Electromagnetic Valve Actuator for Automobile Engines

One of the key technologies in improving engine performance is flexible valve timing. New combustion systems such as Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) can be realized by flexible valve operation. Usually the valve timing is determined only by engine crank angle and is not flexible. To overcome this problem, an electromagnetic actuator had been proposed. However, a conventional solenoid actuator always requires current and the efficiency is low.

In this study, a new type of linear actuator that uses bias flux produced by a permanent magnet (PM) to reduce power consumption was proposed. First, a cylindrical actuator was developed. To achieve further power consumption reduction, miniaturization and high-speed drive, a seesaw type actuator was designed. An experimental setup was designed to confirm its characteristics. The results showed improved performance and a high possibility for practical use. The developed actuator is planned to be installed on a single cylinder diesel engine and tested of its capability.