Engine valve control mechanism

A valve control means adapted for incorporation into an internal combustion engine valve gear train including a cylinder valve, a lash adjuster having a movable portion for controlling valve train lash, a camshaft having a cam lobe, said valve control means comprising:

• a rigid link adapted to be supported at one end by the valve and pivotally supported at the other end by the movable portion of the lash adjuster;
• a cam follower pivotally hinged to said link at a position adjacent said one end and adapted to contact said cam lobe in response to rotation of the camshaft;
• latch means supported by said link at a position adjacent said other end, said latch means operative in a first position to prevent pivotal movement of said cam follower relative to said link for effecting actuation of said valve by said cam lobe, and said latch means operative in a second position to allow pivotal movement of said follower relative to said link to render said cam lobe at least partially ineffective for actuating said valve;
• and
• actuation means mounted on the moveable portion of the lash adjuster and selectively operative to move said latch means between said first and second positions.

A valve control means adapted for incorporation into an internal combustion engine valve gear train including a cylinder valve, a lash adjuster having a movable portion for controlling valve train lash, a camshaft having a cam lobe, said valve control means comprising:

• a rigid link adapted to be supported at one end by the valve and supported at the other end by the movable portion of the lash adjuster for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis defined by the moveable portion;
• a cam follower pivotally hinged to said link at a position adjacent said one end and adapted to contact the cam lobe in response to rotation of the camshaft;
• latch means supported by said link at a position adjacent said other end, said latch means operative in a first position to prevent pivotal movement of said cam follower relative to said link for effecting actuation of said valve by said cam lobe, and said latch means operative in a second position to allow pivotal movement of said follower relative to said link to render the cam lobe at least partially ineffective for actuating the valve;
• a pivotal lever having a cylindrical surface portion radially spaced from and substantially concentric to the pivotal axis when said latch means is in said first position, said pivotal axis lying substantially in said cylindrical surface when said latch means is in said second position;
• and
• actuation means adapted to be mounted on the movable portion of the lash adjuster and including a plunger having an end for contacting and moving said cylindrical surface from said radially spaced position to said position wherein the axis lies substantially in said cylindrical surface.