Continuous variable valve duration apparatus and engine provided with the same

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0178497, filed on Dec. 14, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to a continuous variable valve duration apparatus and an engine provided with the same.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

An internal combustion engine generates power by burning fuel in a combustion chamber in an air media drawn into the chamber. Intake valves are operated by a camshaft in order to intake the air, and the air is drawn into the combustion chamber while the intake valves are open. In addition, exhaust valves are operated by the camshaft, and a combustion gas is exhausted from the combustion chamber while the exhaust valves are open.

Optimal operation of the intake valves and the exhaust valves depends on a rotation speed of the engine. That is, an optimal lift or optimal opening/closing timing of the valves depends on the rotation speed of the engine. In order to achieve such optimal valve operation depending on the rotation speed of the engine, various researches, such as designing of a plurality of cams and a continuous variable valve lift (CVVL) that can change valve lift according to engine speed, have been undertaken.

Also, in order to achieve such an optimal valve operation depending on the rotation speed of the engine, research has been undertaken on a continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) apparatus that enables different valve timing operations depending on the engine speed. The general CVVT may change valve timing with a fixed valve opening duration.

However, the general CVVL and CVVT are complicated in construction and are expensive in manufacturing cost.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the present disclosure and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Various aspects of the present disclosure provide a continuous variable valve duration apparatus and an engine provided with the same which may vary opening duration of a valve according to operation conditions of an engine, with a simple construction.

A continuous variable valve duration apparatus according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure may include: a camshaft; first and second cam portions on which a cam is formed, respectively, the camshaft being inserted to the first and second cam portions of which relative phase angles with respect to the camshaft are variable; first and second inner brackets transmitting rotation of the camshaft to the first and second cam portions respectively; a slider housing in which the first and second inner brackets are rotatably inserted, a relative position of the slider housing with respect to the camshaft being variable; and a control slot formed on the slider housing; a cam cap rotatably supporting the first and the second cam portions, and the slider housing slidably mounted on the cam cap; a control shaft which is parallel to the camshaft and on which a control rod is eccentrically formed; an eccentric plate rotatably connected to the control rod and rotatably inserted into the control slot; and a control portion selectively rotating the control shaft so as to control a position of the slider housing.

A cam key may be formed on the first and second cam portions respectively, a first and a second sliding holes may be formed to the first and second inner brackets respectively, a cam key pin, on which a cam key slot where the cam key is slidably inserted therein is formed, may be rotatably inserted into the each first sliding hole, a camshaft pin may be connected to the camshaft, and a slider pin, on which a camshaft pin slot where the camshaft pin is slidably inserted therein is formed, may be rotatably inserted into the each second sliding hole.

A cam key may be formed on the first and second cam portions respectively, a first and a second sliding holes may be formed to the first and second inner brackets respectively, a cam key pin, on which a cam key slot where the cam key is slidably inserted therein is formed, may be rotatably inserted into the each first sliding hole, and a slider pin may include a pin body and a pin head integrally formed with the pin body, and wherein the pin body may be slidably inserted into the camshaft and the pin head may be rotatably inserted into the second sliding hole.

A camshaft oil hole may be formed in the camshaft along a length direction thereof, a body oil hole communicated with the camshaft oil hole may be formed in the pin body, and an oil groove communicated with the body oil hole may be formed in the pin head.

The continuous variable valve duration apparatus may further include a slider housing bearing disposed between the slider housing and the first and the second inner bracket, respectively.

The continuous variable valve duration apparatus may further include a spacer disposed within the slider housing to inhibit or prevent rotations of the first and second inner brackets from being interrupted.

A shaft hole in which the control shaft is inserted may be formed in the cam cap.

The continuous variable valve duration apparatus may further include a shaft bearing inserted into the shaft hole and supporting the control shaft.

A cam cap guide for guiding movement of the slider housing may be formed on the cam cap.

The cam may be formed to the first and the second cam portions as a pair, a cam cap connecting portion may be formed between the two cams (i.e., the paired cams) of each of the first and second cam portions, and a cam support for rotatably supporting the cam connecting portion may be is formed in the cam cap.

The control portion may include a worm wheel connected to the control shaft, a worm gear engaged with the worm wheel and a control motor selectively rotating the worm gear.

An eccentric plate hole may be formed eccentrically in the eccentric plate and the control rod may be inserted into the eccentric plate hole.

An engine according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure may include: a camshaft; first and second cam portions on which a cam is formed respectively, the camshaft inserted to the first and second cam portions of which relative phase angles with respect to the camshaft are variable; first and second inner brackets transmitting rotation of the camshaft to the first and second cam portions respectively; a slider housing in which the first and second inner brackets are rotatably inserted, of which a relative position with respect to the camshaft is variable, and on which a control slot is formed; a cam cap rotatably supporting the first and the second cam portions, and the slider housing slidably mounted on the cam cap; a control shaft which is parallel to the camshaft and on which a control rod is eccentrically formed; an eccentric plate rotatably connected to the control rod and rotatably inserted into the control slot; and a control portion selectively rotating the control shaft so as to control a position of the slider housing.

