JP6229538B2 - Solenoid valve - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a control valve for a valve opening / closing timing control device, and more specifically, a driving side rotating body that rotates synchronously with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, and a driven side rotating body that rotates integrally with a camshaft for valve opening / closing of the internal combustion engine. And a solenoid valve that supplies and discharges fluid to and from an advance chamber or a retard chamber formed therebetween.

In Patent Document 1, the valve opening / closing timing can be controlled by supplying / discharging fluid to / from the advance chamber or the retard chamber, and the valve opening / closing timing is set to the most advanced timing and the most retarded timing. Valve opening / closing timing control with a lock mechanism that performs the operation of fixing / releasing the relative rotation phase of the driving side rotating body and the driven side rotating body at the intermediate lock phase by supplying and discharging the fluid so that the fluid is fixed at an intermediate timing between them. A device and a solenoid valve connected to the valve timing control device are described.

The solenoid valve includes a valve case, a spool built in the valve case so as to be capable of reciprocating from one end portion to the other end portion of the valve case, and a solenoid that drives and operates the spool. The main port to which the fluid discharged from the external fluid pressure pump is supplied, and the fluid that has flowed into the main port flows into the advance chamber or the retard chamber of the valve timing control device, respectively. A first port and a second port that allow outflow from the corner chamber or the retard chamber, and the fluid returned from the valve opening / closing timing control device to the valve case via the first port or the second port. A third port that allows the fluid to be discharged; a subport to which the fluid from the fluid pressure pump is supplied; and fluid discharged from the subport. A fourth port allowing flow into the mechanism or flowing out of the lock mechanism, and when the spool is positioned at one end or the other end of the valve case, from the lock mechanism through the fourth port. A fifth port that discharges the returned fluid and maintains the lock mechanism so that the relative rotation phase can be fixed at the intermediate lock phase.
Note that both the third port and the fifth port are also used as one port opened at the end of the valve case in the spool sliding direction.
In this solenoid valve, the first port or the second port for returning the fluid to the valve case at the time of advance or retard control and the fourth port for returning the fluid of the lock mechanism to the valve case at the phase lock are independent. When the relative rotation phase is fixed at the intermediate lock phase, the fluid pressure fluctuation during the advance angle or retard angle control does not affect the operation of the lock mechanism, and the lockability can be improved.

JP 2003-172109 A

In the conventional solenoid valve, when the spool is at the end of the valve case, the fluid returned from the lock mechanism is discharged from the fifth port, and the lock mechanism is maintained in an intermediate lockable state. The fluid returned from the retarding chamber to the valve case is discharged from the third port.
Therefore, when the lock mechanism is in an intermediate lockable state, the driving side rotating body and the driven side rotating body cannot be rotated relative to the intermediate lock phase using the fluid in the advance chamber or retard chamber.
For this reason, when the relative rotation phase is fixed at the intermediate lock phase, the drive-side rotating body and the driven body are driven by the cam fluctuation torque acting on the camshaft when the internal combustion engine is stopped while maintaining the lock mechanism in the intermediate lockable state. The side rotating body is relatively rotated and fixed at the timing of relative rotation to the intermediate lock phase.
Also, following the advance control operation for discharging the fluid from the retard chamber while supplying the fluid to the advance chamber by moving toward one end of the spool, the fluid of the lock mechanism is returned to the valve case when locked. Transition to an intermediate lockable state.

Therefore, the valve timing control apparatus to which the conventional solenoid valve is connected, when the relative rotation phase between the driving side rotating body and the driven side rotating body is fixed at the intermediate lock phase, the relative rotation phase caused by the cam fluctuation torque. When the displacement speed is high, the relative rotation phase is displaced beyond the intermediate lock phase before being locked by the lock mechanism even if it rotates relative to the intermediate lock phase, and is fixed at the intermediate lock phase. It may not be possible.
Also, as the series of movements toward one end of the spool shifts from the advance angle control operation to the intermediate lockable state, the flow passage cross-sectional area for discharging the fluid from the advance chamber and the retard chamber increases. As a result, the displacement speed of the relative rotational phase increases, and at this time, there is a possibility that the displacement exceeds the intermediate lock phase and cannot be fixed at the intermediate lock phase.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a solenoid valve capable of operating a lock mechanism so that the relative rotation between the drive-side rotator and the driven-side rotator is securely fixed at the intermediate lock phase. The purpose is to provide.

