The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 06, 1992
Filed:
Apr. 04, 1991
Frederick L Erickson, Fort Wayne, IN (US);
William E Richeson, Fort Wayne, IN (US);
North American Philips Corporation, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A high efficient actuator used to operate an engine's poppet valves is disclosed. Pneumatic pressure is applied to an actuator piston which is locked in either a first or a second position by an interconnected fluid latch. Upon a timed command, the piston latch is released allowing the pre-pressurized piston to rapidly transit from whichever of its two positions it happens to be in to the other. The actuator is configured to compress the air on the advancing side of the piston as the energy of the expanding air is propelling the piston to its other position. The fluid latch is configured to prevent the main piston from reversing direction at the end of its travel, thus trapping all the compressed air to be used to help propel the actuator piston back to its original position. The actuator has a feature for supplying make up air on the opening portion of the cycle in order to compensate for blow down as well as other losses. The actuator also has a feature for increasing the pressure in the latching chamber during the return stroke to assure positive seating of the interconnected poppet valve.