Highly efficient pneumatically powered hydraulically latched actuator

Abstract: A highly efficient actuator used to operate an engine's poppet valves is disclosed. Pneumatic pressure is applied to an actuator piston (1) which is locked in either a first or a second position by an interconnected fluid latch. Upon a timed command, the piston latch (2) is released allowing the pre-pressurized piston to rapidly transit from whichever of its two positions it happens to be in to the other. The actuator is configured to compress the air on the advancing side of the piston (1) as the energy of the expanding air is propelling the piston to its other position. The fluid latch is configured to prevent the main piston (1) from reversing direction at the end of its travel, thus trapping all the compressed air to be used to help propel the actuator piston (1) back to its original position. The actuator has a feature for supplying make up air on the opening portion of the cycle in order to compensate for blow down as well as other losses. The actuator also has a feature for increasing the pressure in the latching chamber (14) during the return stroke to assure positive seating of the interconnected poppet valve (23).

Description: The present invention relates to a bistable pneumatically powered hydraulically latched actuator mechanism comprising a reciprocable mechanism portion including a pneumatic power piston and a hydraulic latching piston movable together back and forth between initial and second positions, pneumatic motive means for moving the pneumatic power piston, a damping chamber in which air is compressed by the pneumatic power piston during translation of the mechanism portion in one direction, compression of the air slowing the mechanism portion translation and storing energy for subsequent propulsion of the pneumatic power piston in an opposite direction, and a hydraulic arrangement including the hydraulic latching piston for temporarily preventing reversal of the direction of translation of the mechanism portion when the motion of the mechanism portion slows to a stop. The invention also relates to a method of securing an armature of a bistable reciprocating armature actuator in one of its stable positions, according to which method the kinetic energy of the motion of the armature in one direction is converted to potential energy in the form of pressure in a compressible medium. The prior art has recognized numerous advantages which might be achieved by replacing the conventional mechanical cam actuated valve arrangements in internal combustion engines with other types of valve opening mechanisms which could be controlled in their opening and closing as a function of engine speed as well as engine crankshaft angular position or other engine parameters. For example, in EP-A-0 352 861 there is disclosed a computer control system which receives a plurality of engine operation sensor inputs and in turn controls a plurality of engine operating parameters including ignition timing and the time in each cycle of the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves among others. U.S. Patent 4,009,695 discloses hydraulically actuated valves in turn controlled by spool valves which are themselves controlled by a dashboard computer which monitors a number of engine operating parameters. This patent references many advantages which could be achieved by such independent valve control, but is not, due to its relatively slow acting hydraulic nature, capable of achieving these advantages. The patented arrangement attempts to control the valves on a real time basis so that the overall system is one with feedback and subject to the associated oscillatory behaviour. U.S. Patent 4,700,684 suggests that if freely adjustable opening and closing times for inlet and exhaust valves is available, then unthrottled load control is achievable by controlling exhaust gas retention within the cylinders. Substitutes for or improvements on conventional cam actuated valves have long been a goal. In the Richeson United States Patent 4,794,890 entitled ELECTROMAGNETIC VALVE ACTUATOR, there is disclosed a valve actuator which has permanent magnet latching at the open and closed positions. Electromagnetic repulsion may be employed to cause the valve to move from one position to the other. Several damping and energy recovery schemes are also included. In copending application EP-A-0,328,195 there is disclosed a somewhat similar valve actuating device which employs a release type mechanism rather than a repulsion scheme as in the previously identified U.S. Patent. The disclosed device in this application is a jointly pneumatically and electromagnetically powered valve with high pressure air supply and control valving to use the air for both damping and as one motive force. The magnetic motive force is supplied from the magnetic latch opposite the one being released and this magnetic force attracts an armature of the device so long as the magnetic field of the first latch is in its reduced state. As the armature closes on the opposite latch, the magnetic attraction increases and overpowers that of the first latch regardless of whether it remains in the