Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
  • H01F7/00—Magnets
  • H01F7/06—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets
  • H01F7/08—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets with armatures
  • H01F7/16—Rectilinearly-movable armatures
  • H01F7/1607—Armatures entering the winding
  • H01F7/1615—Armatures or stationary parts of magnetic circuit having permanent magnet
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01L—CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
  • F01L1/00—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear
  • F01L1/26—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear characterised by the provision of two or more valves operated simultaneously by same transmitting-gear; peculiar to machines or engines with more than two lift-valves per cylinder
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01L—CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
  • F01L9/00—Valve-gear or valve arrangements actuated non-mechanically
  • F01L9/20—Valve-gear or valve arrangements actuated non-mechanically by electric means
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
  • H01F7/00—Magnets
  • H01F7/06—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets
  • H01F7/08—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets with armatures
  • H01F7/16—Rectilinearly-movable armatures
  • H01F2007/1692—Electromagnets or actuators with two coils

Definitions

• the present invention is generally related to actuators and more particularly is related to electromagnetic valve actuators.
• Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for providing a double valve actuator. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows.
• the system contains a first planar permanent magnet having a first direction of magnetization and a first opening formed therein.
• a second planar permanent magnet has a second direction of magnetization and a second opening formed therein. The second opening is axially aligned with the first opening.
• the direction of magnetization of the first planar permanent magnet opposes the direction of magnetization of the second planar permanent magnet.
• a plurality of stationary coils are provided, wherein at least one of the stationary coils is located within the first opening and at least one of the stationary coils is located within the second opening.
• a pair of extension members traverses the first opening and the second opening.
• a magnetizable slug is integral with each of the extension members.
• the present invention can also be viewed as providing methods for utilizing a double valve actuator.
• one embodiment of such a method can be broadly summarized by the following steps: axially aligning a first planar permanent magnet with a second planar permanent magnet, wherein the first planar permanent magnet and the second planar permanent magnet have opposing magnetization; locating a metal plate between the first planar permanent magnet and the second planar permanent magnet; positioning a first coil within a first opening of the first planar permanent magnet and a second coil within a second opening of the second planar permanent magnet; positioning a pair of extension members, each extension member traversing the first opening and the second opening, wherein each extension member is integral with at least one slug at least partially within at least one of the first coil and the second coil; and energizing at least one coil generating a reluctance force that causes at least one of the slugs to slide along an axis of the coils.
• FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional illustration of the double valve actuator apparatus, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a top illustration of the double valve actuator apparatus of FIG. 1 , in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a top illustration of a double valve actuator apparatus, in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method of utilizing the double valve actuator apparatus of FIG. 1 , in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional illustration of the double valve actuator apparatus 10, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a top illustration of the double valve actuator apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 , in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• the double valve actuator apparatus 10 contains a first planar permanent magnet 12A having a first direction of magnetization 14 and a first opening 12B formed therein.
• a second planar permanent magnet 16A has a second direction of magnetization 18 and a second opening 16B formed therein.
• the second opening 16B is axially aligned with the first opening 12B.
• the direction of magnetization 14 of the first planar permanent magnet 12A opposes the direction of magnetization 18 of the second planar permanent magnet 16A.
• a magnitude of the magnetization 14 of the first planar permanent magnet 12A may be equivalent to a magnitude of the magnetization 18 of the second planar permanent magnet 16A.
• a plurality of stationary coils 20A 1 2OB, 2OC, 2OD are provided, wherein at least one of the stationary coils 2OA, 2OB is located radially within the first opening 12B and at least one of the stationary coils 2OC, 2OD is located within the second opening 16B.
• a pair of extension members 22A, 22B traverses the first opening 12B and the second opening 16B.
• a magnetizable slug 24A, 24B is integral with each of the extension members 22A, 22B.
• the first opening 12B and the second opening 16B may be in the form of a 'figure 8'.
• Other shapes of openings including, but not limited to, ovals, rectangles, separate circular openings, or other geometric shapes may be available.
• Some opening shapes may create gaps or voids that are not occupied by coils 2OA, 2OB, 2OC, 2OD, extension members 22A, 22B, slugs 24A, 24B, or other elements. Within these voids, additional magnets may be inserted to enhance the forces created in part by the permanent magnets 12A, 16A.
• These additional magnets may have magnetizations similar to the permanent magnets 12A, 16A at least in that an additional magnet in the first opening 12B may have a magnetization opposing that of an additional magnet in the second opening 16B.
• the magnets 12A 1 16A may have a rectangular prism shape with the openings 12B, 16B formed therein.
• the top stationary coils 20A 1 2OB may be controlled independently or in tandem.
• the bottom stationary coils 2OC, 2OD may be controlled independently or in tandem. It should be noted that “top” and “bottom” as utilized herein is from the perspective of FIG. 1 , and is not intended to suggest any type of directional requirement on the double valve actuator apparatus 10.
