Patent ID: 7306202

Claim:
An apparatus for controlling valve movements in an internal combustion engine which has at least one inlet valve and at least one exhaust valve for controlling connection between the combustion chamber in the cylinder and an inlet system and an exhaust system, respectively, said apparatus comprising: a rotatable camshaft having a cam curve including a rising ramp ( 10 a ) and a falling ramp ( 10 b ) that interacts with a valve mechanism ( 14 ) for actuation of at least one of the inlet or exhaust valve under the action of a valve spring ( 13 ), the valve mechanism ( 14 ) comprising control members ( 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 and 26 ) that allow return movement of the valve mechanism to be controlled during the closing phase of the valve, independently of the falling ramp ( 10 b ) of the cam curve, such that mechanical contact between the cam curve and the valve is broken and said control members ( 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 and 26 ) being configured so that closing of the valve is delayable for an adjustable period of time using a hydraulically adjustable force counteracting a closing force of the valve spring ( 13 ).