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:
Feb. 26, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 31, 2000
Dennis D. Feucht, Morton, IL (US);
David E. Hackett, Washington, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
In a hydraulically actuated gas exchange valve, the initiation and termination of gas exchange is achieved with a hydraulically driven valve that functions by opening an actuation fluid passage to a high pressure inlet source and a low pressure drain, respectively. The large amount of fluid needed to actuate a gas exchange valve can result in dynamic flow forces around the hydraulically driven valve making closing of the valve with a conventional biasing spring problematic. The small size of the valve limits the size and therefore strength of the biasing springs. Likewise, the need to provide a sufficiently strong spring limits valve designs. The present invention is intended to provide superior control over the timing of gas exchange by employing a hydraulic bias in place of the conventional biasing spring. Hydraulic bias allows both a greater closing force on the valve than could be provided with a spring, and allows for greater versatility in future valve designs.