• the double valve actuator apparatus 10 may include at least one metal plate 26B between the first planar permanent magnet 12A and the second planar permanent magnet 16A. Further, metal plates 26A, 26B may be located on opposing sides of the first planar permanent magnet 12A and metal plates 26B, 26C may be located on opposing sides of the second planar permanent magnet 16A. As shown in FIG. 1 , the outer metal plates 26A, 26C may have extended portions that fit within each of the stationary coils 2OA, 2OB, 2OC, 2OD. Also, as shown in FIG. 1 , the outer metal plates 26A, 26C may be chamfered or otherwise shaped on the outer perimeter.
• the double valve actuator apparatus 10 may include ferromagnetic material 30 disposed between the stationary coils 2OA, 20B 1 2OC, 2OD and the openings 12A, 12B, 16A, 16B.
• the ferromagnetic material 30, as shown in FIG. 1 need not have a height similar to the stationary coils 2OA, 2OB, 2OC, 2OD, although it may.
• the ferromagnetic material 30 may be, for instance, low carbon steel.
• the ferromagnetic material 30 may be useful for increasing a force applied to the slugs 24A, 24B when the stationary coils 2OA, 2OB, 20C 1 2OD are initiated.
• the slugs 24A, 24B may also be formed with at least one ferromagnetic material. Further, while FIG.
• a pair of secondary elements may be integral with the extension members 22A, 22B and cooperative with a separate device.
• the secondary elements may be valves for an engine. Movement of the secondary elements may at least partially actuate the separate device.
• FIG. 3 is a top illustration of a double valve actuator apparatus 100, in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the first exemplary embodiment, the second exemplary embodiment includes a first planar permanent magnet 112A having a first direction of magnetization and a first opening 112B formed therein. A second planar permanent magnet (not shown), beneath the first planar permanent magnet 112A has a second direction of magnetization and a second opening formed therein. The second opening is axially aligned with the first opening 112B. The direction of magnetization of the first planar permanent magnet 112A opposes the direction of magnetization of the second planar permanent magnet.
• a pair of stationary coils are provided, wherein at least one of the stationary coils 120A is located within the first opening 112B and at least one of the stationary coils (not shown) is located within the second opening.
• a pair of extension members 122A, 122B traverses the first opening 112B and the second opening.
• a magnetizable slug 124A, 124B is integral with each of the extension members 122A 1 122B.
• Metal plates 126A may be located on opposing sides of the first planar permanent magnet 112A and metal plates may be located on opposing sides of the second planar permanent magnet.
• FIG. 3 shows a modification wherein the stationary coils 120A are wound differently.
• the stationary coils 2OA, 2OB are independent coils.
• FIG. 3 there is a racetrack configuration for the stationary coil 120B commonly encompassing both slugs 124A, 124B and a figure-8 stationary coil 120A differentiatingly encompassing both slugs 124A, 124B. That is, the racetrack coil 120B applies the same current-turns around each slug 124A, 124B; the figure-8 coil 120A applies positive current-turns around one slug 124A and negative current- turns around the other slug 124B (dependent on the direction of the current).
• the racetrack coil 12OB may occupy roughly 90% of the available coil volume while the figure-8 coil 120A may occupy the remaining 10% of volume. This arrangement will allow each slug 124A, 124B to have a flux supplied by the superposition of the racetrack and figure-8 coils 120A, 120B excitations.
• FIG. 4 is a flowchart 200 illustrating a method utilizing the double valve actuator apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 , in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• any process descriptions or blocks in flow charts should be understood as representing modules, segments, portions of code, or steps that include one or more instructions for implementing specific logical functions in the process, and alternate implementations are included within the scope of the present invention in which functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the present invention.
• a first planar permanent magnet 12A is axially aligned with a second planar permanent magnet 16A, wherein the first planar permanent magnet 12A and the second planar permanent magnet 16A have opposing magnetization 14, 18.
• a metal plate 26B is located between the first planar permanent magnet 12A and the second planar permanent magnet 16A (block 204).
• a first coil 2OA, 2OB is positioned within a first opening 12B of the first planar permanent magnet 12A and a second coil 2OC, 2OD is positioned within a second opening 16B of the second planar permanent magnet 16A (block 206).
• a pair of extension members 22A, 22B are positioned traversing the first opening 12B and the second opening 16B, wherein each extension member 22A, 22B is integral with at least one slug 24A, 24B at least partially within at least one of the first coil 2OA, 2OB and the second coil 2OC, 2OD (block 208). At least one coil 2OA, 2OB, 2OC, 2OD is energized, generating a reluctance force that causes at least one of the slugs 24A, 24B to slide along an axis of the coils 2OA, 2OB, 2OC, 2OD (block 210).
• a physical barrier or something comparable may be placed along the first or second opening 12B, 16B to maintain at least one of the slugs 24A, 24B between the stationary coils 2OA, 20B 1 2OC, 2OD.
• the stationary coils 2OA, 2OB, 2OC, 2OD may each be independently controlled.
• the stationary coils 2OA, 2OB, 2OC, 2OD may be hard wired together so that they are collectively initiated with a single control. Pairs of the coils 2OA, 2OB, 2OC, 2OD may be hard wired together so that they are collectively initiated with two controls.
• the controls may be configured such that the stationary coils 20A 1 2OB, 2OC, 2OD may be independently operable, but controlled jointly.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Power Engineering (AREA)
• Magnetically Actuated Valves (AREA)
• Electromagnets (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=40626226

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (1)

Citations (9)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 2008
  • 2008-11-10 CN CN2008801211676A patent/CN101918742B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2008-11-10 EP EP08848481.1A patent/EP2212602A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2008-11-10 WO PCT/US2008/082993 patent/WO2009062155A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (9)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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