Method of controlling fluid pressure-actuated switching component and control system for same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9284865-B2
Application number	US-201213882808-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2012
Priority date	Jan 11, 2012
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

A method includes energizing a solenoid valve of a hydraulic control system according to a predetermined timing schedule to move a valve member of the solenoid valve. The solenoid valve is operatively connected to the switching component by a fluid control passage, such as a passage in an engine block, to deliver pressurized fluid from a supply passage when the valve member moves to switch the switching component from a first mode to a second mode. An operating parameter of the control system is measured. The operating parameter may be a period of time over which the valve member moves, or a sensed operating parameter of the fluid, such as pressure or temperature. The measured parameter is then compared with a predetermined parameter. Energizing of the solenoid valve is then adjusted based on the difference.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of controlling a fluid pressure-actuated switching component, comprising:
energizing a solenoid valve according to a predetermined timing schedule to move a valve member of the solenoid valve; wherein the valve member of the solenoid valve is moved directly by magnetic flux of the solenoid valve; wherein the solenoid valve is operatively connected to the switching component by a control passage in a valve manifold that delivers pressurized fluid from a supply passage when the valve member moves from a valve seat to thereby switch the switching component from a first mode to a second mode; wherein the valve member is positioned between the supply passage and the control passage and places the supply passage in fluid communication with the control passage when the valve member moves from the valve seat such that fluid flows past the valve seat from the supply passage to the control passage, and prevents fluid communication between the supply passage and the control passage when the valve member is seated on the valve seat;
measuring a period of time over which the valve member moves;
calculating a difference between the measured period of time and a predetermined period of time over which the valve member moves and on which the predetermined timing schedule is at least partially based; and
adjusting the energizing of the solenoid valve based on the difference between the measured period of time and the predetermined period of time.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the energizing of the solenoid valve is one of adjusting amount of current supplied to the solenoid valve and adjusting time prior to the desired switch that the current is supplied to the solenoid valve.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
updating the predetermined timing schedule based on the measured period of time.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the energizing occurs after said energizing according to the predetermined timing schedule and after the switch resulting from said energizing according to the predetermined timing schedule.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the energizing occurs during said energizing according to the predetermined timing schedule and before the switch resulting from said energizing according to the predetermined timing schedule.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sensing an operating parameter of the pressurized fluid via at least one sensor in communication with the pressurized fluid;
calculating a difference between the sensed operating parameter and a predetermined value of the operating parameter on which the predetermined timing schedule is partially based; and
adjusting the energizing of the solenoid valve based on the difference between the sensed operating parameter and the predetermined operating parameter.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
updating the predetermined timing schedule based on the sensed operating parameter.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a first sensor positioned to sense the operating parameter in the control passage downstream of the solenoid valve and upstream of the switching component.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor further includes a second sensor positioned to sense the operating parameter in the control passage downstream of the solenoid valve and upstream of the switching component; and wherein the first sensor is closer to the solenoid valve than the second sensor and the second sensor is closer to the switching component than the solenoid valve.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one sensor is positioned in the supply passage upstream of the solenoid valve.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the solenoid valve and the at least one sensor are integrated in a valve module installable in the valve manifold in fluid communication with the oil control passage.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein the solenoid valve and the at least one sensor are integrated in a valve module installable in the valve manifold in fluid communication with the control passage; wherein the valve module also includes a processor operatively connected to both the solenoid valve and the at least one sensor; and wherein the comparing and the adjusting of the energizing are via the processor within the valve module.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined timing schedule is based on an operating cycle of an engine, and further comprising:
storing the predetermined timing schedule in a processor operatively connected to the solenoid valve.

14. A method of controlling actuation of a fluid pressure-actuated engine valve lift switching component, the method comprising:
energizing a solenoid valve according to a predetermined timing schedule stored in a controller to move a valve member of the solenoid valve; wherein the valve member of the solenoid valve is moved directly by magnetic flux of the solenoid valve; wherein the solenoid valve is operatively connected to the valve lift switching component by a control passage in a valve manifold for delivering pressurized fluid from a supply passage when the valve member moves from a valve seat to switch the valve lift switching component between a first lift mode and a second lift mode; wherein the valve member is positioned between the supply passage and the control passage and places the supply passage in fluid communication with the control passage when the valve member moves from the valve seat such that fluid flows past the first valve seat from the supply passage to the control passage, and prevents fluid communication between the supply passage and the control passage when the valve member is seated on the valve seat;
sensing an operating parameter of fluid in the control passage;
determining a difference between the sensed operating parameter and a predetermined value consistent with the predetermined timing schedule; wherein the sensed operating parameter is a difference in time at which two pressure sensors in the control passage reach a predetermined pressure;
updating the stored predetermined timing schedule based on the difference; and
energizing the solenoid valve based on the updated timing schedule.

15. A method of controlling a fluid pressure-actuated switching component, comprising:
energizing a solenoid valve according to a predetermined timing schedule to move a valve member of the solenoid valve; wherein the valve member of the solenoid valve is moved directly by magnetic flux of the solenoid valve; wherein the solenoid valve is operatively connected to the switching component by a control passage in a valve manifold that delivers pressurized fluid from a supply passage when the valve member moves away from a first valve seat and seats on a second valve seat to thereby switch the switching component from a first mode to a second mode; wherein the valve member is positioned between the supply passage and the control passage and places the supply passage in fluid communication with the control passage when the valve member moves from the first valve seat and is seated on the second valve seat such that fluid flows past the first valve seat from the supply passage to the control passage, and prevents fluid communication between the supply passage and the control passage when the valve member is seated on the first valve seat and moves away from the second valve seat such that fluid exhausts through an exhaust passage past the second valve seat;
measuring a period of time over which the valve member moves;
calculating a difference between the me

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Keller Robert D
• Turner David
• Dell Eva Mark L

Classifications

• F16K31/0644

  One-way valve · CPC title

• F01L1/14

  Tappets {(hydraulic tappets for automatically adjusting or compensating clearance F01L1/24)}; Push rods · CPC title

• F01L2820/043

  Pressure · CPC title

• F01L13/0036

  the valves being driven by two or more cams with different shape, size or timing or a single cam profiled in axial and radial direction · CPC title

• F01L2800/00

  Methods of operation using a variable valve timing mechanism · CPC title