Chrysler Group LLC

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Mark R Arcori

David W Fiddes

Michael S Boggess

Min Sway-Tin

Thaddeus Roterman

Kert L Cartwright

James R McCoy

A position sensing system uses two sensing elements to sense the rotary position of target wheels mounted on two camshafts. The two sensing elements are mounted in a common sensor housing and preferably the two sensor elements share power and ground wires, and each sensor element has its own signal wire. The wires preferably are contained within a common conduit that extends from the housing to a location outside of the rocker cover. The end of the conduit may support one-half of an electrical connector that terminates the wires from the sensors. Mounting the two sensing elements in a common housing simplifies mounting the sensors on the engine, and reduces the number of wires required to power and derive signals from the two sensors. The target wheels are mounted directly on the camshafts and are positioned along the axis of the camshaft, spaced from the camshaft ends.

Camshaft position sensing for dual overhead cam variable valve timing engines

A camshaft assembly including a target wheel is manufactured using an assembly process in which the camshaft is formed from a hollow tube. After the cam rings and a target wheel ring have been correctly positioned on the hollow tube, the tube is pressurized to expand its diameter, locking the rings into position on the tube. Locating the target wheel along the axis of the camshaft and spaced from the camshaft end allows the sensor to be located along the axis of the camshaft, and precludes the need to increase the overall length of the head to accommodate the target wheel and the sensor. In a dual overhead engine, the target wheels may be mounted on the two camshafts so that they may be read by a dual element sensor that is mounted between the two wheels.

Camshaft assembly including a target wheel

A method and apparatus are provided for applying a coast-down braking torque to a vehicle coasting. The system provides a controlled regenerative braking torque automatically applied when the vehicle is coasting to simulate the feeling of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine. When the driver lets off the throttle when a vehicle is either on a flat grade or driving down a hill, the amount of regenerative braking is automatically controlled. When utilized with an electric or hybrid electric vehicle, the coast-down braking torque is converted to stored electric energy which improves the efficiency of the vehicle.

Intelligent coast-down algorithm for electric vehicle

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Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Mark R Arcori