Abstract:
A method for controlling electromagnetic actuators for operating induction and exhaust valves in internal combustion engines where one actuator (1,40), connected to a control unit (10), is coupled to a respective valve (2,41) having a real position (Z) and includes a movable element (3,42) magnetically driven by means of a resultant force (F) to control the movement of the said valve (2,41) between a closure position (Z SUP ) and a fully open position (Z INF ); the control unit is further connected to a piloting unit (15) and includes a supervision block (11), an open loop control block (12), a closed loop control block (13) and a selector block (14) commanded by a switching signal (SW) generated by the supervision block (11). The method includes the steps of: operating in an open loop control mode of the real position (Z); operating in a closed loop control mode of the real position (Z); and alternatively selecting the open loop control mode and the closed loop control mode.
Abstract:
A method for the control of an electromagnetic actuator (1, 125) coupled to a respective valve (2, 126) and provided with a moving member (3, 127) actuated magnetically, by means of a net force (F), in order to control the movement of the valve (2, 46) between a closed position (Z SUP ) and a position of maximum opening (Z INF ), a pair of electromagnets (6, 129) disposed on opposite sides with respect to the moving member (3, 127) and an elastic member (7, 30) adapted to maintain the valve in a rest position. The method comprises the stages of estimating the disturbing forces (AF) acting on the valve (2, 46), calculating an actual force (F E ) as a function of the objective force value (F o ) and the disturbing forces (AF) and implementing this actual force value (F E ).
Abstract:
A method for the control of an electromagnetic actuator (1, 25) coupled to a respective valve (2, 26) and provided with a moving ferromagnetic member (3, 27) connected to at least one point of the valve, a pair of electromagnets (6, 29) disposed on opposite sides with respect to the moving ferromagnetic member (3, 27) and an elastic member (7, 30) adapted to maintain the valve in a rest position. The method comprises the stages of detecting an actual position (Z) and an actual velocity (V) of the valve (2, 26), determining a reference position (Z R ) and a reference velocity (V R ) of the valve (2, 26) and minimising differences between the reference position (Z R ) and the actual position (Z) and between the reference velocity (V R ) and the actual velocity (V) of the valve (2, 26) by means of a feedback control action.
Abstract:
A method for controlling electromagnetic actuators for operating induction and exhaust valves in internal combustion engines where one actuator (1,40), connected to a control unit (10), is coupled to a respective valve (2,41) having a real position (Z) and includes a movable element (3,42) magnetically driven by means of a resultant force (F) to control the movement of the said valve (2,41) between a closure position (Z SUP ) and a fully open position (Z INF ); the control unit is further connected to a piloting unit (15) and includes a supervision block (11), an open loop control block (12), a closed loop control block (13) and a selector block (14) commanded by a switching signal (SW) generated by the supervision block (11). The method includes the steps of: operating in an open loop control mode of the real position (Z); operating in a closed loop control mode of the real position (Z); and alternatively selecting the open loop control mode and the closed loop control mode.
Abstract:
Method for regulation of currents during phases of stoppage in electromagnetic actuators, in which an actuator (1) is connected to a valve (2) and includes a mobile unit (3), a sensor (12) and a first and a second electromagnet (6a,6b), which receive respectively a first and a second current (I SUP , I INF ); the mobile unit (3) being disposed in a position of stoppage (Z SUP , Z INF ) during phases of stoppage. The method includes the phases of: setting (100) at least one current (I SUP , I INF ) out of the first and the second currents (I SUP , I INF ) to an initial maintenance value (I HO ), when the valve (2) is in a position of stoppage (Z SUP , Z INF ); checking (120) that the valve remains in a position of stoppage (Z SUP , Z INF ) for a pre-determined interval of time (ΔT); and decrementing (170) the current (I SUP , I INF ), if the valve has remained in a position of stoppage (Z SUP , Z INF ) for the pre-determined interval of time (ΔT).
Abstract:
Method for determining the progression of the load torque (Tc(t)) in an internal-combustion engine (1), comprising, for each combustion cycle of the engine, the steps of detecting (15, 23) the progression of the instantaneous angular velocity (v(t)) of the crankshaft (6) in at least one given time interval (I) of the combustion cycle; determining (24,25,26,27) the progression of the pressure (P(t)) inside the cylinders (3) of the engine (1) for the combustion cycle on the basis of the progression of the instantaneous angular velocity (v(t)); and determining (19) the progression of the load torque (Tc(t)) for the combustion cycle on the basis of the progression of the instantaneous angular velocity (v(t)) and the pressure (P(t)) inside the cylinders (3).
Abstract:
Electronic system for identifying the strokes of a four-stroke internal combustion engine, having an output crankshaft coupled to an angular position sensor which generates a signal having an interval of 360 ° of the crankshaft. The signal has at least one zero reference corresponding to a zero angular reference of the crankshaft. The system can detect (100) the zero reference and arbitrarily assign (110) the strokes of the engine (2) with respect to the zero reference by determining at least one specified angular relation between the zero reference and the angular position in which the upper dead centre of a first cylinder is reached. The system can monitor (133) the torque generated by the engine to detect a timing displacement of 360 in the arbitrarily assigned strokes and retime (135) these strokes as a result.
Abstract:
A method for the control of an electromagnetic actuator (1, 125) coupled to a respective valve (2, 126) and provided with a moving member (3, 127) actuated magnetically, by means of a net force (F), in order to control the movement of the valve (2, 46) between a closed position (Z SUP ) and a position of maximum opening (Z INF ), a pair of electromagnets (6, 129) disposed on opposite sides with respect to the moving member (3, 127) and an elastic member (7, 30) adapted to maintain the valve in a rest position. The method comprises the stages of estimating the disturbing forces (ΔF) acting on the valve (2, 46), calculating an actual force (F E ) as a function of the objective force value (F o ) and the disturbing forces (ΔF) and implementing this actual force value (F E ).
Abstract:
Method for protection against overheating of electromagnetic actuators for actuation of intake and exhaust valves in internal combustion engines, the actuator (1) being connected to a control unit (11), via a piloting circuit (12), which supplies at least one current (I 1 ,I 2 ) to a current measuring circu it (13), which supplies to the control unit (11) measured values (I M1 ,I M2 ) of the current (I 1 ,I 2 ). The method includes the steps of: estimating (120) for each first and second electromagnet (6a,6b), a temperature value T K+1 which is updated on the basis of a present temperature value T K and of the measured values (I M1 ,I M2 ) of the current (I 1 ,I 2 ); checking (140) whether the updated temperature value T K is lower than a threshold (T S1 ); and implementing protective action (160), if the updated temperature value T K is higher than the first threshold (T S1 ).
Abstract:
A method for estimating the end-of-stroke positions of moving members of electromagnetic actuators for the actuation of intake and exhaust valves in internal combustion engines in which an actuator (1) is coupled to a respective intake or exhaust valve (2) and comprises a moving member (3) actuated magnetically in order to control the movement of the valve (2), a sensor (10) supplying a position signal (V z ) representative of a current position (Z) of this moving member (3) and a first and a second electromagnet (6a, 6b) disposed on opposite sides of the moving member (3), wherein this moving member (3) can move between a first end-of-stroke position (Z SUP ) in which it is disposed in contact with the first electromagnet (6a) and a second end-of-stroke position (Z INF ) in which it is disposed in contact with the second electromagnet (6b). The method comprises the stages of checking whether the condition of stationary contact of the moving member (3) exists (110, 120) and determining a magnitude (Z M ) correlated with this current position (Z) (130, 140), if the stationary condition is verified.