Valve train device

Abstract

A valve train device includes a shaft having one or more actuation contours for actuating at least one actuation element of a valve of a combustion engine, and the actuation contours being arranged on the shaft so as to rotate therewith. A sensor unit including one or more sensors is provided, and each of the one or more sensors has a spatial sensing area for sensing a physical variable. In at least one axial position, an actuation contour of the one or more actuation contours is arranged at least partially in the spatial sensing area of a sensor of the one or more sensors.

Claims

1. A valve train device comprising: a shaft; one or more actuation contours for actuating an actuation element of a valve of a combustion engine, the one or more actuation contours being associated with the shaft so as to rotate with the shaft; and a sensor unit including at least two sensors, each of the at least two sensors having a spatial sensing area for sensing a physical variable, wherein the shaft, the one or more actuation contours, and the sensor unit are configured and arranged such that, in at least one axial position, an actuation contour of the one or more actuation contours is arranged at least partially in the spatial sensing area of a sensor of the at least two sensors, wherein the valve train device further comprises an evaluation unit configured to output an error message if at least two of the at least two sensors detect a presence of the actuation contour of the one or more actuation contours in their respective spatial sensing area over a predetermined period of time.

2. The valve train device according to claim 1, wherein the spatial sensing area of each sensor of the at least two sensors: is arranged in a limited axial area, and/or corresponds to a spatial area in which a presence of the actuation contour of the one or more actuation contours induces a measurement of the physical variable above a predetermined threshold value.

3. The valve train device according to claim 1, wherein: the valve train device further comprises a slide mounted on the shaft in an axially displaceable manner and so as to rotate with the shaft, wherein the one or more actuation contours are arranged on the slide, or the shaft is mounted displaceable in relation to the actuation element of the valve of a combustion engine, and the one or more actuation contours are arranged directly on the shaft.

4. The valve train device according to claim 1, wherein each actuation contour of the one or more actuation contours abuts the actuation element of the valve of the combustion engine in at least one axial position and in at least one rotational position.

5. The valve train device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is fixed in relation to a cylinder head of the combustion engine.

6. The valve train device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two sensors are arranged on a shared printed circuit board of the sensor unit and/or are arranged in a shared housing of the sensor unit.

7. The valve train device according to claim 1, wherein the actuation contour of the one or more actuation contours is configured to be arranged at a distance of less than 10 mm from the sensor of the at least two sensors in at least one axial position and at least one rotational position.

8. The valve train device according to claim 7, wherein the actuation contour of the one or more actuation contours is configured to be arranged at a distance of less than 2.5 mm from the sensor of the at least two sensors in the at least one axial position and the at least one rotational position.

9. The valve train device according to claim 1, wherein each sensor of the at least two sensors is a contactless sensor and/or wherein each sensor of the at least two sensors is a magnetic-field sensor.

10. The valve train device according to claim 9, wherein the sensor of the at least two sensors is a Hall effect sensor configured such that a magnetic field generated by the actuation contour and/or influenced by the actuation contour is sensed in the spatial sensing area by the sensor.

11. The valve train device according to claim 1, wherein each sensor of the at least two sensors is configured to detect in the spatial sensing area a presence, a shape, a rotational position, and/or a phase of the actuation contour of the one or more actuation contours.

12. The valve train device according to claim 11, wherein the evaluation unit is further configured to evaluate the physical variable that varies based on the presence, the shape, the rotational position, and/or the phase of the actuation contour of the one or more actuation contours detected by the sensor.

13. The valve train device according to claim 1, wherein each sensor of the at least two sensors is configured to measure the physical variable that varies based on a presence, a shape, a phase, and/or a rotational position of the actuation contour located in the spatial sensing area.

14. The valve train device according to claim 13, wherein a signal dependent on the physical variable is transmitted to the evaluation unit, and the evaluation unit is configured to evaluate the signal.

