Abstract: An improved motor vehicle engine compartment [10] for protecting the engine from cold by retaining engine heat includes conventional side walls [11,12], hood [13] and cowling [14]. A front wall [16] adjacent the radiator [R] includes a series of movable louvers [22] for covering and uncovering a series of opeings [21]. A lower wall [17] includes a series of movable louvers [24] for covering and uncovering a series of openings [23]. Together these walls and the side walls, hood and cowling form a substantially hermetically sealed enclosure when the louvers are in the covering positions. Actuators [28,29], acting through connecting rods [26,27], move the louvers [22,24] to the covering and uncovering positions. A control circuit [40], responsive to low ambient temperature, high engine temperature and operation of the engine, controls the operation of the actuators [28,29].

Abstract: An engine valve bridge assembly, or the like, contains an improved lash adjuster assembly including a follower body, such as in a known lash adjuster hydraulic element assembly, in an improved holder that axially separates the mounting portion from the body-carrying bore to avoid distortion of the bore from mounting of the holder. Numerous primary and alternative features are disclosed.

Abstract: A valve actuating mechanism for an internal combustion engine is provided including an integrally formed stop element to limit the axial travel of the valves toward the piston to a predetermined maximum extent in the event an adjacent associated valve becomes stuck and unmovable. The present invention further provides a valve actuating mechanism including a guideless valve bridge with specifically configured contact faces which prevents both the excess axial movement of the valve stem and the transfer of undesired loads to the valve stem or adjacent structures.

Abstract: In a multi-cylinder internal-combustion engine, bearing shell and bearing cap of the bearings for the crankshaft are decoupled from the side walls of the cylinder block which form the crankcase. The bearing shells communicate with the cylinder block directly through column elements. The resilience of the column elements relieves the cylinder block of any transverse flexure by crankshaft forces and reduces the generation of noise.

Abstract: A cover for a valve rocker compartment of an internal combustion engine which comprises a hollow shaped casing (9) for closing the compartment containing the rockers (6) which operate the engine intake and exhaust valves (22; 33), and a duct system which connects the shaped casing to the engine air intake manifold (2). The duct system is intercepted by a valving member (31) which is maintained in the open positiion by an elastic member of predetermined load, but closes said duct system when the vacuum in the manifold reaches an undesirable value.

Abstract: A recessed lamp reflector has an integrally formed trim ring and fluorescent tube receptacles on opposite sides of an upper portion of the reflector. Fluorescent tubes extend across and downward, in the reflector, crossing at a central point within an upper portion of the reflector. Ballasts are mounted on an upper surface of the reflector between lamp receptacles. A cover covers the ballast and receptacles and interconnections and rests on top of the reflector.

Abstract: A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine, which system includes a valve-driving piston slidably received in a cylinder body and operatively connected at one end of the piston to an engine valve spring-biased in a closing direction. A check valve and an orifice are interposed between a hydraulic pressure generating means for generating an oil pressure for causing opening of the engine valve and a damper chamber defined between the cylinder body and the valve-driving piston. The check valve permits only the flow of working oil from the hydraulic pressure generating means to the damper chamber. The orifice restricts the return of working oil from the damper chamber to the hydraulic pressure generating means. The orifice is made sufficiently short relative to its width to reduce the influence due to viscosity variations of the working oil to an extremely small level.

Abstract: A mounting aid arranged for receiving a valve-actuating sub-assembly intended for installation coaxially about a valve stem. The sub-assembly includes a valve coil spring, a spring retainer having a central aperture and a split collar. The mounting aid has a closing disc having an outer circumference and being arranged for engaging an outer radial surface of the spring retainer coaxially therewith; an axial extension attached to the closing disc at the outer circumference thereof; and hold-back means formed on the end of the extension for releasably securing the sub-assembly to the axial extension.

Abstract: A method is provided for improving the performance of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of inducting a charge of fluid into the combustion chamber of the engine, holding the intake valve of the combustion chamber open during a portion of the compression stroke of the piston in the combustion chamber, expelling a portion of the inducted charge from the combustion chamber by movement of the piston in its compression stroke while the intake valve is held open, preventing the expelled portion of the inducted charge from communicating with the atmosphere by providing a check valve between the induction manifold and the atmosphere, the check valve only permitting flow in the direction from the atmosphere into the induction manifold; and closing the intake valve during the remainder of the compression stroke and after the portion of the induction charge is expelled.

Abstract: A valve operation control system in an internal combustion engine, comprising an engine valve openably and closably supported on an engine body, a valve spring for biasing the engine valve in a valve closing direction, and valve driving means interposed between a valve-operating cam and the engine valve to transmit a force in the valve-opening direction provided by the valve-operating cam to the engine valve. The valve driving means includes a valve-opening resilient member for exhibiting a repulsive force in a direction to open the engine valve, and closed-position retaining means is interposed between the engine valve and the valve operating cam for retaining the engine valve at its closed position, with a valve-opening force provided by the valve-operating cam being accumulated by the valve-opening resilient member.

