Electromagnetic valve actuator
OwnerJohn N. Brown, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electromagnetic valve actuator for pivoting a rocker arm to open and close a valve of a four-cycle internal combustion engine. The actuator includes a rocker arm with two ends, one end being in contact with the valve. An electromagnet is provided along with means for mounting the electromagnet to selectively attract the end of the rocker arm opposite the valve to open and close the valve. Control means are provided to sequence the electromagnet so that its selective attraction results in favorable timing, lift and duration of the valve opening and closing so that the engine performs optimally throughout its rpm range. The electromagnetic valve actuator can also be configured as a retrofit system which would replace a conventional cam shaft valve lifter configuration with an electromagnetic valve actuator.
Claims16
An electromagnetic valve actuator for pivoting a rocker arm to open and close a valve of a four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising:
- a rocker arm with a center portion and two ends, one end being in contact with the valve, said rocker arm being pivotably supported in its center portion;
- a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet;
- means for mounting said electromagnets to selectively attract the end of said rocker arm opposite the valve to open and close the valve, wherein activation of said first electromagnet pivots said rocker arm to open the valve and activation of said second electromagnet pivots said rocker arm to close the valve;
- and
- control means to sequence said electromagnets so that their alternating selective attraction results in favorable timing, lift and duration of the valve opening and closing so that the engine performs optimally throughout its rpm range.
A retrofit electromagnetic valve actuator for pivoting a rocker arm to open and close a valve of a four-cycle internal combustion engine, which can be retrofitted to an engine which has a cam shaft and valve lifters, comprising:
- a replacement rocker arm with two ends, one end being in contact with the valve;
- a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet;
- means for mounting said electromagnets to selectively attract the end of said rocker arm opposite the valve to open and close the valve, said first electromagnet pivoting the rocker arm to open the valve and said second electromagnet pivoting the rocker arm to close the valve;
- and
- control means to sequence said electromagnets so that their alternating selective attraction results in favorable timing, lift and duration of the valve opening and closing so that the engine performs optimally throughout its rpm range, the retrofit electromagnetic valve actuator replacing the original rocker arm and valve lifters so as to electronically control opening and closing of the valve.
An electromagnetic valve actuator for pivoting a rocker arm to open and close a valve of a four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising:
- rocker arm with two ends, one end being in contact with the valve;
- an electromagnet;
- means for mounting said electromagnet to selectively attract the end of said rocker arm opposite the valve to open and close the valve, wherein said means for mounting said electromagnet is a post which extends through a hole provided in the end of said rocker arm opposite the valve;
- and
- control means to sequence said electromagnet so that its selective attraction results in favorable timing, lift and duration of the valve opening and closing so that the engine performs optimally throughout its rpm range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.