Enhanced permanent magnet electromagnetic actuator for an electronic valve actuation system of an engine

• US 20050211200A1
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Liang, Feng, Degner, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,249,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/90.110
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2009/2136 Two opposed springs for intermediate resting position of the armature
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2009/2148 using permanent magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 9/20 by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/28 Layout of windings or of connections between windings windings for pole-changing H02K17/06, H02K17/14, H02K19/12, H02K19/32
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/34 between conductors or between conductor and core, e.g. slot insulation

Abstract

A valve actuator for an internal combustion engine is described having a core having a wound coil located therein, said core further having at least one permanent magnet located at least partially inside or outside said coil and positioned at an angle relative to a direction of movement of an armature. Further, various recesses, indentations, chamfers, bevels, and/or depressions may be included to affect flux leakage, and/or force generation.

Claims

1. A valve actuator for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

at least one electromagnet having a coil wound about a core, said core having a center pole and two side poles;

an armature fixed to an armature shaft extending axially through the core, and axially movable relative thereto; and

at least one permanent magnet extending at least partially along one of said side poles, said magnet exterior to said coil.

2. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the at least one permanent magnet has a surface angled relative to axial movement of said shaft.

3. The actuator of claim 1 further comprising an air gap adjacent to said at least one permanent magnet.

4. The actuator of claim 3 wherein said core separates said coil from said air gap.

5. The actuator of claim 1 further comprising an air gap immediately adjacent to said at least one permanent magnet.

6. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the at least one permanent magnet is at least partially angled relative to axial movement of said shaft.

7. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the at least one permanent magnet has a cross-sectional shape with a peak on an opposite side from said armature, and two ends extending toward said armature at an angle.

25. The actuator of claim 1, wherein said at least one permanent magnet is located at least partially within said one of said side poles.

8. A valve actuator for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a core having a wound coil located therein, said core further having at least one permanent magnet located at least partially along a side of said coil, said core further having a recess at one of an armature end and a non-armature end of said core.

9. The valve actuator of claim 8 wherein said permanent magnet is positioned at an angle relative to a direction of movement of an armature.

10. The valve actuator of claim 8 wherein said recess is located in a center pole of said core.

11. The valve actuator of claim 8 wherein said recess is located in a side pole of said core.

12. The valve actuator of claim 8 wherein said recess is angled.

13. The valve actuator of claim 8 wherein said recess is curved.

14. The valve actuator of claim 8 wherein said recess is a notch.

15. The valve actuator of claim 8 wherein said recess is located adjacent to an end of said permanent magnet.

16. A valve actuator for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a core having a wound coil located therein, said core further having at least one permanent magnet located at least partially along a side of said coil, said core further having recess means for increasing force when current flows in a first direction, and decreasing force when current flows in a second direction, said recess means located in at least one of an armature end and a non-armature end of said core.

17. The valve actuator of claim 16 wherein said permanent magnet is positioned at an angle relative to a direction of movement of an armature.

18. A valve actuator for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a core having a wound coil located therein, said core further having at least one permanent magnet located at least partially along a side of said coil, said core further having recess means for reducing flux leakage, said recess means located in at least one of an armature end and a non-armature end of said core.

19. The valve actuator of claim 18 wherein said permanent magnet is positioned at an angle relative to a direction of movement of an armature.

20. A valve actuator for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

at least one electromagnet having a coil wound about a core, said core having at least a first, second, and third section, wherein said second section is located at least partially between said first and third sections;

an armature fixed to an armature shaft extending axially through the core, and axially movable relative thereto; and

at least one permanent magnet in each of said first and third sections extending at least partially into an interior portion of the coil, wherein said at least one permanent magnet is at least partially angled relative to axial movement of said shaft.

21. The valve actuator of claim 20 wherein said second section contains no permanent magnet.

22. The valve actuator of claim 20 wherein said second section contains at least one permanent extending at least partially into said interior portion of the coil, where said permanent magnet of said second section is smaller than said permanent magnet of one of said first and third section.

23. The actuator of claim 20 wherein said core is rectangular in shape.

24. A valve actuator for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

at least one electromagnet having a coil wound about a core, said core having at least a first, second, and third section, wherein said second section is located at least partially between said first and third sections;

an armature fixed to an armature shaft extending axially through the core, and axially movable relative thereto;

at least one permanent magnet means for increasing actuator performance, in each of said first and third sections; and

wherein said permanent magnet means extend at least partially into an interior portion of the coil.

26. A valve actuator for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

at least one electromagnet having a coil wound about a core, said core having a center pole and two side poles;

an armature movable relative to said core; and

at least one permanent magnet extending at least partially along one of said side poles, said magnet exterior to said coil, and inclined relative to an axis of aid coil.