Back to results
US 6,267,351 B1Granted
Electromagnetic valve actuator with mechanical end position clamp or latch
AssigneeAura Systems, Inc.
InventorLeo E. Schneider
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electromagnetic actuator composed of: an armature movable along a linear path between first and second end positions; electromagnets positioned and operative for selectively moving the armature to either one of the first and second end positions; and a mechanical holding element operative in response to movement of the armature to either one of the end positions for holding the armature in the end position to which the armature has moved until an appropriate one of the electromagnets is operated to move the armature to the other one of the end positions.
Claims11
An electromagnetic actuator comprising:
- a cylinder head having a valve seat;
- a valve having a valve stem and a valve head, the valve being mounted for movement between a first position wherein the valve seat is closed by the valve head, and a second position wherein the valve seat is open;
- an armature secured to the valve stem;
- an electromagnet which can be energized and de-energized to move the armature so that the armature moves the valve seat between the first and second positions;
- a mechanical holder that can hold the valve in a selected one of the first and second positions;
- and
- a link mechanism disposed between the mechanical holder and the armature, the link mechanism coupled to the armature to move as a unit with the armature, the link mechanism causing (i) engagement of the mechanical holder upon movement of the valve into the selected position so that the holder holds the valve in the selected position (ii) and disengagement of the holder to release the valve when the electromagnet is operated to move the valve out of the selected position.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.