The characteristic configuration of the solenoid valve according to the present invention is provided in an internal combustion engine, and the valve opening / closing timing can be controlled by supplying and discharging fluid to / from the advance chamber or the retard chamber. Provided with a lock mechanism that performs the operation of fixing / releasing the relative rotation phase of the driving side rotating body and the driven side rotating body with the intermediate lock phase by supplying and discharging the fluid so as to be fixed at an intermediate timing between the angular timings. A valve case, connectable to a valve opening / closing timing control device, includes a valve case, a spool built in the valve case so as to be reciprocally movable from one end portion to the other end portion of the valve case, and a solenoid for driving the spool. In addition, the valve case has a main port to which the fluid discharged from an external fluid pressure pump is supplied, and the fluid that has flowed into the main port receives the valve opening / closing timing. A first port and a second port that flow into or from the advance chamber or retard chamber, respectively, and the valve opening / closing timing control device from the first port or A third port that allows the fluid returned to the valve case to be discharged through the second port; a subport to which the fluid from the fluid pressure pump is supplied; and a subport from which the fluid is discharged A fourth port allowing fluid to flow into or out of the locking mechanism; and when the spool is positioned at one end or the other end of the valve case, A fifth port that discharges the fluid returned through the port and maintains the lock mechanism so that the relative rotation phase can be fixed at the intermediate lock phase. And the main port communicates with one of the first port and the second port, and the first port and the valve case are in the vicinity of one of the one end and the other end of the valve case. When the other of the second ports communicates with the third port, the opening area of the third port is reduced as the spool approaches the end of the valve case. The opening area of the third port is one of the first port and the second port and communicates with the third port when the valve case is located at one of the one end and the other end. It lies in that is configured to be smaller than the opening area of.

  In the solenoid valve of this configuration, the spool is in the vicinity of one of the one end and the other end of the valve case, the main port communicates with either the first port or the second port, When either one of the port and the second port communicates with the third port, the opening area of the third port is reduced as the spool approaches the end of the valve case.

In this way, relative rotation between the drive-side rotator and the driven-side rotator is achieved by reducing the opening area of the third port as the spool approaches the end of the valve case while the lock mechanism is in an intermediate lockable state. The speed at which the phase is displaced to the intermediate lock phase can be reduced.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the relative rotation phase from being displaced beyond the intermediate lock phase before the locking operation by the lock mechanism is performed, and the relative rotation between the driving side rotating body and the driven side rotating body is prevented from being shifted to the intermediate lock phase. The locking mechanism can be actuated so as to be securely fixed.

In another feature of the present invention, an annular groove is formed in the spool, and the first port or the second port opens in a part of the cylindrical wall portion of the valve case in the circumferential direction, and the spool of a can communicate with the annular groove in accordance with a position, the third port, the valve the first port and the second port of the cylindrical wall portion of the case of the spool to the site it is open It opens to different positions in the moving direction and can communicate with the annular groove according to the position of the spool. When the spool reciprocates with respect to the valve case, the first port or the second port The amount of change in the opening area of the annular groove and the amount of change in the opening area of the annular groove with respect to the third port are opposite to each other.

For example, when moving the spool toward one end of the valve case, the main port is communicated with the first port, the second port is communicated with the third port, and the drive side driven body and the driven side rotary body Quickly rotate the relative.
Thereafter, by further moving the spool toward the end of the valve case, the fluid returned from the lock mechanism via the fourth port is discharged, and the lock mechanism can fix the relative rotation phase at the intermediate lock phase. To maintain.
At this time, although the opening area of the annular groove with respect to the second port increases, the opening area of the annular groove with respect to the third port decreases.
As a result, the flow rate of the fluid discharged from the second port through the third port decreases, and the relative rotational speed between the driving side rotating body and the driven side rotating body decreases, and the intermediate lock phase is easily shifted.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the valve opening / closing timing control apparatus provided with the solenoid valve of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the locked state in the intermediate | middle lock phase in the II-II line | wire of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the lock release state in the intermediate | middle lock phase in the II-II line | wire of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the locked state in the most retarded angle phase in the II-II line | wire of FIG. It is a table | surface which shows the supply / discharge relationship of the hydraulic fluid corresponding to a spool position. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the solenoid valve in the first advance angle position. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the solenoid valve in the second advance position. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the solenoid valve in a lock release position. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the solenoid valve in the second retard position. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the solenoid valve in the first retard angle position. It is a graph which shows the relationship between a spool stroke and opening area.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Basic configuration]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a valve opening / closing timing control device A for controlling the valve opening / closing timing of the intake valve Va, and an operation of the valve opening / closing timing control device A, which are provided in an automobile engine E as an internal combustion engine, are hydraulically operated. The internal combustion engine control system is configured to include a solenoid valve SV controlled by the engine control unit and an engine control unit 10 configured as an ECU so as to control the start / stop of the solenoid valve SV and the engine E.

  The engine E (an example of an internal combustion engine) is provided in a vehicle such as a passenger car. This engine E has a crankshaft 1 in the lower part, accommodates a piston 3 in a cylinder bore formed in a cylinder block 2, and is configured in a four-cycle type in which the piston 3 and the crankshaft 1 are connected by a connecting rod 4. Has been.

