Linear motor valve actuator system and method for controlling valve operation

• US 10,385,797 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2017
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SentiMetal Journey, LLC
• Original Assignee: SentiMetal Journey, LLC
• Inventors: Hutchins, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Ching
• Application Number:
  US15/656,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20170321620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 123 9011, 25112915
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/34 characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without changing the duration of opening and without affecting the magnitude of the valve lift
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2009/2103 comprising one coil
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2009/2107 being disposed coaxially to the armature shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 9/20 by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 9/40 Methods of operation thereof; Control of valve actuation, e.g. duration or lift
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1401 characterised by the control or regulation method F02D41/1473, F02D41/1477 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/263 the program execution being modifiable by physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/345 Controlling injection timing F02D41/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0655 Lift valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0658 Armature and valve member being one single element
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0675 Electromagnet aspects, e.g. electric supply therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0679 with more than one energising coil
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/066 Electromagnets with movable winding
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/18 Circuit arrangements for obtaining desired operating characteristics, e.g. for slow operation, for sequential energisation of windings, for high-speed energisation of windings

Abstract

A linear motor actuated valve assembly in which a linear motor enables electrical actuation and control of intake and exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine.

Claims

1. A linear motor actuated valve assembly, comprising:

a housing including a travel aperture defined along a longitudinal axis within the housing, wherein the housing is adapted to be fixably attached to a head portion of an internal combustion engine;

a valve member including a stem portion movably disposed within the travel aperture and a distal head portion, wherein the distal head portion is adapted to selectively seal a combustion chamber within the head portion of the internal combustion engine;

a plurality of moving coils including one or more wire windings for each coil and fixably attached to the stem portion of the valve member; and

a plurality of magnets fixably disposed between the stem portion of the valve member and the plurality of moving coils.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one bearing coupled to the housing and including an aperture collinear with the travel aperture.

3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a valve position sensor disposed proximate to the stem portion.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a control computer; and

a power source coupled between the control computer and the plurality of moving coils, and responsive to control commands from the control computer by providing a plurality of controlled power signals;

wherein

responsive to the plurality of controlled power signals, the plurality of moving coils correspondingly actuates and causes the stem portion of the valve member to traverse the travel aperture of the housing in first and second directions, and

the control computer includes one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause variances in one or more of a position, a velocity or an acceleration of the valve member independently from a crankshaft rotational position during a traversal by the stem portion of the valve member of the travel aperture by controlling the power source to selectively energize the plurality of moving coils with a first polarity to accelerate the valve member in the first direction and a second polarity, opposite to the first polarity, to decelerate the valve member in the second direction.

5. A linear motor actuated valve assembly, comprising:

a housing including a travel aperture defined along a longitudinal axis within the housing, wherein the housing is adapted to be fixably attached to a head portion of an internal combustion engine;

a valve member including a stem portion movably disposed within the travel aperture and a distal head portion, wherein the distal head portion is adapted to selectively seal a combustion chamber within the head portion of the internal combustion engine; and

a linear motor mounted in the housing and including a motor shaft collinear with and fixably coupled to the stem portion of the valve member, and further including

a plurality of moving coils including one or more wire windings for each coil and fixably attached to the motor shaft, and

a plurality of magnets fixably disposed between the motor shaft and the plurality of moving coils.

6. The assembly of claim 5, further comprising a valve position sensor disposed proximate to the stein portion.

7. The assembly of claim 5, further comprising:

a control computer; and

a power source coupled between the control computer and the plurality of moving coils, and responsive to control commands from the control computer by providing a plurality of controlled power signals;

wherein

responsive to the plurality of controlled power signals, the plurality of moving coils correspondingly actuates and causes the stem portion of the valve member to traverse the travel aperture of the housing in first and second directions, and

the control computer includes one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause variances in one or more of a position, a velocity or an acceleration of the valve member independently from a crankshaft rotational position during the traversal by the stem portion of the valve member of the travel aperture by controlling the power source to selectively energize the plurality of moving coils with a first polarity to accelerate the valve member in the first direction and a second polarity, opposite to the first polarity, to decelerate the valve member in the second direction.

8. A linear valve actuator system, comprising:

a valve member including a stein portion and a distal head portion, wherein the stein portion is movably disposed within an aperture in communication with a combustion chamber within a head portion of an internal combustion engine, and the distal head portion is adapted to selectively seal the combustion chamber;

a linear motor, fixably mounted to a portion of the head portion external to the combustion chamber and including a motor shaft, and further including

a plurality of moving coils including one or more wire windings for each coil and fixably attached to the motor shaft, and

a plurality of magnets fixably disposed between the motor shaft and the plurality of moving coils; and

a rocker arm, movably mounted to another portion of the head portion external to the combustion chamber and including a first end captively coupled to the stem portion and a second end captively coupled to the motor shaft.

9. The assembly of claim 8, further comprising a valve spring at least partially encircling the stem portion.

10. The assembly of claim 8, further comprising a valve position sensor disposed proximate to the stem portion.

11. The assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

a control computer; and

a power source coupled between the control computer and the plurality of moving coils, and responsive to control commands from the control computer by providing a plurality of controlled power signals;

wherein

responsive to the plurality of controlled power signals, the plurality of moving coils correspondingly actuates and causes the stem portion of the valve member to traverse the travel aperture of the housing in first and second directions, and

the control computer includes one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause variances in one or more of a position, a velocity or an acceleration of the valve member independently from a crankshaft rotational position during the traversal by the stem portion of the valve member of the travel aperture by controlling the power source to selectively energize the plurality of moving coils with a first polarity to accelerate the valve member in the first direction and a second polarity, opposite to the first polarity, to decelerate the valve member in the second direction.