Fluid-Electric Piston Engine Valve Actuator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal combustion engine valve actuator systems are complex, require heavy springs for valve closure, and cannot achieve high cycling rates or variable phase control efficiently, limiting their performance and fuel efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A simplified actuator assembly using an electromagnet and a control valve with a spool and fluid pressure to control the opening and closing of internal combustion engine valves, eliminating the need for heavy springs and camshafts, allowing for independent control of valve opening and closing times and high cycling rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If heavy duty valve closing springs are used to apply closure force, then valve closure is achieved, but device complexity and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the heavy duty valve closing spring from the actuator system. Instead of using a mechanical spring to provide closure force, the system uses a fluid actuator that applies hydraulic or pneumatic pressure directly to the valve stem, removing the need for complex spring mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical spring-based closure system with a fluid-powered actuation system. The fluid actuator uses hydraulic or pneumatic pressure to provide the closing force, substituting mechanical elasticity with fluid pressure control, thereby reducing device complexity and enabling electronic control of valve timing.
Solution Approach 3:
The patent employs a fluid actuator that utilizes hydraulic or pneumatic pressure to apply closure force to the valve. The fluid pressure is controlled electronically to achieve precise valve opening and closing timing, replacing mechanical springs with a controllable fluid power system that reduces complexity and enables variable phase control.
2Force
If heavy duty valve closing springs are used, then valve closure force is sufficient, but valve cycling speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid actuator system uses controlled fluid pressure to provide sufficient closure force without the mass and mechanical constraints of heavy springs. The fluid pressure can be rapidly adjusted and removed, enabling faster valve cycling speeds while maintaining adequate closure force throughout the valve stroke.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of valve actuation through electronic control of the fluid actuator. The system can dynamically adjust the timing and magnitude of fluid pressure application, allowing the valve to cycle faster by removing pressure control signals that release the valve from the closed position, rather than relying on fixed mechanical spring characteristics.
3Reliability
If heavy duty valve closing springs are used, then valve closure is reliable, but actuator power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid actuator provides reliable valve closure through controlled fluid pressure that can be precisely regulated and maintained. The system achieves reliable closure without the excessive power requirements of heavy springs because fluid pressure can be controlled electronically to apply force only when needed, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining closure reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Replacing the mechanical spring system with a fluid actuator eliminates the continuous energy storage and release cycle of spring compression and expansion. The fluid system allows for controlled application and release of pressure, reducing the peak power requirements and average energy consumption while maintaining reliable valve closure through electronic control.
4Device complexity
If camshaft harmonic action is used for valve actuation, then mechanical simplicity is maintained, but cycling rate is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid actuator system enables high cycling rates by using rapidly controllable fluid pressure instead of mechanical camshaft rotation. The electronic control of fluid pressure application and release allows the valve to cycle much faster than camshaft mechanical limitations, achieving cycling rates suitable for high-performance engines while maintaining relatively simple actuator construction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables faster valve cycling, reduced power requirements, and efficient fuel consumption by using fluid pressure to initiate and maintain valve closure, with electronic control for optimized engine operation.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnet having an armature and a control valve having a valve piston or spool are all operatively associated with one another on a common valve stem
Implementation Method 2
fluid at supply pressure applies a selected I.C. opening force followed by a closing force great enough to achieve an abrupt closing action
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanically simplified electric and fluid (gas, vapor or liquid) control for a piston engine, including an engine valve actuator system that eliminates rotating cam shafts and heavy internal combustion engine valve closing springs by using an electromagnet and an armature which is attracted by the electromagnet to initiate movement of both a fluid control valve and the engine valve. When the control valve is moved only slightly off its seat by the armature, fluid pressure instantly drives the control valve a much greater distance closing the engine valve. Opening and closing time is regulated independently. Engine valves are opened by reversing the fluid pressure balance across the control valve at the time selected.