Multicylinder internal combustion engine with valve disconnection

A multicylinder internal combustion engine which includes a valve means for the respective cylinders of the engine and means for selectively shutting off the valve means of at least one of the cylinders, the valve means including a valve stem and a valve actuating means, characterized in that an intermediate mechanical device is interposed between an end of the valve stem and the valve actuating means for selectively forming a rigid interconnection between the valve stem and valve actuating means and, in a closed setting of the valve means, for eliminating the interconnection between the valve stem and the valve actuating means, the intermediate mechanical means includes a substantially flat adjusting lever means rotatably mounted at the end of the valve stem, switching means are provided for selectively rotating the adjusting lever means, a pressure member is provided and is operatively associated with the valve actuating means, a guide sleeve means is connected with the pressure member for guiding the adjusting lever means, a spring means is disposed below the pressure member for constantily urging the adjusting lever means toward the end of the valve stem, the guide sleeve means is fashioned as a stepped member and includes a lower sleeve part adapted to be guided so as to be longitudinally slidable on a hat-shaped guide element arranged on a cylinder head size of the engine, the guide sleeve means further includes a shoulder means for forming a bearing member for a first end of the spring means, the spring means is concentrically disposed with respect to a valve spring of the valve means, and in that a second end of the spring means is engageable with a shoulder means provided on the hat-shaped guide element.