Engine valve control mechanism

Claim 2

A valve control rocker arm means adapted for incorporation into an internal combustion engine valve gear train including a cylinder valve and a camshaft having a cam lobe, said rocker arm means comprising: rigid link means adapted to be pivotally interposed between the camshaft and the valve; cam follower means mounted on and moveable relative to said rigid link means and adapted to follow the contour of the cam lobe; and 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 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 link means, whereby said cam lobe is at least partially ineffective for actuating said valve.

Claim 3

The rocker arm of claim 1, further including: hinge means for pivotally connecting said cam follower means to said link means.

Claim 4

The rocker arm of claim 1, further including: spring means for biasing said cam follower means toward said cam lobe.

Claim 5

The rocker arm of claim 1, wherein said rigid link means is an elongated link having one end means adapted to be pivotally supported, an other end means adapted to drivingly engage the engine valve, and rail means rigidly interconnecting said end means, and wherein said follower means is mounted in a space defined by said end means and said rail means.

Claim 6

The rocker arm of claim 4, further including: hinge means for pivotally connecting said cam follower means to one of said end means.

Claim 7

The rocker arm of claim 5, further including: spring means for biasing said cam follower means toward said cam lobe.

Claim 8

The rocker arm of claim 6, wherein said elongated link means includes: reaction means for supporting one end of said spring means; and means for supporting said latch means.

Claim 9

A valve control rocker arm adapted for incorporation into an internal combustion engine valve gear train including at least one cylinder valve and a camshaft having at least one cam lobe, said rocker arm means comprising: an elongated link means having one end means adapted to be pivotally supported, an other end means adapted to drivingly engage the valve, and two spaced apart rail means rigidly interconnecting said end means and defining an opening therebetween; a cam follower supported in said opening for movement relative to said link means and adapted to follow the contour of the cam lobe; latch means supported by said elongated link means and selectively moveable between first and second positions, said latch means operative in said first position to prevent movement of said cam follower 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 cam follower means relative to said rigid link means, whereby said cam lobe is ineffective to actuate said valve.

Claim 10

A valve control rocker arm adapted for incorporation into an internal combustion engine valve gear train including at least one cylinder valve and a camshaft having at least one cam lobe, said rocker arm means comprising: an elongated link means having one end means adapted to be pivotally supported, an other end means adapted to drivingly engage the valve, and two spaced apart rail means rigidly interconnecting said end means and defining an opening therebetween; a cam follower supported in said opening for movement relative to said link means and adapted to follow the contour of the cam lobe; latch means supported by said elongated link means and selectively moveable between first and second positions, said latch means operative in said first position to prevent movement of said cam follower 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 cam follower means relative to said rigid link means, whereby said cam lobe is ineffective to actuate said valve.

Claim 11

The rocker arm of claim 8, further including: spring means for biasing said cam follower means toward said cam lobe.

Claim 12

The rocker arm of claim 8, further including: hinge means for pivotally connecting said cam follower to one of said end means.

Claim 13

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.

Claim 14

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.

Claim 15

The improvement of claim 11, wherein said first surface portion of said camshaft defines a cylindrical surface concentric to the axis of said camshaft and said valve is completely disabled when said latch means is in said second position.

Claim 16

The improvement of claim 11, wherein said first surface portion of said camshaft defines a second cam lobe confined within the circumferential and radial extent of said first mentioned cam lobe for effecting actuation of said valve when said latch is in said second position.

Claim 17

The improvement of claim 11, wherein said rigid link means is an elongated link having one end portion pivotally mounted on means supported by said engine, the other end portion drivingly engaging said valve, and a center rail portion rigidly interconnecting said end portions and defining said first follower means.

Claim 18

The improvement of claim 14, further including: hinge means pivotally connecting said second follower to said rigid link means.

Claim 19

The improvement of claim 14, further including: spring means for biasing said second follower means into engagement with said cam lobe.

Claim 20

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.

Claim 21

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.

Claim 22

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.

Claim 23

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.

Claim 30

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.

Claim 31

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.