Patent ID: 7963259

Claim:
A hydro-mechanical system for actuating an outwardly opening valve of an engine, the system comprising: a body having a plunger cylinder in hydraulic fluid communication with a valve cylinder; a plunger in the plunger cylinder and reciprocable to displace hydraulic fluid into the valve cylinder; an outwardly opening engine valve reciprocable in the body and connected with a valve piston in the valve cylinder, the engine valve being opened by the hydraulic fluid displaced by the plunger into the valve cylinder and acting against the valve piston; an actuator for reciprocating the plunger, the actuator including an engine drive mechanism engaging the plunger for moving the plunger through pumping and return strokes; the engine drive mechanism including a cam engaging a follower operative to reciprocate the plunger on the pumping stroke and at least one return spring effective to move the plunger and the follower on the return stroke; the return spring including a follower spring and a plunger spring operative to maintain the plunger in effective engagement with the follower and the cam; and a valve spring for returning the engine valve to engage an outwardly facing valve seat, thereby closing a gas passage of the engine controlled by the engine valve.