Internal-combustion engines – Poppet valve operating mechanism – Lubrication
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-22
2001-06-19
Kamen, Noah P. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Poppet valve operating mechanism
Lubrication
C123S14300R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247435
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention resides in an arrangement for providing electrical connections with an engine control unit for supplying power to consumers, particularly to the actuators of the electromagnetic valve control arrangements of an internal combustion engine.
DE 42 25 329 A1 discloses a structure for providing electrical connections between an engine control apparatus and the actuators of an electromagnetic valve control arrangement of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head with intake and exhaust valves, which are operated by electromagnetic actuators. A cylinder head cover is mounted onto the cylinder head. The actuators include opening and closing magnets, which are energized by an engine control unit. For this purpose, each actuator is provided with a cable, which extends from the actuator within the cylinder head cover to an opening in the cylinder head cover through which cables pass for connection to the engine control unit.
This arrangement however has the disadvantage that, upon mounting the cylinder head cover, the cables, which are loosely disposed in the cylinder head cover could easily be squeezed between two portions being interconnected. Another disadvantage of this arrangement resides in the fact that it may result in sealing problems since, with the cables extending through the openings, there is the potential for leakages. Furthermore, the cylinder head cover must be sufficiently large to accommodate all the cables for the various actuators.
For general technical background information, reference is made to the older application DE 197 56 095.4.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for providing electrical connections between electric power consumers and an engine control unit of an internal combustion engine, whereby space utilization is optimized and the assembly of the various parts is facilitated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In an arrangement for providing electrical connections between an engine control unit and electric power consumers disposed on a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, particularly an electromagnetic valve control arrangement, wherein the cylinder head comprises a first housing part and at least a second housing part mounted onto the first housing part, the second housing part is a frame structure which includes electrical components with receptacles. The receptacles are connected outside the second housing part to the engine control unit and the power consumers within the frame structure have communication lines provided with plugs plugged into the receptacles within the second housing part for electrical connection to the engine control unit.
It is particularly advantageous that, with the arrangement according to the invention space utilization is optimized and assembly is facilitated. The integration of the electrical components required for providing the connections, that is, the power end stages, the receptacles for the plugs on the electric consumer side, and the conductors interconnecting the power end stages and the receptacles in the terminal assembly of the cylinder head clearly facilitates the assembly since all the electric power consumers, particularly the actuators can be connected to the motor control unit before the mounting of the cylinder head cover onto the cylinder head without the need to pass the cables through the cylinder head cover. During assembly only the plugs of the cables extending from the electric power consumers need to be inserted into the receptacles of a terminal assembly at the frame structure. Preferably only a single cable extends from the terminal assembly to the engine control unit. During mounting of the cylinder head cover, it is therefore not necessary to take care that all the connections remain established and no cable is squeezed.
In addition, with the terminal assembly installed on the cylinder head, potential leakage of the cylinder head cover is avoided such leakage might occur with the penetration of the cables through the openings in the cylinder head cover. The plugs of the consumers are now inserted into the receptacles of the terminal assembly, which is connected to the engine control unit by a single main cable.
In addition, the integration of the electrical components into the terminal assembly results in an optimal space utilization. The electrical components integrated in the terminal assembly comprise all the elements needed for establishing connections between the electric energy consumers and the engine control unit, such as final power stages, receptacles and cables for the connections between the final power stages and the receptacles. In this way, the cables extending from the electric power consumers on the cylinder head and provided with plugs are plugged into the terminal assembly on the cylinder head. No cables extend through the cylinder head cover. As a result, a simple and space efficient arrangement is obtained. The terminal assembly may be provided with a seal disposed adjacent the cylinder head cover such that the need for a separate cylinder head cover seal is eliminated. Furthermore the connections are established by way of the terminal assembly and no cables extend through openings in the cylinder head cover and a seal structure is provided between the terminal assembly and. The cylinder head cover, the cylinder head cover is therefore acoustically uncoupled from the cylinder head preventing the transmission of vibrations and noises.
Further embodiments and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention on the basis of the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5035637 (1991-07-01), Mathews et al.
patent: 5390648 (1995-02-01), Yanase
patent: 5642704 (1997-07-01), Gogots et al.
patent: 5746168 (1998-05-01), Lochbrunner et al.
patent: 5771850 (1998-06-01), Okada
patent: 42 25 359 (1993-02-01), None
patent: 42 25 358 (1994-02-01), None
patent: 197 19 299 (1998-08-01), None
patent: 197 56 095 (1999-06-01), None
patent: 197 56 342 (1999-07-01), None
patent: 0 602 398 (1994-06-01), None
patent: 0 798 450 (1997-10-01), None
patent: 0 869 261 (1998-10-01), None
patent: 10-252630 (1998-09-01), None
Munz Dietmar
Renz Wolfgang
Stolk Thomas
Walter Steffen
Bach Klaus J.
Daimler-Chrysler AG
Kamen Noah P.
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