A valve timing controller includes: a driving-side rotation member rotatable around a rotation axis and rotating in synchronization with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; a driven-side rotation member rotatable around the rotation axis and rotating integrally with a camshaft of the engine; a phase regulating mechanism setting a relative rotation phase of the driving-side and driven-side rotation members by an electric motor; a detection unit detecting the relative rotation phase; a stop control portion displacing the relative rotation phase by controlling the electric motor to stop the engine after the relative rotation phase reaches a stop phase; and a correction control portion displacing the relative rotation phase in a direction closer to the stop phase by controlling the electric motor, when the relative rotation phase is displaced beyond a set amount from the stop phase, in a state where the engine is stopped by the stop control portion.

The present invention concerns a method and a device for electrically controlling a valve actuator in a two-stroke or four-stroke combustion engine where the actuator comprises a solenoid (A), a plunger (5) and a spring (6), wherein the engine has at least one cylinder (1) with at least one freely controllable engine valve disc (10) with corresponding valve stem (11) and a valve spring (4), where a distance (7) is provided between the lower end of the plunger and the upper end of the valve stem and where air is supplied, or exhaust gases are evacuated from, a combustion chamber (3) past a lower part of the valve stem with the valve disc via at least one channel (2) in the cylinder, wherein the valve actuator is activatable to open the engine valve. The invention is characterized in that the opening of the engine valve is initiated after activation of the solenoid, wherein the following acceleration of the plunger brings its lower end to strike the upper end of the valve stem for initial opening of the valve.

A valve timing adjusting device includes an intake variable valve mechanism and an exhaust variable valve mechanism. The exhaust variable valve mechanism includes an exhaust electric driving portion and an exhaust phase shifting portion including an input shaft. The exhaust phase shifting portion is disposed in a rotation transmission path between an exhaust camshaft and a crankshaft and configured to shift a rotation phase of the exhaust camshaft. The input shaft rotates in a rotational direction opposite to a rotational direction of the crankshaft when advancing the rotation phase. A phase of the exhaust phase shifting portion is configured to be shifted to a most advanced angle phase when the exhaust electric driving portion is de-energized or fails and when the exhaust phase shifting portion receives a torque in a forward rotational direction.

A valve timing adjusting device includes an intake variable valve mechanism and an exhaust variable valve mechanism. The exhaust variable valve mechanism includes an exhaust electric driving portion and an exhaust phase shifting portion including an input shaft. The exhaust phase shifting portion is disposed in a rotation transmission path between an exhaust camshaft and a crankshaft and configured to shift a rotation phase of the exhaust camshaft. The input shaft rotates in a rotational direction opposite to a rotational direction of the crankshaft when advancing the rotation phase. A phase of the exhaust phase shifting portion is configured to be shifted to a most advanced angle phase when the exhaust electric driving portion is de-energized or fails and when the exhaust phase shifting portion receives a torque in a forward rotational direction.

Various embodiments include a method for actuating a camshaft adjuster of an internal combustion engine, in which a current is generated in an electric motor of the camshaft adjuster comprising: measuring an instantaneous strength of the current; calculating a mean value of the measured strength of the current over a predefined elapsed time; measuring a temperature of the camshaft adjuster; comparing the mean value of the measured strength of the current to a threshold value obtained from a characteristic diagram stored in a memory based on the measured temperature and the predefined elapsed time; and reducing the current if the calculated mean value of the strength of the current is higher than the threshold value.

Various embodiments include a method for actuating a camshaft adjuster of an internal combustion engine, in which a current is generated in an electric motor of the camshaft adjuster comprising: measuring an instantaneous strength of the current; calculating a mean value of the measured strength of the current over a predefined elapsed time; measuring a temperature of the camshaft adjuster; comparing the mean value of the measured strength of the current to a threshold value obtained from a characteristic diagram stored in a memory based on the measured temperature and the predefined elapsed time; and reducing the current if the calculated mean value of the strength of the current is higher than the threshold value.

A fully variable valve train with a rotary plunger for an internal combustion engine. A motor actuates a high-pressure oil injection pump; when a timing driven electromagnetic valve connected to an oil inlet is opened, high-pressure oil enters a hydraulic cylinder; and when the force applied to a plunger by the hydraulic oil is larger than the force of a valve returning spring, the plunger is pushed to move down, so that a valve is opened. When the valve is required to be return, the timing driven electromagnetic valve connected to the oil inlet is closed, and the timing driven electromagnetic valve connected to the oil inlet is opened; the valve moves up under the action of the valve spring, pushing the plunger to move up and thereby discharging the low-pressure oil out of the hydraulic cylinder, then the plunger and the valve return to the initial positions.

A fully variable valve train with a rotary plunger for an internal combustion engine. A motor actuates a high-pressure oil injection pump; when a timing driven electromagnetic valve connected to an oil inlet is opened, high-pressure oil enters a hydraulic cylinder; and when the force applied to a plunger by the hydraulic oil is larger than the force of a valve returning spring, the plunger is pushed to move down, so that a valve is opened. When the valve is required to be return, the timing driven electromagnetic valve connected to the oil inlet is closed, and the timing driven electromagnetic valve connected to the oil inlet is opened; the valve moves up under the action of the valve spring, pushing the plunger to move up and thereby discharging the low-pressure oil out of the hydraulic cylinder, then the plunger and the valve return to the initial positions.

Systems and methods for unsticking intake and exhaust valves of an engine are described. In one example, valves that may be adjustably timed relative to an engine crankshaft position may be adjusted to unstick intake and/or exhaust valve that are stuck open or closed. In addition, fuel injection timing and spark timing may be adjusted in an effort to unstick intake and/or exhaust valves.

Hybrid powertrain control techniques include determining whether a regeneration event of a gasoline particulate filter (GPF) is necessary using a GPF loading model, commanding a full cylinder deactivation system to temporarily disable all of the cylinders of the engine instead of performing a deceleration fuel shutoff (DFSO) event of the engine and disabling fueling to the engine when the GPF regeneration event is not necessary, commanding the full cylinder deactivation system to keep all of the cylinders of the engine open and disabling fueling to the engine to perform the DFSO event when the GPF regeneration event is necessary, and controlling an electric propulsion motor to supply a requested drive torque, wherein keeping all of the cylinders of the engine open to perform the DFSO of the engine mitigates or eliminates insufficient regeneration of the GPF to thereby increase or extend its useful life.