초록 ▼

The invention described herein is a system (5) and method for opening an engine valve (12) by hydraulic force and for slowing the engine valve (12) by hydraulic force to an acceptable impact velocity when the engine valve (12) closes. Basically, a snubbing valve (10) is situated between the rail (40

The invention described herein is a system (5) and method for opening an engine valve (12) by hydraulic force and for slowing the engine valve (12) by hydraulic force to an acceptable impact velocity when the engine valve (12) closes. Basically, a snubbing valve (10) is situated between the rail (40) that transports the high pressure hydraulic fluid needed to open the engine valve (12) and the engine valve (12). The snubbing valve (10) allows relatively unrestricted flow of the fluid in the direction from the rail (40) to the engine valve (12) so that adequate high pressure fluid can be provided to quickly open the engine valve (12). When the engine valve (12) returns towards the closed position under the force of a return spring (72) the snubbing valve (10) then restricts the flow of fluid out of the cavity (52) between the snubbing valve (10) and the engine valve (12) so as to slow the engine valve (12) to an acceptable impact velocity.

대표청구항 ▼

A hydraulically actuated engine poppet valve assembly comprising: (a) an engine valve body (24); (b) a valve insert (20) having a first bore (18) and being disposed in a second bore (22) formed in said engine valve body (24); (b′) an engine poppet valve (12) movably disposed in said first bore (18)

A hydraulically actuated engine poppet valve assembly comprising: (a) an engine valve body (24); (b) a valve insert (20) having a first bore (18) and being disposed in a second bore (22) formed in said engine valve body (24); (b′) an engine poppet valve (12) movably disposed in said first bore (18) for movement between a first position and a second position; (c) said engine poppet valve (12) forming a hydraulic cavity (22,52) with said first bore (18) and being actuatable toward its second position in response to fluid pressure in the hydraulic cavity (22,52); and (d) means for communicating first and second rates of fluid flow with the hydraulic cavity (22,52), the first rate of fluid flow pressurizing the hydraulic cavity (22,52) and actuating said engine poppet valve (12) toward its second position and the second rate of fluid flow restricting fluid flow from within the hydraulic cavity (22,52) and slowing movement of said engine poppet valve (12) toward its first position, (e) wherein said means for communicating first and second rates of fluid flow includes a check valve member (36) movable against a first check valve seat (34) defined by said valve insert (20) and against a second check valve seat (58) defined by said second bore (22), said check valve member (36) including a secondary passage (54) adapted for flowing the second rate of fluid flow thereacross when said check valve member (36) is seated against said second check valve seat (58).