Claims
- 1. An electromagnetic actuator for mounting to a cylinder head of an engine, the actuator comprising:
- an actuator assembly including a housing structure and an armature, and a pair of electromagnets disposed in said housing structure; and
- an alignment collar detached from said actuator assembly, said alignment collar having a first end constructed and arranged to be received in a bore of the cylinder head and a second end opposite said first end, said second end being cooperable with an end of said actuator assembly so as to align said actuator assembly with the bore.
- 2. The electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein said first end of said alignment collar is generally cylindrical, said second end of said alignment collar defining a flange having a stop surface, said stop surface being constructed and arranged prevent the alignment collar from falling completely into the bore of the cylinder head when the first end of the alignment collar is placed in the bore.
- 3. The electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein said alignment collar has a generally cylindrical axial bore therethrough constructed and arranged to receive a hydraulic valve adjuster of the electromagnetic actuator.
- 4. The electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein said second end of said alignment collar is in the form of a flange, a resilient member being associated with said flange such that said resilient member may be compressed between a surface of said flange and a surface of the cylinder head when the electromagnetic actuator is mounted to the cylinder head.
- 5. The electromagnetic actuator according to claim 4, wherein said flange defines an o-ring groove, said resilient member being an o-ring disposed in said groove such that said o-ring may be compressed between a surface of the groove and a surface of the cylinder head when the electromagnetic actuator is mounted to the cylinder head.
- 6. The electromagnetic actuator according to claim 2, wherein said flange is generally cylindrical having a planar surface which cooperates with said end of said actuator assembly, said flange including at least one flat surface substantially perpendicular to said planar surface.
- 7. The electromagnetic actuator according to claim 6, wherein said alignment collar includes an oil passage therein, said flat surface being associated with a location of the oil passage so as to permit alignment of the oil passage with an oil feed line in the cylinder head.
- 8. The electromagnetic actuator according to claim 2, wherein said flange includes a fastener receiving bore and a fastener is associated with said receiving bore, said fastener being constructed and arranged to be received by a threaded bore in the cylinder head such that said alignment collar may be securely fastened to the cylinder head.
- 9. An electromagnetic actuator for mounting to a cylinder head of an engine, the actuator comprising:
- an actuator assembly including a housing structure and an armature, and a pair of electromagnets disposed in said housing structure; and
- an alignment collar separated from said actuator assembly, said alignment collar having a first end constructed and arranged to be received in a bore of the cylinder head and a second end opposite said first end, said second end being cooperable with an end of said actuator assembly,
- wherein said first end of said alignment collar is generally cylindrical and has external threads, said threads being constructed and arranged to engage threads in the cylinder head bore so as to secure the alignment collar to the cylinder head.
- 10. The electromagnetic actuator according to claim 9, wherein said alignment collar has an axial bore therethrough and a circumferential groove in said first end thereof, an oil passage in said alignment collar communicating said groove with said axial bore.
- 11. An electromagnetic actuator for mounting to a cylinder head of an engine, the actuator comprising:
- an actuator assembly including a housing structure and an armature, and a pair of electromagnets disposed in said housing structure; and
- an alignment collar detached from said actuator assembly, said alignment collar having a first end having a diameter sized to be received in a bore of the cylinder head and a second end opposite said first end, said second end being in the form of a flange sized larger than the diameter of said first end and being cooperable with an end of said actuator assembly so as to align said actuator assembly with the bore.
- 12. A method of securing an electromagnetic actuator to a cylinder head of an engine, the actuator having an actuator assembly including a housing structure and an armature, and a pair of electromagnets disposed in said housing structure; the actuator also having an alignment collar detached from the actuator assembly, said alignment collar having a first end constructed and arranged to be received in a bore of the cylinder head and a second end opposite said first end, said second end being cooperable with an end of said actuator assembly, said alignment collar having an axial bore therethrough, the method including:
- placing said first end of the alignment collar into the bore in the cylinder head,
- placing a hydraulic valve adjuster into the axial bore of the alignment collar so that the hydraulic valve adjuster contacts a valve stem,
- placing the actuator assembly over the alignment collar, and
- securing the actuator assembly to the cylinder head.
- 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said actuator is secured to said cylinder head via a bolt in a manner as to not load said alignment collar.
- 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said alignment collar includes a flange having an o-ring groove therein, an o-ring being disposed in said groove, said o-ring being compressed between a surface of said groove and a surface of said cylinder head wen said actuator assembly is secured to said cylinder head.
- 15. The method according to claim 12, wherein prior to placing said actuator assembly over said alignment collar, said alignment collar is attached to said cylinder head via at least one fastener.
- 16. The method according to claim 12, wherein said first end of said alignment collar is threaded into said bore of said cylinder head.
- 17. The method according to claim 12, wherein said step of placing the first end of the alignment collar into the bore of the cylinder head includes placing the alignment collar such that the alignment collar does not fall completely into the bore.
Parent Case Info
This patent application claims priority to copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/069,144, filed Dec. 9, 1997.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1391955 |
Apr 1975 |
GBX |