Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Kanesan Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Minoru Nakamura

Toshihiro Yamaki

Hidetaka Ozawa

Kenji Abe

Yasuo Shimizu

Kouichi Ikoma

Yoshitomo Kouno

Minoru Torii

Hiroshi Kobayashi

Chihaya Sugimoto

Atsushi Umemoto

Harumi Hatano

Yasuyuki Komatsu

Yoshinori Onohara

Jiro Fujimoto

Jirou Fujimoto

Makinori Kawashima

A controller for an electromagnetic actuator comprises a pair of springs acting on opposite directions, and an armature connected to the springs. The armature is held in a neutral position given by the springs when the armature is not activated. The actuator also comprises a pair of electromagnets for driving the armature between two end positions. In response to a release of the armature held in one of the end positions, the controller applies brake to the armature according to a load condition of the armature. In high-load conditions, the valve can surely be opened without additional electric power. In low-load conditions, the armature is prevented from colliding with a yoke of the electromagnet. The application of brake includes over-excitation operation, flywheel operation and suspension of power supply. In the over-excitation operation, voltage is applied to the electromagnet corresponding to one of the end positions from which the armature is released for a first period. The first period may be determined according to a load condition of the armature. After the first period elapses, flywheel current is supplied to the electromagnet for a second period. After the second period elapses, power supply to the electromagnet is suspended. Appropriate combination of over-excitation operation, flywheel operation and suspension of power supply allows the braking force to be adjusted according to a load condition of the armature.

Controller for controlling an electromagnetic actuator

An electromagnetic valve controller estimates a dead time based on predetermined parameters. A dead time for the current cycle is determined based on the estimated dead time. The controller measures a dead time in the previous cycle. The controller determines a deviation between the dead time measured in the previous cycle and the dead time estimated in the previous cycle. The deviation is added to the dead time estimated in the current cycle to determine the dead time for the current cycle. The controller further determines a target de-energization timing indicating when to execute a valve timing command. The dead time determined for the current cycle is offset or subtracted from the target de-energization timing to determine an actual de-energization timing. An electromagnet of the valve is de-energized in accordance with the actual de-energization timing.

Electromagnetic valve controller

In an alternate energization process for alternately energizing a valve closing electromagnet and a valve opening electromagnet periodically, one of the valve opening electromagnet and the valve closing electromagnet is de-energized and thereafter the other electromagnet is de-energized at a time delayed by a predetermined time Toff. The alternate energization process is finished when the displaced position of a valve head which is detected by a displacement sensor has reached a predetermined position Vinit while the valve opening electromagnet is being energized. Thereafter, the valve opening electromagnet is continuously energized to seat the valve head in a closed position (initial position) from the time when the displaced position of the valve head has reached a predetermined position Vstart.

Apparatus for and method of controlling solenoid-operated valve device, and recording medium storing control program for solenoid-operated valve device

A controller for an electromagnetic actuator comprises a pair of spring acting in opposite directions, and an armature coupled to a mechanical element. The armature is connected to the springs and held in a neutral position given by the springs when the actuator is not activated. The actuator includes a pair of electromagnets for driving the armature between two end positions. The controller includes voltage application means for applying voltage to an electromagnet providing one end position for a first predetermined period so as to attract the armature to the end position. The controller also includes a peak current detector for detecting the peak of current flowing through the electromagnet in the first predetermined period. In accordance with the peak value, a decision means decides the application period of voltage that is to be applied to the electromagnet after the first application period has elapsed. Thus, the armature can make a stable seating at a controlled speed without generating substantial noise.

Electromagnetic actuator controller

A controller for an electromagnetic actuator is provided that enables detection of a minute movement of the armature leaving the seating position and carries out pullback operation responsive to such detection. The electromagnetic actuator has a pair of springs acting on opposite directions, and an armature coupled to a mechanical element such as a exhaust/intake valve of an automobile engine. The armature is held in a neutral position given by the springs when the actuator is not activated. The actuator includes a pair of electromagnets for driving the armature between two end positions. The controller having current supplying means for supplying holding current to the electromagnet corresponding to one of the end positions when holding the armature in said one of the end positions. The controller includes determining that the armature is leaving (falling or lifting) the seated position when the holding current increases more than a predetermined value while the holding current is supplied to the electromagnet corresponding to said end position. Leaving armature is detected based on the variation of the holding current, which allows earlier detection of the leaving armature.

Displacement of a mechanical element is accurately detected by a simple and inexpensive structure. To provide displacement detecting device including: a mechanical element capable of being displaced; a magnet connected to the mechanical element and magnetized in displacement direction of the mechanical element; and a magnetic sensor for detecting a magnetic flux generated by the magnet and outputting a sensor output corresponding to a detected magnetic-flux value, so as to detect displacement of the mechanical element in accordance with the sensor output. In one embodiment, a Hall element is used as the magnetic sensor and the magnet longer than distance of movement of the mechanical element is used. Thus, an output having a linear relation with displacement of the mechanical element is obtained, and detection of the displacement is easily implemented. The displacement detecting device can be applied to an actuator of intake/exhaust valves of an engine. In another embodiment, a magnetic material provided between the Hall element and a spring to reduce the disturbance caused by the spring. Moreover, a transfer shaft connected to the intake/exhaust valve is made of a non-magnetic material or a material having characteristics close to the non-magnetic material to reduce the effect of leakage flux.

Displacement detecting device

An electromagnetic actuator for driving a valve of an engine comprises a pair of springs which act in opposite directions, an armature which is connected to the springs and is supported in a neutral position provided by the pair of springs in an inactivated state, the armature being coupled to the valve, a pair of electromagnets which drive the armature between a valve open position and a valve closed position, estimating means for estimating magnetic flux to be generated by the electromagnet attracting the armature when the armature is driven from one of the positions to the other of the positions, and means for switching the electromagnet from the attractive operation to the holding operation in response to the magnetic flux reaching the target overshoot value.