reduced state or not. The forgoing as well as a number of other related applications all assigned to the assignee of the present invention and filed in the name of William E. Richeson or William E. Richeson and Frederick L. Erickson are summarized in the introductory portions of EP-A-0,377,250. Many of the later filed above noted cases disclose a main or working piston which drives the engine valve and which is, in turn powered by compressed air. The power or working piston which moves the engine valve between open and closed positions is separated from the latching components ad certain control valving structures so that the mass to be moved is materially reduced allowing very rapid operation. Latching and release forces are also reduced. Those valving components which have been separated from the main piston need not travel the full length of the piston stroke, leading to some improvement in efficiency. Compressed air is supplied to the working piston by a pair of control valves with that compressed air driving the piston from one position to another as well as typically holding the piston in a given position until a control valve is again actuated. The control valves are held closed by permanent magnets and opened by pneumatic force on the control valve when an electrical pulse to a coil near the permanent magnet neutralizes the attractive force of the magnet. An electronically controlled pneumatically powered actuator as described in our U.S. Patent No. 4,852,528 has demonstrated very rapid transit times and infinite precise controllability. Devices constructed in accordance with this patent are capable of obtaining optimum performance from an internal combustion engine due to their ability to open and then independently close the poppet valves at any selectable crank shaft angles. In this prior patented arrangement, a source of high pressure air is required for both opening and for closing the valves. Moreover, such devices require a certain amount of duplication of structure in that symmetrical propulsion, exhaust air release, and regulated latching pressure (damping air) arrangements are needed. In this prior art configuration, substantially the same volume of air must be used to close the valve as was required to open it. In the devices of certain of these applications, air is compressed by piston motion to slow the piston (dampen piston motion) near the end of its stroke and then that air is abruptly vented to atmosphere. When the piston is slowed or damped, its kinetic energy is converted to some other form of energy and in cases such as dumping the air compressed during damping to atmosphere, that energy is simply lost. U.S. Patents 4,883,025 and 4,831,973 disclose symmetric bistable actuators which attempt to recapture some of the piston kinetic energy as either stored compressed air or as a stressed mechanical spring which stored energy is subsequently used to power the piston on its return trip. In either of these patented devices, the energy storage device is symmetric and is releasing its energy to power the piston during the first half of each translation of the piston and is consuming piston kinetic energy during the second half of the same translation regardless of the direction of piston motion. More importantly, in each of these cases, there is a source of energy for propelling the piston in addition to that supplied by the energy storage scheme. Our recent invention disclosed in EP-A-0,468,548 propels a actuator piston from a valve-closed toward a valve-pen position ad utilizes the air which is compressed during the damping process to power the actuator back to its initial or valve-closed position. Moreover, an actuator capture or latching arrangement, such as a hydraulic latch, is used in this recent invention to assure that the actuator does not immediately rebound, but rather remains in the valve-pen position until commanded to return to its initial position. The initial translation of the actuator piston in this recent application is powered by pneumatic energy for an air pump and requires relatively large source pump as well as relatively large individual valve actuators. Our recent invention as disclosed in EP-A-0,468,571 takes advantage of many of the developments disclosed in the contemporaneously filed ACTUATOR WITH ENERGY RECOVERY RETURN application while the initial powered translation is accomplished by hydraulic energy from a hydraulic pump rather than by pneumatic energy. Hydraulic energy propulsion yields the advantages of reduced actuator sire and, therefor, is easier to package, as well as a reduction of the size of and, therefor, the space required underneath a vehicle hood by the hydraulic pump. Also, in furtherance of the goal of reduction in size, the compression of latching air and pneumatic energy recovery feature is accomplished in a smaller chamber than taught in our ACTUATOR WITH ENERGY RECOVERY RETURN application. The reduction in size is accompanied by a correlative increase in peak pressure of the compressed air. The latching pressure must be correspondingly increased, and in particular, a decrease in piston diameter to one-half the former value requires a corresponding