Valve operating mechanism for internal combustion and like-valved engines

A valve operating mechanism for an internal combustion engine comprising:

• a plurality of engine valves opening directly into at least one combustion chamber;
• a lever for controlling each said valve, each lever being pivotally mounted to said engine and being attached to the corresponding valve to control the valve at a position remote from said pivot;
• a piezo-electric actuating device for each valve, each piezo-electric actuating device being drivingly connected to the corresponding lever at a point near the pivot of said lever, the expansion of each piezo-electric actuating device actuating the corresponding valve by moving the corresponding lever, such that expansion of each piezo-electric actuating device provides the sole motive force for actuating the corresponding valve;
• and
• control means for controlling the expansion of said piezo-electric actuating devices in accordance with parameters of engine operation fed to said control means.

A valve operating mechanism for an internal combustion engine or like valved engine comprising:

• a plurality of engine valves, each valve being movable by a corresponding rod connected to a corresponding hydraulically or pneumatically actuated piston, with a fluid-tight cylinder surrounding each said piston;
• a first piezo-electric actuating device for each valve for pressing fluid into said fluid-tight chamber to drive the corresponding piston to open said valve;
• a second piezo-electric actuating device for each valve for pressing fluid into said fluid-tight chamber to drive the corresponding piston to close said valve;
• and
• control means for controlling said first and second piezo-electric actuating devices in accordance with parameters of engine operation fed to said control means.