A cam key may be formed on the first and second cam portions respectively, a first and a second sliding holes may be formed to the first and second inner brackets respectively, a cam key pin, on which a cam key slot where the cam key is slidably inserted therein is formed, may be rotatably inserted into the each first sliding hole, a camshaft pin may be connected to the camshaft, and a slider pin, on which a camshaft pin slot where the camshaft pin is slidably inserted therein is formed, may be rotatably inserted into the each second sliding hole.

A cam key may be is formed on the first and second cam portions respectively, a first and a second sliding holes may be formed to the first and second inner brackets respectively, a cam key pin, on which a cam key slot where the cam key is slidably inserted therein is formed, may be rotatably inserted into the each first sliding hole, and a slider pin may include a pin body and a pin head integrally formed with the pin body, and wherein the pin body may be slidably inserted into the camshaft and the pin head may be rotatably inserted into the second sliding hole.

A camshaft oil hole may be formed in the camshaft along a length direction thereof, a body oil hole communicated with the camshaft oil hole may be formed in the pin body, and an oil groove communicated with the body oil hole may be formed in the pin head.

A cam cap guide for guiding movement of the slider housing may be formed on the cam cap.

The cam may be formed to the first and the second cam portions as a pair, a cam cap connecting portion may be formed between the two cams (i.e., the paired cams) of each of the first and second cam portions, and a cam support for rotatably supporting the cam connecting portion may be is formed in the cam cap.

The control portion may include a worm wheel connected to the control shaft, a worm gear engaged with the worm wheel and a control motor selectively rotating the worm gear.

An eccentric plate hole may be formed eccentrically in the eccentric plate and the control rod may be inserted into the eccentric plate hole.

As described above, the continuous variable valve duration apparatus according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure may vary an opening duration of a valve according to operation conditions of an engine, with a simple construction.

The exemplary continuous variable valve duration apparatus of the present disclosure may be reduced in size and thus the entire height of a valve train may be reduced.

Since the continuous variable valve duration apparatus may be applied to an existing engine without excessive modification, thus productivity may be enhance and production cost may be reduced.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an engine provided with a continuous variable valve duration apparatus according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a continuous variable valve duration apparatus according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are exploded perspective views of an exemplary continuous variable valve duration apparatus of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary continuous variable valve duration apparatus of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along line of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 8 is a table showing various operations of an exemplary continuous variable valve duration apparatus of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a graph showing various operations of an exemplary continuous variable valve duration apparatus of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 10 is a drawing showing a slider pin of a continuous variable valve duration apparatus according to a modified form of the present disclosure.

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

As those skilled in the art would realize, the described forms may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

A part irrelevant to the description will be omitted to clearly describe the present disclosure, and the same or similar elements will be designated by the same reference numerals throughout the specification.

In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity.

Throughout the specification and the claims, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an engine provided with a continuous variable valve duration apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a continuous variable valve duration apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line III-III of FIG. 1 , and FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are exploded perspective views of an exemplary continuous variable valve duration apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary continuous variable valve duration apparatus, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along line of FIG. 1 .

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 , an engine 1 includes a cylinder head 10 , and a continuous variable valve duration apparatus mounted to the cylinder head 10 . The cylinder head may include a cam carrier.

The continuous variable valve duration apparatus includes: a camshaft 30 ; a first and second cam portions 70 a and 70 b on which cams 71 and 72 are formed respectively, to which the camshaft 30 is inserted and of which relative phase angles with respect to the camshaft 30 are variable; first and second inner brackets 80 and 81 transmitting rotation of the camshaft 30 to the first and second cam portions 70 a and 70 b respectively; a slider housing 90 in which the first and second inner brackets 80 and 81 are rotatably inserted, of which a relative positions with respect to the camshaft 30 is variable, and on which a control slot 94 is formed; a cam cap 40 rotatably supporting the first and the second cam portions 70 a and 70 b, and the slider housing 90 slidably mounted to the cam cap 40 ; a control shaft 108 which is parallel to the camshaft 30 and on which a control rod 110 is eccentrically formed; an eccentric plate 98 rotatably connected to the control rod 110 and rotatably inserted into the control slot 94 ; and a control portion 100 selectively rotating the control shaft 108 so as to control a position of the slider housing 90 .

The camshaft 30 may be an intake camshaft or an exhaust camshaft and is rotated by a cam sprocket 48 connected to a crankshaft.

