Electromechanical valve actuator

Abstract

A valve system for an internal combustion engine, including an actuator assembly having a plurality of coil assemblies arranged in a substantially stacked configuration, each coil assembly including a support made of an electrically insulative material, an electrically conductive coil positioned about the support and placeable in electrical communication with a source of electrical power, and a magnetic material substantially surrounding the electrically conductive coil; a piston assembly including a non-magnetic plunger and a plurality of magnets and flux conduits arranged in a substantially stacked and alternating configuration on the plunger; and a valve member attached to the piston assembly.

1 . A valve system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 an actuator assembly having a plurality of coil assemblies arranged in a substantially stacked configuration, each coil assembly including a support made of an electrically insulative material, an electrically conductive coil positioned about the support and placeable in electrical communication with a source of electrical power, and a magnetic material substantially surrounding the electrically conductive coil;    a piston assembly including a non-magnetic plunger and a plurality of magnets and flux conduits arranged in a substantially stacked and alternating configuration on the plunger; and    a valve member attached to the piston assembly, wherein the piston assembly and valve member are receivable within the actuator assembly and wherein the coil assemblies are desirably energized by the source of electrical energy to enable incremental travel of the valve member between positions corresponding to open and closed positions during a combustion cycle of an internal combustion engine.    
   
   
       2 . The valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnets comprise ring magnets.  
   
   
       3 . The valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnets comprise rare earth magnets.  
   
   
       4 . The valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic material comprises iron.  
   
   
       5 . The valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic material is provided as toroidal solids.  
   
   
       6 . The valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic material is provided as iron filings.  
   
   
       7 . The valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the flux conduits comprise steel rings.  
   
   
       8 . The valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the coil comprises copper wire wound about the support.