Further, an upper portion of the engine E includes an intake camshaft 5 and an exhaust camshaft, and includes a hydraulic pump P (an example of a fluid pressure pump) that is driven by the driving force of the crankshaft 1.
The hydraulic pump P supplies the lubricating oil stored in the oil pan of the engine E to the solenoid valve SV as working oil (an example of fluid) via the supply flow path 8. Further, the engine E includes a rotation speed sensor 1S that detects the rotation speed of the crankshaft 1 (the number of rotations per unit time) and a starter motor M.

In this embodiment, a valve opening / closing timing control device A is provided at the shaft end of the intake camshaft 5.
This valve opening / closing timing control device A includes an external rotor 20 as a driving side rotating body and an internal rotor 30 as a driven side rotating body, and includes a phase sensor AS that detects the relative rotational phase thereof. . The vehicle body also includes a start / stop button 11 for starting and stopping the engine E.

  The engine control unit 10 receives a signal from the phase sensor AS, a signal from the start / stop button 11, and a signal from the rotation speed sensor 1S. Further, the engine control unit 10 outputs control signals to the solenoid valve SV, the starter motor M, and a fuel control system, an ignition control system, and the like necessary for engine operation.

  The internal combustion engine control system sets the opening / closing timing (opening / closing timing) of the intake valve Va by controlling the valve opening / closing timing control device A based on the rotational speed of the engine E, the load acting on the engine E, and the like, thereby improving fuel efficiency. Alternatively, control that obtains the necessary torque is executed.

  The internal combustion engine control system also sets the relative rotation phase between the external rotor 20 and the internal rotor 30 (internal to the external rotor 20) so that the valve opening / closing timing is fixed at an intermediate timing between the most advanced timing and the most retarded timing. There is provided a lock mechanism L that performs the operation of fixing / releasing the phase of the rotor 30 at the intermediate lock phase Pm by supplying and discharging hydraulic oil. Thereby, particularly when the engine E is stopped, the control for fixing at the intermediate lock phase Pm is performed.

  Further, in this internal combustion engine control system, the engine E is started in a situation where the lock mechanism L is in an unlocked state, such as after the engine E has stopped without the lock mechanism L shifting to the locked state as in an engine stall. In order to do so, control is performed to shift the relative rotational phase to the intermediate lock phase Pm and shift to the lock state in the lock mechanism L.

[Valve opening / closing timing control device]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the valve opening / closing timing control device A includes an external rotor 20 as a driving side rotating body that rotates synchronously with the crankshaft 1 of the engine E, and a connecting bolt for the intake valve Va of the engine E. 13 is provided with an internal rotor 30 as a driven side rotating body that rotates integrally with the intake camshaft 5. The inner rotor 30 is included in the outer rotor 20, and these are supported so as to be relatively rotatable about the rotation axis X of the intake camshaft 5.

  The external rotor 20 includes an external rotor main body 21, a front plate 22, and a rear plate 23, which are integrated by fastening a plurality of fastening bolts 24. A timing sprocket 23 </ b> S is formed on the outer periphery of the rear plate 23.

  An internal rotor 30 is disposed at a position sandwiched between the front plate 22 and the rear plate 23. The outer rotor body 21 is integrally formed with a plurality of projecting portions 21T that project inward in the radial direction with respect to the rotation axis X.

  The inner rotor 30 protrudes on the outer periphery of the inner rotor body 31 so as to come into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the outer rotor body 21 and the cylindrical inner rotor body 31 that is in close contact with the protruding end of the protruding portion 21T of the outer rotor body 21. And a plurality of vanes 32 provided. The vane 32 is biased by a spring or the like in a direction away from the rotation axis X.

  As a result, a plurality of fluid pressure chambers C are formed on the outer peripheral side of the inner rotor body 31 at an intermediate position between the projecting portions 21T adjacent in the rotation direction, and the fluid pressure chambers C are partitioned by the vanes 32 to advance. A chamber Ca and a retarded angle chamber Cb are formed. Further, a lock mechanism L that locks (fixes) the relative rotational phase between the outer rotor 20 and the inner rotor 30 to a predetermined phase is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the relative rotational phase between the outer rotor 20 and the inner rotor 30 across the inner rotor 30 and the front plate 22 changes from the most retarded phase, which will be described later, to an intermediate lock phase Pm (an example of a lock phase). A torsion spring 39 is provided for applying an urging force until the pressure reaches. The range in which the urging force of the torsion spring 39 acts may exceed the intermediate lock phase Pm or may not reach the intermediate lock phase Pm.

  The timing chain 7 is wound around the output sprocket 6 provided on the crankshaft 1 of the engine E and the timing sprocket 23S. As a result, the external rotor 20 rotates in synchronization with the crankshaft 1. Although not shown in the drawings, a sprocket is also provided at the front end of the camshaft on the exhaust side, and a timing chain 7 is wound around the sprocket.