four-fold increase in pressure to maintain the same overall latching force. In our copending application EP-0,508,518 there is disclosed an actuator having hydraulic latching at each extreme of its motion with a pneumatic spring which is cocked as a piston nears the end of each of its traversals to subsequently power the piston back in the other direction. Supplementary power to make up for system losses such as friction is supplied by supplemental hydraulic pressure being valved in to the latching chamber near the end of piston travel in one direction. In our copending application EP-A-0,508,523, there is disclosed a compressed fluid spring concept for propelling an engine poppet valve back and forth which is structurally similar to the mechanism disclosed in Richeson U.S. Patent 4,974,495, but where a timed delivery of supplemental pressure to a separate latching piston provides for fully re-cocking those springs in each direction preparatory to the next transition. In the present invention, as in certain of our prior inventions, a hydraulic latch locks the power piston in its second (engine valve open) position after that power piston has compressed a quantity of air in moving from its initial (engine valve seated) position. The present invention represents a significant departure from the prior art in using a modified latch to obtain the additional function of latching and pneumatic energy storage in the first or poppet valve closed position as well. This double latching feature requires a second set of control valves which operate in a second channel. Since almost all of the energy of compression which is captured during the initial transit can be used to power the actuator back to its initial position and most of the compression energy can also be captured by the second latch on the return stroke, this actuator design represents an improvement in theoretical efficiency over the other methods that have been disclosed. The permanent magnet latching schemes so common in many of our earlier applications have, as in the ACTUATOR WITH ENERGY RECOVERY RETURN and HYDRAULICALLY PROPELLED PNEUMATICALLY RETURNED VALVE ACTUATOR applications, been eliminated along with their associated cost and weight. The present invention represents an advanced pneumatic actuator which is specifically configured to achieve a very high air usage efficiency. The methodology used to realize this includes powering the actuator in such a way that only a small quantity of thrusting air is lost during the first transit and to "catch" the piston with an automatic latch at the second position so that the energy of compression is used to stop the piston. On command, the latch is released to return the actuator piston to its first position. During the conversion of the kinetic energy to potential energy, using pneumatic means, the potential energy is contained in two parts; pressure-volume and temperature change-mass. The first is subject to leakage and the second is subject to a transfer of heat of the mass of gas in question which also affects the pressure of that gas. Both of these losses are a function of the time during which that the particular state is maintained. This possible variable loss can affect the kinetic energy during the next transfer taking place in the actuator and can also affect the damping at the terminal end of that transfer. Another feature of the invention is the introduction of a small quantity of supplemental air by way of a one way valve which is actuated by the power piston at the end of its travel. The valve will automatically add sufficient air to pre-pressurize the power piston to the working source pressure which stabilizes the damping and the succeeding propulsion energy. The piston is thus automatically pressurized and latched ready to begin its next round trip transit when the "activate" signal is received. The only pneumatic energy used is represented by that quantity of air used to bring the pressure of the returning piston back up to source pressure. The valve also assures that the piston will always have the same potential energy available for the next transit since the valved-in working pressure assures a fixed pressure reference. Without this feature, a variable pressure (or energy) condition can exist due to leakage or due to the fact that since the air is reheated as it is recompressed, the final compression pressure can vary due to differences in transfer of heat into the walls (the walls may be cold or may be hot) and also since the time of heat transfer can vary according to the speed of the engine. A further feature of the present invention is the incorporation of a design in which the power piston is directly connected to a double acting latch for the latching of the power piston in either of its extreme positions. This method of latching is intended to keep the piston from moving toward its other position rather than being a latch intended to simply pressurize and force the piston further into its present position. Therefore, this latch is designed to hold a power piston in a reverse direction similar to the concept described in U.S. Patent No. 4,942,852 rather than to pressurise and force the