Internal combustion engine with electronic valve actuators and control system therefor
AssigneeLen Development Services USA, LLC
InventorHector Eduardo Luercho
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a stationary permanent magnet assembly having at least one permanent magnet for generating a permanent magnetic field and a movable coil assembly having at least one coil of electrically conductive material for generating a magnetic field when an electrical current is applied to the at least one coil to thereby move the coil assembly with respect to the permanent magnet assembly. A valve is connected to the coil assembly for movement therewith. The valve assembly also includes a housing with an internal cavity and spaced ports extending from the cavity to circulate liquid through the cavity and cool the valve assembly during operation.
Claims15
A linear actuator comprising:
- a stationary permanent magnet assembly having at least one permanent magnet for generating a permanent magnetic field;
- a movable coil assembly having at least one coil of electrically conductive material for generating a temporary magnetic field to thereby move the movable coil assembly with respect to the stationary permanent magnet assembly, the movable coil assembly surrounding the stationary permanent magnet assembly;
- and
- a heat transfer unit surrounding at least a portion of the movable coil assembly for removing heat generated by the at least one coil during operation, the heat transfer unit comprising a wall with an internal cavity, an inlet port in fluid communication with the internal cavity and an outlet port in fluid communication with the internal cavity and spaced from the outlet port so that cooling liquid can be circulated through the internal cavity between the inlet and outlet ports;
- an upper magnet support portion rigidly connected to an upper end of the heat transfer unit and a lower magnet support portion rigidly connected to a lower end of the heat transfer unit with the stationary permanent magnet assembly being rigidly connected to the upper and lower magnet supports;
- and
- an upper coil suspension member extending between the upper magnet support portion and an upper end of the movable coil assembly, and a lower coil suspension member extending between the lower magnet support portion and a lower end of the movable coil assembly.
An electronic valve assembly comprising:
- a housing assembly having upper and lower magnet support portions;
- a permanent magnet assembly having at least one permanent magnet for generating a permanent magnetic field, the permanent magnet assembly being rigidly connected to the upper and lower magnet support portions;
- a coil assembly surrounding the permanent magnet assembly within the housing, the coil assembly having at least one coil of electrically conductive material for generating a temporary magnetic field to thereby move the coil assembly in an axial direction with respect to the permanent magnet assembly;
- upper and lower coil support portions rigidly connected to upper and lower ends, respectively, of the coil assembly;
- an upper coil suspension member having an upper outer ring rigidly connected to the upper magnet support portion, an upper inner ring rigidly connected to the upper coil support portion, and an upper flexible circular panel extending between the upper outer and inner rings;
- a lower coil suspension member having a lower outer ring rigidly connected to the lower magnet support portion, a lower inner ring rigidly connected to the lower coil support portion, and a lower flexible circular panel extending between the lower outer and inner rings;
- and
- a valve having a valve stem with one end connected to the lower coil support portion and a valve head connected to an opposite end of the valve stem, the valve being movable with the coil assembly between a closed position wherein the valve head is adapted for contacting a valve seat and an open position wherein the valve head is spaced from the valve seat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.