KR20140125431A - A hydraulic valve arrangement for controllably operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion piston engine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hydraulic valve arrangement (10) for controllably operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion piston engine, the device comprising a body portion (12) (16.1, 16.2) having a volume that increases in response to the piston portions (16.1, 16.2) that are in contact with the radial surfaces (16.1 ', 16.2') of both of the second piston portions Having a volume that decreases in response to a second piston portion that is in contact with the radial surface (16.2 ") of the second piston portion and that moves relative to the body portion in the first direction, Wherein the first and second piston portions are slidably disposed relative to one another and the movement of the second piston portion (16.2) relative to the body portion (12) Is disposed so as to be controlled by the fluid control system 24 is arranged in relation to the pressure valve arrangement (10).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a hydraulic valve apparatus for controllably operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion piston engine,

The present invention relates to a hydraulic valve arrangement for controllably operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion piston engine, the apparatus comprising a body portion having a working space in which an operating piston is disposed, And at least a first and a second concentric piston portions that are slidably disposed relative to each other, wherein in the body portion, abutting radial surfaces of both the first and second piston portions and contacting the body portion And a second piston in contact with the radial surface of the second piston portion and moving relative to the body portion in the first direction, the second piston having a volume that increases in response to the piston portions moving relative to the body portion, Wherein a second fluid chamber having a volume decreasing in response to a portion of the second fluid chamber is disposed.

The internal combustion engine typically includes a plurality of gas exchange valves. The valve controls the intake and exhaust flow through the combustion chamber (s) of the internal combustion engine. A typical engine will include at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve for each cylinder or combustion chamber of the engine. The opening of each valve is timed to occur at a predetermined cam or crankshaft angle during the engine's operating cycle. It is well known that it is advantageous to control the time that the gas exchange valve of the engine is open during the operation of the engine. The maximum capacity of the engine may be achieved, for example, by extending the time the valve is open when the operating speed is high and when the maximum capacity is needed. Further, the available engine torque can be increased by selecting, for example, an appropriate valve opening time at the partial load and lower engine speed. By adjusting the optimal valve opening time during each stroke of the engine in accordance with the operating mode, the consumption of fuel and harmful emissions can be reduced.

The operation of such an adjustable valve can be achieved by a hydraulic valve actuation system. As an example of such a system, EP 140347381 B1 discloses a working assembly (not shown) having a body, a valve for moving the piston slidably disposed relative to the body, and first, second and third hydraulic chambers defined between the piston and the body actuation assembly, wherein the first and second hydraulic chambers have a volume decreasing in response to a piston moving relative to the body in a first direction and the third hydraulic chamber having a volume increasing.

US 2004055547 A1 shows a hydraulic actuator in which an actuating piston is designed such that at least one areal surface of the two effective areas varies along the sliding path of the actuating piston. Specifically, the arrangement shows a piston having a plurality of portions and two partial pistons having different axial lengths, and the two partial pistons are inserted concentrically inside each other to be movable relative to each other. Thus, by virtue of the combined effective area of the concentric piston, the gas exchange valve can be opened rapidly with a large displacement force, which rapidly drops and remains constant for the remainder of the valve lift only by the inner piston.

Hydraulic actuators provide great possibilities to control and adjust valve opening and closing during engine operation. However, the task of operating a hydraulic gas exchange valve is energy efficiency due to the very high flow rate of the hydraulic fluid.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hydraulic valve device for controllably operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion piston engine, which provides flexible controllability and minimizes energy consumption.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hydraulic valve apparatus for controllably operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion piston engine, said apparatus comprising a body portion having a work space in which an operating piston is disposed, At least a first and a second concentric piston portions being slidably disposed relative to the body portion, the first and second concentric piston portions being in contact with radial surfaces of both the first and second piston portions, A second piston portion having a volume increasing in response to the piston portions moving relative to the body portion and moving relative to the body portion in a first direction, the second piston portion contacting a radial surface of the second piston portion, Wherein a second fluid chamber having a volume decreasing in response to said first fluid chamber is disposed. Characterized in that the movement of the second piston part in the first direction relative to the body part is controllably arranged independently from the first piston part by means of a fluid control system arranged in relation to the hydraulic valve device .

In this way it is possible to adjust the device so that work is done by the hydraulic fluid at the optimum flow rate for the force required to move the piston in the first direction.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a fluid control system includes a pressure fluid source including a source of pressurized fluid and a pressure line connected to the first fluid chamber and having a pressure valve, wherein at least one of the piston portions moving relative to the body portion in the first direction Each fluid chamber having a decreasing volume is in controllable fluid communication with the pressure line.

