Claims
- 1. A variable valve train device for cooperating with a camshaft, an input cam lobe of the camshaft, and the associated valve stem of a cylinder valve of an internal combustion engine to vary the lift of the valve, comprising:a) a frame rotatably disposed on said camshaft; b) a rocker arm rotatably mounted on said frame; c) an input roller rotatably mounted on said rocker for followingly rolling on said input cam lobe; d) a first spring receiving means attached to said frame; e) a second spring receiving means rotatably disposed on said camshaft; f) an output cam connected to said second spring receiving means for rotation therewith about said camshaft and for cooperating with said valve stem to cause said valve to be opened and closed; g) an output roller rotatably mounted on said rocker arm for engaging and rotating said second spring receiving means and said output cam in response to corresponding rotary motion of said input cam lobe; h) a spring disposed between said first and second spring receiving means for returning said rocker arm, said input and output rollers, said second spring receiving means, and said output cam to a starting position as said valve closes; and i) control means attached to said frame for controlling the angular orientation of said frame and components mounted thereupon with respect to said camshaft for controllably varying the lift of said valve as desired.
- 2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said valve is a first valve for said cylinder and wherein said engine has first and second valves operating in parallel for said cylinder, further comprising:a) a second set of components for opening and closing said second valve, said second components including another spring receiving means attached to said frame, another spring receiving means rotatably disposed on said camshaft, another output cam connected to said other spring receiving means for rotation therewith about said camshaft and for cooperating with said second valve to cause said second valve to be opened and closed, a second spring disposed between said other spring receiving means on said frame and said other spring receiving means on said camshaft for helping to return said rocker arm, said input and output rollers, said various spring receiving means, and said second output cam to a starting position as said second valve closes; and b) a bridge element connecting said two spring receiving means attached respectively to said first and second output cams for receiving said output roller on a surface thereof.
- 3. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said frame has an arcuate end extending longitudinally of said camshaft and wherein said device further comprises a camshaft bearing cap having an arcuate groove therein for receiving said arcuate end to permit rotation of said frame therein about said camshaft.
- 4. A device in accordance with claim 3 further comprising at least two such camshaft bearing caps.
- 5. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said spring is a curved, helical-shaped compression spring.
- 6. A device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a roller finger follower disposed between said output cam and said stem of said valve for translating oscillatory motion of said output cam into axial motion of said valve stem.
- 7. A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said roller finger follower is pivotably tethered to said engine at a first end thereof by a hydraulic lash adjuster and at a second end thereof to said valve stem.
- 8. 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 input cam lobes disposed upon at least one camshaft, wherein each of said cylinders is provided with a variable valve train device for cooperating with the camshaft, the input cam lobes of the camshaft, and the associated valve stems of the cylinder valves to vary the lift of the valves, each of said devices comprising:a) a frame rotatably disposed on said camshaft; b) a rocker arm rotatably mounted on said frame; c) an input roller rotatably mounted on said rocker for followingly rolling on said input cam lobe; d) a first spring receiving means attached to said frame; e) a second spring receiving means rotatably disposed on said camshaft; f) an output cam connected to said second spring receiving means for rotation therewith about said camshaft and for cooperating with said valve stem to cause said valve to be opened and closed; g) an output roller rotatably mounted on said rocker arm for engaging and rotating said second spring receiving means and said output cam in response to corresponding rotary motion of said input cam lobe; h) a compressible spring disposed between said first and second spring receiving means for returning said rocker arm, said input and output rollers, said second spring receiving means, and said output cam to a starting position as said valve closes; and i) control means attached to said frame for controlling the angular orientation of said frame and components mounted thereupon with respect to said camshaft for controllably varying the lift of said valves as desired.
- 9. 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 a camshaft and an input cam lobe of said camshaft and the associated valve stem of said valve, including i) a frame rotatably disposed on said camshaft, ii) a rocker arm rotatably mounted on said frame, iii) an input roller rotatably mounted on said rocker for followingly rolling on said input cam lobe, iv) a first spring receiving means attached to said frame, v) a second spring receiving means rotatably disposed on said camshaft, vi) an output cam connected to said second spring receiving means for rotation therewith about said camshaft and for cooperating with said valve stem to cause said valve to be opened and closed, vii) an output roller rotatably mounted on said rocker arm for engaging and rotating said second spring receiving means and said output cam in response to corresponding rotary motion of said input cam lobe, viii) a spring disposed between said first and second spring receiving means for returning said rocker arm, said input and output rollers, said second spring receiving means, and said output cam to a starting position as said valve closes, and ix) control means attached to said frame for controlling the angular orientation of said frame and components mounted thereupon with respect to said camshaft; 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.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/183,123 filed Feb. 17, 2000.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/183123 |
Feb 2000 |
US |