  In this embodiment, the intake camshaft 5 is provided with the valve opening / closing timing control device A. However, the valve opening / closing timing control device A is provided on the exhaust camshaft, and the intake camshaft 5 and the exhaust camshaft are connected to each other. You may comprise so that it may prepare for both.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the valve opening / closing timing control device A rotates the outer rotor 20 and the inner rotor 30 in the driving rotation direction S by the driving force from the crankshaft 1. The direction in which the inner rotor 30 rotates relative to the outer rotor 20 in the same direction as the driving rotation direction S is referred to as an advance angle direction Sa, and the opposite direction is referred to as a retard angle direction Sb. In this valve opening / closing timing control device A, when the relative rotational phase is displaced in the advance direction Sa, the intake compression ratio is increased as the displacement amount is increased, and when the relative rotational phase is displaced in the retard direction Sb, the displacement amount is increased. The relationship between the crankshaft 1 and the intake camshaft 5 is set so as to reduce the intake compression ratio as it increases.

  The space in which the relative rotational phase is displaced in the advance direction Sa by the supply of hydraulic oil is the advance chamber Ca. Conversely, the space in which the relative rotational phase is displaced in the retard direction Sb by the supply of hydraulic oil is delayed. This is the corner chamber Cb. The relative rotational phase in a state where the vane 32 has reached the working end in the advance direction Sa (including the phase near the working end of the vane 32 in the advance direction Sa) is referred to as a most advanced phase, and the vane 32 is retarded. The relative rotational phase in the state where the operating end in the direction Sb (including the phase in the vicinity of the operating end of the vane 32 in the retarding direction Sb) has been reached is referred to as the most retarded phase.

[Valve opening / closing timing control device: lock mechanism, flow path configuration]
The lock mechanism L includes a pair of lock members 25, a lock spring 26, an intermediate lock recess 37, and a most retarded angle lock recess 38.

  That is, a pair of guide grooves are formed in a radial posture from the rotation axis X with respect to one of the protrusions 21T, and a plate-like lock member 25 is inserted in these guide grooves so as to be freely retractable. The lock spring 26 urges the lock member 25 in a direction approaching the rotation axis X (lock direction). The shape of the lock member 25 is not limited to a plate shape, and may be a rod shape, for example.

  The intermediate lock recess 37 is formed in a groove shape along the circumferential direction on the outer periphery of the inner rotor body 31 so that the pair of lock members 25 are simultaneously engaged in a state where the relative rotational phase is at the intermediate lock phase Pm. Thus, the pair of lock members 25 are simultaneously engaged with the intermediate lock recess 37, whereby the relative rotational phase is held at the intermediate lock phase Pm as shown in FIG.

  The most retarded angle locking recess 38 is formed in a groove shape parallel to the rotation axis X. When the relative rotation phase is at the most retarded angle lock phase Pr, the most retarded angle lock recess 38 is engaged with one of the lock members 25 and reaches the locked state. Thus, when one lock member 25 is engaged with the most retarded angle lock recess 38, the relative rotation phase is held at the most retarded angle lock phase Pr as shown in FIG.

  In particular, since the pair of lock members 25 are provided and the intermediate lock recess 37 is formed along the circumferential direction, for example, even when the relative rotational phase fluctuates due to cam fluctuation torque acting on the intake camshaft 5, After the lock member 25 is engaged with the intermediate lock recess 37, the lock member 25 reduces the width of the relative rotational phase fluctuation. This facilitates engagement of the other lock member 25 with the intermediate lock recess 37.

The internal rotor 30 is formed with an advance passage 34 communicating with the advance chamber Ca, a retard passage 35 communicating with the retard chamber Cb, and an unlock passage 36 communicating with the intermediate lock recess 37. Yes. An advance channel 34 communicates with the most retarded lock recess 38. The hydraulic fluid is supplied to and discharged from the advance channel 34, the retard channel 35, and the lock release channel 36 by a solenoid valve SV.
Therefore, the valve opening / closing timing control device A can control the valve opening / closing timing by supplying and discharging hydraulic oil to / from the advance chamber Ca or the retard chamber Cb.

(Solenoid valve)
As shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, the solenoid valve SV includes a valve case 40, a spool 50, an electromagnetic solenoid 60 that drives the spool 50, and a spool spring 61. The spool 50 is provided so as to be reciprocally slidable from one end to the other end of the valve case 40 along the spool axis Y with respect to the spool housing space of the valve case 40. The electromagnetic solenoid 60 moves the spool 50 by applying an electromagnetic force in a direction against the urging force of the spool spring 61.