15. The valve train device according to claim 14, wherein the signal is an electrical signal, and the evaluation unit is configured to evaluate a time curve of the electrical signal.

16. The valve train device according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit is further configured to determine an axial position and/or a rotational position and/or a phase of the actuation contour of the one or more actuation contours.

17. The valve train device according to claim 16, where the evaluation unit is configured to determine the axial position and/or the rotational position and/or the phase of the actuation contour by evaluating a strength and/or pulse lengths of the signal of the at least two sensors.

18. The valve train device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more actuation contours comprise at least two adjacent actuation contours, and wherein: an axial distance between two sensors of the at least two sensors is greater than an axial width of at least one actuation contour of the at least two adjacent actuation contours; and an axial distance between two sensors of the at least two sensors is less than an axial width of two adjacent actuation contours of the at least two adjacent actuation contours.

19. The valve train device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more actuation contours are configured to adopt a first axial position and a second axial position relative to the sensor unit.

20. The valve train device according to claim 19, wherein the at least two sensors comprises a first sensor having a first spatial sensing area and a second sensor having a second spatial sensing area, and the one or more actuation contours comprises a first actuation contour and a second actuation contour, and wherein: (i) in the first axial position, the first actuation contour is located in the first spatial sensing area of the first sensor, and/or the second actuation contour is located outside the second spatial sensing area of the second sensor, and/or (ii) in the second axial position, the second actuation contour is located in the second spatial sensing area of the second sensor, and/or the first actuation contour is located outside the first spatial sensing area of the first sensor.

21. The valve train device according to claim 19, wherein the one or more actuation contours comprises a first actuation contour and a second actuation contour, and in at least one rotational position, the second actuation contour abuts the actuation element in the first axial position and/or the first actuation contour abuts the actuation element in the second axial position.

22. The valve train device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more actuation contours comprises a first actuation contour and a second actuation contour.

23. The valve train device according to claim 22, wherein a shape of the first actuation contour is different from a shape of the second actuation contour.

24. The valve train device according to claim 1, wherein a first sensor and a second sensor of the at least two sensors are arranged such that a first spatial sensing area of the first sensor and a second spatial sensing area of the second sensor occupy different spatial areas and do not overlap.

25. A combustion engine comprising: a valve; and the valve train device according to claim 1, wherein the valve train device is configured to actuate the valve using the actuation element.

26. A motorcycle comprising the combustion engine according to claim 25.

27. A method of controlling a combustion engine by determining an axial and/or a rotational position of an actuation contour of one or more actuation contours for actuating an actuation element of a valve of a combustion engine using the valve train device according to claim 1, the method comprising: detecting the physical variable using a sensor of the at least two sensors, the physical variable being influenced by the actuation contour located in the spatial sensing area of the sensor; emitting a signal from the sensor based on the detected physical variable to the evaluation unit; evaluating the signal using the evaluation unit; determining the axial and/or the rotational position of the actuation contour based on the evaluated signal, and controlling the combustion engine using the axial and/or the rotational position of the actuation contour determined based on the evaluated signal.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the physical variable is a magnetic field influenced by a presence, a shape, a phase, and/or a rotational position of the actuation contour located in the spatial sensing area of the sensor of the at least two sensors, the signal emitted by the sensor being an electrical signal, and the evaluation unit being configured to evaluate a strength and/or a pulse length of the electrical signal.

29. A valve train device comprising: a shaft; one or more actuation contours for actuating an actuation element of a valve of a combustion engine, the one or more actuation contours being associated with the shaft so as to rotate with the shaft; and a sensor unit including one or more sensors, each of the one or more sensors having a spatial sensing area for sensing a physical variable, wherein the shaft, the one or more actuation contours, and the sensor unit are configured and arranged such that, in at least one axial position, an actuation contour of the one or more actuation contours is arranged at least partially in the spatial sensing area of a sensor of the one or more sensors, wherein the one or more actuation contours are configured to adopt a first axial position and a second axial position relative to the sensor unit, wherein, in the first axial position, the actuation contour of the one or more actuation contours is arranged in the spatial sensing area of the sensor of the one or more sensors and, in the second axial position, the actuation contour of the one or more actuation contours is arranged outside the spatial sensing area of the sensor.

