Patent ID: 7246673
Filing Date: 2007-07-24
Classification: B60K,B60W,F02B,F02D,F16H,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A vehicle powertrain comprising: an engine having a rotatable crankshaft and a plurality of cylinders each with a corresponding selectively activatable and deactivatable cylinder valve operatively connected thereto; wherein each of said selectively activatable and deactivatable cylinder valves opens and closes with crankshaft rotation when activated and remains closed irrespective of crankshaft rotation when deactivated; and wherein every cylinder in the engine is characterized by an operative condition in which the corresponding cylinder valve is activated, and an inoperative condition in which the corresponding cylinder valve is deactivated; an electric motor in hybrid combination with the engine; and a valvetrain mechanism operable to mechanically, not electromechanically, actuate each of said selectively activatable and deactivatable cylinder valves.