Abstract: A control method for a valve-timing changeover in an engine having a valve operating mechanism capable of operating the intake valves or exhaust valves, or both, in a different manner, known as valve timing, such as the magnitude of valve lift or the duration the valve remains open, for improving the operation of the engine at different engine speeds. The control method uses a high-load determinant reference valve established experimentally based on engine revolution speed and calculated in terms of fuel injection quantity to cause the changeover to high-speed valve-timing to occur under high-load conditions when the actual fuel injection quantity being supplied at that engine revolution speed exceeds the high-load determinant reference value.

Abstract: A valve operating system for an automotive internal combustion engine. The valve operating system is comprised of a plurality of bearing sections formed in a cylinder head of the engine and adapted to rotatably support a camshaft formed with a plurality of bearing journal sections. Each bearing section has a generally cylindrical bearing surface defining a bore in which each camshaft bearing journal section is disposed. The peripheral surface of the camshaft bearing journal section is slidably contactable with the bearing section bearing surface. In a cross-section to which the axis of the bore is perpendicular, the bearing surface has a first diametrical distance in which reaction of a valve spring for an intake or exhaust valve is applied, and a second diametrical distance perpendicular to the above-mentioned direction.

Abstract: Two embodiments of valve driving arrangements for internal combustion engines that permit a low camshaft positioning without adding to the width of the engine. In each embodiment, three intake valves are slidably supported, two in a common plane and the third in a plane that intersects the first plane along a line that is disposed farther from the valve heads than the rotational axis of the camshaft which operates the valves.

Abstract: A rocker arm of the cam-follower type capable of simultaneously operating two valves of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. In a preferred form, the rocker arm has a one-piece, cold-formed body which is of inverted U-shaped cross section throughout much of its length. The rocker arm body is of generally Y-shaped configuration as viewed from above. The extremities of the arms of the Y-shaped body are shaped to engage ends of valve stems and the extremity of the leg of the Y-shaped body has an axle on which a cam-contacting roller is rotatably mounted. An intermediate portion of the rocker arm has an upwardly-facing recess to receive an end of a pivot post.

Abstract: Improvements are provided to the variable duration lifter, and the valve train of which the lifter is a part, which have the effect of reducing the tapping noise of the valves at low RPM, which is characteristic of effective variable duration lifters. This is achieved by utilizing an effective length of the valve train which produces a reduced volume of the oil reservoir defined between the outer cylinder of the lifter and the internal plunger, such that when the engine operates at low RPM, the internal plunger "bottoms out" before the valve seats. This is coupled with a modified cam having a closing ramp which seats the valve more smoothly and quietly than does the conventional ramp.

Abstract: A device for switching valve operation modes in an internal combustion engine with a rotatable camshaft having cams integral therewith, valves disposed in intake or exhaust ports of the combustion chamber and normally urged closed by a spring, and the valves being openable by the cams through a plurality of rocker arms disposed adjacent to each other for imparting the cam lifts to the valves. A coupling mechanism selectively connects and disconnects the rocker arms by means of pistons in aligned guide holes in the rocker arms movable between positions to either extend across the adjacent sides of the rocker arms or be aligned with such sides. A solenoid is provided in one rocker arm and surrounds a piston to selectively cause movement of that piston. Springs urge the pistons to the position controlled by the solenoid.

Abstract: A valve actuating arrangement for a multiple valve engine wherein the valves are positioned so that they have their heads lying at different distances from the axis of rotation of the actuating camshaft. The valve stems are kept at the same length by employing cam lobes for actuating those that have different base circles.

Abstract: For switching over the operation mode of at least one engine valve, a connection means or a switchover pin is disposed to connect a plurality of valve operating means or rocker arms integrally or release such connection and a detection means is disposed to detect a moved position of the connection means or switchover pin. Thereby, it is checked whether the operation mode of the engine valve is in conformance with the connected state or the connection released state of the valve operating means, and therefore an operationally locked condition of the connection means or the switchover pin is detected, for example.

Abstract: A valve operating mechanism for an internal combustion engine wherein a plurality of rotatable cams have different cam profiles for operating an intake or exhaust valve differently in high and low speed ranges of the engine. A plurality of rocker arms are selectively connected or disconnected for transmitting the appropriate cam lift to the valve depending on the engine speed range. The cam profiles have dampening areas at the start of opening and the finish of closing of the valve. The dampening areas of the high speed cam have a smaller rate of change than the dampening areas of the low speed cam to minimize the possibility of engagement by a rocker arm with a cam for one speed while the engine is operating at another speed by another cam and rocker arm.

Abstract: A cam follower assembly for mechanically connecting a cam on a camshaft to a push rod assembly is disclosed. The cam follower assembly includes a cam follower link rotatably mounted to a pivot at a first end. At a second end the cam follower link has a substantially semicylindrical recess having a thin axial wall formed at each end of the recess. The cam follower link contacts a push rod adjacent its second end on a surface opposite the surface having the substantially semicylindrical recess. A pinless roller is mounted within the substantially semicylindrical recess and is restrained from axial movement by the thin axial walls. The pinless roller is held in rolling contact with a corresponding cam by imposition by the link of restraining force directly on the cam engaging surface of the roller. The roller may include an annular groove to facilitate lubrication of the cam follower assembly.