解:(1)在$\triangle ABC$和$\triangle EDC$中,$\begin{cases}AC = EC\\\angle ACB=\angle ECD\\BC = DC\end{cases},$
所以$\triangle ABC\cong\triangle EDC(SAS),$所以$\angle A=\angle E,$$AB = DE,$所以$AB// DE。$
(2)当$0\leq t\leq\frac{4}{3}$时,$AP = 3t cm;$
当$\frac{4}{3}<t\leq\frac{8}{3}$时,$BP=(3t - 4)cm,$则$AP = 4-(3t - 4)=(8 - 3t)cm。$
(3)如图,由(1)得,$\angle A=\angle E,$$ED = AB = 4cm,$
在$\triangle ACP$和$\triangle ECQ$中,$\begin{cases}\angle A=\angle E\\AC = EC\\\angle ACP=\angle ECQ\end{cases},$
所以$\triangle ACP\cong\triangle ECQ(ASA),$所以$AP = EQ。$
当$0\leq t\leq\frac{4}{3}$时,$3t = 4 - t,$解得$t = 1;$
当$\frac{4}{3}<t\leq\frac{8}{3}$时,$8 - 3t = 4 - t,$解得$t = 2。$
综上所述,当线段$PQ$经过点$C$时,$t$的值为$1$或$2。$