System and method of adjusting actuation timing of valves in a piston engine

A method of adjusting actuation timing of at least one valve (16) in a piston engine via at least one variable valve actuation assembly (10), the method comprising:

• taking a first position reading of a valve (16) in the piston engine when the valve (16) is at a closed position;
• taking a second position reading of the valve (16) in the piston engine when the valve (16) is at a fully open position;
• using the first and second position readings to calibrate subsequent position readings of the valve (16);
• taking a third position reading of the valve (16) before slowdown occurs adjacent the closed position;
• referencing the third position reading to a predefined position of the valve (16);
• and
• making adjustments to actuation timing of the valve (16), if called for, based at least in part upon the third position reading being referenced to the predefined position.

A system that provides adjustable actuation timing of valves (16) in a piston engine, the system comprising:

• a first position sensor (12) located near a first valve (16) of a first cylinder of the piston engine;
• a first lost motion assembly (10) actuating the first valve (16), the first lost motion assembly (10) including a first master piston (18), a first slave piston (26), and a first solenoid valve (20);
• a second position sensor (12) located near a second valve (16) of a second cylinder of the piston engine;
• a second lost motion assembly (10) actuating the second valve (16), the second lost motion assembly (10) including a second master piston (18), a second slave piston (26), and a second solenoid valve (20);
• and
• an electronic control unit (14) receiving a first position reading from the first position sensor (12) of the first valve (16) before slowdown occurs adjacent a closed position, the first position reading referenced to a first predefined position, and actuation timing of the first valve (16) is adjustable via activation and deactivation of the first solenoid valve (20) based at least in part upon the first position reading being referenced to the first predefined position, and the electronic control unit (14) receiving a second position reading from the second position sensor (12) of the second valve (16) before slowdown occurs adjacent a closed position, the second position reading referenced to a second predefined position, and actuation timing of the second valve (16) is adjustable via activation and deactivation of the second solenoid valve (20) based at least in part upon the second position reading being referenced to the second predefined position.