  In the solenoid valve SV, the spool 50 is set to the first advance angle position PA1 (FIG. 6) in a state in which power is not supplied to the electromagnetic solenoid 60. Further, in this solenoid valve SV, by increasing the power supplied to the electromagnetic solenoid 60, the second advance position PA2 (FIG. 7) and the unlock position PL (FIG. 8) are resisted against the urging force of the spool spring 61. ), A second retard position PB2 (FIG. 9), and a first retard position PB1 (FIG. 10). FIG. 5 shows the relationship between supply and discharge of hydraulic oil at these positions.

  In the valve case 40, the first drain port 40DA, the advance port 40A, the main pump port 40Pm, and the retard port 40B are sequentially arranged in the direction along the spool axis Y from the position away from the position close to the electromagnetic solenoid 60. The second drain port 40DB, the sub pump port 40Ps, the lock release port 40L, and the third drain port 40DC are formed.

  In particular, in this arrangement, the advance port 40A and the retard port 40B are arranged at positions where the main pump port 40Pm is sandwiched in the direction along the spool axis Y, and the first drain port 40DA is closest to the electromagnetic solenoid 60. The second drain port 40DB is disposed at a position away from the electromagnetic solenoid 60 from the retard port 40B.

  Further, the lock release port 40L and the third drain port 40DC are arranged in this order on the side away from the electromagnetic solenoid 60 in the direction along the spool axis Y with respect to the sub pump port 40Ps.

  In the present invention, the positions of the advance port 40A and the retard port 40B are interchanged without changing the configuration of the solenoid valve in place of the advance port 40A and the retard port 40B in place of the above-described embodiment. The solenoid valve SV may be configured (by exchanging the position where the advance channel 34 and the retard channel 35 are connected).

  The main pump port 40Pm corresponds to a main port through which hydraulic oil discharged from the external hydraulic pump P is supplied via the supply flow path 8. The advance port 40A is a first port that allows hydraulic oil flowing in from the main pump port (main port) 40Pm to flow into the advance chamber Ca via the advance channel 34 or to allow the hydraulic oil to flow out of the advance chamber Ca. Equivalent to. The retarding port 40B is a second port that allows the hydraulic oil flowing in from the main pump port (main port) 40Pm to flow into the retarding chamber Cb via the retarding channel 35 or to allow the outflow from the retarding chamber Cb. Equivalent to.

  The first drain port 40DA is a retardation that allows the hydraulic fluid returned to the valve case 40 to be discharged from the advance chamber (valve opening / closing timing control device) Ca via the advance port (first port) 40A. This corresponds to the third port for control. The second drain port 40DB is an advance angle that allows the hydraulic oil returned to the valve case 40 to be discharged from the retard chamber (valve opening / closing timing control device) Cb via the retard port (second port) 40B. This corresponds to the third port for control.

  The sub pump port 40 </ b> Ps corresponds to a sub port to which hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump P is supplied via the supply flow path 8. In the unlock port 40L, the hydraulic oil discharged from the sub pump port (sub port) 40Ps flows into or out of the intermediate lock recess 37 (lock mechanism L) via the lock release channel 36. This corresponds to a fourth port that allows The third drain port 40DC is hydraulic oil returned from the lock mechanism L to the valve case 40 via the lock release port (fourth port) 40L when the spool 50 is located at one end or the other end of the valve case 40. This corresponds to the fifth port that maintains the lock mechanism L so that the relative rotation phase can be fixed at the intermediate lock phase.

  The spool 50 has a cylindrical shape that is coaxial with the spool shaft core Y and forms a space in which air can flow. The spool 50 is arranged in the direction along the spool shaft core Y in order from the position close to the electromagnetic solenoid 60 to the first side. -6th groove part (annular groove for drains) 51A-51F is formed, and 1st-5th land part 52A-52E is formed.

  As a specific arrangement, the second groove portion 51B is arranged at a position communicating with the main pump port 40Pm, and the first land portion 52A and the second land portion 52B are arranged at a position sandwiching the second groove portion 51B. Yes. Further, a first groove portion (annular groove for drain) 51A is arranged on the side closer to the electromagnetic solenoid 60 than the first land portion 52A, and a third portion on the spool spring 61 side (anti-electromagnetic solenoid side) from the second land portion 52B. A groove portion (annular groove for drain) 51C is arranged.

  The first land portion 52A controls the supply and discharge of hydraulic fluid to the advance port 40A, and the second land portion 52B controls the supply and discharge of hydraulic fluid to the retard port 40B.

  Further, the fourth groove portion 51D is disposed at a position where it can communicate with the sub pump port 40Ps, and the third land portion 52C and the fourth land portion 52D are disposed at a position sandwiching the fourth groove portion 51D. Further, a fifth groove portion 51E, a fifth land portion 52E, and a sixth groove portion 51F are arranged on the spool spring 61 side from the fourth groove portion 51D.