piston in the opposite direction as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,872,425. A bistable pneumatically powered hydraulically latched actuator mechanism and a method of securing an armature of a bistable reciprocating armature actuator in one of its stable positions as mentioned in the opening paragraphs are known from DE-A-31 39 399. In the known actuator mechanism and according to the known method, in each of the two extreme positions of the power piston a pressure force is exerted on the power piston by the air which is compressed in the damping chamber. Furthermore, in each of the two extreme positions the power piston is latched by a hydraulic fluid pressure, which is exerted on a latching piston. A disadvantage of the known actuator mechanism and of the known method is, that the power piston or the reciprocating armature may experience some creep forward due to slight compliance in the latching means. This means that during closing of an interconnected poppet valve, this forward motion tendency may prevent the poppet valve from making controlled contact with the valve seat. It is an object of the present invention to incorporate a pneumatic arrangement for boosting the hydraulic pressure against the power piston to pull the poppet valve into its seat in a calibrated and controlled manner. According to the invention, the bistable pneumatically powered hydraulically latched actuator mechanism is for this purpose characterized in that the actuator mechanism further comprises a pneumatic hydraulic piston for converting the air pressure in the damping chamber to hydraulic pressure applied to the hydraulic latching piston for urging the mechanism portion in said one direction when it slows to a stop and for securing it in its corresponding stable position with a hydraulic force greater than the pneumatic force applied by the air pressure on the pneumatic power piston in the opposite direction. According to the invention, the method of securing an armature of a bistable reciprocating armature actuator in one of its stable positions is for this purpose characterized in that the compressible medium pressure is transferred to pressure in an incompressible medium, and the incompressible medium pressure is applied to the armature in said one direction for securing said armature in one of its stable positions with a force greater than the force applied by the compressible medium to the armature in the opposite direction. By the use of said means for urging the mechanism portion and by transferring said compressible medium pressure to pressure in said incompressible medium the power piston is urged more firmly into the valve seated position. The forgoing as well as other objects and advantageous features of the present invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. In general, an electronically controllable pneumatically powered valve actuating mechanism includes a power piston reciprocable along an axis and adapted to be coupled to an internal combustion engine poppet valve. There is a pneumatic motive arrangement for moving the piston, thereby causing the engine valve to move in the direction of valve stem elongation between valve-closed and valve-open positions. There is also a pneumatic damping arrangement for compressing a volume of air and imparting a continuously increasing decelerating force as the engine valve approaches one of the valve-open and valve-closed positions. Solenoids are operable on command to utilizing the compressed volume of air to power the piston back to the other of the valve-open and valve-closed positions. There is a cylinder in which the power piston may reciprocate thereby defining a pair of variable volume chambers one each to either side of the power piston, the pneumatic motive arrangement comprising a first of said variable volume chambers and the pneumatic damping arrangement comprising a second of the variable volume chambers during engine valve motion from the valve-closed to the valve-open position and the pneumatic motive arrangement comprising the second of said variable volume chambers and the pneumatic damping arrangement comprising the first of the variable volume chambers during engine valve motion from the valve-open to the valve-closed position. A variable pressure inlet for presetting the pressure in the second of the variable volume chambers provides variation of the location of the valve-open position relative to the valve-closed position. Also in general and in one form of the invention, an electronically controlled actuator for an internal combustion engine poppet valve, has an arrangement for assuring gentle yet positive engine valve closure which includes a reciprocable mechanism portion including a power piston and a latching piston movable together back and forth between initial and second positions and a pneumatic motive arrangement for moving the piston, thereby causing the engine valve to move in the direction of stem elongation between valve-closed and valve-open positions. A damping chamber in which air is compressed by the power piston during translation of the mechanism portion in one direction is also provided so that compression of the