Abstract:
Devices and related methods are disclosed that generally involve variable force valve springs for controlling the motion of an engine valve. The force exerted by the valve spring can be adjusted by altering the pressure at which a fluid is supplied to a fluid chamber thereof, by altering the volume of the fluid chamber, and/or by changing the aggregate surface area over which fluid pressure is coupled to the engine valve. Associated fluid control systems are also disclosed herein, as are various methods for adjusting the force of a valve spring based on a variety of engine parameters, such as engine speed, engine load, and/or a combination thereof.
Abstract:
An internal combustion engine has at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve. A first spring biases the at least one intake valve to a closed position. A second spring biases the at least one exhaust valve to a closed position. At least one of the first and second springs is an air spring. An air compressor fluidly communicates with the air spring to supply air to the air spring. The air compressor is operatively connected to a rotating shaft of the engine to be selectively driven thereby. A motor is operatively connected to the air compressor to selectively drive the air compressor. A method of supplying air to the air spring of the above engine is also disclosed. A method of supplying air to an air spring of an engine having both a mechanical and an electrical air compressor is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A bellows unit and a compression coil spring are located in series with each other between a first member and a second member. The bellows unit has an inner bellows, an outer bellows, and first and second end members. A sealed space is defined in the bellows unit. A compressed gas is sealed in the sealed space. The bellows unit is caused to extend and contract in the direction of an axis by the compressed gas. The sealed space contains an uncompressible liquid that can exchange heat with the gas. The liquid is an example of a heat exchange material.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a valve spring mechanism suitable for use with the inlet or exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine. More specifically, the invention provides a valve spring mechanism for a poppet valve (101) which comprises a valve head (102) and a valve stem (104). The mechanism comprises a piston (109) and cylinder (108) arrangement in which the cylinder (108) surrounds a portion of the valve stem (104). The piston (109) is slidingly and sealingly mounted on the valve stem (104), and the piston (109) and cylinder (108) define a chamber (110). The mechanism also comprises force transmitting means for transmitting the force produced on the piston (109) by gas pressure within the chamber (110) to the valve stem (104); and a spring (113) operating on the piston (109) and the stem of the valve for applying a force to the stem of the valve tending to close the valve in the event of failure of gas pressure within the chamber (110). The spring (113) is positioned so that it is maintained in a compressed condition during normal operation of the valve spring mechanism as a result of gas pressure within the chamber (110).
Abstract:
A control unit controls an electromagnetically driven valve including a valve body, an electromagnetic drive portion and a spring so as to be opened and closed by an electromagnetic force of the electromagnetic drive portion and a spring force of the spring that is formed of a pair of gas pressure springs each urging the valve body towards a valve opening end position and a valve closing end position, respectively. The control unit includes a controller, when an operation of the valve body is stopped and held in a holding position that is one of the valve opening end position and the valve closing end position, decreases a gas pressure of one of the pair of gas pressure springs that urges the valve body towards a non-holding position opposite to the holding position so as to become lower than a gas pressure of the one of the pair of gas pressure springs that urges the valve body towards the non-holding position when the valve body is operated.
Abstract:
An internal combustion engine comprising at least one rotating, oscillating or reciprocating piston (20, 21) in a cylinder (11, 12), each piston (20, 21) defining with the cylinder (11, 12) a combustion chamber (35), each combustion chamber (35) having at least one inlet valve (36) and one exhaust valve (37), and means (40) to periodically open the inlet and exhaust valves, characterised in that the valves are closed by a gas spring (80, 82) having a closing force proportional to the speed of the engine.
Abstract:
A gas exchange valve control for internal combustion engines includes an electromagnetic actuator equipped with gas springs. The gas exchange valve control has an armature, which drives the gas exchange valve and is arranged to oscillate between stroke-separated switching magnets against the gas springs. The armature serving as the separating piston between the gas springs is moveable without friction in a closed armature stroke space. A housing-like yoke, which encloses the armature stroke space, including the adjacent switching magnets, exhibits between the switching magnets a device which serves to shorten the respective magnetic circuit of the respective switching magnet.
Abstract:
A pneumatic valve recoil system includes a piston that is unitary with the stem of a valve and which slides in a cylinder, such that the piston, valve stem, and cylinder cooperate to form a chamber containing a compressible fluid. The chamber is connected through a single calibration port to an oil-evacuation and fluid-pressure-regulating system located outside the cylinder head of the engine.
Abstract:
A hydraulic actuator includes a pneumatic piston, a hydraulic piston, and an engine valve on a common shaft. The pneumatic piston is urged between first and second stable positions primarily by a double acting pneumatic spring, with high pressure hydraulic fluid connected to a first hydraulic chamber being used to cock the hydraulic piston in a first stable position (engine valve closed). Hydraulic fluid isolated in a second hydraulic chamber is used to latch the hydraulic piston in a second stable position (engine valve open). Transfer of hydraulic fluid between first and second chambers is effected by a carrier for two check valves, which carrier in a first position disables the second check valve to permit fluid to flow from the second chamber to the first chamber, whereupon the first check valve closes (cocking). In a second position the carrier disables the first check valve to permit fluid to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber, whereupon the second check valve closes (latching). The carrier may be controlled directly by an EM actuator, or by hydraulic fluid channeled from a pilot valve which is EM actuated.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a valve spring device for a valve in an internal combustion engine. The valve has a valve disc (4) cooperating with a valve seat (5) to control the flow in an engine duct (3), and a valve spindle (6) extending from the valve disc (4). The valve spring device comprises at least one spring (10,11) which is arranged to act between an abutment surface (12) of the engine and an actuating device (8) joined to the valve spindle (6) to bias the valve disc (4) towards the valve seat (5). According to the invention the spring (10,11) consists of a relatively weak helical compression spring. The actuating device (8) is arranged around the valve spindle (6) and is axially displaceable and sealingly guided to form a chamber (15), which at one end is limited by the abutment surface (12) and at the other end is limited by the actuating device (8). The chamber (15) is in communication (24- 27) with the engine duct (3) in which the valve (4,6) is arranged to control the flow.