30. A valve train device comprising: a shaft; one or more actuation contours for actuating an actuation element of a valve of a combustion engine, the one or more actuation contours being associated with the shaft so as to rotate with the shaft; and a sensor unit including one or more sensors, each of the one or more sensors having a spatial sensing area for sensing a physical variable, wherein the shaft, the one or more actuation contours, and the sensor unit are configured and arranged such that, in at least one axial position, an actuation contour of the one or more actuation contours is arranged at least partially in the spatial sensing area of a sensor of the one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors comprises a first sensor having a first spatial sensing area and a second sensor having a second spatial sensing area, wherein, in a first axial position, the actuation contour of the one or more actuation contours is arranged in the first spatial sensing area of the first sensor and, in a second axial position, the actuation contour of the one or more actuation contours is arranged in the second spatial sensing area of the second sensor.

31. A valve train device comprising: a shaft; one or more actuation contours for actuating an actuation element of a valve of a combustion engine, the one or more actuation contours being associated with the shaft so as to rotate with the shaft; and a sensor unit including one or more sensors, each of the one or more sensors having a spatial sensing area for sensing a physical variable, wherein the shaft, the one or more actuation contours, and the sensor unit are configured and arranged such that, in at least one axial position, an actuation contour of the one or more actuation contours is arranged at least partially in the spatial sensing area of a sensor of the one or more sensors, wherein the one or more actuation contours comprises a first actuation contour and a second actuation contour, wherein, in a first axial position, the second actuation contour is arranged in the spatial sensing area of the sensor of the one or more sensors, and in a second axial position, the first actuation contour is arranged in the spatial sensing area of the sensor of the one or more sensors.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further embodiments and details can be taken from the figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a valve train device with a sensor unit and a slide in a perspective representation,

(3) FIG. 2a shows a valve train device with a sensor unit with two sensors and a slide with two actuation contours in a sectional representation,

(4) FIG. 2b shows the valve train device from FIG. 2a in an alternative sectional representation,

(5) FIG. 3 shows a valve train device with a sensor unit with two sensors and a slide with two actuation contours, in a first and a second axial position,

(6) FIG. 4a is a schematic representation of a valve train device with an actuation contour and a sensor,

(7) FIG. 4b is a schematic representation of a valve train device with an actuation contour and two sensors,

(8) FIG. 5a is a schematic representation of a valve train device with two actuation contours and a central sensor,

(9) FIG. 5b is a schematic representation of a valve train device with two actuation contours and an off-center sensor,

(10) FIG. 6a is a schematic representation of a valve train device with two actuation contours and two spaced-apart sensors, and

(11) FIG. 6b is a schematic representation of a valve train device with two actuation contours and two off-center sensors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(12) FIG. 1 shows a valve train device 1 with a sensor unit 5 and a slide 3 in a perspective representation.

(13) On the inside, the slide 3 has a spline 2, by which the slide 3 can be mounted on a shaft (or camshaft, not represented) in an axially displaceable manner and so as to rotate therewith.

(14) The slide 3 has a number of (one or more) actuation contours 4, by which an actuation element 7 of a valve of an internal combustion engine can be actuated. In particular, the actuation contours 4 are shaped as a cam with a projection.

(15) In particular, in this embodiment, two actuation contours 41, 42 are provided at a first end of the slide 3, as can be better seen in FIGS. 2a to 6b. In addition, a further pair of actuation contours is provided at the second end of the slide 3.

(16) Instead of on a slide 3 as in FIG. 1, the actuation contours 4 can in principle also be arranged directly on the shaft, and the shaft can then be mounted in an axially displaceable manner. In both cases, the actuation contours 4 (i.e., the pair of actuation contours 41, 42) can be axially displaced, either with the slide 3 or with the shaft.

