Valve Timing Control Device Simultaneous Lock Pin Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
The control device for a valve timing adjustment device requires a sequential application of hydraulic pressures to unlock the intermediate lock, resulting in low responsivity due to the time-consuming process.
Innovation Solution
A control device that applies lock pin-release hydraulic pressure to both the advance and retard sides simultaneously, allowing the second rotary body to rotate freely, thereby reducing the time required to unlock the intermediate lock and enhance responsivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lock pin-release hydraulic pressure is applied sequentially to advance and retard sides, then the lock mechanism can be reliably unlocked, but the unlocking time increases and responsivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lock pin-release oil passage into two separate passages: a first lock pin-release oil passage for the advance side and a second lock pin-release oil passage for the retard side. This segmentation allows independent control and simultaneous operation of both lock pins, enabling parallel unlocking operations to reduce total unlocking time while maintaining reliable disengagement of both lock pins.
2Device complexity
If sequential hydraulic pressure application is used, then the control process is simple, but the responsiveness of the valve timing adjustment device is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control device segments the hydraulic control system into two independent control paths with separate oil passages for advance and retard sides. This allows the control unit to simultaneously activate both lock pin-release passages, achieving parallel operation that enhances responsiveness without requiring complex multi-stage control sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control by enabling the control unit to independently and simultaneously regulate hydraulic pressure to both the first and second lock pin-release oil passages. This dynamic parallel control allows both lock pins to be released concurrently, significantly reducing unlocking time and improving the device's responsiveness compared to static sequential control.
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 solution reduces the time needed to unlock the intermediate lock, enhancing the responsivity of the valve timing adjustment device compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
causing hydraulic pressure to be applied to the section of the hydraulic chamber corresponding to the direction in which the second rotary body is made rotatable to rotate the second rotary body
Implementation Method 2
causing the lock pin-release hydraulic pressure to be applied to the first lock pin-release oil passage to disengage the first lock pin from the first engagement groove
Data Source
AI summary
An ECU (101) causes lock pin-release hydraulic pressure to be applied to an advance-side lock pin-release oil passage (5a) to disengage an advance-side lock pin (6) from an advance-side engagement groove (9), thereby making a rotor (1) rotatable in an advance direction, and forming a clearance communicating with a retard-side lock pin-release oil passage (5c), between the advance-side engagement groove (9) and the advance-side lock pin (6). Next, the ECU (101) causes hydraulic pressure to be applied to advancing hydraulic chambers (16) to rotate the rotor (1), and causes the lock pin-release hydraulic pressure to be applied through the clearance and through the retard-side lock pin-release oil passage (5c) to a retard-side engagement groove (10) to disengage a retard-side lock pin (7).