Patent ID: 6189498
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: F01L,F02B

Abstract:
An internal combustion engine having an engine body defining at least one combustion chamber in which a piston reciprocates for driving a crankshaft for rotation about a crankshaft axis that extends longitudinally of said engine body, a valve mechanism for controlling the admission of a charge to said combustion chamber and the discharge of a burnt charge from said combustion chamber, said valve mechanism including at least one valve operating shaft, said valve operating shaft being journaled for rotation about a rotational axis that extends parallel to said crankshaft axis, a timing drive for driving said valve operating shaft in timed rotation from said crankshaft comprising at least one intermediate shaft directly driven by said crankshaft through a first drive and driving said valve operating shaft through a second drive, said timing drive including a variable valve timing mechanism disposed in the driving connection between one of said first and second drives and said intermediate shaft for varying the phase angle between said crankshaft and said valve operating shaft, said variable valve timing mechanism being disposed at a location that is spaced from the ends of said valve operating shaft.