(17) The slide 3 has a selector gate 9, by which the slide 3 can be displaced between two axial positions A1 and A2, for example by an operating pin (not shown).

(18) FIG. 1 also shows a sensor unit 5. The sensor unit 5 is arranged next to the slide 3 and has a number of (one or more) sensors 6 on the side facing the slide 3. The sensor unit 5 has a housing, and the number of sensors 6 are arranged in the housing. Corresponding, preferably electrical, connection elements connect the sensor unit to the internal combustion engine, for example with a central control unit of the vehicle.

(19) In particular, at least one sensor 6 faces the actuation contours 4, 41, 42 (in this embodiment, the pair of actuation contours 41, 42) such that the pair of actuation contours 41, 42 can be arranged in a sensing area 8 of the at least one sensor 6.

(20) The further actuation contours 10 in the embodiment of FIG. 1 are not arranged in the sensing area 8 of the first sensor 6 and are not detected. A sensing of the further actuation contours 10 is not absolutely necessary since the axial position A1, A2 of the slide 3 can also take place solely by the detection of the pair of actuation contours 41, 42.

(21) FIG. 2a shows a sectional representation, in particular, of the device from FIG. 1. It can be seen from the section that the two actuation contours 41, 42 are different shapes. The strength or phase of the actuation of an actuation element 7 (not shown) thus differ depending on which actuation contour is active.

(22) The at least one sensor 6 in this embodiment comprises a first sensor 61 and a second sensor 62 arranged in the sensor unit 5. The sensors 61, 62 are arranged on a shared printed circuit board 11 and inside a shared housing 12.

(23) FIG. 2b shows an alternative sectional representation of the subject-matter from FIG. 2a. In this representation, the shape of the first actuation contour 41 is clearly visible.

(24) In addition, the one or more actuation contour 10 therebehind can be seen, which is the same shape as the actuation contour 42, which is not visible. The actuation contour 42 has a different shape from the actuation contour 41 in the section; in particular, the radial extent is larger.

(25) In this rotational position, the first actuation contour 41 is at the minimum distance from the first sensor 61, which is arranged in the sensor unit 5.

(26) Due to the identical axial arrangement, the first actuation contour 41 lies in the sensing area 81 of the first sensor 61.

(27) FIG. 3 shows two axial positions A1 and A2 of the one or more actuation contours 4 (and of the slide 3) relative to the sensor unit 5. The sensor unit 5 is preferably arranged fixed in relation to a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine.

(28) The upper representation shows the first axial position A1.

(29) The first actuation contour 41 and the first sensor 61 are arranged in a first axial area B1. Thus, the first actuation contour 41 is in the sensing area 81 of the first sensor 61.

(30) The second actuation contour 42 is in a second axial area B2. No sensor is arranged in this axial area B2. An actuation element 7 (not shown in FIG. 3) for actuating a valve of the internal combustion engine is arranged in the second axial area B2.

(31) In the installed state, the second actuation contour 42 thus abuts the actuation element 7 in the first axial position A1, at least in one particular rotational position.

(32) In the first axial position of the one or more actuation contours 4, no actuation contour is arranged in a third axial area B3. The sensor 62 which is arranged in this axial area B3 therefore does not detect any actuation contour 4.

(33) The first axial position A1 is summarized as follows: the second actuation contour 42 is the active actuation contour that is in contact with the actuation element 7, the first sensor 61 detects the presence, and possibly the shape, phase and/or rotational position, of the first actuation contour 41, 20 the second sensor 62 does not detect any actuation contour 4.

(34) The lower representation in FIG. 3 shows the second axial position A2.

(35) The first sensor 61 is arranged in the first axial area B1, as a result of which the first sensor 61 does not detect any actuation contour 4.

(36) The first actuation contour 41 is arranged in a second axial area B2. No sensor is arranged in this axial area B2. An actuation element 7 (not shown in FIG. 3) for actuating a valve of the internal combustion engine is arranged in the second axial area B2.

(37) In the installed state, the first actuation contour 41 thus abuts the actuation element 7 in the second axial position A2, at least in one particular rotational position.

(38) In the second axial position A2, the second actuation contour 42 is arranged in a third axial area B3. The second sensor 62 which is arranged in this axial area B3 therefore detects the second actuation contour 42.

(39) The second axial position A2 is summarized as follows: the first actuation contour 41 is the active actuation contour that is in contact with the actuation element 7, the second sensor 62 detects the presence, and possibly the shape, phase and/or rotational position, of the second actuation contour 42, the first sensor 61 does not detect any actuation contour 4.

(40) In principle, only one of the sensors 61, 62 would be enough to determine the axial position A1, A2. Redundancy is created by the configuration having two sensors.

(41) In an intermediate position (not shown) between the first axial position A1 and the second axial position A2, the first actuation contour 41 can protrude into the sensing area 81 of the first sensor 61 and the second actuation contour 42 can protrude into the sensing area 82 of the second sensor 62. Thus, both sensors 61, 62 can detect the presence of an actuation contour. If such a state is adopted not only during a brief switching process, the position is an incorrect position. The double detector signal can trigger an error message, or the engine can be stopped automatically.

(42) The sensors 61, 62 are configured such that the spatial sensing area 81, 82 is arranged in a limited axial portion.

(43) For example, the sensing area 81 of the sensor 61 or the sensing area 82 of the sensor 62 can include the axial areas B1 and B3, respectively. In particular, the sensing area 81 of the sensor 61 or the sensing area 82 of the sensor 62 should not protrude into the axial area B2.

(44) In the radial direction, the sensing area 81 of the first sensor 61 and the sensing area 82 of the second sensor 62 are likewise limited, in particular such that at least one lobe of the actuation contour 41 or 42 can be detected.

(45) The sensitivity of the sensors 61, 62 can be adapted to the particular dimensions, for example the minimum distance between the actuation contour and the sensor.

(46) FIGS. 4a to 6b show schematic representations of different configurations of sensors 6, 61, 62 and actuation contours 4, 41, 42. In each case, the first axial position A1 is shown in the upper representation and the second axial position A2 is shown in the lower representation. The axial areas B1 and B2 (FIGS. 4a and 4b) or the axial areas B1, B2 and B3 (FIGS. 5a to 6b) are represented by dash-dot lines (the reference numbers are not indicated for the sake of clarity). An actuation element 7 for actuating a valve of an internal combustion engine is represented schematically as a pentagon.

(47) The configuration in FIG. 6a schematically represents the situation of FIG. 3.

(48) FIG. 4a shows an actuation contour 4 and a sensor 6, wherein the sensor 6 and the actuation element 7 are arranged in a first axial area B1.

(49) In the first axial position A1, the actuation contour 4 is arranged in the first axial area B1, as a result of which the actuation contour 4 is arranged in the sensing area 8 of the sensor 6. The actuation contour 4 is active, i.e. is in engagement with the actuation element 7.

(50) In the second axial position A2, the actuation contour 4 is arranged in the second axial area B2. Therefore, it is neither sensed by the sensor 6 nor active.

(51) If an actuation contour 4 is detected by the sensor 6, the position is the first axial position A1. If no actuation contour 4 is detected, the position is the second axial position A2.

(52) The rotational position, phase and/or shape of the actuation contour can be determined only when the actuation contour is active.

(53) In FIG. 4b, an additional sensor 62 is arranged in the second axial area B2. Thus, the rotational position and/or the shape of the actuation contour 4 can be determined in both axial positions A1 and A2. In addition, an incorrect intermediate position can be detected if both sensors 61, 62 sense the presence of an actuation contour 4.

