High speed electrically actuated gaseous fuel admission valve

Abstract

An electronic fuel admission system for use in an industrial engine or the like, having high speed electrically operated flow control valve assemblies for controlling fuel flow to the engine's cylinders via an air intake system is disclosed. The valve assembly comprises two opposed face-to-face disks; one disk being fixed, the other being translatable with respect to the fixed disk. Both disks include ports distributed around their surfaces such that flow is prevented when the disks abut yet a slight separation results in a relatively high flow rate. The translatable disk is connected to an armature which is associated with a high permeability magnetic core having a coil for generating magnetic flux within the core. The system includes a two phase driver for energizing the coil which first provides a high current of short duration to rapidly generate flux in the core and rapidly attract the armature thereby separating the translatable disk from the fixed disk and opening the valve. The two phase driver then provides the coil with a lower current to lower the flux in the core to a level that will enable rapid closing of the valve, but which remains sufficient to hold the disks apart in the open position. Finally, the disk is rapidly closed by collapsing the flux field in the core such that the translatable disk compresses against the fixed disk.