Linear Motor Valve Actuator System and Method for Controlling Valve Operation

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.

A linear valve actuator system, comprising:

• a valve member including a stem portion and a distal head portion, wherein
• the stem 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
• 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.