Offset variable valve actuation mechanism

An output cam for use with a variable valve actuating mechanism, comprising:

• a body portion including an elongate substantially semi-cylindrical top piece, said top piece having an inner and an outer surface, an elongate substantially semi-cylindrical bottom piece having an inner and outer surface, each respective said inner surface of said top and bottom pieces is configured for being disposed in engagement with radially-opposing portions of an outer surface of an input shaft, said top and bottom pieces configured for being coupled together to thereby pivotally dispose said output cam upon said input shaft;
• a first output cam lobe adjoining said body portion at a first end thereof;
• and
• a second output cam lobe adjoining said body portion at a second end thereof.

An internal combustion engine, comprising:

• an elongate camshaft having a central axis, a plurality of cam lobes spaced axially apart along a length of said camshaft;
• a plurality of cylinders, each of said cylinders being adjacent to at least one other of said cylinders relative to said central axis of said camshaft, a respective at least one of said cam lobes corresponding to each of said cylinders;
• a respective pair of valves operably associated with each of said cylinders, each said pair of valves including a respective first and a respective second valve, said first valve being spaced a predetermined distance apart from said second valve relative to said central axis;
• a respective cam support bearing disposed between each said first and second valve relative to said central axis, said cam support bearing coupled to said camshaft;
• and
• a respective variable valve actuation mechanism operably associated with each of said cylinders for transferring rotational movement of the corresponding said at least one of said cam lobes to actuation of the corresponding said pair of valves, said variable valve actuation mechanism pivotally coupled to said camshaft between the corresponding said first and second valve relative to said central axis, said variable valve actuation mechanism including an output cam having an outer surface, at least a portion of said outer surface being pivotally engaged by an inside surface of said cam support.

An internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a variable valve actuation mechanism having an output cam, said output cam having an elongate substantially semi-cylindrical top piece, said top piece having an inner surface and an outer surface, an elongate substantially semi-cylindrical bottom piece having an inner surface and an outer surface, first and second output cam lobes disposed on and axially separated by said outer surface of said bottom piece;
• a camshaft having an outside surface, said inner surfaces of said top and bottom pieces pivotally engaging radially opposed portions of said outside surface of said camshaft, said top and bottom pieces being coupled together to thereby pivotally dispose said output cam upon said camshaft;
• and
• a cam support bearing having an inside surface, said inside surface pivotally engaging said outer surfaces of said top and bottom pieces of said output cam to thereby support said camshaft.