In the drawings, 4 cylinders 211 , 212 , 213 and 214 are formed in the engine, but it is not limited thereto.

Two cams 71 and 72 may be formed on the first and the second cam portions 70 a and 70 b respectively, and a cam connecting portion 76 may be formed between the two cams 71 and 72 .

A cam support 46 rotatably supporting the cam connecting portion 76 is formed to the cam cap 40 .

The cams 71 and 72 rotate to open valves 200 .

A cam key 74 is formed to the first and second cam portions 70 a and 70 b respectively, and a first sliding hole 86 and a second sliding hole 88 are formed to the first and second inner brackets 80 and 81 respectively.

A cam key pin 82 of which a cam key slot 83 where the cam key 74 is slidably inserted therein is formed thereto and the cam key pin 82 is rotatably inserted into the each first sliding hole 86 .

A camshaft hole 32 is formed to the camshaft 30 and a camshaft pin 60 is inserted into the camshaft hole 32 to be connected to the camshaft 30 . And a slider pin 84 of which a camshaft pin slot 85 where the camshaft pin 60 is slidably inserted therein is formed thereto and the slider pin 84 is rotatably inserted into the each second sliding hole 88 .

A slider housing bearing 92 is disposed between each slider housing 90 and the first and the second inner brackets 80 and 81 , and thus relative rotations of each slider housing 90 and the first and the second inner brackets 80 and 81 may be smoothly performed. The slider housing bearing 92 may be a needle bearing, a ball bearing, a roller bearing or the like.

A spacer 91 is disposed within the slider housing 90 to inhibit or prevent rotations of the first and second inner brackets 80 and 81 from being interrupted.

As shown in FIG. 7 , since the slider housing 90 is disposed between the first cam portion 70 a and the second cam portion 70 b, engine layout may be simplified and one slider housing 90 may control rotational speed of the first cam portion 70 a and the second cam portion 70 b simultaneously. Thus, the continuous variable valve duration apparatus may be constructed with simplified and elements number may be reduced.

That is, two inner brackets 80 and 81 are rotatably disposed within one slider housing 90 , and the inner brackets 80 and 81 may change valve duration of two cylinders.

Since total elements are reduced, power loss of the engine may be reduced.

A cam cap guide 41 guiding movement of the slider housing 90 is formed to the cam cap 40 . A slider housing guide surface 95 is formed to the slider housing 90 , and the cam cap guide 41 contacts the slider housing guide surface 95 to guide movement of the slider housing 90 . Thus the slider housing 90 may move without oscillation or vibration.

A shaft hole 42 in which the control shaft 108 is inserted is formed to the cam cap 40 for stably supporting the control shaft 108 .

A shaft bearing 44 is inserted into the shaft hole 42 for supporting the control shaft 108 and thus the control shaft 108 may be smoothly rotated.

Two cams 71 and 72 are formed to the first and the second cam portions 70 a and 70 b respectively, the cam connecting portion 76 is formed between the two cams 71 and 72 , and a cam support 46 rotatably supporting the cam connecting portion 76 is formed to the cam cap 40 .

The cam cap 40 may guide the movement of the slider housing 90 , support the rotation of the control shaft 108 and rotatably support the first and the second cam portions 70 a and 70 b, and may simplify a structure and reduce elements of the continuous duration apparatus.

The control portion 100 includes a worm wheel 102 connected to the control shaft 108 , a worm gear 104 engaged with the worm wheel 102 and a control motor 106 selectively rotating the worm gear 104 . By using the worm wheel 102 and the worm gear 104 , the motor capacity of the control motor 106 may be reduced.

An eccentric plate hole 99 is eccentrically formed to the eccentric plate 98 and the control rod 110 is inserted into the eccentric plate hole 99 .

FIG. 8 is a table showing various operations of an exemplary continuous variable valve duration apparatus of the present disclosure, and FIG. 9 is a graph showing various operations of an exemplary continuous variable valve duration apparatus of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 9 , operations of the exemplary continuous variable valve duration apparatus will be described.

When rotation centers of the camshaft 30 and the first and second inner brackets 80 and 81 are coincident, that is, the slider housing 90 is positioned at an original position as shown in FIG. 8 , the cams 71 and 72 rotate with the same phase angle of the camshaft 30 . That is, the cams 71 and 72 and the camshaft 30 rotate with the same speed.

According to engine operation states, an ECU (engine control unit or electric control unit) transmits control signals to the control motor 106 of the control portion 100 to rotate the control shaft 108 . Then, the control rod 110 eccentrically formed on the control shaft 108 is rotated to rotate the eccentric plate 98 . The rotation of the eccentric plate 98 induces movement of the slider housing 90 along the cam cap guide 41 .

That is, the rotation of the control shaft 108 is changed to the movement upward or downward of the slider housing 90 through the control rod 110 eccentrically formed on the control shaft 108 and the eccentric plate hole 99 eccentrically formed to the eccentric plate 98 , and thus movement of the slider housing 90 may be performed smoothly.

According to the rotation of the control shaft 108 , positions of the slider housing 90 and the first and the second inner brackets 80 and 81 with respect to a rotation center of the camshaft 30 are changed upward or downward.

When, the position of the slider housing 90 with respect to the camshaft 30 is changed, the relative rotation speed of the cams 71 and 72 with respect to the rotation speed of the camshaft 30 are changed.

While the camshaft pin 60 is rotated together with the camshaft 30 , the camshaft pin 60 is slidable within the camshaft pin slot 85 , the slider pin 84 is rotatably inserted into the second sliding hole 88 , the cam key pin 82 is rotatably inserted into the first sliding hole 82 , and the cam key 74 is slidable within the cam key slot 83 . Thus the relative rotation speed of the cams 71 and 72 with respect to the rotation speed of the camshaft 30 is changed.

As shown in FIG. 3 , while the phase angle of the camshaft 30 is constantly changed when the relative position of the slider housing 90 with respect to the rotation center of the camshaft 30 is changed downward as ΔH 1 , as shown in FIG. 8 , the rotation speed of the cams 71 and 72 is relatively slower than rotation speed of the camshaft 30 near 60 to 120 degree, then the rotation speed of the cams 71 and 72 is relatively faster than rotation speed of the camshaft 30 near 240 to 300 degree.

As shown in FIG. 3 , while the phase angle of the camshaft 30 is constantly changed when the relative position of the slider housing 90 with respect to the rotation center of the camshaft 30 is changed upward as ΔH 2 , as shown in FIG. 8 , the rotation speed of the cams 71 and 72 is relatively faster than rotation speed of the camshaft 30 near 60 to 120 degree, then the rotation speed of the cams 71 and 72 is relatively slower than rotation speed of the camshaft 30 near 240 to 300 degree.

That is, as shown in FIG. 9 , valve duration D 2 in the case that the relative position of the slider housing 90 is changed to ΔH 1 is shorter than valve duration D 1 in the case that the position of the slider housing 90 is at the original position.

Also, valve duration D 3 in the case that the relative position of the slider housing 90 is changed to ΔH 2 is longer than valve duration D 1 in the case that the position of the slider housing 90 is at the original position.

In FIG. 9 , for better comprehension and ease of description, peak points in FIG. 10 are constant, but it is not limited thereto.

According to adjusting contacting positions of the valve 200 and the cam 71 and 72 , contacting angles of the valve 200 and the cam 71 and 72 , a position of the cam key 74 and so on, valve duration may be enlarged by advancing opening timing and retarding closing timing of the valve 200 . Or, valve duration may be shortened by retarding opening timing and advancing closing timing of the valve 200 .

Also, opening timing of the valve 200 may be constant and closing timing of the valve 200 may be retarded or advanced as requested.

Also, closing timing of the valve 200 may be constant and opening timing of the valve 200 may be retarded or advanced as requested.

FIG. 10 is a drawing showing a slider pin of a continuous variable valve duration apparatus according to a modified form of the present disclosure.

In the exemplary form, the camshaft pin and the slider pin are disconnected, however a slider pin 160 as shown in FIG. 10 includes a pin body 162 slidably inserted into the camshaft hole 32 of camshaft 30 , and a pin head 164 integrally formed with the pin body 162 and rotatably inserted into the second sliding hole 88 .

A camshaft oil hole 34 (referring to FIG. 7 ) is formed to the camshaft 30 along a length direction thereof and a body oil hole 166 communicated with the camshaft oil hole 34 is formed to the pin body 162 .

And an oil groove 168 communicated with the body oil hole 166 is formed to the pin head 164 through a communicating hole 169 .

Since lubricant may be supplied from the camshaft oil hole 34 to the oil groove 168 through the body oil hole 166 and the communicating hole 169 , thus friction between the pin head 164 and the second sliding hole 88 may be reduced.

Except the slider pin, operations and structures of the continuous variable valve duration apparatus according to a modified form of the present disclosure are the same of the exemplary form described above, repeated description will be omitted.

As described above, the exemplary continuous variable valve duration apparatus of the present disclosure may perform various valve durations according to operation conditions of an engine.

The exemplary continuous variable valve duration apparatus of the present disclosure may be reduced in size and thus the entire height of a valve train may be reduced.

Since the continuous variable valve duration apparatus may be applied to an existing engine without excessive modification, thus productivity may be enhance and production cost may be reduced.

While this present disclosure has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary forms, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed forms. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.