Multi-cylinder diesel engine with variable valve actuation

Claim 1

Multi-cylinder diesel engine, comprising: at least one intake vale ( 11 ) and at least one exhaust valve (E) for each cylinder, each provided with respective return spring means ( 4 ) biasing the valve towards the closed position, for controlling respective intake and exhaust conduits, a cam shaft ( 10 ) for actuating the intake and exhaust valves (I, E) of the engine cylinders by means of respective tappets ( 7 ), each intake valve and each exhaust valve being driven by a cam (C I , C E ) of said cam shaft ( 10 ), wherein each of said tappets ( 7 ) drives the respective intake or exhaust valve (I, E) against the action of said return spring means ( 4 ) through the interposition of hydraulic means including a chamber of fluid under pressure ( 6 ), the chamber of fluid under pressure ( 6 ) associated with each intake valve (I) and each exhaust valve (E) being adapted to be connected through a solenoid valve ( 15 ) to an outlet channel ( 12 ), in order to uncouple the valve from the respective tappet ( 7 ) and to cause the valve to close rapidly under the action of the respective return spring means ( 4 ), electronic control means for controlling each solenoid valve ( 15 ) for varying the opening time and stroke of the respective intake or exhaust vale (I, E) as a function of one or more parameters of operation of the engine, wherein each cam of the engine cam shaft ( 10 ) has a profile such as to tend to cause the respective intake or exhaust valve (I. E) controlled thereby to open not only during the conventional opening stage within the regular cycle of operation of the engine, but also at some additional stages of the cycle, wherein said electronic control means are adapted to cause each solenoid valve ( 15 ) to open so as to keep the respective intake or exhaust valve (I, E) closed during the above-mentioned conventional stage and/or during one or more of said additional stages at which the respective cam would tend to cause opening of the valve, so that the engine can be operated selectively according to different modes of operation by controlling said solenoid valves ( 15 ), and wherein said electronic means are adapted to provide a mode of operation of the engine as a brake, wherein no fuel is injected into the cylinders and wherein each solenoid valve ( 15 ) in controlled so as to keep the intake and exhaust valves (I, E) of each cylinder closed substantially during each upstroke of the respective piston from the bottom dead center to the top dead center, so as to exploit the power absorbed at each piston upstroke in order to obtain a braking effect, said electronic means being also adapted to allow each exhaust valve to open, by closing the respective solenoid valve ( 15 ) immediately before the piston reaches the top dead center, due to the action of the respective cam (C E ).