Patent ID: 7845323
Filing Date: 2010-12-07
Classification: F01L,F01M,F01P,F02B,F02F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An internal combustion engine comprising: a crankcase; a crankshaft disposed in the crankcase; a cylinder block connected to the crankcase, the cylinder block having at least one cylinder; at least one piston disposed in the at least one cylinder, the at least one piston being operatively connected to the crankshaft; a cylinder head assembly connected to the cylinder block; a combustion chamber defined by the at least one cylinder between the piston and the cylinder head assembly; a first camshaft support disposed in the cylinder head assembly; a second camshaft support disposed in the cylinder head assembly; a first passage fluidly communicating with the combustion chamber, the first passage being disposed at least in part in the cylinder head assembly; a second passage adjacent to the first passage and fluidly communicating with the combustion chamber, the second passage being disposed at least in part in the cylinder head assembly; a first valve for selectively communicating the first passage with the combustion chamber, the first valve being disposed between the first and second camshaft supports; a second valve for selectively communicating the second passage with the combustion chamber, the second valve being disposed between the first and second camshaft supports; a camshaft extending generally horizontally in the cylinder head assembly, the camshaft having a first portion journaled in the first camshaft support and a second portion journaled in the second camshaft support; a first cam disposed on the camshaft for rotation therewith; a second cam disposed on the camshaft for rotation therewith; a cam follower shaft disposed in the cylinder head assembly generally parallel to the camshaft; a first cam follower having a first end journaled on the cam follower shaft and a second end abutting an end of the first valve, rotation of the camshaft causing the first cam to engage the first cam follower such that the first cam follower rotates about the cam follower shaft and moves the first valve to an open position where the first passage fluidly communicates with the combustion chamber; a first spring for biasing the first valve to a closed position preventing fluid communication between the first passage and the combustion chamber; a second cam follower having a first end journaled on the cam follower shaft and a second end abutting an end of the second valve, rotation of the camshaft causing the second cam to engage the second cam follower such that the second cam follower rotates about the cam follower shaft and moves the second valve to an open position where the second passage fluidly communicates with the combustion chamber; a second spring for biasing the second valve to a closed position preventing fluid communication between the second passage and the combustion chamber; a spacer disposed at least partially around the cam follower shaft, the spacer being disposed between the first and second cam followers such that: the first cam follower is disposed between and abuts the spacer and the first camshaft support, and the second cam follower is disposed between and abuts the spacer and the second camshaft support.