Ring gear variable valve train device

An internal combustion engine having a plurality of independent cylinders, and a plurality of intake valves opening upon said cylinders, said intake valves being operated by a plurality of eccentric journals disposed upon at least one input crankshaft, wherein each of said cylinders is provided with a variable valve train device for cooperating with the crankshaft, the input eccentric journals of the crankshaft, and the associated cylinder valves to vary the lift of the valves, each of said devices comprising:

• a) a frame rotatably disposed about said crankshaft;
• b) a rocker arm pivotably mounted on said frame;
• c) a connecting rod disposed on said eccentric journal and pivotably attached to said rocker arm for imparting rocking motion thereto;
• d) a ring gear portion attached to said rocker arm for reciprocating motion thereof and having inwardly-extending teeth;
• e) an output cam rotatably disposed about said crankshaft radially inward from said ring gear portion and having outwardly-extending teeth for meshing with said teeth on said ring gear portion to oscillate said cam against cylinder valve opening means to open and close said valve;
• and
• f) control means attached to said frame for controlling the angular orientation of said frame and components mounted thereupon with respect to said crankshaft for controllably varying the lift of said valve as desired.

A method for variably controlling the lift, duration of opening, and operational timing of a valve with respect to the motion of a piston in an internal combustion engine to control the rotational speed and load of the engine, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a variable valve train device for cooperating with an input crankshaft, an input eccentric journal of said crankshaft, and said valve, including
• i) a frame rotatably disposed about said crankshaft,
• ii) a rocker arm pivotably mounted on said frame,
• iii) a connecting rod disposed on said eccentric journal and pivotably attached to said rocker arm for imparting rocking motion thereto,
• iv) a ring gear portion attached to said rocker arm for reciprocating motion thereof and having inwardly-extending teeth,
• v) an output cam rotatably disposed about said crankshaft radially inward of said ring gear portion and having outwardly-extending teeth for meshing with said teeth on said reciprocating ring gear portion to oscillate said cam against cylinder valve opening means to open and close said valve, and
• vi) control means attached to said frame for controlling the angular orientation of said frame and components mounted thereupon with respect to said crankshaft for controllably varying the lift of said valve as desired;
• and
• b) varying said control means to change said angular orientation of said frame and components as desired to increase or decrease the lift of said valve and to advance or retard the timing of opening and closing of said valve and to increase or decrease the duration of opening of said valve, thereby controlling the rotational speed and load of the engine.