The advance port (first port) 40A and the retard port (second port) 40B open to a part of the cylindrical wall portion of the valve case 40 in the circumferential direction at different positions in the spool movement direction.
The advance port 40A can communicate with the first groove portion 51A according to the movement position of the spool 50, and the retard port 40B can communicate with the third groove portion 51C according to the movement position of the spool 50.

The first drain port (third port for retard angle control) 40DA and the second drain port (third port for advance angle control) 40DB are an advance port (first port) of the cylindrical wall portion of the valve case 40. ) 40A and retarding port (second port) 40B are opened at different positions in the spool movement direction from the opening.
The first drain port 40DA can communicate with the first groove portion 51A according to the movement position of the spool 50, and the second drain port 40DB can communicate with the third groove portion 51C according to the movement position of the spool 50. is there.

  The engine control unit 10 includes a power supply system that intermittently supplies power to the electromagnetic solenoid 60 in a short cycle, and adjusts the amount of power by setting the duty ratio of the power so as to reduce the shift amount of the spool 50. Configured to set.

[First advance angle position]
As shown in FIG. 6, when the spool 50 is at the first advance angle position PA1, the advance port 40A is set via the second groove portion 51B due to the positional relationship between the first land portion 52A and the advance port 40A. It communicates with the main pump port 40Pm. Further, the retard port 40B and the second drain port 40DB communicate with each other from the positional relationship between the second land portion 52B and the retard port 40B.
At the same time, the lock release port 40L and the third drain port 40DC communicate with each other from the positional relationship between the fifth groove portion 51E and the lock release port 40L.

  Therefore, at the first advance angle position PA1, the hydraulic oil from the main pump port 40Pm is supplied to the advance port 40A, the hydraulic oil is discharged from the retard port 40B, and the hydraulic oil is discharged from the lock release port 40L. As a result, when the relative rotational phase is displaced in the advance angle direction Sa and the relative rotational phase reaches the intermediate lock phase Pm, the lock member 25 of the lock mechanism L engages with the intermediate lock recess 37 and shifts to the intermediate lock state. To do. The details of the flow of hydraulic oil in the advance side deceleration passage 55 will be described later.

[Second advance angle position]
As shown in FIG. 7, when the spool 50 is set to the second advance position PA2, the advance port is set via the second groove 51B from the positional relationship between the first land portion 52A and the advance port 40A. 40A communicates with the main pump port 40Pm. Further, the retard port 40B and the second drain port 40DB communicate with each other from the positional relationship between the second land portion 52B and the retard port 40B. At the same time, the lock release port 40L and the sub pump port 40Ps communicate with each other from the positional relationship between the fourth groove portion 51D and the lock release port 40L.

  Accordingly, at the second advance angle position PA2, the hydraulic oil from the main pump port 40Pm is supplied to the advance port 40A, the hydraulic oil is discharged from the retard port 40B, and the hydraulic oil is supplied to the lock release port 40L. As a result, when the locked state is released at the intermediate lock phase Pm, the locked state is released and the relative rotational phase is displaced in the advance direction Sa, and when the locked state is already released, the relative rotational phase is advanced. Displacement in the direction Sa.

(Unlock position)
As shown in FIG. 8, when the spool 50 is in the unlock position PL, the first land portion 52A closes the advance port 40A, and the second land portion 52B closes the retard port 40B. At the same time, the lock release port 40L and the sub pump port 40Ps communicate with each other from the positional relationship between the fourth groove portion 51D and the lock release port 40L.

  Accordingly, at the unlock position PL, the hydraulic oil from the main pump port 40Pm is not supplied to either the advance port 40A or the retard port 40B, and the hydraulic oil is supplied to the lock release port 40L. The relative rotational phase is maintained.

[Second retard position]
As shown in FIG. 9, when the spool 50 is set to the second retard position PB2, the advance port is set via the first groove 51A due to the positional relationship between the first land portion 52A and the advance port 40A. 40A communicates with the first drain port 40DA. Further, the retard port 40B communicates with the main pump port 40Pm from the positional relationship between the second land portion 52B and the retard port 40B. At the same time, the lock release port 40L and the sub pump port 40Ps communicate with each other from the positional relationship between the fourth groove portion 51D and the lock release port 40L.

  Therefore, at the second retard position PB2, the hydraulic oil from the main pump port 40Pm is supplied to the retard port 40B, the hydraulic oil is discharged from the advance port 40A, and the hydraulic oil is supplied to the lock release port 40L. Thereby, when the locked state is released at the intermediate lock phase Pm, the locked state is released and the relative rotational phase is displaced in the retarded direction Sb, and when the locked state is already released, the relative rotational phase is retarded. Displacement in the direction Sb.

