Fev Motorentechnik Gmbh

Fev Motorentechnik Gmbh & Co Kg

Fev Motorentechnik Gmbh & Co.

Fev Motortechnik Gmbh

Lutz Kather

Ekkehard Schrey

Christian Boie

Frank Van Der Staay

Gunter Schmitz

Hans Kemper

G&uuml;nter Schmitz

Guenter Schmitz

G&uuml;nter Rudolf Feyerl

Martin Puschinger

Leonhardt Bartsch

Günther Asmus

Gilles Corde

A sensor arrangement for recording the movement of an armature on an electromagnetic actuator for operating a control element, in particular for operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine, has an axially displaceable bar-like sensor piece, made from a soft magnetic material, having a ring of electrically conducting material of low ohmic resistance. The sensor piece is connected to the control element and to a fixed coil arrangement surrounding the bar-like sensor arrangement at least over a partial length, the coil arrangement comprising at least two coils, arranged one behind the other and connected to a voltage supply and a signal recorder in the form of a carrier frequency measuring bridge, whereby the bar-like sensor piece reduces interfering voltages.

Sensor arrangement for recording the movement of an armature with suppression of interfering voltages

A method for controlling an electromagnetic actuator for actuating a cylinder valve ( ) in a piston-type internal-combustion engine, with the valve having two electromagnets ( ) that are spaced from one another, and an armature ( ) that is connected to the cylinder valve ( ) to be actuated and is guided back and forth, counter to the force of a restoring spring ( ), between the facing magnet pole faces of the electromagnets, and with the coils ( ) of the electromagnets alternately being acted upon with a direct current via a control device ( ) at predetermined intervals. When the piston-type internal-combustion engine is operated under a higher load, the flow direction of the current through the coils ( ) of the two electromagnets ( ) is preset by the control device ( ) so that the magnetic flux (arrows ) alternately effected in the armature ( ) by the two coils ( ) remains unidirectional. For low-load operation (idling mode) of the engine, the magnetic flux is altered by the repolarization of the flow direction of the current through one of the coils ( ), so that the magnetic flux effected in the armature ( ) alternately flows in opposite directions (arrows ) when the coils are supplied with current.

Method for controlling an electromagnetic valve drive by changing the current direction when supplying the electromagnets with current

A method for controlling an electromagnetic actuator for a cylinder valve in a piston-type internal combustion engine with the actuator being operatively connected to the cylinder valve and moveable back and forth between two electromagnetics, counter to the force of at least one restoring spring. The current supplied to the electromagnetics is controlled with the aid of a sensor arrangement and via an engine control unit such that the current supply to the catching electromagnet, i.e., the electromagnet being approached by the moveable armature of the actuator, is controlled so as to move the armature slowly toward the respective pole face. Moreover, in order to regulate the valve play during the closing movement of a cylinder valve, the current supply to the catching electromagnet is controlled such that the valve initially touches down softly on its seat and that following the valve play, the armature touches down softly on the pole face.

Method for controlling an electromagnetic valve drive mechanism for a gas exchange valve in an internal combustion piston engine

A method for monitoring the operation of a piston-type internal combustion engine, comprising electromagnetic actuators with filly variable actuation for the cylinder valves, wherein the engine control unit supplies current based on respective predetermined current flows. The actuators are associated with respective sensors for detecting operation and transmitting operationally relevant signals to the engine control unit of the displacement movement of the respective actuator. The engine control unit detects the current and voltage flows for the actuator and, if no sensor signal is received, a sensor failure or actuator failure is detected from the voltage flow at the actuator. If a sensor fails at the actuator, the detection of a sensor signal is taken from a different, corresponding actuator by the engine control unit and the engine control unit causes initiation of a starting operation (start of oscillations) for the actuator initially determined to be non-operative. If an actuator failure subsequently is detected, the associated cylinder is shut down.

Method for monitoring the operation of a piston-type internal-combustion engine with fully variable cylinder valves

A method of controlling a supply current applied to an electromagnet of an electromagnetic actuator by a control unit for obtaining a low impact speed of a reciprocating armature of the actuator upon arrival of the armature at a pole face of the electromagnet, includes the following steps: during travel of the armature toward the pole face detecting displacements of the armature and a sequence of the armature speed as actual values; comparing the actual values with a performance characteristic field stored in the control unit and relating to a predetermined relationship between armature speed and armature displacement for the armature travel toward the pole face; determining a desired value for the supply current from the comparison step; comparing an actual value for the supply current with the determined desired value; adjusting the supply current based on a difference between the actual and desired values; and applying the adjusted supply current to the electromagnet.

