Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A valve stepping drive apparatus for driving a suction/exhaust valve of an engine by an electromagnetic force to open and close the valve, comprising: a movable permanent magnetic connected to a suction/exhaust valve and having a pair of magnetic poles arranged in a direction in which the suction/exhaust valve is reciprocated; fixed magnetic poles opposing the magnetic poles of said movable permanent magnet and arranged to have a spacing different from a spacing between the magnetic poles of said movable permanent magnet; fixed excitation coils wound on respective ones of said fixed magnetic poles for exciting the fixed magnetic poles; and energizing control means for controlling passage of current through said fixed excitation coils so that an electromagnetic force acts between the magnetic poles of said movable permanent magnet and the fixed magnetic poles, thereby driving the suction/exhaust valve to open and close the same.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A valve stepping drive apparatus for driving a suction/exhaust valve of an engine by an electromagnetic force to open and close the valve, comprising: a movable permanent magnetic connected to a suction/exhaust valve and having a pair of magnetic poles arranged in a direction in which the suction/exhaust valve is reciprocated; fixed magnetic poles opposing the magnetic poles of said movable permanent magnet and arranged to have a spacing different from a spacing between the magnetic poles of said movable permanent magnet; fixed excitation coils wound on respective ones of said fixed magnetic poles for exciting the fixed magnetic poles; and energizing control means for controlling passage of current through said fixed excitation coils so that an electromagnetic force acts between the magnetic poles of said movable permanent magnet and the fixed magnetic poles, thereby driving the suction/exhaust valve to open and close the same.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said suction/exhaust valve comprises a ceramic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said energizing control means causes a resultant of electromagnetic forces acting between said movable permanent magnet and said fixed magnetic poles to coincide with the opening direction of the suction/exhaust valve before said valve is seated, thereby mitigating seating shock of said suction/exhaust valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said movable permanent magnets are connected to said suction/exhaust valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fixed magnetic poles comprise several rows.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, further including valve position sensing means for sensing traveling velocity and operating position of said suction/exhaust valve wherein said energizing control means receives a signal from said valve position sensing means and executes control to vary the traveling velocity and operating position of said movable permanent magnet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said fixed magnetic poles comprise several rows.