A high efficiency uniflow steam engine having automatic inlet and exhaust valves rather than camshaft operated valves includes an electromagnet and cooperating armature that actuates a cutoff control valve for closing a steam inlet valve at any time selected to cut off the flow of steam to the cylinder. Approaching the end of the exhaust stroke, e.g., about 0.12 inch before TDC the cylinder can be sealed to thereby compressing the remaining residual steam down to a minute clearance approaching zero, for example, 0.020 inch raising cylinder steam pressure enough to open the steam inlet valve without physical contact between the piston and the steam inlet valve eliminating tappet noise, shock and wear.

An electromagnetic linear motor is described. It comprises a tubular stator (1) having a longitudinal axis (W); and a permanently magnet (7) with poles oriented along the axis and linearly movable along said axis inside the stator (1). The stator (1) comprises at least two columns (A, B) formed by electromagnets (2), each electromagnet (2) comprising a core (U) formed by a central straight segment (4) and two end polar expansions (5) all being oriented towards theand orthogonally tosaid axis (W), The columns are circularly arranged around said the permanent magnet (7), and mutually linearly offset along said axis.

An apparatus (10) and method for controlling an angular position of a camshaft (12) in an internal combustion engine having a camshaft phaser (14) for controllably varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and the camshaft (12). The camshaft phaser (14) can be actuated by an electric motor (16) having an actuator shaft (18) operating through a gear reduction drive train (20) having a stationary adjusting member (22) which rotates when a phase change adjustment is desired. A sensor (30) can generate a signal corresponding to an angular position of the stationary adjusting member (22) of the gear reduction drive train (20). An engine control unit (40) can adjust a position of the camshaft (12) through operation of the electric motor (16) for rotating the stationary adjusting member (22) based on the generated signal corresponding to the angular position of the stationary adjusting member (22).

An actuator for a valve in an internal combustion engine includes a housing, an electric drive unit arranged in an interior of the housing, an aeration opening arranged in the housing, a plug configured to electrically connect the electric drive unit to a voltage source, and a membrane comprising pores. The membrane is configured to close the aeration opening in the housing.

An engine control module includes at least one high side driver connected to at least one intake camshaft actuator and at least one exhaust camshaft actuator. A plurality of low side drivers is connected to the at least one intake camshaft actuator and the at least one exhaust camshaft actuator. A sliding camshaft control module selectively actuates the at least one high side driver and the plurality of low side drivers based on a status associated with the at least one intake camshaft actuator and/or the at least one exhaust camshaft actuator.

An actuator for axial displacement of an object, includes an actuator piston and an actuator piston rod, wherein the piston is displaceable in the axial direction, and a hydraulic circuit including a liquid filled chamber, a first end of the actuator piston rod being displaceable in the axial direction within the liquid filled chamber, wherein an axially extending recess mouth in the liquid filled chamber is arranged to receive the first end. The actuator piston rod in the area of the first end presents a cylindrical envelope surface, and the recess presents a cylindrical inner surface having a matching shape, wherein the actuator includes a passage extending between the recess and liquid filled chamber when the cylindrical envelope surface and the cylindrical inner surface are located in overlapping configuration, wherein the passage presents at a braking overlap section a cross section area that decreases as a function of increasing overlap.

Methods and systems are provided for a latchable refueling valve designed to reduce noise associated with opening and closing the valve. In one example, a system may include a valve armature with first and second latch indices formed on an outer diameter of the armature. The latch indices may be rounded and configured to engage with a latch guide to enable rotation between the armature and the latch guide.

A cover has an aperture through which an accessory gains access to the interior side of the cover and a cavity. The accessory may be any kind of sensor or actuator. To secure the accessory to the cover, an adapter coupled to the cover is provided. In one example, the adapter has a cylindrical connection section that is spin welded into place in the cavity. In another example, the adapter has self-tapping threads that engage with the surface surrounding the cavity. The adapter also has tabs extending outwardly from the cover, the tabs having a proximate section and an engagement section. The accessory has a retaining orifice that couples with the tabs in a snap-fit relationship to secure the accessory to the cover.

An electric cam phasing system is provided. The electric cam phasing system includes an electric motor including a center shaft; a camshaft; a center fastener extending into a center of the camshaft and a gearbox including a sprocket and a drive unit. The drive unit includes an input shaft coupling connected to the center shaft. The drive unit is configured for coupling the camshaft to the sprocket in a manner such that relative phasing of the camshaft with respect to sprocket is adjustable via the electric motor driving the drive unit. The electric cam phasing system also includes a lock positioned axially between the center shaft and the camshaft, the lock being configured for selectively engaging the center fastener to lock the gearbox.

An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block that defines a cylinder and a cylinder head mounted to the cylinder block. A reciprocating piston is arranged inside the cylinder for compressing an air and fuel mixture at a geometric compression ratio of at least 10:1. A crankshaft is arranged in the cylinder block and rotated by the piston. An intake valve is operatively connected to the cylinder head and controls delivery of air to the cylinder for combustion therein. A mechanism provides a constant peak lift of the intake valve over an angle of rotation of the crankshaft that is at least 5 degrees, i.e., an extended dwell at peak lift. A multi-stage boosting system having first and second gas compressors is selectively controlled to pressurize air that is received from the ambient for delivery to the cylinder. A vehicle having such an engine is also disclosed.