Variable lift electromechanical valve actuator

Abstract

A variable lift electromechanical valve actuator for use with an internal combustion engine. The electromechanical valve includes a first electromagnet, a second electromagnet, and a hydraulic lifting mechanism. The upper electromagnet is fixedly mounted to a housing while the lower electromagnet slides in conjunction with the hydraulic lifting mechanism. Multiple valve lifts are provided for by the movement of the lower electromagnetic electromagnet. Variable valve lift allows for more efficient operation of the engine and reduced power consumption, noise, vibration, and wear concerns.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electromechanical valve comprising: 
 a first electromagnet;    a second electromagnet spaced from said first electromagnet; and    a hydraulic lifting mechanism coupled to one of said first and second electromagnets to change the spacing between said first electromagnet and said second electromagnet.    
     
     
         2 . The electromechanical valve of  claim 1  further comprising a housing and wherein said hydraulic lifting mechanism further includes a hydraulic slide moveable relative to said housing, said first electromagnet being fixed to said housing and said second electromagnet being fixed to said hydraulic slid.  
     
     
         3 . The electromechanical valve of  claim 2  wherein said hydraulic slide and said housing define a pressure chamber, said pressure chamber containing fluid that exerts a pressure on said hydraulic slide, said hydraulic slide being moveable in response to said pressure.  
     
     
         4 . The electromechanical valve of  claim 2  wherein said first electromagnet is positioned vertically above said second electromagnet.  
     
     
         5 . The electromechanical valve of  claim 2  further including a pin attaching said first electromagnet to said housing and a passageway defined in said hydraulic slide, said pin passing through said passageway.  
     
     
         6 . The electromechanical valve of  claim 1  further including a first spring positioned between said first electromagnet and said hydraulic lifting mechanism.  
     
     
         7 . The electromechanical valve of  claim 1  further comprising a second spring and a cylinder head, said second spring being located between said cylinder head and said lower electromagnet.  
     
     
         8 . The electromechanical valve of  claim 1  further including an armature having a neutral position, said first spring and said second spring exerting a first pressure and a second pressure on said armature in said neutral position, said first pressure and said second pressure approximately centering said armature between said first electromagnet and said second electromagnet at said neutral position.  
     
     
         9 . An electromechanical valve for an internal combustion engine comprising: 
 an upper electromagnet;    a lower electromagnet spaced from said upper electromagnet,    a hydraulic slide coupled to said lower electromagnet to change the spacing between said lower electromagnet and said upper electromagnet.    
     
     
         10 . The electromechanical valve of  claim 9  further including an actuator stem, said upper and lower electromagnet surrounding a portion of said actuator stem.  
     
     
         11 . The electromechanical valve of  claim 10  further including an armature attached to said actuator stem, said armature being located between said upper electromagnet and said lower electromagnet.  
     
     
         12 . The electromechanical valve of  claim 9  further including a housing defining a defining a fluid chamber containing a fluid that exerts a pressure on said slide, said slide moving relative to said housing in response to said pressure.  
     
     
         13 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 12  further including a hydraulic pump in fluid communication with said fluid chamber, said hydraulic pump changing a fluid pressure in said fluid chamber.  
     
     
         14 . The electromechanical valve actuator of  claim 12  further including a cylinder head and valve stem having an open position with a lift relative to said cylinder head, said lift being proportional to said pressure.  
     
     
         15 . An internal combustion engine having a variable lift electromechanical valve comprising; 
 an upper electromagnet;    a lower electromagnet spaced from said upper electromagnet; and    a hydraulic positioning means connected to said lower electromagnet to change the spacing between said upper electromagnet and said lower electromagnet.    
     
     
         16 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 15  wherein said hydraulic positioning means includes a fluid chamber containing a fluid that exerts a pressure on a hydraulic slide, said hydraulic slide moving said lower electromagnet relative to said upper electromagnet in response to said pressure.  
     
     
         17 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 17  wherein said fluid exerts a first pressure and a second pressure, said first pressure having a first spacing between said upper electromagnet and said lower electromagnet, said second pressure having a second spacing between said upper electromagnet and said lower electromagnet.  
     
     
         18 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 17  wherein if said second pressure is greater than said first pressure then said second spacing is greater than said first spacing.  
     
     
         19 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 17  wherein as said pressure increases said space between said upper electromagnet and said lower electromagnet increases.  
     
     
         20 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 19  further comprising an upper spring and a lower spring, said upper spring and said lower spring exerting a first spring pressure and a second spring pressure, said first spring pressure and said second spring pressure increasing as said pressure increases.