air slows the mechanism portion translation and stores energy for subsequent propulsion of the power piston in an opposite direction. There is also a pneumatic to hydraulic piston for converting the air pressure in the damping chamber to hydraulic pressure applied to the latching piston so that the piston is responsive to damping chamber air pressure to urge the reciprocable portion in the same direction as the piston is moving to compress that air. Still further in general and in one form, a method of securing the armature of a bistable reciprocating armature actuator in one of its stable positions includes conversion of kinetic energy of armature motion in one direction to potential energy in the form of pressure in a compressible medium, transferring the compressible medium pressure to pressure in an incompressible medium, and applying the incompressible medium pressure to the armature in that same one direction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a view in cross-section of a pneumatically powered, hydraulically latched actuator in its initial at rest condition taken along lines 1-1 of Figure 7; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but illustrating the pressure boosting piston arrangement and taken along lines 2-2 of Figure 7; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but with the power piston unlatched to begin its transit from its initial position to its second position; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 3, but showing the actuator latched in its second position; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 2, but showing the actuator unlatched from its second position and compressing air on its return trip to the initial position; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figures 2 and 5, but showing the actuator as it nears its initial position; and Figure 7 is a partially broken away view from the left end of Figures 1-6. Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention in one form thereof and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure or the scope of the invention in any manner. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to Figures 1-6 sequentially, the actuator is shown in its initial at rest condition in Figure 1 in which prepressurization and delatching functions are shown. The initial position of Figure 1 is the position where the engine poppet valve is seated or closed. Figure 2 emphasizes the pressure boosting piston arrangement which increases the latching force over the pre-pressurization force. In Figure 3, the power piston is delatched to begin its transit from initial to a second position. In Figure 4, the actuator has reached that second position after compressing air ahead of the piston and is latched in that position. In Figure 5, the actuator has been released from the second position and is compressing air as it returns to the initial position. In Figure 6, the actuator is returning to its initial position as the power piston is being pre-pressurized and the latching piston is receiving boost pressure to pull the engine poppet valve into its seat. The drawings generally illustrate a bistable pneumatically powered hydraulically latched actuator mechanism having a reciprocable portion including a power piston 1 and a latching piston 2 which are movable together back and forth between an initial position (Figure 1) and a second position (Figure 4). A source of high pressure air 26 replenishes air consumed during motion of the reciprocable portion of the mechanism. A damping chamber 6 is formed by the advancing face of piston 1 in which air is compressed slowing the mechanism portion translation and storing energy for subsequent propulsion of the power piston in an opposite direction. The latching piston 2 forms part of a hydraulic arrangement for temporarily preventing reversal of the direction of translation of the mechanism portion or armature (which includes shaft 23 along with pistons 1 and 2) when the motion of that portion slows to a stop. A solenoid 7 is operable on command to open ball valve 4, thereby disabling the temporary preventing arrangement, and freeing the portion of the mechanism to move under the urging of the air compressed in the damping chamber 6. A similar solenoid 10 opens ball valve 9 for the return of the engine valve to its closed or seated position. A pneumatic to hydraulic piston 15 (Figure 2) converts the air pressure in the damping chamber 6 to hydraulic pressure in chamber 16 which is applied to the latching piston for urging the reciprocable portion more firmly into the valve seated position. The location of the second (engine valve open) position may be varied relative to the initial position. There is a second damping chamber 17 in which air is compressed by the power piston 1 during translation of the mechanism portion in the opposite, i.e., second or valve opening, direction. Compression of the air in chamber 17 slows the armature translation and stores energy for subsequent propulsion of the power piston back in the first direction. The initial air pressure in the second damping chamber 17 is established prior to translation which compresses the air in