Valve operating mechanism for internal combustion and like-valved engines

Claim 2

A valve operating mechanism for an internal combustion engine comprising a piezo-electric actuating device arranged to drive an engine valve opening directly into a combustion chamber by the expansion of said piezo-electric actuating device such that expansion of said piezo-electric actuating device provides the sole motive force for opening said valve and control means to control an electrical feed to said piezo-electric actuating device in accordance with parameters of engine operation fed to it.

Claim 3

A mechanism as defined in claim 1, and comprising a fluid linkage including an hydraulic or pneumatic piston and cylinder arrangement directly driving said engine valve and to which said piezo-electric actuating device is connected.

Claim 4

A mechanism as defined in claim 1 and comprising a return spring for said engine valve.

Claim 5

A mechanism as defined in claim 1, and comprising a first piezo-electric actuating device for driving said engine valve in an opening direction and a second piezo-electric actuating device for driving said engine valve in a closing direction.

Claim 6

A mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein said piezo-electric actuating device comprises a stack of individual piezo-electric elements.

Claim 7

A mechanism as defined in claim 1 and comprising a motion sensor to provide feedback for control of the piezo-electric actuating device and fitted to said engine valve.

Claim 8

A mechanism as defined in claim 1, and comprising an amplifying mechanical linkage coupling said piezo-electric actuating device to said engine valve.

Claim 9

A mechanism as defined in claim 7, wherein said amplifying mechanical linkage comprises a lever arm pivoted at one end and acting on the engine valve at the other end, and an operating means in said piezo-electric actuating device engageable with said lever arm close to its said pivot.

Claim 10

A mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means includes a microprocessor or computer to which data on the operation of said engine are fed.

Claim 11

A mechanism as defined in claim 9, wherein said microprocessor or computer is fed with the position of the crankshaft of said engine and the load of said engine.

Claim 12

A valve operating mechanism for an internal combustion engine comprising: a plurality of engine valves opening directly into at least one combustion chamber; a lever for controlling each said valve, each lever being pivotally mounted to said engine and being attached to the corresponding valve to control the valve at a position remote from said pivot; a piezo-electric actuating device for each valve, each piezo-electric actuating device being drivingly connected to the corresponding lever at a point near the pivot of said lever, the expansion of each piezo-electric actuating device actuating the corresponding valve by moving the corresponding lever, such that expansion of each piezo-electric actuating device provides the sole motive force for actuating the corresponding valve; and control means for controlling the expansion of said piezo-electric actuating devices in accordance with parameters of engine operation fed to said control means.

Claim 13

A valve operating mechanism for an internal combustion engine comprising: a plurality of engine valves opening directly into at least one combustion chamber; a lever for controlling each said valve, each lever being pivotally mounted to said engine and being attached to the corresponding valve to control the valve at a position remote from said pivot; a piezo-electric actuating device for each valve, each piezo-electric actuating device being drivingly connected to the corresponding lever at a point near the pivot of said lever, the expansion of each piezo-electric actuating device actuating the corresponding valve by moving the corresponding lever, such that expansion of each piezo-electric actuating device provides the sole motive force for actuating the corresponding valve; and control means for controlling the expansion of said piezo-electric actuating devices in accordance with parameters of engine operation fed to said control means.

Claim 14

The valve operating mechanism as described in claim 11, wherein said control means comprises a microprocessor to which data on the operation of said engine are fed, and which is programmed to control the position of said piezo-electric actuating devices based on said data.

Claim 15

A valve operating mechanism for an internal combustion engine or like valved engine comprising: a plurality of engine valves, each valve being movable by a corresponding rod connected to a corresponding hydraulically or pneumatically actuated piston, with a fluid-tight cylinder surrounding each said piston; a first piezo-electric actuating device for each valve for pressing fluid into said fluid-tight chamber to drive the corresponding piston to open said valve; a second piezo-electric actuating device for each valve for pressing fluid into said fluid-tight chamber to drive the corresponding piston to close said valve; and control means for controlling said first and second piezo-electric actuating devices in accordance with parameters of engine operation fed to said control means.

Claim 16

A valve operating mechanism for an internal combustion engine or like valved engine comprising: a plurality of engine valves, each valve being movable by a corresponding rod connected to a corresponding hydraulically or pneumatically actuated piston, with a fluid-tight cylinder surrounding each said piston; a first piezo-electric actuating device for each valve for pressing fluid into said fluid-tight chamber to drive the corresponding piston to open said valve; a second piezo-electric actuating device for each valve for pressing fluid into said fluid-tight chamber to drive the corresponding piston to close said valve; and control means for controlling said first and second piezo-electric actuating devices in accordance with parameters of engine operation fed to said control means.

Claim 17

A mechanism as defined in claim 13, wherein said control means comprises a microprocessor to which data on the operation of said engine are fed, and which is programmed to control said first and second piezo-electric control devices based on said data.

Claim 18

A mechanism as defined in claim 13 further comprising at least one motion sensor connected to at least one of said engine valve rods for sensing a position thereof.

Claim 19

A mechanism as defined in claim 13 further comprising at least one dashpot connected to at least one of said engine valve rods for damping vibrational motion thereof.