Camless engine

A camless system for controlling a plurality of engine valves of an internal combustion engine, the camless system comprising:

• a pneumatic accumulator configured to store compressed air;
• a plurality of pneumatic actuators configured to respectively abut the plurality of engine valves, each pneumatic actuator including a piston rod with a piston rod extension ring;
• at least one pneumatic control device fluidly connected between the pneumatic accumulator and the plurality of pneumatic actuators;
• and
• at least one sensor configured to sense an engine parameter and to transmit a signal indicative of the engine parameter to the at least one pneumatic control device;
• a plurality of variable valve lift mechanisms respectively associated with the plurality of pneumatic actuators, each variable valve lift mechanism including a stopper ring and a servomotor configured to selectively rotate the stopper ring so as to linearly displace the stopper ring along an axis of an associated piston rod of the plurality of pneumatic actuators,
• wherein the plurality of pneumatic actuators is operatively connected to the at least one pneumatic control device so as to alternately open and close the plurality of engine valves for a predetermined period of time based on the signal received from the at least one sensor, and
• wherein each variable valve lift mechanism is configured to limit a stroke length of the associated piston rod when the piston rod extension ring abuts against the stopper ring.

A camless system for controlling one or more engine valves of an internal combustion engine, the camless system comprising:

• a pneumatic accumulator configured to store compressed air;
• at least one pneumatic actuator including a piston rod configured to abut the one or more engine valves, the piston rod including a piston rod extension ring;
• at least one pneumatic control valve fluidly connected between the pneumatic accumulator and the at least one pneumatic actuator;
• an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to control the at least one pneumatic control valve;
• at least one sensor configured to sense an engine parameter and to transmit a signal indicative of the engine parameter to the ECU;
• and
• a variable valve lift mechanism including a stopper ring and a servomotor configured to selectively rotate the stopper ring so as to linearly displace the stopper ring along an axis of the piston rod,
• wherein the one or more engine valves include an inlet valve and an exhaust valve operatively connected to the ECU via the at least one pneumatic control valve and the at least one pneumatic actuator,
• wherein the ECU controls the at least one pneumatic control valve so as to alternately open and close the inlet and exhaust valves for a predetermined period of time based on the signal received from the at least one sensor, and
• wherein the variable valve lift mechanism is configured to limit a stroke length of the piston rod when the piston rod extension ring abuts against the stopper ring.