this chamber with that initial pressure determining the extent of translation in the second direction. The hydraulic latch includes a hydraulic fluid filled cylinder within which the latching piston 2 reciprocates with the latching piston defining first and second fluid chambers 14 and 18 (Figure 5) on its opposite sides. A first fluid transfer path from the first chamber 14 to the second chamber 18 includes a one-way check valve 5 for allowing fluid flow from the first chamber 14 to the second 18 while precluding fluid flow from the second chamber 18 to the first, and a controllable valve 4 normally preventing fluid flow from the first chamber 14 to the second chamber 18. Valve 4 is operable when actuated by solenoid 7 to allow fluid flow from the first chamber 14 to the second chamber 18. There is a second similar fluid transfer path from the second chamber to the first chamber including a one-way check valve 8 and a controllable valve 9 normally preventing fluid flow from the second chamber to the first chamber and operable when actuated to allow fluid flow from the second chamber to the 5 first. Referring now to Figure 1 in greater detail, the actuator is shown in the first or engine valve closed position. The engine valve (not shown) is fixed to or actuated by axial motion of shaft 23. The actuator is "armed" with pressurized air in chamber 6 pushing on the left face of power piston 1. The interconnected latching piston 2 is holding the power piston from moving toward the right because the fluid in chamber 14 can not escape until the control valve 4 is opened. In this engine valve closed position, it is highly desirable to assure positive poppet valve seating particularly since the power piston is prepressurized in a direction which will tend to unseat the poppet valve. An additional arrangement to assure such positive poppet valve seating is provided in the form of a subpiston 15 shown in Figure 2. The right hand face of subpiston 15 is pressurized by air in chamber 6 which is converted to hydraulic pressure in channel 16 by the reduced diameter piston portion 24. The subpiston functions to convert pneumatic pressure on its larger face to hydraulic pressure at its smaller face which acts on the right face 25 of piston 2 and is sufficiently high to counteract the pressure on power piston 1 and pull the shaft 23 toward the left and thereby pull the poppet valve into its seat. Subpiston 15 is reset to its rightmost position every cycle by spring 29. The ratio of the diameters of the two faces of the subpiston 15 establishes the magnitude of the latching pressure to assure that the force from the latching pressure is opposed to and the correct amount higher than the pneumatic pressure force on the power piston to establish the correct cinching force of the poppet valve onto its seat. The stroke of the subpiston 15 need not be particularly great, but should be sufficient to allow for any compressibility of the hydraulic fluid. In particular, the function of the subpiston 15 is to convert the air pressure in chamber 6 to a hydraulic pressure boost in chamber 16. This increased hydraulic pressure will provide a higher force to the left on latching piston 2 than the source air pressure will apply to the right on the power piston 1. The net result is a force to the left which provides a positive seating of the engine poppet valve against its seat. Without this pressure boost, the valve may tend to drift open slightly, due to slight compressibility of the fluid in chamber 16 for example, and the engine valve may not properly seat. For this cinching force to occur at all, it is necessary that the ratio of the area of the larger (right hand) face to the area of the smaller face of subpiston 15 be greater than or equal to the ratio of the area of the advancing (left hand) face of piston 1 to the area of the right hand face of latching piston 2. In Figure 3, the conditions for triggering the actuator to begin its transit from the first to the second position are illustrated. The initial transit to open the engine poppet valve is initiated by opening the valve 4 to release the fluid in chamber 14 incident the face 25 allowing that fluid to flow through the one-way valve 5 and into the void in back of the rightwardly advancing latching piston 2. Opening valve 4 relieves the pressure on the latching piston 2 and allows the pressure of the expanding gas in chamber 6 on the left face of power piston 1 to drive that piston toward the right. In Figure 3, the ball valve 3 has reseated to prevent any source air from high pressure source inlet 26 from entering the chamber 6. Delay valve 11 has, however, opened to re-fill the volume in back of the ball valve 3. As the piston 1 is being propelled by the expanding gas in chamber 6, it begins to compress the air in chamber 17 in front of the moving piston. The initial pressure in chamber 17 was set by an external pressure regulator through port 13. This pressure is adjustable in order to adjust the final compression volume and, hence, the total distance travelled by the piston 1. The greater the initial pressure in chamber 17, the less travel the piston experiences. Figure 4 shows the