop command is issued with the relative rotational phase being on the advance side of the intermediate lock phase. think of.
In this case, if the phase determination mechanism can detect without error that the relative rotational phase is on the advance side with respect to the intermediate lock phase as shown in FIG. 7, the retard side on the opposite side to the detection result An active lock operation for displacing the relative rotational phase in the direction of arrow S1 is performed. That is, here, by operating the OCV 76 to the fifth state W5, the fluid is supplied to the retard chamber 42 and the fluid is discharged from the advance chamber 43. Due to this retardation displacement, the retardation locking piece 60A already engaged in the engagement groove 62M comes into contact with the advance side end of the engagement groove 62M. At the same time, the advance lock piece 60B initially pressed against the bottom surface of the auxiliary locking groove 62b is also engaged with the locking groove 62M and substantially contacts the retarded side end of the locking groove 62M. By entering the state, the same intermediate lock phase as in FIG. 3 is automatically reached at time t8. After a predetermined time of several seconds from the active locking operation, a reversal locking operation is performed to displace to the advance side opposite to the active locking operation. The pair of lock pieces 60A and 60B are already engaged with the locking groove 62M. Since it is stopped, there is no influence on the maintenance state of the intermediate lock phase.

  On the other hand, the phase determination mechanism erroneously detects that the relative rotation phase shown in FIG. 7 is on the retard side with respect to the intermediate lock phase due to a mechanical error between the crankshaft and the camshaft 3. In this case, based on the detection result, the ECU 9 performs an active lock operation to displace the relative rotational phase to the advance side (in the direction of the arrow S2) that is the opposite side of the detection result. That is, here, by operating the OCV 76 to the first state W1, the fluid is supplied to the advance chamber 43 and the fluid is discharged from the retard chamber 42. However, since the advance lock piece 60B is already engaged with the auxiliary locking groove 62b, the advance lock piece 6B hits the retard side end of the auxiliary lock groove 62b, and the relative rotation phase advances greatly. It is not displaced to the corner side. Then, after a lapse of a predetermined time of several seconds from this active lock operation, a reverse lock operation is performed to displace to the retard side opposite to the active lock operation. As a result of this reversal locking operation, the retarding angle locking piece 60A already engaged in the locking groove 62M hits the advance side end of the locking groove 62M. At the same time, the advance lock piece 60B initially pressed against the bottom surface of the auxiliary locking groove 62b is also engaged with the locking groove 62M and substantially contacts the retarded side end of the locking groove 62M. By entering the state, the intermediate lock phase is reached in a relatively short time.

In any of the above cases, the intermediate lock phase is finally reached in the process of the stop control, and therefore it is not necessary to perform phase control for setting the intermediate lock phase at the next start.
The peripheral length (angle range) of each auxiliary locking groove 62a, 62b is set to a dimension slightly exceeding a predetermined length obtained from a phase mechanical error.

[Another embodiment]
<1> In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, unlike the above embodiments, the bottom surfaces of the auxiliary locking grooves 82 a and 82 b against which the tips of the lock pieces 60 A and 60 B are pressed are the same as the outermost peripheral surface 2 A of the inner rotor 2. It is not a shape extending substantially in parallel, but is a flat inclined surface that gradually increases in depth toward the adjacent locking groove 62M. Due to this inclination, the lock pieces 60A and 60B once engaged in the auxiliary locking grooves 82a and 82b easily move in the direction of the locking groove 62M.

<2> In the above embodiment, the control for performing the reverse lock operation subsequent to the active lock operation has been described. However, the reverse lock operation is not necessarily performed. In other words, since the auxiliary locking groove has only a short length, even if the lock piece is not engaged with the locking groove in the active locking operation, it is not necessary to perform the reversing locking operation. It can be sufficiently expected that the lock piece naturally falls from the auxiliary locking groove, is engaged with the locking groove, and reaches the intermediate lock phase.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used as a valve opening / closing timing control device in which the relative rotational phase easily reaches the intermediate lock phase early even if a slight mechanical phase error exists between the crankshaft and the camshaft of the internal combustion engine. .

Sectional drawing which shows the whole structure of the valve timing control apparatus by this invention Schematic showing the operating configuration of the fluid control valve (OCV) AA sectional view of FIG. 1 in one operating state of the valve timing control device. The elements on larger scale which show the lock mechanism vicinity of the valve timing control apparatus shown by FIG. AA sectional view in an operating state different from FIG. AA sectional view in an operating state further different from FIG. AA sectional view in different operating states Timing chart showing changes in internal combustion engine speed and relative rotation phase of valve timing control device The elements on larger scale which show the lock mechanism vicinity of the valve timing control apparatus by another embodiment Partial enlarged view showing the vicinity of the lock mechanism of the valve timing control device according to the prior art

Explanation of symbols

S1 retard side S2 advance side 1 External rotor (first rotating body)
2 Internal rotor (second rotating body)
3 Camshaft 5 Vane 6 Locking Mechanism 6A Delay Angle Locking Section 6B Advancement Locking Section 7 Hydraulic Circuit 9 ECU (Phase Control Mechanism)
10 retard passage 11 advance passage 20 timing sprocket 40 fluid pressure chamber (phase control mechanism)
42 retard chamber 43 advance chamber 60A retard lock piece 60B advance lock piece 62 lock recess 62M locking groove 62a, 62b auxiliary locking groove 63 lock oil passage 70 pump 76 OCV (phase control mechanism)
77 OSV

Claims (2)

A first rotating body that rotates synchronously with a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, a second rotating body that rotates integrally with the camshaft of the internal combustion engine and that can rotate relative to the first rotating body, and the two rotating bodies. Phase control means for changing the relative rotational phase within a control region between the most advanced angle and the most retarded angle, and an intermediate lock phase in which the relative rotational phase is located between the most advanced angle and the most retarded angle The locking mechanism is formed on the other rotating body so that the locking piece can be locked. And a locking groove
A phase determination mechanism for determining whether the relative rotational phase is in the advance side or the retard side with respect to the intermediate lock phase, and the internal combustion engine based on a determination result by the phase determination mechanism A valve opening / closing timing control device for performing an active lock operation for displacing the relative rotational phase in a first direction opposite to the determination result at the time of stopping or starting
The lock piece includes a pair of lock pieces spaced apart from each other on the one rotating body, and the locking groove engages the pair of lock pieces together to change the relative rotational phase to the intermediate lock phase. Restrained,
The auxiliary locking groove having a locking depth shallower than that of the locking groove is an advance side and a retard side from the most advanced end and the most retarded end of the locking groove, respectively. It extends toward the corner side ,
A valve opening / closing timing control device for performing a reverse lock operation for displacing the relative rotational phase in a second direction opposite to the first direction after a predetermined time has elapsed since the active lock operation was performed . Biasing means for urging the lock piece toward the bottom surface of the locking groove and the auxiliary locking groove is provided, and the bottom surface of the auxiliary locking groove gradually increases in depth toward the locking groove. The valve opening / closing timing control device according to claim 1 , wherein the valve opening / closing timing control device has an increasing inclined surface.

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