Electromechanically actuated valve with multiple lifts

U.S. Patent Number: 5692463

Abstract: An electromechanically actuated valve (12) for use as an intake or exhaust valve in an internal combustion engine. The valve (12) is actuated by a electromechanical actuator assembly (18) which includes a first electromagnet (22), second electromagnet (30) and third electromagnet (32). A disk (38) is fixedly mounted to the valve (12) in a gap between the second and third electromagnets. The second electromagnet (30) is slidable between the first electromagnet (22) and a stop (42), allowing the gap between the second electromagnet (30) and the third electromagnet (32) to vary. This allows for multiple valve lifts. A second spring (50), mounted between the second electromagnet (30) and disk (38), and a third spring (32), mounted between the disk (44) and an actuator housing (20), create a balanced oscillatory system which drives most of the valve movement during engine operation, thus reducing power requirements to actuate the valves while increasing the responsiveness of the valves.

Inventors: Liang; Feng (Canton, MI), Stephan; Craig Hammann (Ann Arbor, MI)

Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc. (Dearborn, MI)

Application Number: 08/746,594

Issued: 1997-12-02

Expired: 2005-12-02

Classes: 123/90.11 ; 251/129.01; 251/129.16; 251/129.18

Field of search: 123/90.11,90.15 251/129.01,129.05,129.1,129.15,129.16,129.18 335/256,258,266,268

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