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:
Mar. 21, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 01, 1998
Lyle O Hoppie, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
A system for actuating an engine valve includes a linear machine having a coaxially aligned field assembly and armature assembly. In one embodiment, the field assembly reciprocates relative to the armature assembly to actuate the valve. One configuration has a field assembly with a number of axially oriented annular permanent magnets separated by a ferromagnetic material and mounted on a non-magnetic shaft. The ferromagnetic material is preferably a compressed powdered metal which is microencapsulated with insulating material to reduce the formation of eddy currents. The preferred construction provides a reluctance force which helps maintain the valve in an open or closed state without any current applied to the armature. The system may also include an inductor and/or a capacitor tuned to the natural frequency chosen to provide regenerative actuation at a predetermined natural frequency.