According to one aspect of the invention, a fluid control system includes a fluid line that includes a valve for controllably connecting a second fluid chamber to a low pressure portion of a fluid control system.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a third fluid chamber is disposed in abutment with at least the radial surface of the first piston portion having a volume decreasing in response to a first piston portion moving relative to the body portion in a first direction . The first and third fluid chambers are selectively connectable to a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the radial surface of the first piston portion in contact with the first fluid chamber is smaller than the radial surface of the first piston portion in contact with the third fluid chamber, The radial surface of the piston portion is smaller than the radial surface of the second piston portion abutting the second fluid chamber.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first piston portion is movably disposed relative to the second piston portion in the first direction, and has a mechanical stop portion that limits movement of the second piston portion relative to the first piston portion do.

In the following, the present invention will be described with reference to exemplary and schematic accompanying drawings.

1 shows a hydraulic valve apparatus for controllably operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion piston engine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 shows a hydraulic valve device for controllably operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion piston engine according to another embodiment of the present invention.
3 shows a hydraulic valve apparatus for controllably operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion piston engine according to another embodiment of the present invention.

1, a hydraulic valve apparatus 10 for an internal combustion piston engine according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

With the hydraulic valve arrangement, the operation of the valve, i.e. the timing and opening and / or closing ramps of the valve with respect to the cycle of the piston can be controlled very flexibly. The apparatus includes a body portion 12 within which a work space 14 is disposed. The apparatus also includes a working piston (16) disposed in the work space. The working piston is force-connected with the gas exchange valve 18 of the engine. The operating piston 16 is adapted to move in a first direction causing an open movement of the gas exchange valve 18 and in a second direction opposite to the first direction which causes a closing movement of the gas exchange valve 18, And is movably arranged in the work space 14. [ The work space 14 is arranged rotationally symmetrically with respect to its central axis 20. The work space is extended as a guide section (22) at one end with an inner diameter selected for the outer diameter of the working piston (16) in that area so that a hopping guide effect for the piston (16) is achieved.

The working piston 16 includes at least a first concentric piston portion 16.1 and a second concentric piston portion 16.2. The first and second piston portions 16.1 and 16.2 are arranged such that movement of the second piston portion 16.2 in the first direction relative to the first piston portion is achieved by mechanical stop portions 50 ) So as to be slidable relative to each other. There is also a second mechanical stop portion 51 disposed relative to the body portion 12 cooperating with the second piston portion 16.2. The second stop portion limits movement of the second piston portion (16.2) in the second direction to a predetermined position relative to the body portion (12). The second stop defines the initial position of the second piston portion (16.2). The piston portions are controllably arranged by a fluid control system (24) arranged in communication with the hydraulic valve arrangement.

In Fig. 2, there is shown a valve device 10 which is identical to the device shown in Fig. 1 described above, but which can be controlled by a fluid control system 24 that allows more precise control of the valve device.

During operation of the hydraulic valve device according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, the second piston portion 16.2 has a first piston portion 16.1 in the first direction when the valve 18 is to be opened ). During the return movement of the actuating piston, the first piston portion 16.1 pushes the second piston portion back against its second mechanical stop portion 51 to its initial position.

The body portion 12 is provided with a plurality of radially extending radial surfaces 16.1 ', 16.2' at both ends of the first and second piston portions 16.1, 16.2, ) Having a volume that increases in response to one or both of the piston portions (16.1, 16.2) that are disposed within the workspace and move relative to the body portion (14) in a first direction that is downward in FIGS. 1 and 2, There is a chamber 14.1. The working piston has at least a radial surface 16.2 "of the second piston portion at a second end having a decreasing volume in response to a second piston portion moving relative to the body portion in a first direction, And a second fluid chamber 14.2 disposed within the work space that is partially in contact with the first fluid chamber 14.2.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the radial surfaces 16.1 ', 16.2', 16.2 "define an effective area such that 16.1 'defines the area of the first end of the first piston part 16.1, 16.2 " defines the area of the first end of the second piston portion 16.2, and 16.2 " of the second piston portion when in contact with the mechanical stop portion 50 disposed in the first piston portion in the form of a shoulder Defines the area of the end.