condition where the power piston has reached its second position or furthest location from its initial position. Several factors must be considered in determining the exact location of this position. The initial air pressure in chamber 6 is one factor, since the greater this pressure, the higher the force driving the piston to more highly compress the air in chamber 17. The pressure of the air at port 13 is a second factor. A higher initial pressure in chamber 17 will shorten the length of stroke of the piston 1. In any case, the distance travelled corresponds to the point at which the magnitude of the compression energy equals the magnitude of the propulsion energy less any frictional and similar losses. In Figure 4, the piston is automatically latched against any backward motion caused by the force of the compressed air in chamber 17. The pressure of the hydraulic fluid in chamber 18 holds latching piston 2 in its rightmost location. The actuator is armed and ready to be triggered for its return trip. In Figure 5, the actuator has been delatched or released from its second position to return to the initial position. This is initiated by opening the ball valve 9 to relieve the pressure in chamber 18 and allow the hydraulic fluid to drain by way of one-way valve 8 back into chamber 14. Figure 5 shows the piston 1 about midway along its path back to the engine valve closed position. The compressed air in chamber 17 has expanded and its potential energy has been converted back to kinetic energy of the power piston and its associated moving parts. Chamber 6 is rapidly decreasing in volume, compressing the air therein to slow and almost stop the piston as it nears its left extremity. The degree of damping provided by the compressed air in chamber 6 depends on the pressure applied to the chamber by way of port 12 at the time that port was closed by the seal 27 of piston 1. In Figure 6, the actuator has almost returned to its initial position. Valve 3 is just beginning to open to allow some source air to refill chamber 6. The undercut region 28 of shaft 23 has cleared to allow air from chamber 6 to pass and pressurize the larger face of subpiston 15. As the piston 1 fully unseats the ball valve 3, the air entry valve 11 which is used to introduce a pressurization delay is now open to allow full pressurization of chamber 6. The valve 11 is used to delay air entry so that initial damping of the power piston 1 can occur before the higher pressure is then used to provide pressure boost to the latch to cinch the poppet valve into its seat. A small feed line 11a bypasses the air entry valve 11 to assure that source pressure is always applied to the backside of ball valve 3. Figure 6 also illustrates a supplementary method of damping control in which the extension cone 19 of the latching piston 2 engages an internal conical receptacle 20 as the armature nears its initial (engine valve closed) position. A final slow down or damping occurs as a result of the two mating conical surfaces squeeze out hydraulic fluid at the very end of the motion. The internal cone member 20 threadedly engages the body of the actuator at 21 so that rotary adjustment of the axial location of cone 20 and a fine tuning of the final damping are possible. Such adjustment has taken place between Figures 5 and 6 where, in Figure 6, a gap 31 first appears.

Claims: A bistable pneumatically powered hydraulically latched actuator mechanism comprising: a reciprocable mechanism portion (1, 2, 23) including a pneumatic power piston (1) and a hydraulic latching piston (2) movable together back and forth between initial and second positions; pneumatic motive means (3, 6, 11, 13, 17, 26) for moving the pneumatic power piston (1); a damping chamber (6) in which air is compressed by the pneumatic power piston (1) during translation of the mechanism portion (1, 2, 23) in one direction, compression of the air slowing the mechanism portion (1, 2, 23) translation and storing energy for subsequent propulsion of the pneumatic power piston (1) in an opposite direction; and a hydraulic arrangement (2, 4, 5, 8, 9) including the hydraulic latching piston (2) for temporarily preventing reversal of the direction of translation of the mechanism portion (1, 2, 23) when the motion of the mechanism portion (1, 2, 23) slows to a stop; characterized in that the actuator mechanism further comprises a pneumatic hydraulic piston (15, 24) for converting the air pressure in the damping chamber (6) to hydraulic pressure applied to the hydraulic latching piston (2) for urging the mechanism portion (1, 2, 23) in said one direction when it slows to a stop and for securing it in its corresponding stable position with a hydraulic force greater than the pneumatic force applied by the air pressure on the pneumatic power piston (1) in the opposite direction. A bistable pneumatically powered hydraulically latched actuator mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the pneumatic hydraulic piston (15, 24) comprises a first surface which is pressurized by the air pressure in the damping chamber (6) and a second surface which is pressurized by hydraulic pressure applied to the hydraulic latching piston (2), said second surface being smaller than said first surface. A bistable pneumatically powered hydraulically latched actuator mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actuator mechanism further comprises: a hydraulic fluid filled cylinder within which the hydraulic latching piston (2) reciprocates, the hydraulic latching piston (2) defining first and second fluid chambers (14, 18) on opposite sides thereof; a first fluid transfer path from the first chamber (14) to the second chamber (18) including a one-way check valve (5) for allowing fluid flow from the first chamber (14) to the second chamber (18) while precluding fluid flow from the second chamber (18) to the first chamber (14), and a controllable valve (4) normally preventing fluid flow from the first chamber (14) to the second chamber (18) and operable when actuated to allow fluid flow from the first chamber (14) to the second chamber (18); and a second fluid transfer path from the second chamber (18) to the first chamber (14) including a one-way check valve (8) for allowing fluid flow from the second chamber (18) to the first chamber (14) while precluding fluid flow from the first chamber (14) to the second chamber (18), and a controllable valve (9) normally preventing fluid flow from the second chamber (18) to the first chamber (14) and operable when actuated to allow fluid flow from the second chamber (18) to the first chamber (14). A bistable pneumatically powered hydraulically latched actuator mechanism according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the actuator mechanism further comprises means (13, 17) for varying the location of the second position relative to the initial position comprising a further damping chamber (17) in which air is compressed by the pneumatic power piston (1) during translation of the mechanism portion (1, 2, 23) in said opposite direction, compression of the air slowing the mechanism portion (1, 2, 23) translation and storing energy for subsequent propulsion of the pneumatic power piston (1) back in said one direction, and valving means (13) for establishing access to a regulated air pressure in said further damping chamber (17) prior to translation in said opposite direction, which regulated pressure determines the extent of translation in said opposite direction. A method of securing an armature (1, 2, 23) of a bistable reciprocating armature actuator in one of its stable positions, according to which method the kinetic energy of the motion of the armature (1, 2, 23) in one direction is converted to potential energy in the form of pressure in a compressible medium, characterized in that the compressible medium pressure is transferred to pressure in an incompressible medium, and the incompressible medium pressure is applied to the armature (1, 2, 23) in said one direction for securing said armature in one of its stable positions with a force greater than the force applied by the compressible medium to the armature (1, 2, 23) in the opposite direction. A method according to claim 5, wherein the actuator armature (1, 2, 23) includes a pneumatic power piston (1), a hydraulic latching piston (2) movable together back and forth between initial and second stable positions, and a damping chamber (6) in which air is compressed by the pneumatic power piston (1) during translation of the pneumatic power piston (1) in said one direction, characterized in that the air in the damping chamber (6) is compressed for slowing the armature (1, 2, 23) movement and storing energy for subsequent propulsion of the pneumatic power piston (1) in an opposite direction, while the step of converting energy includes compressing the air in the damping chamber (6). A method according to claim 5, wherein the actuator armature (1, 2, 23) includes a pneumatic power piston (1), a hydraulic latching piston (2) movable together back and forth between initial and second stable positions, and a hydraulic arrangement (2, 15, 16, 24, 25) including the latching piston (2) for temporarily preventing reversal of the direction of translation of the armature (1, 2, 23) when the motion of the armature (1, 2, 23) slows to a stop, characterized in that the step of applying the incompressible medium pressure includes increasing the force on the hydraulic latching piston (2) to secure the armature (1, 2, 23) in the initial position. A method according to claim 7, wherein the hydraulic latching piston (2) reciprocates within a cylinder and defines therewith first and second fluid chambers (14, 18) on opposite sides of the hydraulic latching piston (2), characterized in that the method includes additional steps of establishing a fluid transfer path from the first chamber (14) to the second chamber (18), selectively operating a control valve (4) to allow fluid to flow from the first chamber (14) to the second chamber (18), and precluding fluid flow from the second chamber (18) to the first chamber (14).

Inventors: ERICKSON FREDERICK, RICHESON WILLIAM, ERICKSON, FREDERICK, RICHESON, WILLIAM
Applicants: PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV, PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: F01L9
IPC codes: F16K31, F01L9, F15B15