A control device and a control method for a variable valve timing mechanism are provided so as to improve the accuracy of cam phase angle interpolation without using a motor rotation angle sensor. The control device for the variable valve timing mechanism includes a controller configured to detect a phase angle of a cam based on a cam signal and control the phase angle of the cam by using an electric motor. The controller is configured such that a motor torque estimation unit calculates a motor torque from a motor current based on motor characteristics, a motor rotation-angle estimation unit calculates a motor rotation angle at least based on the motor torque and an engine operating state, and a conversion unit and a feedback control unit interpolate the cam phase angle of the variable valve timing mechanism from the motor rotation angle.

A camshaft phaser assembly, including: an axis of rotation; a hydraulic camshaft phaser including a stator arranged to receive rotational torque and including a plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions, a rotor arranged to be non-rotatably connected to a first camshaft and including a plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions circumferentially interleaved with the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions, and a plurality of chambers bounded at least in part by the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions and the plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions; an electric camshaft phaser including an output gear arranged to be non-rotatably connected to a second camshaft located concentrically within the first camshaft and an input non-rotatably connected to the stator; and a connection plate non-rotatably connecting the input and the stator. The rotor and the output gear are rotatable with respect to each other about the axis of rotation.

An electrically-actuated camshaft phaser used in an internal combustion engine including a camshaft sprocket, configured to receive rotational input from a crankshaft, that includes a sprocket ring gear having a plurality of radially-inwardly facing gear teeth and a radially extending sprocket side; a camshaft plate that includes a camshaft ring gear having a plurality of radially-inwardly facing gear teeth and a radially extending camshaft side; a plurality of planetary gears having radially-outwardly facing gear teeth, each gear with a first radial gear face and a second radial gear face, wherein the planetary gears engage the sprocket ring gear, the camshaft ring gear, or both the sprocket ring gear and the camshaft ring gear; and one or more fluid escapement channels formed in at least one of the camshaft sprocket, the camshaft plate, the first radial gear face, or the second radial gear face.

A camless valve control system for an internal combustion engine in disclosed. The system includes a hydraulic distributor, having a rotating distributor shaft timed to the operation of the engine, the rotating distributor shaft comprising an internal flow dividing plug channeling an internal hydraulic flow to first and second portions of the rotating distributor shaft; an opening control ring oriented coaxially with the rotating distributor shaft with at least one hole configured to cyclically align with the rotating distributor shaft and provide opening hydraulic control to open a controlled valve, and a closing control ring oriented coaxially with the rotating distributor shaft with at least one hole configured to cyclically align with the rotating distributor shaft and provide closing hydraulic control to close the controlled valve.

A cam phasing system is provided. In some non-limiting examples, the cam phasing system includes a planetary actuator having a first sun gear, a first set of planet gears meshed to and arranged circumferentially around the first sun gear, a first ring gear meshed with the first set of planet gears, and a second sun gear. The second sun gear is rotationally fixed. The planetary actuator further includes a second set of planet gears meshed to and arranged circumferentially around the second sun gear, a second ring gear meshed with the second set of planet gears, and an input shaft rotationally coupled to the first sun gear for rotation therewith. Rotation of the input shaft rotates the first ring gear relative to the second ring gear.

An internal combustion engine comprises a crankshaft, at least one camshaft adjustable electromechanically by an actuating gearing, an engine control unit, and a camshaft control unit for controlling an actuating motor which operates the actuating gearing. The engine control unit is linked to a device for detecting the angular position of the crankshaft, and the camshaft control unit is linked to the engine control unit. A device for detecting a reference position of the camshaft and a device for detecting the angular position of the shaft of the actuating motor are provided as sole mechanisms for detecting the angular position of the camshaft. The camshaft control unit is designed to determine the phase angle of the camshaft in relation to the crankshaft on the basis of the information items provided by said devices in combination with the detected angular position of the crankshaft and the transmission ratio of the actuating gearing.

A reciprocating exhaust valve for a two-stroke internal combustion engine has a shaft for connection to a valve actuator, the shaft defining a reciprocation axis of the valve, the reciprocation axis defining a longitudinal direction of the valve; and a blade having: a first end having an arcuate edge, a second end connected to the shaft, two side portions, and a central portion. The blade has a first end portion adjacent the first end that includes a part of the central portion and of each of the two side portions. A width of the central portion is greater than a width of each of the side portions. In the first end portion, a thickness of the part of each of the two side portions is greater than a thickness of the part of the central portion.

The valve timing control unit includes a valve timing control mechanism that includes a driving rotary body, a driven rotary body, an electric motor and a deceleration gear each for setting the relative rotational phase of the driving rotary body and the driven rotary body, and a phase sensor unit that detects the actual phase of the driving rotary body and the driven rotary body. The valve timing control unit includes a controller that controls the electric motor to reduce a phase difference between the actual phase and a target phase, and the controller includes a swing controller that swings the target phase in vicinity of the target phase when the target phase is maintained and the actual phase having a fluctuation amount is held in a holding region, in which the fluctuation amount is less than a preset value.

An electrically-actuated variable camshaft timing (VCT) device, comprising: an input configured to receive rotational force from an electric motor; an output configured to couple with a camshaft of an internal combustion engine; a planet gear having radially outwardly extending gear teeth configured to engage ring gears and a radially-inwardly-facing surface; a planet pin, supporting the planet gear, having an outer surface and an axis of rotation about which the planet gear rotates; and a spring applying force in a substantially axial direction along the axis of rotation that moves the planet gear in a radial direction.

An electric motor (2) has a base motor module (3) and an electronic module (18) which is electrically and mechanically connected to the base motor module (3) and comprises an electronics housing (12). The base motor module (3) comprises a flange plate (8) which forms an interference fit with the electronics housing (12). The flange plate (8) may have an opening (36) with a circumferential collar (39) which engages in a fastening passage (35) of the electronics housing (12) and forms the interference fit with the electronics housing (12).