Timing chain drive comprising an integrated electric motor

Abstract

The invention relates to a timing drive for an internal combustion engine, comprising a crankshaft, at least one camshaft, a driven gear that is connected to the crankshaft, at least one driving gear which drives the associated camshaft and a transmission that interconnects the driven gear and the at least one driving gear. An electric motor is provided which engages with the transmission in an offset manner relative to the crankshaft and the at least one camshaft as well as in an offset manner relative to the associated driven gear and the associated at least one driving gear by means of an intermediate gear. Furthermore, a control device is provided, with the aid of which the electric motor can be triggered in such a way that additional torque and/or an additional torque profile can be introduced into the transmission and/or can be tapped from the transmission based on at least one operational parameter and/or at least one operational situation of the transmission. Also disclosed is a corresponding method.

1 . A timing drive ( 5 ) for an internal combustion engine ( 1 ), comprising a crankshaft ( 3 ), at least one camshaft ( 4 ), a driven gear ( 7 ) that is connected to the crankshaft ( 3 ), at least one driving gear ( 9 ) which drives the associated camshaft ( 4 ), and a transmission that interconnects the driven gear ( 7 ) and the at least one driving gear ( 9 ), characterised in that an electric motor ( 14 ) is provided which engages with the transmission in an offset manner relative to the crankshaft ( 3 ) and the at least one camshaft ( 4 ) as well as in an offset manner relative to the associated driven gear ( 9 ) and the associated at least one driving gear ( 7 ) by means of an intermediate gear, and that a control device ( 17 ) is provided, with the aid of which the electric motor ( 14 ) can be triggered by the control device ( 17 ) in such a way that additional torque and/or an additional torque profile can be introduced into and/or tapped from the transmission based on at least one operational parameter and/or at least one operational situation of the transmission. 
     
     
         2 . Timing drive ( 5 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that a registering device and/or evaluation device is provided, by means of which the at least one operational parameter and/or the at least one operational situation of the transmission can be registered and/or evaluated, wherein the vibration state of the transmission is registered and/or evaluated as an operational parameter and/or the vibration situation of the transmission is registered and/or evaluated as an operational situation. 
     
     
         3 . Timing drive ( 5 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the transmission comprises at least one timing chain ( 15 ,  16 ). 
     
     
         4 . Timing drive ( 5 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the intermediate gear engages with at least one timing chain ( 15 ,  16 ). 
     
     
         5 . Timing drive ( 5 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that an intermediate shaft ( 12 ) is provided that is in an effective connection with the crankshaft ( 3 ) by means of a first timing chain ( 15 ) and with the at least one camshaft ( 4 ) by means of a second timing chain ( 16 ), wherein the electric motor ( 14 ) engages directly with the intermediate shaft ( 12 ). 
     
     
         6 . Timing drive ( 5 ) according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the intermediate shaft ( 12 ) is formed as a rotor shaft of the electric motor ( 14 ) or is coaxially connected to it. 
     
     
         7 . Timing drive ( 5 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the control device ( 17 ) is developed as a regulating device and the electric motor ( 14 ) can be regulated by the regulating device in such a way that additional torque and/or an additional torque profile can be introduced into and/or tapped from the transmission in a regulated manner by the electric motor ( 14 ). 
     
     
         8 . Timing drive ( 5 ) according to  claim 4 , characterised in that the regulating device is connected to a sensor device ( 21 ), by means of which at least one signal that depends on the operational parameter and/or the operational situation of the transmission can be registered and passed on to the regulating device, wherein the electric motor can be regulated by means of the regulating device in such a way that additional torque and/or an additional torque profile can be introduced into and/or tapped from the transmission by means of the electric motor ( 14 ), depending on the operational parameter and/or the operational situation. 
     
     
         9 . Timing drive ( 5 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the electric motor ( 14 ) is formed as a starter motor for the internal combustion engine ( 1 ). 
     
     
         10 . Method for operating a timing drive ( 5 ) on an internal combustion engine ( 1 ), in which an electric motor ( 14 ), in an offset and separate manner relative to the crankshaft ( 3 ) and the at least one camshaft ( 4 ), as well as in an offset manner relative to the associated driven gear and the associated at least one driving gear, is integrated into a transmission that interconnects the driven gear and the at least one driving gear and can be triggered by means of a control device ( 17 ) in such a way that additional torque and/or an additional torque profile can be introduced into and/or tapped from the transmission by means of the electric motor ( 14 ), wherein the method comprises the following steps:
 Registering of at least one operational parameter and/or operational situation of the transmission,   Triggering of the electric motor ( 14 ) by means of the control device ( 17 ), in order to introduce into and/or tap from the transmission ( 5 ) additional torque and/or an additional torque profile, depending on the at least one operational parameter and/or operational situation.   
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 10 , characterised in that at least one operational parameter that implies the vibrations that occur in the transmission and/or that, as an operational situation, implies the vibration situation of the transmission, is registered and/or evaluated and in that the control device ( 17 ) triggers the electric motor ( 14 ) in order to introduce into and/or tap from the transmission additional torque and/or a torque profile, depending on the at least one operational parameter and/or operational situation for vibration absorption. 
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 10 , characterised in that the electric motor ( 14 ) starts the internal combustion engine ( 1 ) by means of the timing drive ( 5 ). 
     
     
         13 . Method according to  claim 10 , characterised in that the electric motor ( 14 ) is operated in generator mode during predetermined operational situations of the timing drive ( 5 ) and gives off energy. 
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 13 , characterised in that the predetermined operational situation is an idling or braking situation of the internal combustion engine ( 1 ), said situation being transferred to the timing drive ( 5 ). 
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 10 , characterised in that the electric motor ( 14 ) effects torque support of the internal combustion engine ( 1 ) during predetermined operational situations by means of the timing drive ( 5 ). 
     
     
         16 . Method according to  claim 15 , characterised in that the predetermined operational situation is a turbo lag of the internal combustion engine ( 1 ), said turbo lag being transferred to the transmission of the timing drive ( 5 ). 
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 15 , characterised in that the predetermined operational situation is a stalling situation of the internal combustion engine ( 1 ), said stalling situation being transferred to the transmission of the timing drive ( 5 ). 
     
     
         18 . Method according to  claim 10 , characterised in that the control device ( 17 ) is developed as a regulating device in order to introduce into and/or tap from the transmission, in a regulated manner, additional torque and/or an additional torque profile depending on the at least one operational parameter and/or operational situation.