Piezoelectric valve actuation

摘要

A piezoelectric valve actuation system for an internal combustion engine includes a piezoelectric driver in the form of a pre-stressed wafer or strip including a layer of piezoceramic material such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT). The driver has a central portion which includes an aperture for direct engagement with a valve stem so that the valve is moved between open and closed positions directly by the piezoelectric driver. The piezoelectric driver can have end portions which attach to the engine cylinder head proximate the valve location. The piezoelectric actuator is driven by an electronic control module (ECM) providing electrical signals to control valve operation based various engine parameters along with user input.