Electromagnetically driven valve control system for internal combustion engines

An electromagnetically driven valve control system for an internal combustion engine having at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve, and starter means for starting cranking of said engine, comprising:

• electromagnetic driving means for electromagnetically driving at least one of said at least one intake valve and said at least one exhaust valve;
• starting signal-detecting means for detecting a starting signal indicative of starting of said cranking of said engine;
• closure-detecting means for detecting a closed state of said at least one of said at least one intake valve and said at least one exhaust valve;
• valve-closing control means responsive to detection of said starting signal, for driving said at least one of said at least one intake valve and said at least one exhaust valve in a valve closing direction;
• and
• starter-operation permitting means responsive to detection of said closed state of said at least one of said at least one intake valve and said at least one exhaust valve for permitting operation of said starter means.

An electromagnetically driven valve control system for an internal combustion engine having at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve, and starter means for starting cranking of said engine, comprising:

• electromagnetic driving means for electromagnetically driving at least one of said at least one intake valve and said at least one exhaust valve;
• starting signal-detecting means for detecting a starting signal indicative of starting of said cranking of said engine;
• closure-detecting means for detecting a closed state of said at least one of said at least one intake valve and said at least one exhaust valve;
• timer means for measuring a time period elapsed after said starting signal is detected;
• starter operation-inhibiting time period-setting means for setting an inhibiting time period over which operation of said starter means is inhibited;
• valve-closing control means responsive to detection of said starting signal for driving said at least one of said at least one intake valve and said at least one exhaust valve in a valve closing direction;
• and
• failure-determining means for determining that abnormality occurs in said electromagnetic driving means, if said at least one of said at least one intake valve and said at least one exhaust valve is not in said closed state when said time period has elapsed after detection of said starting signal exceeds said inhibiting time period.

An electromagnetically driven valve control system for an internal combustion engine having at least one intake valve, and at least one exhaust valve, comprising:

• electromagnetic driving means for electromagnetically driving at least one of said at least one intake valve and said at least one exhaust valve;
• control means for delivering a control signal to said electromagnetic driving means to control same;
• electric power supply means for supplying electric power to said control means;
• stoppage signal-detecting means for detecting a stoppage signal indicative of stoppage of said engine;
• vehicle speed-detecting means for detecting traveling speed of a vehicle in which said engine is installed;
• engine speed-detecting means for detecting rotational speed of said engine;
• timer means for measuring a time period elapsed after the detected traveling speed of said vehicle drops below a predetermined vehicle speed and at the same time the detected rotational speed of said engine drops below a predetermined rotational speed after detection of said stoppage signal;
• valve-closing control means responsive to detection of said stoppage signal for driving said at least one of said at least one intake valve and said at least one exhaust valve in a valve closing direction;
• and
• electric power supply-interrupting means for interrupting supply of electric power to said control means when said time period measured by said timer means exceeds a predetermined time period.

An electromagnetically driven valve control system for an internal combustion engine having a combustion cylinder with a valve, comprising:

• electromagnetic driving means for electromagnetically driving said valve;
• starting signal-detecting means for detecting a starting signal indicative of a command for starting cranking of the engine;
• valve-closing control means responsive to detection of said starting signal for driving said valve in a valve closing direction;
• and
• control means for delaying said starting cranking of the engine until said valve is closed in response to said valve-closing control means.

An electromagnetically driven valve control system for an internal combustion engine having a combustion cylinder with a valve, comprising:

• electromagnetic driving means for electromagnetically driving said valve;
• control means for delivering a control signal to said electromagnetic driving means to control same;
• starting signal-detecting means for detecting a signal indicative of a command to start cranking the engine;
• stoppage signal-detecting means for detecting a signal indicative of a command to stop the engine;
• said control means responsive to detection of said signal for starting cranking and said signal to stop the engine for driving said valve in a valve closing direction in response to each said signal;
• and
• said control means including means for maintaining said valve in a closed position after responding to each said signal for a period that avoids interference between said valve and a piston in the combustion cylinder during the starting of cranking and the stopping of the engine.

An electromagnetically driven valve control system for an internal combustion engine having a combustion cylinder with a valve, comprising:

• electromagnetic driving means for electromagnetically driving said valve;
• stopping signal-detecting means for detecting a stoppage signal indicative of a command for stopping of the engine;
• valve-closing control means responsive to detection of said stopping signal for driving said valve in a valve closing direction;
• and
• control means for maintaining said valve in a closed position in response to said valve-closing control means until the engine substantially stops.