US5562085A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for controlling number of operating cylinders of an internal combustion engine
Assignee: Denso Corp
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Filing: 1995-06-02
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Granted: 1996-10-08
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Expires: 2015-06-02
Abstract
Abstract A device for controlling a partial number of engine cylinders employs a geneva movement, intake-air-cutoff valves, an exhaust-gas-cutoff valve and a DC motor. The geneva movement divides the driving force of the DC motor into two: a force intermittently driving the intake-air-cutoff valves and a force driving the exhaust-gas-cutoff valve, so that the exhaust-gas-cutoff valve cannot open until the intake-air-cutoff valve has closed when the engine operation is changed over to a partial-cylinder-operation mode, and the intake-air-cutoff valve cannot open until the exhaust-gas-cutoff valve has closed when the engine operation is changed over to the full-cylinder-operation mode. As a result, time required for changeover of the engine operation between the full-cylinder operation and the partial-cylinder operation is minnimized and additional driving unit is omitted.
Inventors
- 👤 Toru Kosuda
- 👤 Osamu Sato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:36
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D17/00; F02D17/02; F02D21/00; F02D21/06; F02D21/08; F02M; F02M26/00; F02M26/13; F02M26/42; F02M26/43; F02M26/52; F02M26/64; F02M26/65; F02M26/70; F02D9/00; F02D9/02; F02D2009/0201; F02D2009/0276
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A device for controlling number of operating cylinders of an internal combustion engine having full-time operating cylinders, controlled cylinders, an air intake manifold and exhaust gas manifolds connected respectively to said full-time cylinders and said controlled cylinders, said device comprising: a housing; a plurality of passage members disposed in said housing for connecting each of said controlled cylinders with said air intake manifold; a plurality of intake-air-cutoff valves disposed in said housing for opening and closing said passages; an exhaust-gas-circulation pipe connecting said exhaust pipe connected to said controlled cylinders and a downstream portion of each of said intake-air-cutoff valves; an exhaust-gas-cutoff valve disposed in said housing for opening and closing said exhaust-gas-circulation pipe; an electric motor disposed in said housing for supplying a force to drive said intake-air-cutoff valves and said exhaust-gas-cutoff valve; and a link movement, disposed in said housing between said motor and said both valves, for transmitting said driving force intermittently so that said both valves operate at a set interval.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
165 words
A device for controlling number of operating cylinders of an internal combustion engine having full-time operating cylinders, controlled cylinders, an air intake manifold and exhaust gas manifolds connected respectively to said full-time cylinders and said controlled cylinders, said device comprising: a housing; a plurality of passage members disposed in said housing for connecting each of said controlled cylinders with said air intake manifold; a plurality of intake-air-cutoff valves disposed in said housing for opening and closing said passages; an exhaust-gas-circulation pipe connecting said exhaust pipe connected to said controlled cylinders and a downstream portion of each of said intake-air-cutoff valves; an exhaust-gas-cutoff valve disposed in said housing for opening and closing said exhaust-gas-circulation pipe; an electric motor disposed in said housing for supplying a force to drive said intake-air-cutoff valves and said exhaust-gas-cutoff valve; and a link movement, disposed in said housing between said motor and said both valves, for transmitting said driving force intermittently so that said both valves operate at a set interval.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said link movement comprises a geneva movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein said geneva movement comprises a driving wheel connected with said DC motor and a driven cam connected with said intake-air-cutoff valve, said driving wheel having a crank member, a roller disposed on said crank member and a constrained cam, said driven cam having a groove to be in engagement with said roller and a cam surface to be in abutment with said constrained cam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein said geneva movement comprises a driving wheel connected with said DC motor, a first driven cam connected with said intake-air-cutoff valve and a second driven cam connected with said exhaust-gas-cutoff valve, said driving wheel having a crank member, a roller disposed on said crank member and a constrained cam, said first and second driven cam having a groove engagemeable with said roller and a cam surface abutable with said constrained cam.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
164 words
A device for controlling number of operating cylinders of an internal combustion engine having a full-time operating cylinder, a controlled cylinder, an air intake manifold and an exhaust gas manifold, said device comprising: an intake-air-cutoff valve disposed in a passage between said air intake manifold and said controlled cylinder for opening and closing said passage; an exhaust-gas-circulation pipe connecting said exhaust pipe at a downstream portion of said controlled cylinder and a downstream portion of said intake-air-cutoff valve; an exhaust-gas-cutoff valve disposed in a portion of said exhaust-gas-circulation pipe for opening and closing said portion; a valve driving unit for supplying a force driving said intake-air-cutoff valve and said exhaust-gas-cutoff valve; and a link movement, disposed between said valve driving unit and said both valves, for transmitting said driving force so that said both valves operate at a set interval, wherein said link movement transmits said driving force so that said exhaust-gas-cutoff valve does not open as long as said intake-air-cutoff valve keeps opening.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
164 words
A device for controlling number of operating cylinders of an internal combustion engine having a full-time operating cylinder, a controlled cylinder, an air intake manifold and an exhaust gas manifold, said device comprising: an intake-air-cutoff valve disposed in a passage between said air intake manifold and said controlled cylinder for opening and closing said passage; an exhaust-gas-circulation pipe connecting said exhaust pipe at a downstream portion of said controlled cylinder and a downstream portion of said intake-air-cutoff valve; an exhaust-gas-cutoff valve disposed in a portion of said exhaust-gas-circulation pipe for opening and closing said portion; a valve driving unit for supplying a force driving said intake-air-cutoff valve and said exhaust-gas-cutoff valve; and a link movement, disposed between said valve driving unit and said both valves, for transmitting said driving force so that said both valves operate at a set interval, wherein said link movement transmits said driving force so that said exhaust-gas-cutoff valve does not open as long as said intake-air-cutoff valve keeps opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said valve driving unit comprises a DC motor and a control unit for controlling said DC motor according to engine operating conditions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein said link movement comprises a mechanism for intermittently driving said intake-air-cutoff valve and said exhaust-gas-cutoff valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein said mechanism comprises a geneva movement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device according to claim 8, wherein said geneva movement comprises a driving gear having gear teeth on a part of the periphery thereof connected with said DC motor and a driven gear to be in engagement with said driving gear which is connected with said intake-air-cutoff valve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
A device according to claim 8, wherein said geneva movement comprises a driving wheel connected with said DC motor a first driven cam connected with said intake-air-cutoff valve and a second driven cam connected with said exhaust-gas-cutoff valve, said driving wheel having a crank member, a roller disposed on said crank member and a constrained cam, said first and second driven cam having a groove to be in engagement with said roller and a cam surface to be in abutment with said constrained cam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
A device according to claim 8, wherein said geneva movement comprises a driving wheel connected with said DC motor and a driven cam connected with said intake-air-cutoff valve, said driving wheel having a crank member, a roller disposed on said crank member and a constrained cam, said driven cam having a groove to be in engagement in said roller and a cam surface to be in abutment with said constrained cam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 11 further comprising a block member for securing said DC motor and said geneva movement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 12, wherein said block member comprises integral housings for said intake-air-cutoff valve and said exhaust-gas-cutoff valve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 12, wherein said block member comprises an integral housing for DC motor and said mechanism for intermittently driving said intake-air-cutoff valve.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein said block member comprises integral housings for said intake-air-cutoff valve and said exhaust-gas-cutoff valve.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-08 | 2000-04-08 | 2000-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-08 | 2004-04-08 | 2004-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-08 | 2008-04-08 | 2008-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |