IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,843,214
Granted Patent B1
US 6,843,214 · App. 10/700,975 · Granted Jan 18, 2005

Method for balancing engine cylinder bank output using crankshaft sensing and intake cam phasing

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,843,214
App. No.
10/700,975
Granted
Jan 18, 2005
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method is disclosed for balancing work output from cylinder banks of an engine having a common crankshaft and separate intake camshafts with cam phasers for each bank. The method includes sensing a crankshaft rotational characteristic, such as instantaneous rotational speed or acceleration, during the power strokes of pistons of predetermined comparable cylinders (or all cylinders) of each bank, computing average crankshaft rotational characteristics for the power strokes of the comparable cylinders of each bank, and adjusting the phasing of at least one of the intake camshafts to obtain equal averages of the sensed characteristics of the crankshaft during the power strokes of the respective banks.

Claims (10)

1. A method for balancing work output from cylinder banks of an engine having a common crankshaft and separate intake camshafts with cam phasers for each bank; the method comprising:

sensing a crankshaft rotational characteristic during the power strokes of pistons of predetermined comparable cylinders of each bank and computing average crankshaft rotational characteristics for the power strokes of the comparable cylinders of each bank; and

adjusting the phasing of at least one of the intake camshafts to obtain equal averages of the sensed characteristics of the crankshaft during the power strokes of the respective banks.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the sensed rotational characteristic is crankshaft speed.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein the sensed rotational characteristic is crankshaft acceleration.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein the sensed characteristic is detected by using a crankshaft position sensor.

5. A method as in claim 1 wherein the predetermined comparable cylinders include all the cylinders of each cylinder bank.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein the engine is operable with early intake valve closing.

7. A method as in claim 1 wherein the engine is operable with late intake valve closing.

8. A method as in claim 1 wherein the engine is a V-type engine.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034371/0676 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025780/0902 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025327/0262 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0347 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025311/0725 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023161/0911 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023127/0273 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0470 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022553/0399 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0547 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2009
From: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022117/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2004
From: HERRIN, RONALD J.
To: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014316/0913 →