Valve Timing Control Device Intermediate Lock Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing valve opening and closing timing control devices face challenges in ensuring startability after an engine stall, as they often fail to lock the relative rotation phase at the intermediate lock phase when the engine stops suddenly, leading to compromised engine restart performance and complex oil path configurations.

Innovation Solution

A valve opening and closing timing control device with a drive-side and driven-side rotary body, a fluid pressure chamber, and an intermediate lock mechanism that uses a spool-controlled control valve to manage the flow of working fluid between advance and retard chambers, allowing for precise control of the relative rotation phase to lock or release the intermediate lock phase, ensuring the phase is set correctly even during engine stalls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single solenoid valve is used to control both phase adjustment and lock mechanism, then device complexity is reduced, but control precision may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of solenoid valvesVSAvoidphase control precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The single solenoid valve is designed to perform multiple functions: controlling the phase adjustment oil passage and actuating the lock mechanism. By integrating these functions into one valve, the patent reduces device complexity while maintaining control precision through careful design of the valve's internal structure and control logic that distinguishes between phase adjustment mode and lock mode operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If oil path is shared between phase control and lock control, then oil path configuration is simplified, but fluid flow control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil path configurationVSAvoidfluid flow control

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shared oil path is segmented into different functional zones within the solenoid valve. The valve internally separates the oil flow paths for phase adjustment and lock control through distinct channels and control ports, allowing independent control of each function while using a common oil supply source. This segmentation maintains ease of operation by providing dedicated control pathways within the unified oil path structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If relative rotation phase is not locked at intermediate lock phase during engine stop, then valve timing control is simplified, but engine startability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol logic complexityVSAvoidengine startability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lock mechanism is activated in advance before engine restart is attempted. The control system detects engine stop conditions and proactively engages the lock mechanism to secure the relative rotation phase at the intermediate lock phase, ensuring optimal startability conditions are established before the restart sequence begins. This preliminary locking action prevents potential starting problems that would occur if locking were delayed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system continuously monitors engine operation state and provides feedback to determine when to activate the lock mechanism. By detecting engine stop conditions and monitoring the relative rotation phase position, the system intelligently controls the lock timing to ensure the phase is locked at the appropriate moment, balancing control simplicity with reliable engine restart capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration improves engine startability by ensuring the relative rotation phase is locked at the intermediate lock phase during engine restarts, even after sudden stops, and simplifies the oil path configuration by using a single solenoid valve, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the valve timing control.

Implementation Method 1

a solenoid valve that switches a supply destination of a working fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolenoid: Solenoid

Implementation Method 2

a phase control valve that controls a relative rotation phase between a drive-side rotary body and a driven-side rotary body by supply and discharge of a working fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS11408309B2Valve opening and closing timing control device

Publication Date: 2022.08.09 AISIN CORP

AI summary

A valve opening and closing timing control device includes: a drive-side rotary body rotating synchronously with a crankshaft; a driven-side rotary body arranged coaxially with the drive-side rotary body and rotating integrally with a valve opening and closing camshaft; a fluid pressure chamber defined between the drive-side and driven-side rotary bodies; advance and retard chambers defined by partitioning the fluid pressure chamber; an intermediate lock mechanism selectively switches between a lock state and a lock release state; advance and retard flow paths allowing a flow of the working fluid to be supplied to and discharged from the advance and retard chambers; a control valve including a spool; and a phase control unit moving a position of the spool by controlling a power supply amount to the control valve to supply and discharge the working fluid to and from the advance and retard chambers to displace a relative rotation phase.