The fluid control system 24 includes a pressurized fluid source 28 and a pressure line 26 connected to the first fluid chamber 14.1 and has a pressure valve 30. Thus, it is possible to controllably allow the pressurized fluid into the chamber 14.1 and exert a force on the piston portions 16.1, 16.2. The movement of the second piston portion 16.2 relative to the body portion 12 is now controllably arranged by the fluid control system 24 so that the second piston portion 16.2, which moves relative to the body portion in the first direction, The second fluid chamber 14.2 having a volume decreasing in response to the fluid pressure is controllably fluid communication 34 to the low pressure portion 36 of the fluid control system. In this way, the movement of the second piston portion 16.2 is independently and controllably arranged by the fluid control system 24. More specifically, the fluid control system 24 includes a fluid line 38 having a valve 40 for controllably connecting the second fluid chamber 14.2 to the low pressure portion 36. By means of the valve 40 of the fluid line, it is possible to control the fluid flow from the second fluid chamber 14.2. The fluid flow from the second chamber defines the movement of the second piston portion 16.2. Thus, when fluid flow out of the second fluid chamber 14.2 is prevented, the second piston portion 16.2 may not move even if the valve 30 is open. In that case, only the piston part 16.1 moves and the piston part 16.2 remains substantially in its present position, indicating the position when the valve 30 is closed. The valve 30 can be controlled to close at any appropriate moment during the movement of the piston 16 such that the movement of the second piston portion 16.2 is moved along the first piston portion 16.1 to the extent desired.

As shown in FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the second fluid chamber 14.2 is additionally controllably fluid communication 32 with the first fluid chamber 14.1. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, this has been realized by the controllable fluid communication 32 with the pressure line 26 downstream of the pressure valve 30 with the valve 31. In this way, the pressurized fluid can affect both ends of the second piston portion 16.2. 2, the radial surface 16.2 'at the first end of the second piston portion is larger than the radial surface 16.2 "at the second end of the second piston portion, The force exerted by the portion 16.2 on the first piston portion 16.1 is defined by the difference in surface area 16.2 ', 16.2 ". Thus, the effect of the second piston portion 16.2 can be enhanced by opening the fluid flow communication from the second fluid chamber 14.2 to the low pressure portion 36 or the pressure line of the system, or by opening the fluid flow from the second fluid chamber 14.2 And is controlled by closing the communication. When the control valve 31 is opened and the control valve 40 is closed and the hydraulic fluid is supplied to the first hydraulic chamber 14.1, the hydraulic fluid is returned from the second fluid chamber 14.2 to the pressure line 26 , Thus requiring less flow from the pressurized hydraulic fluid source. Thus, the stop of movement of the second piston portion in the first direction relative to the body portion is disposed independently of the first piston portion. This also means stopping the transmitting force from the second piston part to the first piston part. This feature is shown in both Figs.

The working space 14 and the first piston portion 16.1 define a third fluid chamber 14.3 which is at least partially disposed in contact with the radial surface 16.1 "of the first piston portion 16.1, The third fluid chamber has a volume that decreases in response to a first piston portion moving relative to the body portion in a first direction by a fluid line 46 having a valve 42 in a second direction, May be selectively connected to a pressurized hydraulic fluid source 28 that facilitates movement of the piston in a direction that causes movement of the valve 18 in the closing direction. The pressure line, i.e., the first chamber 14.1, Pressure portion 36 of the system by means of a fluid line having a plurality of fluid lines 62 and 62, respectively.

2, the third fluid chamber 14.3 is in controllable fluid communication 44 with the first fluid chamber 14.1. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, this has been realized by the controllable fluid communication 44 with the pressure line 26 downstream of the pressure valve 30 with the valve 43. In this way, the pressurized hydraulic fluid can affect the first end of the first piston portion 16.1 and its radial surface 16.1 ". The radial surface at the first end of the first piston portion 16.1 'is greater than the radial surface 16.1 "in contact with the third chamber, the force exerted on the first piston portion 16.1 is such that when the communication from the third chamber to the pressure line 26 is open Is defined by the difference in surface area. Thus, the effect of the first piston portion 16.1 is controlled by opening the fluid flow communication from the third fluid chamber 14.3 to the low pressure portion 36 or pressure line of the system. In the third chamber 14.3 connected to the low pressure portion 36 by line 46, a control valve 48 is provided. In addition, the second chamber 14.2 is controllably connected to the low pressure portion 36 by a fluid line 38 having a control valve 40.

Preferably, each fluid chamber having a volume decreasing in response to at least one of the piston portions moving relative to the body portion in the first direction is operatively associated with a pressure line downstream of the pressure valve at the first fluid chamber side, Communicate.

