US5845613A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable valve timing arrangement for internal combustion engine
Assignee: Yamaha Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1997-04-02
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Granted: 1998-12-08
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Expires: 2017-04-02
Abstract
Abstract Several embodiments of valve timing control for internal combustion engines so as to improve the engine performance in response to sensed characteristics. In addition, the valve timing is also changed either to avoid knocking in incipient knocking conditions or to stop knocking once it has occurred. Both normally aspirated and supercharged versions are described.
Inventors
- 👤 Masaaki Yoshikawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:56
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01L; F01L1/00; F01L1/34; F01L1/344; F02; F02D; F02D35/00; F02D35/02; F02D35/027; F02D41/00; F02D41/0002; F02D2041/001; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
An internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber defined by a cylinder defining a cylinder bore, a piston reciprocating in said cylinder bore, and a cylinder head closing said cylinder bore, intake port means for supplying a charge to said combustion chamber, an intake valve for controlling the timing of opening and closing of said intake port means in timed relation to the position of said piston in said cylinder bore and for a fixed duration, exhaust port means for discharging a burnt charge from said combustion chamber, an exhaust valve for controlling the timing of opening and closing of said exhaust port means in timed relation to the position of said piston in said cylinder bore and for a fixed duration, means for sensing a condition of said engine indicative of a condition when knocking may occur, and means for varying the timing of both the opening and closing of at least one of said valves in response to the sensed signal in the same direction and in the same amount so as not to alter the fixed duration of said one valve to preclude knocking by controlling the amount of intake air charge transferred back into said intake port means when said piston is moving toward top dead center.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
An internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber defined by a cylinder defining a cylinder bore, a piston reciprocating in said cylinder bore, and a cylinder head closing said cylinder bore, intake port means for supplying a charge to said combustion chamber, an intake valve for controlling the timing of opening and closing of said intake port means in timed relation to the position of said piston in said cylinder bore and for a fixed duration, exhaust port means for discharging a burnt charge from said combustion chamber, an exhaust valve for controlling the timing of opening and closing of said exhaust port means in timed relation to the position of said piston in said cylinder bore and for a fixed duration, means for sensing a condition of said engine indicative of a condition when knocking may occur, and means for varying the timing of both the opening and closing of at least one of said valves in response to the sensed signal in the same direction and in the same amount so as not to alter the fixed duration of said one valve to preclude knocking by controlling the amount of intake air charge transferred back into said intake port means when said piston is moving toward top dead center.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for sensing a condition of the engine comprises a knock sensor for sensing actual knocking conditions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for sensing a condition of the engine comprises a combustion chamber pressure sensor for sensing when combustion pressure is such that knocking may occur.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the means for sensing a condition of the engine further includes a knock sensor for sensing an actual knocking condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the valve timing varied to prevent knocking comprises the intake valve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 5 wherein the intake valve is adjusted so as to reduce the likelihood of knocking by retarding the opening of the intake valve and the closing of the intake valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
An internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1 further including further sensing means for sensing other engine conditions and for varying the valve timing to optimize running conditions in response to all of the sensed conditions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
An internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 7 wherein the valve timing is further adjusted when a knocking condition is sensed by adjusting the timing from a position other than that set for the normal sensed engine conditions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means for sensing a condition of the engine comprises a knock sensor for sensing actual knocking conditions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
An internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means for sensing a condition of the engine comprises a combustion chamber pressure sensor for sensing when combustion pressure is such that knocking may occur.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
An internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 10 wherein the means for sensing a condition of the engine further includes a knock sensor for sensing an actual knocking condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 8 wherein the valve timing varied to prevent knocking comprises the intake valve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
An internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 12 wherein the intake valve is adjusted so as to reduce likelihood of knocking by changing the opening of the intake valve and the closing of the intake valve.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber defined by a cylinder defining a cylinder bore, a piston reciprocating in said cylinder bore, and a cylinder head closing said cylinder bore, intake port means for supplying a charge to said combustion chamber, an intake valve for controlling the timing of opening and closing of said intake port means in timed relation to the position of said piston in said cylinder bore and for a fixed duration, exhaust port means for discharging a burnt charge from said combustion chamber, an exhaust valve for controlling the timing of opening and closing of said piston in said cylinder bore and for a fixed duration, said method comprising the steps of sensing a condition of said engine indicative of a condition when knocking may occur, and varying the timing of both the opening and closing of at least one of said valves in the same direction and in the same amount in response to the sensed condition without changing the fixed duration to preclude knocking by controlling the amount of intake air charge transferred back into said intake port means when said piston is moving toward top dead center.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber defined by a cylinder defining a cylinder bore, a piston reciprocating in said cylinder bore, and a cylinder head closing said cylinder bore, intake port means for supplying a charge to said combustion chamber, an intake valve for controlling the timing of opening and closing of said intake port means in timed relation to the position of said piston in said cylinder bore and for a fixed duration, exhaust port means for discharging a burnt charge from said combustion chamber, an exhaust valve for controlling the timing of opening and closing of said piston in said cylinder bore and for a fixed duration, said method comprising the steps of sensing a condition of said engine indicative of a condition when knocking may occur, and varying the timing of both the opening and closing of at least one of said valves in the same direction and in the same amount in response to the sensed condition without changing the fixed duration to preclude knocking by controlling the amount of intake air charge transferred back into said intake port means when said piston is moving toward top dead center.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the means for sensing a condition of the engine comprises a knock sensor for sensing actual knocking conditions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the means for sensing a condition of the engine comprises a combustion chamber pressure sensor for sensing when combustion pressure is such that knocking may occur.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the means for sensing a condition of the engine further includes a knock sensor for sensing an actual knocking condition.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the valve having the timing varied to prevent knocking comprises the intake valve.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the intake valve is adjusted so as to reduce the likelihood of knocking by retarding the opening of the intake valve and the closing of the intake valve.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as set forth in claim 14 further including sensing other engine conditions and varying the valve timing to optimize running conditions in response to all of the sensed conditions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the valve timing is further adjusted when a knocking condition is sensed for adjusting the valve timing from a timing other than that set for the normal sensed engine condition.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 21 wherein the sensed condition of the engine comprises sensing actual knocking conditions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 21 wherein the sensed condition of the engine comprises sensing when combustion pressure is such that knocking may occur.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 23 wherein the sensed condition of the engine further includes a knock sensor for sensing an actual knocking condition.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 21 wherein the valve timing changed to prevent knocking comprises the intake valve.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as set forth in claim 25 wherein the intake valve is adjusted so as to reduce likelihood of knocking by changing the opening of the intake
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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) | 2001-12-07 | 2002-06-08 | 2002-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-07 | 2006-06-08 | 2006-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-07 | 2010-06-08 | 2010-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |