Patent Abstract:
A hydraulic cam phaser includes at least one of an advance chamber and a retard chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid for advancing or retarding a rotational position of the camshaft. The hydraulic actuation system includes a hydraulic accumulator in selective communication with the at least one of the advance and retard chambers of the hydraulic cam phaser. A first system oil pump provides lubrication oil to the valvetrain system, and the hydraulic actuation system includes a second oil pump for supplying oil to the hydraulic accumulator. The second oil pump is controlled with a clutch device connecting the second oil pump to the engine drive system. The internal combustion engine includes a controller which controls actuation of the clutch device to actuate the clutch device during deceleration of the vehicle.

Full Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to an internal combustion engine and more particular, to an internal combustion engine having an efficient cam phaser actuation supply system. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
         [0003]    Camshaft phasers have been widely used in internal combustion engines to very valve timing to achieve purposes such as lower emissions, increase peak power at high revolution speeds and improve idle quality. Camshaft phasers are normally operated using pressurized hydraulic fluid which require engine operation. Accordingly, camshaft phaser systems are typically not capable of operation during engine off conditions. Engine start-up can be adversely affected due to a broad range of temperatures and can be improved by reducing the compression ratios at start-up. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a camshaft phaser system that is capable of camshaft adjustment during engine off conditions in order to improve engine start-up with low-cost and minimum adverse impact on engine parasitic losses. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
         [0005]    An internal combustion engine for a vehicle is provided including an engine block defining a plurality of cylinders. A cylinder head is mounted to the engine block and defines intake ports and exhaust ports in communication with the cylinders. A valve train system includes a plurality of intake valves disposed within the intake ports and a plurality of exhaust valves disposed within the exhaust ports. One or more camshaft and a plurality of valve lift mechanisms are operable to open the plurality of intake valves and the plurality of exhaust valves. A hydraulic cam phaser includes at least one of an advance chamber and a retard chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid for selectively advancing or retarding a rotational position of the camshaft. The hydraulic actuation system includes a hydraulic accumulator in selective communication with at least one of the advance and retard chambers of the hydraulic cam phaser. A first system oil pump provides lubrication oil to the entire engine, and the hydraulic actuation system includes a second oil pump for supplying oil to said hydraulic accumulator. The first system oil pump and the second oil pump are driven by an engine drive system. The second oil pump is controlled with a clutch device connecting the second oil pump to the engine drive system. The internal combustion engine includes a controller which controls actuation of the clutch device to actuate the clutch device during deceleration of the vehicle. 
         [0006]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a sectional view of an engine assembly according to the principles of the present disclosure; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a hydraulic cam phaser actuation supply system according to the principles of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0010]    Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0012]    Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. 
         [0013]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed. 
         [0014]    When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “in communication with” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or in communication with the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly in communication with” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
         [0015]    Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments. 
         [0016]    Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
         [0017]    An exemplary engine assembly  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and may include an engine structure  12 , a crankshaft  14 , a plurality of pistons  16 , engine bearings  18  ( FIG. 2 ) and a valvetrain assembly  20 . The engine structure  12  may include an engine block  22  and a cylinder head  24 . The engine structure  12  defines a plurality of cylinder bores  26 (one cylinder is illustrated for simplicity). However, it is understood that the present teachings apply to any number of piston-cylinder arrangements and a variety of reciprocating engine configurations including, but not limited to, V-engines, inline engines, and horizontally opposed engines, as well as both overhead cam (both single and dual overhead cam) and cam-in-block configurations. 
         [0018]    The pistons  16  are each located in one of the cylinder bores  26 . The cylinder head  24  cooperates with the cylinder bores  26  and the pistons  16  to define a plurality of combustion chambers  30 . The engine structure  12  defines one or more intake ports  34  and one or more exhaust ports  36  in the cylinder head  24  in communication with the combustion chambers  30 . 
         [0019]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , the valvetrain assembly  20  may include a first camshaft  42 , a second camshaft  44  as well as first and the second valve lift mechanisms  50 ,  52  associated with each of the intake and exhaust ports  34 ,  36 , respectively. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a cam phaser  46  can be connected to the first or second camshaft  42 ,  44 . It should be noted that each of the first and second camshafts  42 ,  44  can have a cam phaser  46  associated therewith, although  FIG. 2  only shows one cam phaser  46 . An intake valve  58  may be located in the intake port  34  and the first valve lift mechanism  50  may be engaged with the intake valve  58 . An exhaust valve  60  may be located in the exhaust port  36  and the second valve lift mechanism  52  may be engaged with the exhaust valve  60 . Additional intake and exhaust ports may be provided in each cylinder along with additional intake and exhaust valves disposed therein. The cam phaser  46  can be a mid-park or end-park cam phaser as is generally known in the art, although other cam phaser designs can be used. 
         [0021]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , the cam phaser actuation hydraulic supply system  70  for advancing or retarding the cam phaser  46  for adjusting the rotational position of the camshaft  42  according to the principles of the present disclosure will now be described. The hydraulic supply system  70  includes a lubrication system  71  having a main oil pump  72  which can be a variable displacement pump. The main oil pump  72  can be utilized for providing lubrication oil to the valvetrain assembly  20  as well as other engine components. The main oil pump  72  draws oil from sump  74  and delivers oil through a main passage  76  through a check valve  78  and filter  80 . From the filter  80 , the oil can be delivered to various components of the valvetrain assembly  20  and returned to the sump  74  as is known in the art. 
         [0022]    A secondary positive displacement oil pump  82  can be engaged to be driven by the engine drive system  83  that drives the main oil pump  72  via an electro-hydraulic clutch system  84 . The clutch system  84  can be engaged by a two port/two position solenoid valve  86  for selective actuation of the clutch  84  to engage the secondary pump drive  88  for driving the secondary oil pump  82 . The solenoid valve  86  receives filtered oil from the main oil pump  72  via passage  90 . Passage  90  is also connected to the supply port  92  of the secondary oil pump  82 . The outlet  94  of the secondary oil pump  82  is connected to a hydraulic accumulator  100 . The hydraulic accumulator  100  is in communication with the cam phaser  46  through a three position valve  102 . As is known in the art, the three position valve associated with the cam phaser  46  has three positions that include a first position for advancing the cam phaser  46 , a second position for retarding the position of the cam phaser  46 , and a third intermediate position that allows for modulation of the cam phaser position. It should be noted that other cam phaser arrangements and valve arrangements can be utilized including normally advanced or normally retarded position cam phasers. 
         [0023]    An optional pressure reducing valve  104  can be provided in the passage between the hydraulic accumulator  100  and the cam phaser  46  that allows the cam phaser to operate at a different pressure than the accumulator  100 . In addition, a two port/three position proportional valve  106  can optionally be used for selective charging of the cam phaser system and or discharging of the accumulator  100 . It is noted that the three position arrangement of the two port/three position proportional valve  106  includes a first closed position  106   a,  a second restricted flow position  106   b,  and a third accumulator discharge position  106   c.  As an alternative to the proportional valve, a one-way check valve can be used with limited function. 
         [0024]    The hydraulic system of the present disclosure is configured to provide a low-cost solution to enable aggressive cam phaser movement over a broad range of operating conditions including engine “off” conditions. In the engine “off” condition, the main oil pump  72  is not being driven and is incapable of providing oil to the cam phaser  46 . Accordingly, the accumulator  100  stores pressurized oil that can be used during engine “off” conditions to adjust the position of the cam phaser  46 . 
         [0025]    The internal combustion engine  10  is provided with a controller  110  that monitors vehicle operating conditions via inputs  112 . During vehicle and engine deceleration, the controller  110  provides output signals via connection  114  to engage the two port/two position solenoid valve  86  for engaging the electro-hydraulic clutch  84  to drive the secondary oil pump  82  and charge the hydraulic accumulator  100 . Therefore, braking energy can be utilized for charging the accumulator  100  by regeneration rather than providing any parasitic losses that reduce fuel efficiency. The hydraulic accumulator  100  is selectively charged during engine deceleration so that when the engine is in an “off” condition, the stored pressurized fluid in the accumulator  100  can be utilized for adjusting the cam phaser  46  prior to the next engine startup. The ability to adjust the cam phaser  46  prior to engine startup allows for improved engine starting with an adjustment to a lower compression ratio at startup. Accordingly, the system of the present disclosure provides for full cam phasing authority both prior to engine start and during engine operation. The system of the present disclosure also minimizes any adverse impact on engine parasitic losses by recharging the accumulator  100  during vehicle decelerations. The system also provides for a hydraulic isolation of the cam phaser  46  for providing stable control of the cam phaser  46 . By using a dedicated secondary oil pump  82 , the main oil pump  72  can be operated at a lower pressure for providing adequate lubrication to the engine bearings and valve-train components while providing improved fuel economy. The secondary oil pump  82  and accumulator  100  also allows the freedom to operate the cam phaser  46  at higher operating pressures for improved phaser response without adversely affecting the optimized main oil pump  72  operating pressure for the rest of the engine. The system also allows for the use of a mid-park cam phaser to meet stop and start goals thereby mitigating the need for complex “dual park” cam phaser designs. The present disclosure allows for potential of compression release for improved starting over broad temperature ranges. 
         [0026]    The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5