Since the device of Figures 1 and 2 includes two piston portions, it is possible to select the manner in which their effective area is used to apply different forces to the pistons 16 by various combinations of properly open and closed control valves . Indeed, the advantage of such a device is that it has a selectable effective area, i. E., A combined radial surface in the workspace 14. In this way, depending on, for example, the engine load, the engine automation can select what effective area is used. When the effective area is selected such that the force produced by the hydraulic pressure is equal to the limiting force, the required hydraulic flow is minimized and thus the energy is saved. If the effective area is greater than that required by the force, the required hydraulic flow is also greater and the system consumes additional energy, which is minimized by the present invention.

As an example of the operation of the valve device, the hydraulic cylinder has at least three fluid chambers 14.1, 14.2, 14.3. The upper chamber 14.1 in Figures 1 and 2 is for pushing the piston 16 downward, and this movement opens the gas exchange valve 18. Also, the third chamber 14.3 of the figure is used to press the piston upward, which closes the gas exchange valve. The second, or intermediate, chamber 14.2 is the control volume.

If the second chamber 14.2 control valve 40 is closed, the inner piston tends to move downward, but the hydraulic fluid (i.e., oil) in the second chamber 14.2 can not escape. Thus, the second piston portion 16.2 can not move, and therefore the only working member is the first piston portion 16.1. If the force thus obtained is adequate, a low flow rate of the fluid is required. In this case, the generated force is the surface area 16.1 'in the chamber 14.1 and the hydraulic pressure. The third chamber 14.3 volume is connected to the low pressure section 36 (tank). The second volume 14.2 control valve 40 is opened such that the second volume 14.2 is connected to the low pressure portion 36 and the piston portions < RTI ID = 0.0 > Both move downward and the outer piston portion 16.2 presses the inner piston portion 16.1. The effective force is now obtained by the combined piston areas 16.1 ', 16.2'. The system may have more than two piston portions and radial surfaces.

It is also an advantage of the present invention that it is possible to vary the forces applied, i.e. the effective areas, even during the stroke of the piston, whereby the operation of the hydraulic valve arrangement becomes much more energy efficient.

The third chamber 14.3 is pressurized when the piston returns to its initial position. The first chamber 14.1 is now connected to the low pressure section 36 (tank). According to one embodiment of the present invention, the valve 31 is also opened. This allows fluid from the two chambers 14.1 and 14.2 to flow to the low pressure portion 36 through the valve 62 or the valve 40 (or both valves). In this way, the piston 16 can return to the initial position of the piston even if one of the valves 62, 40 is inoperative. In general, the first chamber 14.1 and the second chamber 14.2 are selectively and / or controllably connected to the low-pressure portion 36 because the operation selection can be made by the control valve 31. [

The return of the gas exchange valve requires very little force, since there is no engine pressure limiting the movement. Therefore, the area causing the return movement may be smaller than the area causing the movement in the first direction.

According to the apparatuses of Figs. 1 and 2, the effective area of the actuator can be adjusted in the case of each load.

The possible combinations of forces obtainable by the device of Figures 1 and 2 at a given pressure are shown in the following table.

These alternative effective areas are for the movement of the piston 16 in the first direction so that seven different forces can be applied to the piston at the same pressure level. The valve 30 is open in all combinations. The available forces depend on the actual dimensioning of the hydraulic pressure and areas used.

2 there is also shown a pressure accumulator system 55 selectively available by valves 56 and 57 in line 46 and pressure line 26 in conjunction with the low pressure portion 36 of the system. By using the accumulator system, the valve movement of the piston 16 can be decelerated, and energy reuse is also made possible.

Another embodiment of the invention in which three piston portions, namely a first portion 16.1, a second piston portion 16.2 and a third piston portion 16.3 are coaxially arranged, is shown in Fig. Reference numerals corresponding to the reference numerals of Figs. 1 and 2 are used in Fig. 3 for the corresponding members. Each of the fluid chambers 14.2, 14.3, 14.4 having a volume decreasing in response to at least one of the piston portions moving relative to the body portion in the first direction is connected to the pressure line 26 downstream of the pressure valve and the control valve 29, 31, 43 and controllably fluid communication (27, 32, 44). 3, the fluid control system 24 includes a fluid line 23 having a valve 25 that controllably connects the fourth fluid chamber 14.4 to the low-pressure portion 36. In the embodiment of Fig.