Method of regulating the armature impact speed in an electromagnetic actuator by controlling the current supply based on performance characteristics

The invention relates to a method for controlling an electromagnetic actuator for activating a gas exchange valve on a reciprocating internal combustion engine, said gas exchange valve having two electromagnets that are set apart from each other and between which an armature that acts on the gas exchange valve against the force of at least one return spring is guided in such a way that it can move back and forth between the pole faces of the two electromagnets. The electromagnets are alternately subjected to a receiving current by means of a control unit and the movement of the armature on its path from one pole face to the other is detected by means of a sensor unit. Actual values relating to the movement of the armature are detected by the sensor unit in a first phase (I) beginning with the start of the release of the armature from the pole face of the holding electromagnet; the receiving electromagnet is controlled by the control unit in terms of the supply of current, according to the detected actual values relating to the movement of the armature, in a second phase (II), in such a way that the armature moves at a predetermined speed and with an acceleration around zero, within a predetermined range away from the pole face of the receiving electromagnet; and in a third phase (III), the supply of current of the receiving electromagnet is influenced in such a way that the armature meets the pole face at a predetermined minimum speed.

Method for controlling an electromagnetic actuator for activating a gas exchange valve on a reciprocating internal combustion engine

A method for starting up an electromagnetic actuator operating an engine cylinder valve. The actuator has two spaced electromagnets, between which an armature, connected to the cylinder valve, is reciprocated against a restoring spring from a center position to lie against a magnet pole face. An ECU alternatingly supplies the electromagnets with a capturing current, the level of which is regulated as a function of the approach of the armature toward a pole face, as detected by a sensor assembly. A reference temperature is detected for the magnets, and, at a normal temperature, the armature starts oscillating due to the alternating energization of the electromagnets, and is brought into contact with a pole face. Or, at a low temperature level, one of the electromagnets is supplied with a high current pulse.

Method of starting an electromagnetic actuator operating a cylinder valve of a piston-type internal-combustion engine

Motion recognition process, in particular for regulating the impact

A method of recognizing the contact of an armature in an electromagnetic actuator for activating a setting member that can be brought out of a first set position, counter to the force of a restoring spring, and brought into contact with the pole surface of the electromagnet and held when the electromagnet is supplied with current. The controlled (clocked) current course for the holding phase is detected during the time provided for armature contact, and is converted into a current-proportional voltage, and the converted voltage is differentiated and detected as a recognition signal, both for the normal condition of 'armature in contact' and the fault condition of 'armature is not in contact.'

Method of recognizing whether an armature is in contact with an

A method of ascertaining the position of rest assumed by a movable armature, in response to forces of oppositely acting return springs, between two deenergized electromagnets. The method includes the following steps: measuring the inductivities of the two electromagnets; comparing the measured inductivity values to obtain a comparison value; and ascertaining the position of the armature in the position of rest between the two electromagnets from the comparison value.

Method of adjusting the position of rest of an armature in an

A method is provided for monitoring a cylinder valve which is actuated by an electromagnetic actuator including an electromagnet having a magnetic core presenting a pole face and a coil wound around the magnetic core, a return spring and an armature that can be moved by the electromagnet in a direction toward the pole face counter to a force of the return spring for acting upon the cylinder valve. The method includes: measuring a value of one of (a) a time until current in the coil drops to a predetermined lower value after a switching of the current flowing through the coil, (b) a voltage at the coil subsequent to the switching of the current to the coil, (c) the voltage at the coil at a time of maximum approach of the armature to the pole face, and (d) the voltage at the coil at a time subsequent to the time of maximum approach of the armature to the pole face; comparing the measured value to a predetermined value; and generating a signal if a deviation is detected between the measured value and the predetermined value.

Method for monitoring a cylinder valve, actuated via an electromagnetic

A method of controlling a motion of an armature away from an electromagnet of an electromagnetic actuator includes the following steps: passing an electric current through a solenoid of the electromagnet for holding the armature at the electromagnet against a resetting force; interrupting the current flow through the solenoid at a desired moment for releasing the armature from the electromagnet; and impressing a current pulse of reverse polarity on the solenoid after interrupting the current flow for launching the armature from the electromagnet.

Method of accurately controlling the armature motion of an

A method of recognizing armature impingement in an electromagnetic actuator having an electromagnet including a solenoid, an armature movable toward and away from the electromagnet and return means for exerting a force on the armature. The method includes the steps of maintaining a solenoid current at a predetermined magnitude I.sub.max during a predetermined period T.sub.A for capturing the armature at the electromagnet; switching off the solenoid current at a moment t.sub.1 upon lapse of the period T.sub.A ; upon lapse of a period T.sub.1 running from moment t.sub.1, oscillating the solenoid current between a lower holding current threshold I.sub.H1 and an upper holding current threshold I.sub.H2 ; detecting a current course from moment t.sub.1 ; and deriving a signal from such current course.

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Würselen, Germany

Lutz Kather