Patent ID: 9574468
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: F01L

Claim:
1. An internal combustion engine valve operation control apparatus comprising: at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve movably disposed with respect to an engine cylinder to open and close a port in an engine combustion chamber in a timed relationship to a position of a piston reciprocally mounted in the engine combustion chamber; an intake and an exhaust valve movement actuator coupled to the at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve to control movement of the at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve between port closed and port open positions in response to changes in engine operating parameters; and a control, receiving engine speed signals from the engine and configured to anticipate a valve surge, the control controlling the intake and exhaust valve movement actuator to move the at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve to a safe state with respect to the piston in the engine cylinder when at least one of a rate of increase in engine speed exceeds a threshold rate of increase of engine speed, and engine speed exceeds a threshold engine speed to prevent contact between the at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve and the piston.