초록 ▼

An internal combustion engine has engine cylinder intake and exhaust valves that are operated by intake and exhaust cams via hydraulic linkages. The hydraulic linkages have selective lost motions that allow selective modification of the openings and closings of the engine cylinder valves. These modi

An internal combustion engine has engine cylinder intake and exhaust valves that are operated by intake and exhaust cams via hydraulic linkages. The hydraulic linkages have selective lost motions that allow selective modification of the openings and closings of the engine cylinder valves. These modifications may also include complete omission of all response to particular lobes on the cams. The hydraulic linkages may be interconnected so that some intake valve openings are produced by an exhaust cam lobe and/or some exhaust valve openings are produced by an intake cam lobe. The linkages and linkage interconnections are preferably controlled electronically. The engine is preferably operable in either four-cycle positive power mode or two-cycle compression release engine braking mode. The intake cam may have plural lobes or only one lobe, while the exhaust cam may only have one lobe.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] An internal combustion engine comprising;an intake valve associated with a cylinder of said engine;an exhaust valve associated with said cylinder;an intake cam having at least one lobe synchronized with possible openings of said intake valve;an exhaust cam having at least one lobe s

[ I claim:] [1.] An internal combustion engine comprising;an intake valve associated with a cylinder of said engine;an exhaust valve associated with said cylinder;an intake cam having at least one lobe synchronized with possible openings of said intake valve;an exhaust cam having at least one lobe synchronized with possible openings of said exhaust valve;a first hydraulic linkage containing hydraulic fluid operatively coupled between said intake cam and said intake valve for selectively responding to said at least one lobe of said intake cam by causing said intake valve to open;a second hydraulic linkage containing hydraulic fluid operatively coupled between said exhaust cam and said exhaust valve for selectively responding to said at least one lobe of said exhaust cam by causing said exhaust valve to open;a first hydraulic fluid control for selectively controlling hydraulic fluid pressure in said first hydraulic linkage to selectively modify the openings of said intake valve in response to said at least one lobe of said intake cam, wherein said first hydraulic fluid control is selectively operable to allow said intake valve to open in a first engine operating condition and remain closed during a possible opening in a second engine operating condition in response to said at least one lobe of said intake cam; anda second hydraulic fluid control for selectively controlling hydraulic fluid pressure in said second hydraulic linkage to selectively modify the openings of said exhaust valve in response to said at least one lobe of said exhaust cam.