Patent ID: 6343581
Filing Date: 2002-02-05
Classification: F01L

Abstract:
An internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber, at least one gas flow passage communicating with said combustion chamber through a valve seat, a poppet valve for controlling the flow through said valve seat, a camshaft journalled for rotation about a camshaft axis, a first cam having a first lift characteristic fixed for rotation with said camshaft, a second cam associated with said camshaft for relative rotation, said second cam has a second lift characteristic different from said first lift characteristic of said first cam, a valve actuator associated with said first and said second cams for transmitting their rotational movements to reciprocation of said poppet valve, and a coupling device for selectively permitting relative movement between said camshaft and said second cam so that said first cam controls the entire opening and closing cycle of said poppet valve and for coupling said second cam for rotation with said camshaft about said camshaft axis so that said second cam controls at least a part of the opening and closing cycle of said poppet valve.