Engine valve control mechanism

In an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder valve, wherein the improvement comprises:

• a camshaft mounted for rotation in said engine and including a circumferential surface defining a first surface portion and a cam lobe projecting radially outward from the circumferential surface and axially adjacent to the first surface portion;
• rigid link means defining on a surface thereof a first follower means in direct contact with said first surface portion of said camshaft and having another surface in direct driving contact with said valve;
• a second follower means disposed adjacent said first follower means, moveable relative to said rigid link means, and in direct contact with said cam lobe;
• latch means selectively moveable between first and second positions, said latch means operative in said first position to prevent movement of said second follower means relative to said link means for effecting actuation of said valve by said cam lobe, and said latch means operative in said second position to allow movement of said second follower means relative to said link means, whereby said cam lobe is at least partially ineffective for actuating said valve.

In an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder valve, wherein the improvement comprises:

• a camshaft mounted for rotation in said engine and including first and second cam lobes projecting radially outward from a common surface concentric to the axis of said camshaft, said first cam lobe having a lower lift and being adjacent to said second cam lobe;
• an elongated rigid link means having one end portion pivotally mounted on means supported by said engine, the other end portion drivingly engaging said valve, a center portion rigidly interconnecting said end portions and defining on a surface thereof first cam follower means operative to drivingly engage said first cam lobe and a portion of said circumferential surface;
• a second cam follower means disposed adjacent said first cam follower means moveable relative to said elongated link;
• resilient means for biasing said second cam follower means into driving engagement with said second cam lobe and a portion of said circumferential surface;
• and
• latch means selectively moveable between first and second positions, said latch means operative in said first position to prevent movement of said second cam follower means relative to said elongated link means for effecting actuation of said valve by said second cam lobe, and said latch means operative in said second position to allow movement of said second cam follower means relative to said elongated link means for rendering said second cam lobe ineffective and for effecting actuation of said valve by said second cam lobe.

In an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder valve, wherein the improvement comprises:

• a camshaft mounted for rotation in said engine and including a circumferential surface defining a first surface portion concentric to the axis of said camshaft and a cam lobe projecting radially outward from the circumferential surface and axially adjacent to said first surface portion;
• an elongated rigid link means having one end portion pivotally mounted on means supported by said engine, the other end portion drivingly engaging said valve, and a center portion rigidly interconnecting said end portions and defining on a surface thereof a first follower operative to drivingly engage said first surface portion;
• cam follower means disposed adjacent said first follower means and moveable relative to said elongated link;
• resilient means for biasing said second cam follower into driving engagement with said cam lobe;
• latch means selectively moveable between first and second positions, said latch means operative in said first position to prevent movement of said cam follower means relative to said elongated link means for effecting actuation of said valve by said cam lobe, and said latch means operative in said second position to allow movement of said cam follower relative to said elongated link means for rendering said cam lobe ineffective and disabling said valve.

A device for varying the timing of the cyclic opening and closing of the combustion chamber valves of an internal combustion engine in relation to the engine shaft, said device comprising:

• cam means moved in response to movement of the engine shaft, said cam means including
• means operable to cyclically provide a first valve lift motion in predetermined relationship to the movement of the engine shaft and a period of dwell wherein said motion is not provided, and
• means operable to cyclically provide a second valve lift motion at a predetermined differential from said first motion with respect to movement of the engine shaft and a period of dwell wherein said second motion is not provided;
• cam follower means operable to receive and transmit said first and second valve lift motion from said cam means;
• and
• latch means selectively moveable between a first and second state, said latch means being operative in said first state to effect transmission of said first valve lift motion from said cam follower means for effecting opening and closing of the engine valves, said latch means being operative in said second state to effect transmission of only said second valve lift motion from said cam follower means for opening and closing said valve means, said latch means being selectively moveable between said first and second states only when said cam means is in said first and second dwell periods with respect to said cam follower means.

A device for controlling the lift from its seat of an engine poppet valve in the valve gear of an internal combustion engine having cam means operable to move cyclically in timed relationship with rotation of the engine shaft for providing valve lift motion, said device comprising:

• link means adapted for pivotal mounting on the engine;
• cam follower means moveably connected to said link means and operable in a first position with respect thereto to contact said cam means for providing a certain valve lift in response to said cyclic movement of said cam means, said cam follower being moveable to a second position with respect to said link means and in which said second position said cam follower is operable to contact said cam means for providing a lift substantially less than said certain valve lift;
• and
• latch means selectively operable to secure and release said cam follower means in said first position.

A device for controlling the lift from its seat of an engine poppet valve in the valve gear of an internal combustion engine having cam means operable to move cyclically in timed relationship with rotation of the engine shaft for providing a certain valve lift motion, said device comprising:

• link means adapted for pivotal mounting on the engine;
• cam follower means moveably connected to said link means and adapted to contact said cam means, said follower means having a first locked condition and being operable therein upon contacting said cam means to provide said certain lift in response to said cyclic motion of said cam means, said cam follower means operable when released from said first position to absorb a portion of said certain lift as lost motion;
• and
• latch means selectively actuatable to secure and release said follower means from said locked position.

In an internal combustion engine having a poppet valve lifted from a seat and cam means cyclically moveable in timed relationship with rotation of the engine shaft to provide valve lift motion, the improvement comprising:

• link means pivotally mounted on said engine and including means contacting said poppet valve and operable to move same from its seat upon movement of said link means;
• cam follower means moveably mounted on said link means, said cam follower contacting said cam means and being operative when secured in a first position to cause said link means to provide a certain valve lift, said follower means being operable when released to move with respect to said link means to move to a second position to absorb a portion of said certain valve lift as lost motion;
• and
• latch means selectively operable to lock and release said follower means in said first position.