| 主权项 |
1. A hydraulic valve actuator system for an internal combustion engine having at least one spring-biased valve movable between a closed position and an open position and a pressurized oil lubrication system, the hydraulic valve actuator system comprising:
an actuator assembly disposed at a first location relative to at least one spring-biased valve of an internal combustion engine, the actuator assembly including
an actuator housing defining a bore, an internal cavity holding a total volume of a hydraulic fluid, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the internal cavity,an actuator piston slidably mounted in the bore of the actuator housing such that movement of the actuator piston between a first position relative to the actuator housing and a second position relative to the actuator housing will vary the total volume of the hydraulic fluid within the bore and internal cavity between a first value and a second value, respectively, andwherein the actuator piston is biased to move toward the first position relative to the actuator housing; a hydraulic pipe having a distal end in fluid connection with the outlet port of the actuator housing and a proximal end; and a valve follower assembly disposed at a second location relative to the at least one spring-biased valve, the second location being spaced-apart from the first location and closer to the at least one spring-biased valve than the first location, the valve follower assembly including
a follower housing defining a bore, an internal cavity holding a total volume of the hydraulic fluid, and an inlet port in fluid communication with the internal cavity, the inlet port being in fluid connection with the proximal end of the hydraulic pipe,a follower piston slidably mounted in the bore of the follower housing such that movement of the follower piston between a first position relative to the follower housing and a second position relative to the follower housing will vary the total volume of hydraulic fluid within the bore and internal cavity between a first value and a second value, respectively, andwherein the follower piston is biased to move toward the second position relative to the follower housing;wherein movement of the actuator piston from its first position to its second position causes the hydraulic fluid to flow out of the actuator assembly, through the hydraulic pipe, and into the follower assembly such that the follower piston moves from its first position to its second position to move the at least one spring-biased valve from a first one of an open position or a closed position to the other of the open position or the closed position; andwherein movement of the actuator piston from its second position to its first position causes the hydraulic fluid to flow out of the follower assembly, through the hydraulic pipe, and into the actuator assembly such that the follower piston moves from its second position to its first position to move the at least one spring-biased valve from the other of the open position or the closed position back to the first one of the open position or the closed position. |
