Patent ID: 7819096

Claim:
A cylinder valve operating system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a camshaft having a plurality of lobes; a plurality of hydraulically controllable intake valve operators driven by said lobes; a plurality of intake valves actuated by said intake valve operators; a plurality of hydraulically controllable exhaust valve operators driven by said lobes; a plurality of exhaust valves actuated by said exhaust valve operators; a source of high pressure oil; and a valving system for selectively furnishing high pressure oil to said intake valve operators and to said exhaust valve operators, with said valving system comprising a hydraulic phase shifter integrated with said camshaft and connected between said source of high pressure oil and said intake valve operators and said exhaust valve operators, so as to phase the hydraulic control of said intake valve operators with respect to said exhaust valve operators, wherein said hydraulic phase shifter comprises: a valve body having a central bore equipped with a supply port for receiving oil from said high pressure source, and a plurality of outlet ports, with a first outlet port connected with said intake valve operators, and a second outlet port connected with said exhaust valve operators; and a metering surface formed on said camshaft, with said metering surface extending within said central bore of said valve body, and with said metering surface comprising a generally cylindrical surface having a plurality of metering grooves for connecting said supply port with said outlet ports in a phased relationship.