The inner coaxial piston portion and the outer coaxial piston portion are disposed such that the outer coaxial piston portion is confined to a predetermined longitudinal position relative to the inner coaxial piston portion. The movement of the outer coaxial piston portion is preferably limited by the shape of the opposing surfaces of the inner coaxial piston portion and the outer coaxial piston portion.

The device may have a spring member 60 urging the piston to move in a second direction, for example, in the third fluid chamber.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in connection with what is presently considered to be the most preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is capable of numerous modifications and variations, It is to be understood that the scope is intended to encompass various other applications. Details referred to in connection with any of the above embodiments may be used in connection with other embodiments where such a combination is technically feasible.

Claims (10)

A hydraulic valve arrangement (10) for controllably operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion piston engine,
The apparatus includes a body portion (12) having a work space (14) in which an operating piston (16) is disposed,
The working piston comprises at least first and second concentric piston portions (16.1, 16.2) slidably disposed relative to each other,
In response to radial surfaces (16.1 ', 16.2') of both the first and second piston parts and to the piston parts (16.1, 16.2) moving in relation to the body part in a first direction in the body part Wherein a first fluid chamber (14.1) with an increased volume is disposed, the second piston portion being in contact with a radial surface (16.2 ") of the second piston portion and moving relative to the body portion in the first direction A second fluid chamber (14.2) having a volume decreasing in response is disposed,
The movement of the second piston portion (16.2) in the first direction relative to the body portion (12) is controlled by a fluid control system (24) arranged in relation to the hydraulic valve arrangement (10) (10) for controllably operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion piston engine, characterized in that the first piston portion (16.1) is arranged independently from the first piston portion (16.1). The method according to claim 1,
The fluid control system includes a pressure valve (30) including a pressurized fluid source (28) and a pressure line (26) connected to the first fluid chamber (14.1)
Each of the fluid chambers 14.2, 14.3, 14.4 having a volume decreasing in response to at least one of the piston portions 16.1, 16.2, 16.3 moving relative to the body portion 12 in the first direction, (10) for controllably manipulating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion piston engine, said control valve being in controllable fluid communication with said piston (26). The method according to claim 1,
The fluid control system 24 includes a fluid line 38 including a valve 40 for controllably connecting the second fluid chamber 14.2 to the low pressure portion 36 of the fluid control system. (10) for controllably manipulating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion piston engine. The method according to claim 1,
The apparatus includes a third fluid chamber (14.3) disposed in tangential contact with at least a radial surface (16.1 ") of the first piston portion having a volume decreasing in response to a first piston portion moving relative to the body portion in a first direction ),
Characterized in that the first and third fluid chambers are selectively connectable (30, 42) to a pressurized hydraulic fluid source (28) 10). The method according to claim 1,
Wherein a radial surface 16.1 'of the first piston portion 16.1 in contact with the first fluid chamber 14.1 has a radial surface 16.1 " of the first piston portion abutting the third fluid chamber 14.3, Lt; / RTI >
Wherein a radial surface 16.1 "of the first piston portion abutting the third fluid chamber 14.3 has a radial surface 16.2" of the second piston portion 16.2 abutting the second fluid chamber 14.2, (10) for controllably operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion piston engine. The method according to claim 1,
A first piston part (16.1) is arranged to be freely movable with respect to said second piston part (16.2) in said first direction, and the movement of said second piston part (16.2) relative to said first piston part Characterized in that it comprises a mechanical stop (50) which restricts the flow of the gas in the combustion chamber. 7. The method according to claim 1 or 6,
The body portion 12 includes a second stop portion 51 cooperating with the second piston portion 16.2 to limit movement of the second piston portion 16.2 in the second direction to a predetermined position, (10) for controllably operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion piston engine. The method according to claim 1,
Characterized in that the device comprises a controllable fluid communication (32) between the first fluid chamber (14.1) and the second fluid chamber (14.2) (10). The method according to claim 1,
Characterized in that the device comprises controllable fluid communication (44) between the first fluid chamber (14.1) and the third fluid chamber (14.3) (10). The method according to claim 3, 8, or 9,
Wherein the controllable fluid communication (32) between the first fluid chamber (14.1) and the second fluid chamber (14.2) comprises a control valve (31)
Wherein the controllable fluid communication (44) between the first fluid chamber (14.1) and the third fluid chamber (14.3) comprises a control valve (43)
The device provides effective areas with a combination of open and / or closed control valves (30, 40, 48, 31, 43) that define a force applied to the piston (16) (10) for controllably operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion piston engine.

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