Patent ID: 6550432
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: F01L,F02B

Abstract:
A vehicle multi-cylinder engine comprising:a plurality of banks, each including a cylinder row portion having a plurality of cylinder bores arranged in a row and provided in an engine block, and a cylinder head connected to said cylinder row portion, wherein said plurality of banks are setted at an angle relative to each other on a projection drawing onto a plane normal to an axial direction of a crankshaft and are disposed to be offset from each other in an axial direction of said crankshaft; valve trains provided on said cylinder heads of said respective banks, for driving engine valves for said cylinder bores, respectively, to open and close; and valve operating characteristics changing mechanisms incorporated in said valve trains of at least one of said respective banks, and being adapted to change operating characteristics of said engine valves in response to oil pressure control implemented by an oil pressure control valve; wherein said oil pressure control valve is disposed in a space produced between end portions of said contiguous banks at either of ends thereof in an axial direction of said crankshaft as said banks are offset from each other and said oil pressure control valve is attached to at least one of said cylinder heads; wherein the pair of banks are formed in a V-shape on a projection drawing onto a plane that is normal to axial direction of said crankshaft extending in a transverse direction of a vehicle, and said valve trains incorporating said valve operating characteristics changing mechanisms and said oil pressure control valve are, respectively, disposed on only said cylinder head of one bank of said banks situated on a rear side of said engine as viewed in a longitudinal direction of said vehicle.