Actuator controller

An electromagnetic valve unit in an internal combustion engine is controlled by determining a difference between the output of a displacement sensor when a valve head is in an open position and the output of the displacement sensor when the valve head is in a closed position in each period of an opening and closing action of the valve head. The difference corresponds to a full displacement of the valve head between the open position and the closed position. The electromagnetic valve unit is also controlled by establishing, using the difference, a threshold for the output of the displacement sensor which corresponds to a predetermined displaced position of the valve head which is determined based on a proportion of the full displacement, and controlling energization of the valve-opening electromagnet and/or the valve-closing electromagnet depending on whether the output of the displacement sensor has reached the threshold or not upon the opening and closing action of the valve head immediately after the threshold is established.

Method of controlling electromagnetic valve unit for internal combustion engines

A core of a solenoid actuator is provided which is improved in durability and at the same time ensures high energy efficiency of the solenoid actuator. The core of the solenoid actuator attracts an armature during operation of the solenoid actuator. A plurality of core plates are formed of a magnetically soft material and laminated in a predetermined direction orthogonal to a direction of attracting the armature to form a laminated stack. The core plates form magnetic circuits between the armature and the core plates themselves during the operation of the solenoid actuator. Two core holders formed of a non-magnetic material sandwiches the laminated stack of the plurality of core plates from opposite sides along the predetermined direction. The plurality of core plates are each coated with insulating film, which insulate adjacent two core plates from each other. Further, a rod formed of a non-magnetic material rigidly secures the plurality of core plates and the two core holders to each other to form a unitary assembly.

Core of solenoid actuator

An electromagnetic actuator is equipped with two springs which act in opposite directions, and an armature that is connected to the springs and is supported in an unactivated state in a neutral position provided by the two springs. The armature is coupled to a mechanical element such as a valve of an engine. The actuator includes a pair of electromagnets that drive the armature between a first terminal position and a second terminal position, and a power supply device that controls the voltage supplied to the electromagnet attracting the armature to a constant voltage when the armature is driven from one of the terminal positions to the other terminal position. The voltage supplied to the electromagnets is maintained at a constant value and the larger current flows in the larger is the gap between the armature and the yoke and smaller is the counter electromotive force.

Electromagnetic actuator

Disclosed herein is a solenoid valve driving device having at least two solenoid valves arranged in adjacent relationship. Magnetic fluxes generated in adjacent solenoids of the solenoid valves upon energization thereof are opposite in direction to each other. Accordingly, when the adjacent solenoids are simultaneously energized, a common magnetic circuit between these solenoids is generated to result in an increase in magnetic flux, thereby increasing a magnetic attraction force of each solenoid. Thus, the solenoid valve driving device can sufficiently ensure the magnetic attraction force of each solenoid and can achieve size reduction and power saving.

Solenoid valve driving device

A control apparatus for an electromagnetic actuator for driving a mechanical element by using an electromagnetic coil. The control apparatus includes a circulation circuit for circulating current to be supplied to the electromagnetic coil, a capacitor provided in the circulation circuit and to be charged by the current flowing through the circulation circuit, and a unit for, when the current supplied to the electromagnetic coil is stopped, forming a discharge path for discharging the capacitor and flowing current to an opposite direction through the electromagnetic coil. The current supplied to the electromagnetic coil is charged in the capacitor, then when the current having been supplied to the electromagnetic coil is stopped, the electric charge thus accumulated in the capacitor is discharged thereby to flow current to the opposite direction through the electromagnetic coil. Thus, the current caused by the induced electromotive force generated in the electromagnetic coil due to the stop of the supplied current can be canceled, so that the electromagnetic coil can be quickly demagnetized.

Control apparatus for electromagnetic actuator

A valve operating system in an internal combustion engine which provides a stable seating force for an engine valve and includes an armature operatively connected to a stem of the engine valve that is capable of being seated on a valve seat member provided to a cylinder head, valve-opening and valve-closing electromagnets for exhibiting electromagnetic forces for attracting the armature to open and close the engine valve, respectively, and valve-opening and valve-closing resilient means for exhibiting resilient forces for biasing the engine valve in opening and closing directions, respectively, and for retaining the armature in a predetermined neutral position by cooperation with each other during deenergization of both the valve-opening and valve-closing electromagnets. When the engine valve V is closed by energizing the valve-closing electromagnet and is seated on the valve seat member, only the resilient force of the valve-closing resilient means is applied to the engine valve V because the valve-closing electromagnet attracts the armature and compresses the valve-opening resilient means.

Valve operating system in internal combustion engine

A hose clamp assembly comprises a belt form of a plate spring body which is in an annular form having opposite ends and is provided with a grooved notch in which an extending piece to be described just below is inserted in a free state to form the same circumferential plane; an extending piece which is integrally provided at one end of the plate spring body along its circumferential direction, bent at its extreme end outwardly along the diametrical direction of the plate spring body to form a stopper and includes a pair of projecting tongues extending outwardly and vertically with respect to its both widthwise sides, the tongues inclining at their extreme ends at the required angles with respect to the stopper; and a receiving piece provided at the extreme end of the other end of the plate spring body, the receiving piece being bent outwardly along the diametrical direction thereof and including a notch somewhat wider in width than the extending piece and a horizontal portion provided with locking grooves spaced away from each other at an interval corresponding to the space between the pair of locking tongues and formed at the required angles increasingly inclined as they go up.

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Wako, Japan

Minoru Nakamura