(54) Using a displaceable actuation contour 4, an actuation element 7 can be actuated in a first axial position A1 and not actuated in a second axial position A2. The valve is thus not actuated in the second axial position A2 and remains constantly closed, for example.

(55) Typically, a different actuation of the valve is desired. For this purpose, two actuation contours 41, 42 having different shapes from one another can be provided. The two actuation contours 41, 42 can be arranged directly adjacent to one another. This is the situation in FIGS. 5a to 6b and also FIGS. 1 to 3.

(56) In FIGS. 5a to 6b, in the first axial position A1, the first actuation contour 41 is arranged in a first axial area B1 and the second actuation contour 42 is arranged in a second axial area B2. In the second axial position A2, the first actuation contour 41 is arranged in a second axial area B2 and the second actuation contour 42 is arranged in a third axial area B3. The second axial area B2 lies between the first and the third axial areas B1, B3.

(57) The actuation element 7 is arranged in the central, second, axial area B2 such that the second actuation contour 42 is active in the first axial position A1 and the first actuation contour 41 is active in the second axial position A2.

(58) FIG. 5a shows the situation with two actuation contours 41, 42 and one sensor 6. The sensor 6 is arranged in the second, central, axial area B2. Thus, the active actuation contour 41, 42 is sensed by the sensor 6 in each case.

(59) In this configuration, the sensor 6 has to be able to distinguish between the two actuation contours 41, 42 in order to determine the axial position A1 or A2. This can be effected by evaluating the sensor signal, in particular by evaluating the pulse widths of the sensor signal. An incorrect intermediate position can in principle also be detected, although such a detection relies on complicated signal processing.

(60) It is advantageous to make the determination of the axial position A1, A2 dependent on the sensing of the presence of an actuation contour 41, 42 and not for instance the shape thereof.

(61) In FIG. 5b, for this purpose the sensor 6 is arranged in the first axial area B1. In the first axial position A1, the sensor 6 senses the presence of the first actuation contour 41. In the second axial position A2, the sensor does not sense any actuation contour 42. Determining the axial position A1, A2 is thus simpler.

(62) The disadvantage is that an incorrect intermediate position is difficult to detect and would require a complicated analysis of the signal. In addition, the sensing has no redundancy.

(63) Accordingly, the particularly preferred embodiment of FIG. 6a provides two sensors 61, 62, wherein the sensors are arranged (spaced apart in an axial direction) at a distance from one another that is greater than the width of one actuation contour 41 or 42 and less than the width of both actuation contours 41 and 42. In particular, the first sensor 61 is arranged in the first axial area B1 and the second sensor 62 is arranged in the third axial area B3.

(64) The statements made in relation to FIG. 3 apply here. This sensor arrangement allows the axial position A1, A2 to be determined with redundancy on the basis of a determination of the presence of actuation elements. In addition, an incorrect intermediate position can be detected on the basis of a determination of the presence of actuation elements.

(65) If the first sensor 61 senses an actuation contour 4 and the second sensor 62 does not sense any actuation contour 4, the position is the first axial position A1. If the first sensor 61 does not sense any actuation contour 4 and the second sensor 62 senses an actuation contour 4, the position is the second axial position A2. Optionally, an incorrect intermediate position can be determined if both sensors 61, 62 sense an actuation contour 4.

(66) FIG. 6b shows a further embodiment in which a first sensor 61 is arranged in a first axial area B1 and a second sensor 62 is arranged in a second axial area B2. An incorrect intermediate position cannot be readily determined by simply measuring the presence.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(67) 1 valve train device 2 spline 3 slide 4 actuation contour 41 first actuation contour 42 second actuation contour 5 sensor unit 6 sensor 61 first sensor 62 second sensor 7 actuation means 8 sensing area 81 sensing area of the first sensor 82 sensing area of the second sensor 9 selector gate 10 actuation contour that cannot be sensed 11 printed circuit board 12 housing A1 first axial position A2 second axial position B1 first axial area B2 second axial area B3 third axial area