초록 ▼

This invention relates to hydraulic control of intake valves and fuel injection of spark ignited internal combustion engines to effect a sonic-type induction system. The invention is an extension of a previous application by the same inventor, which provides a hydraulic actuation system for a prescr

This invention relates to hydraulic control of intake valves and fuel injection of spark ignited internal combustion engines to effect a sonic-type induction system. The invention is an extension of a previous application by the same inventor, which provides a hydraulic actuation system for a prescribed valve opening of all the engine valves. The new system, in substance, provides a means to divert, in varying amounts, actuation fluid as supplied by the former system so as to impart a variable lift to the intake valves and, proportionally, to the fuel injection metering valve(s). The result is an induction system capable of maintaining an accurate air-to-fuel mass ratio.

대표청구항 ▼

A hydraulic controlled sonic induction system including a hydraulic actuation system adapted to provide a prescribed lift profile to engine intake valves, said actuation system receives hydraulic fluid for effecting the opening of each of the said intake valves by a cam follower piston, said hydraul

A hydraulic controlled sonic induction system including a hydraulic actuation system adapted to provide a prescribed lift profile to engine intake valves, said actuation system receives hydraulic fluid for effecting the opening of each of the said intake valves by a cam follower piston, said hydraulic fluid conveyed to an actuator/port unit by means of a valve-opening control line, said actuator/port unit containing a single-ended, doubleacting valve actuator including, a piston, an actuator, an actuator cylinder, a poppet valve, a valve seat and a valve port, the shaft of said actuator being connected with the stem of the valve, the top face of said actuator piston being connected with the face of said cam follower piston by means of said valve-opening control line, the bottom annular piston face of said actuator piston being connected to a valve-closing circuit, said valve-closing circuit consisting of a first fluid compliance, a third fluid compliance, a check valve allowing the passage of fluid from the first fluid compliance to the third fluid compliance, and a variable pressure source connected to said first compliance, the bottom annular face of the actuator piston being connected to the third fluid compliance of the valve-closing circuit by means of a valve-closing control line, said variable pressure source comprising a hydraulic fluid charging pump, a pressure release valve, and a flow restricting orifice, said pressure release valve and said flow restricting orifice being in series with each other and being connected in shunt with the charging pump, the pressure relief fluid of said pressure release valve is returned to a oil sump, through said flow restricting orifice said cam follower piston, said actuator piston, and said actuator shaft define sliding surface clearances within the interior of said cylinder and forming finite leakage seals therewith, the actuator shaft finite leakage seal, in turn, divided into interior and exterior seals with leakage from the interior seal returned to the oil sump, a retractable elastomeric seal in series with the finite leakage interior shaft seal for the purpose of positively containing the interior (control) fluid and for latching each of the intake valves at some time during the engine turn-off period, another retractable elastomeric seal in series with the finite leakage seal of the cam follower piston again for the purpose of holding the interior fluid during the engine turn-off period, said hydraulic controlled induction system further includes lift control members for varying the opening of said intake valves, said control members comprising (1) a bypass piston contained in each of said intake valve actuator/port units and connected therein in parallel with the actuator piston through the valve-opening control line to a first bypass piston chamber and through the valve-closing control line to a second bypass piston chamber, (2) a flow distribution orifice connected to each of the valve-opening control lines, (3) a second fluid compliance means being connected to the flow distribution orifices that lead to the valve-opening control lines, and (4) a three-way pressure control valve, a supply pressure port thereof being connected to said first fluid compliance means, a return port thereof being connected to the oil sump and a control pressure port thereof being connected to said second fluid compliance means, the two sliding surface clearances of said bypass piston form two finite leakage seals with leakage from the finite leakage seal of the smaller diameter being returned to the oil sump, a retractable elastomeric seal in series with the smaller diameter finite leakage seal for the purpose of positively holding the interior (control) fluid and latching the bypass piston corresponding to each of the intake valves at some time during the engine turn-off period.