Valve actuation device

Claim 1

A valve actuation device for an internal combustion engine having a cylinder head and a valve arrangement with at least three valves operatively associated with a common combustion chamber, each of the valves having a stem portion for reciprocation along a respective axis, comprising: the valves are movable between a first position at which the valves are opened and a second position at which the valves are closed, each of the stem portion of the valves having a valve end, the valve ends defining a plane when the valves are in the second position and being arranged in a geometric shape having a centroid; a free-floating bridge seated on the stem portions of the valves; means for applying a force to the free-floating bridge at a first contact point and a second contact point sufficient for actuating the valves simultaneously, the force applying means including a shaft mounted on the cylinder head and a movable rocker arm pivotably mounted on the shaft, the rocker arm having a first finger contacting the free-floating bridge at the first contact point and a second finger contacting the free-floating bridge at the second contact point; another plane is defined which passes through the centroid parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and perpendicular the first mentioned plane; and the first and second fingers contact the free-floating bridge at points on opposite sides of the centroid of the geometric shape at any location along the another plane, the first contact point being a predetermined distance from the centroid and the second contact point being a predetermined distance from the centroid which is different than the predetermined distance between the first contact point and the centroid.