[First retard position]
As shown in FIG. 10, when the spool 50 is set to the first retard position PB1, the advance port is set via the first groove 51A due to the positional relationship between the first land portion 52A and the advance port 40A. 40A communicates with the first drain port 40DA. Further, the retard port 40B communicates with the main pump port 40Pm from the positional relationship between the second land portion 52B and the retard port 40B. At the same time, the lock release port 40L and the third drain port 40DC communicate with each other from the positional relationship between the fifth groove portion 51E and the lock release port 40L.

  Accordingly, in the first retard position PB1, the hydraulic oil from the main pump port 40Pm is supplied to the retard port 40B, the hydraulic oil is discharged from the advance port 40A, and the hydraulic oil is discharged from the lock release port 40L. As a result, the relative rotational phase is displaced in the retarding direction Sb, and when the relative rotational phase reaches the intermediate lock phase Pm, the lock member 25 of the lock mechanism L engages with the intermediate lock recess 37 and shifts to the intermediate lock state. To do.

  When the engine E is stopped by operating the start / stop button 11, the engine control unit 10 shifts the relative rotation phase of the valve opening / closing timing control device A to the intermediate lock phase Pm, and then shifts to the intermediate lock state. Control to completely stop E is performed.

  However, even with such control, the relative rotational phase may not shift to the intermediate lock phase Pm. In addition, the engine E may stop without the pair of lock mechanisms L shifting to the locked state like the engine stall. Thus, when the engine E is started in a state where the lock mechanism L is in the unlocked state, the engine control unit 10 performs control to shift to a state in which the lock mechanism L is locked at the intermediate lock phase Pm.

  For this reason, when the engine E is started in a state where the lock mechanism L is in the unlocked state, the relative rotational phase detected by the phase sensor AS is deviated from the intermediate lock phase Pm to the retard side. When it is determined, the spool 50 of the solenoid valve SV is set to the first advance position PA1.

[Flow of hydraulic oil in first advance angle position] As shown in FIG. 6, when the spool 50 is in the first advance angle position PA1, it advances from the positional relationship between the first land portion 52A and the advance port 40A. The corner port 40A communicates with the main pump port 40Pm at the advance port opening area Ta. Further, from the positional relationship between the second land portion 52B and the retard port 40B, the third groove portion 51C communicates with the retard port 40B with the retard port opening area Tb, and with respect to the second drain port 40DB. It communicates with the drain port opening area Tc.

  When the position is set in the vicinity of the first advance angle position PA1, as shown in FIG. 11, when the end of the spool 50 on the side close to the electromagnetic solenoid 60 is reciprocated, the advance port opening is set. The area Ta changes at a constant ratio, and the change amount of the retarding port opening area Tb, which is the opening area of the third groove part 51C with respect to the retarding port 40B, and the opening area of the third groove part 51C with respect to the second drain port 40DB. The amount of change in the drain port opening area Tc is opposite to the above.

  Therefore, the spool 50 is in the vicinity of the end portion on the side close to the electromagnetic solenoid 60 with respect to the valve case 40, the main pump port 40Pm communicates with the advance port 40A, and the retard port 40B and the second drain port 40DB. When communicating, the opening area of the second drain port 40DB decreases as the spool 50 approaches the end of the valve case 40.

  Thereby, when the spool 50 is set to the first advance angle position PA1, the displacement speed of the relative rotation phase toward the advance angle side can be reduced, and the relative rotation between the external rotor 20 and the internal rotor 30 is reduced. The lock mechanism L can be operated so as to be securely fixed at the intermediate lock phase Pm.

As described above, when the engine is stopped at the intermediate lock phase Pm when the engine is stopped, the second operation shown in FIG. 7 is performed by moving the valve case 40 toward the end of the spool 50 on the side close to the electromagnetic solenoid 60. At the advance angle position PA2, the external rotor 20 and the internal rotor 30 are quickly and relatively rotated in the advance angle direction Sa, and then the first advance angle position PA1 shown in FIG.
In this case, the relative rotational phase between the outer rotor 20 and the inner rotor 30 can be displaced to the intermediate lock phase Pm at a low speed.

  Further, when starting the engine E in a state where the lock mechanism L is in the unlocked state, it is determined that the relative rotational phase detected by the phase sensor AS is deviated from the intermediate lock phase Pm to the advance side. For this, the spool 50 of the solenoid valve SV is set to the first retard position PB1.

[Flow of hydraulic oil in the first retard position]
As shown in FIG. 10, when the spool 50 is in the first retard position PB1, the retard port 40B has a retard port opening area Ub based on the positional relationship between the second land portion 52B and the retard port 40B. It communicates with the pump port 40Pm. Further, from the positional relationship between the first land portion 52A and the advance port 40A, the first groove portion 51A communicates with the advance port 40A through the advance port opening area Ua, and with respect to the first drain port 40DA. It communicates with the drain port opening area Uc.

