Valve actuator assembly
AssigneeTimken US Corporation
InventorsCharles Shattuck, Richard Murphy, Carl Davenport
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve actuator assembly includes an axially moveable valve and a ramp roller thrust drive. The ramp roller thrust drive includes at least first and second opposed thrust plates, each plate including one or more ramps. A roller is positioned between corresponding opposed plate ramps and a rotation of one of the thrust plates relative to the other thrust plate causes the plates to move axially relative to one another such that axial motion is imparted to the valve.
Claims20
A valve actuator assembly comprising:
- an axially movable valve;
- and
- a ramp roller thrust drive including at least first and second opposed thrust plates, each plate including one or more ramps, and further including at least one roller positioned between corresponding opposed plate ramps, wherein a rotation of one of the thrust plates relative to the other thrust plate causes the plates to move axially relative to one another such that axial motion is imparted to the valve.
A valve actuator assembly comprising:
- a valve axially movable between a closed position for preventing a flow of gas to or from a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine and an open position for allowing a flow of gas to or from the combustion chamber;
- a ramp roller thrust drive including at least first and second opposed thrust plates, each plate including one or more ramps and including a corresponding roller positioned between opposed plate ramps such that rotation of one of the thrust plates relative to the other thrust plate causes the plates to move axially relative to one another such that axial motion is imparted to the valve;
- and
- a plate actuating mechanism configured to provide oscillating rotative motion to one of the thrust plates relative to the other thrust plate.
A method for actuating an axially movable valve, the method comprising:
- providing a ramp roller thrust drive including at least first and second opposed thrust plates, each plate including one or more ramps, and further including at least one roller positioned between corresponding opposed plate ramps;
- and
- rotating one of the thrust plates relative to the other thrust plate to impart axial motion to the valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.