A variable valve timing system includes an exhaust swing arm swung in accordance with rotation of a camshaft, an intake swing arm similarly swung in accordance with the rotation of the camshaft, and a swing shaft swingably supporting the exhaust swing arm and the intake swing arm. In an engine including a plurality of the variable valve timing systems, the adjacent swing shafts are coupled to each other. The engine includes a link mechanism connected to one of the swing shafts, and an actuator for moving the link mechanism. The actuator controls turning angles of all the swing shafts via the link mechanism.

A method of assembling a switching rocker arm assembly having an inner arm, an outer arm and a latch. The method includes indenting an outer arm surface on the outer arm, the outer arm surface defining an arcuate aperture. An inner arm surface can be indented on the inner arm at an inner arm latch shelf. A latch can be positioned relative to the inner and outer arms.

Tools and methods for indenting and assembling a switching rocker arm assembly having an inner arm, an outer arm and a latch. The tools and methods are directed to eliminating requirements for matched sets of components of rocker arm assemblies so that the assembled indented parts have desired latch lash tolerances. The tools used include fixtures and clamps for indenting kidney-bean shaped passages in an outer arm that mount a pivot axle of the outer arm. The tools used may also include a fixture and clamps for indenting a latch shelf of the inner arm. Indenting the inner arm and outer arm using these methods and fixtures results in switching rocker arm assemblies that fit together, and when assembled into a valve, have a desired latch lash.

An apparatus (10) and method for controlling an angular position of a camshaft (12) in an internal combustion engine having a camshaft phaser (14) for controllably varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and the camshaft (12). The camshaft phaser (14) can be actuated by an electric motor (16) having an actuator shaft (18) operating through a gear reduction drive train (20) having a stationary adjusting member (22) which rotates when a phase change adjustment is desired. A sensor (30) can generate a signal corresponding to an angular position of the stationary adjusting member (22) of the gear reduction drive train (20). An engine control unit (40) can adjust a position of the camshaft (12) through operation of the electric motor (16) for rotating the stationary adjusting member (22) based on the generated signal corresponding to the angular position of the stationary adjusting member (22).

A method is disclosed for controlling an internal combustion engine having a first adjustable camshaft for the actuating of first valve elements of the internal combustion engine. An effect of an actuation at least of a first valve element by the first camshaft on this valve element is detected. An actual position of the first camshaft and/or of a crankshaft driving the latter is detected on the basis of this detecting of the effect. An adjustment of the first camshaft is calibrated on the basis of a first deviation between this detected actual position and a predetermined required position.

The present invention relates to a control device and to a control method for a vehicle drive mechanism including a moving body having a movability range regulated by two stoppers, and a sensor which senses a position of the moving body. The control device of the present invention learns an output of the sensor corresponding to a contact state of a high-rigidity stopper, and limits, to a lower level, an operation variable of the actuator for moving the moving body toward a low-rigidity stopper along with an increase in an amount of change in the output of the sensor from the contact state of the high-rigidity stopper. Then, the control device learns the output of the sensor corresponding to the contact state of the low-rigidity stopper, and controls the actuator based on the output of the sensor learned at both the stopper positions.

A valve opening and closing timing control apparatus includes a drive-side rotational body, a driven-side rotational body, an intermediate lock mechanism which selectively switches between a lock state where displacement of a relative rotational phase of the driven-side rotational body relative to the drive-side rotational body is restrained in an intermediate lock phase and an unlock state where the lock state is released, and an electromagnetic valve. At a time of predetermined operation of an internal combustion engine, a value of the drive current is set as a boundary current, and the value of the drive current to be set as the boundary current differs, by a predetermined value, from a value of the drive current at a time when the unlock state was switched to the lock state due to the change of the drive current.

A method of assembling a switching rocker arm assembly having an inner arm, an outer arm and a latch. The method includes indenting an outer arm surface on the outer arm, the outer arm surface defining an arcuate aperture. An inner arm surface can be indented on the inner arm at an inner arm latch shelf. A latch can be positioned relative to the inner and outer arms.

A vehicle includes an engine having a combustion chamber with an inlet and an outlet. Valves and valve actuators regulate open and closing of the inlet and the outlet. A plasma ignition source initiates ignition in the combustion chamber. A controller is in communication with the inlet valve actuator and outlet valve actuator. The controller is configured to detect a transition from a first combustion mode of the engine to a second combustion mode of the engine. The controller is also configured to change at least one of an opening time, a closing time, and an open duration of the first valve in response to detecting the transition.

A method for setting lash on a switching rocker arm assembly includes providing a rocker arm having (i) an outer arm having a first outer side arm and a second outer side arm, the outer arm defining an opening, (ii) an inner arm disposed between the first and second outer side arms, (iii) a roller follower that selectively engages a cam, the roller follower mounted about a bearing axle that extends through the opening. A zero lash shim is inserted into a gap defined between the bearing axle and the outer arm at the opening. The rocker arm is installed into the valvetrain with the master tip cap. Lash is measured between the cam and the roller follower. The rocker arm and the master tip cap is removed. A select fit valve tip cap is installed based on the master tip cap and the measured lash.