  When the position is set in the vicinity of the first retard position PB1, when the reciprocating movement of the spool 50 with respect to the valve case 40 at the end on the side far from the electromagnetic solenoid 60 is performed, as shown in FIG. The area Ub changes at a constant ratio, and the change amount of the advance port opening area Ua, which is the opening area of the first groove 51A with respect to the advance port 40A, and the opening area of the first groove 51A with respect to the first drain port 40DA. And the amount of change in the drain port opening area Uc.

  Therefore, the spool 50 is in the vicinity of the end far from the electromagnetic solenoid 60 with respect to the valve case 40, the main pump port 40Pm communicates with the retard port 40B, and the advance port 40A communicates with the first drain port 40DA. When communicating, the opening area of the first drain port 40DA decreases as the spool 50 approaches the end of the valve case 40.

  Thereby, when the spool 50 is set to the first retard position PB1, the displacement speed of the relative rotation phase toward the retard side can be reduced, and the relative rotation between the outer rotor 20 and the inner rotor 30 is reduced. The lock mechanism L can be operated so as to be securely fixed at the intermediate lock phase Pm.

  As described above, the one-way moving operation of the spool 50 toward the end of the spool 50 far from the electromagnetic solenoid 60 with respect to the valve case 40 quickly shifts to the desired valve opening / closing timing at the second retardation position PB2 shown in FIG. As described above, after the external rotor 20 and the internal rotor 30 are relatively rotated relative to each other in the retarding direction Sb, the relative rotational phase between the external rotor 20 and the internal rotor 30 at the first retarding position PB1 shown in FIG. Can be displaced to the intermediate lock phase Pm at a low speed.

  The present invention can be used for a solenoid valve that controls a relative rotation phase and a lock mechanism of a valve opening / closing timing control device.

20 Drive side rotator 30 Driven side rotator 40 Valve case 50 Spool 60 Solenoid 40A 1st port 40B 2nd port 40DA, 40DB 3rd port 40DC 5th port 40L 4th port 40Pm Main port 40Ps Sub port 51A, 51C Annular groove A Valve opening / closing timing control device Ca Advance angle chamber Cb Delay angle chamber L Lock mechanism P Fluid pressure pump Pm Intermediate lock phase Tb, Ua Opening area Tc of the annular groove for the first port or the second port, Uc Opening area

Claims (2)

The valve opening / closing timing can be controlled by supplying / discharging fluid to / from the advance chamber or retard chamber, and the valve opening / closing timing is fixed at an intermediate timing between the most advanced timing and the most retarded timing. Therefore, it can be connected to a valve opening / closing timing control device having a lock mechanism that performs an operation of fixing / releasing the relative rotation phase of the driving side rotating body and the driven side rotating body with an intermediate lock phase by supplying and discharging the fluid. ,
A valve case,
A spool incorporated in the valve case so as to be capable of reciprocating from one end to the other end of the valve case;
A solenoid for driving the spool, and
In the valve case,
A main port to which the fluid discharged from an external fluid pressure pump is supplied, and a fluid that has flowed into the main port flows into an advance chamber or a retard chamber of the valve opening / closing timing control device. Alternatively, a first port and a second port that allow outflow from the retarded chamber,
A third port that allows the fluid returned to the valve case to be discharged from the valve opening / closing timing control device via the first port or the second port;
A subport to which the fluid from the fluid pressure pump is supplied;
A fourth port that allows fluid discharged from the sub-port to flow into or out of the locking mechanism;
When the spool is positioned at one end or the other end of the valve case, the fluid returned from the lock mechanism via the fourth port can be discharged, and the relative rotation phase can be fixed at the intermediate lock phase. And a fifth port for maintaining the locking mechanism,
The spool is in the vicinity of one of the one end and the other end of the valve case;
When the main port communicates with one of the first port and the second port, and either one of the first port and the second port communicates with the third port, the spool is The opening area of the third port is configured to be smaller toward the end of the valve case ,
When the spool is at either one end or the other end of the valve case, the opening area of the third port is either the first port or the second port, and the third port solenoid valve that is configured to be smaller than the opening area of the port communicating with. An annular groove is formed in the spool,
The first port or the second port opens in a part of the cylindrical wall portion of the valve case in the circumferential direction, and can communicate with the annular groove according to the position of the spool;
Together with the third port, a portion said first port and said second port that are opening of the cylindrical wall portion of the valve casing is open at different positions in the moving direction of the spool, the position of the spool Can communicate with the annular groove according to
When the spool reciprocates with respect to the valve case, the amount of change in the opening area of the annular groove with respect to the first port or the second port, and the amount of change in the opening area of the annular groove with respect to the third port, The solenoid valve according to claim 1, wherein the solenoid valves are configured to conflict with each other.

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