Patent ID: 7222595
Filing Date: 2007-05-29
Classification: F01L,F01P

Abstract:
1. An internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle comprising: a cylinder head and head cover, said cylinder head connected to at least one cylinder, the cylinder head at least partially defining a combustion chamber with said cylinder and partially defining a valve chamber; an air duct directing air for cooling and not for combustion, said air duct at least partially disposed between the combustion chamber and the valve chamber, said air duct formed by duct walls in said cylinder head including a combustion chamber wall and a valve chamber wall, wherein the air in the air duct cools the combustion chamber wall and the valve chamber wall; and a valve characteristic varying mechanism for controlling a valve operation characteristic of an intake valve and an exhaust valve, the valve characteristic varying mechanism including an electric actuator disposed outside of the cylinder head and the head cover in an air flow path of the air duct so that said electric actuator is also cooled by the air which flows in the air duct.