Abstract: A variable timing camshaft drive assembly for an internal combustion engine utilizes a single cam phaser, driven by an engine crankshaft, capable of operating multiple camshafts carried on multiple banks of an engine. The cam phaser is carried on a hub extending from a mounting member attached to an engine block. The cam phaser includes an input sprocket and an output sprocket separated by a phasing device capable of altering the phase angle of the sprockets relative to one another. A first timing chain connects a drive sprocket of the crankshaft with the input sprocket of the cam phaser and a second timing chain connects the output sprocket of the cam phaser with the driven sprockets of the camshafts. As the phasing device alters the phase angle between the input and output sprockets, the phase angle between the camshafts and the crankshafts is altered.

Abstract: A cylinder head for an internal combustion engine (ICE) includes a lower cooling jacket, an upper cooling jacket and an exhaust manifold disposed therebetween. The exhaust manifold enables exhaust of combustion gas from cylinders of the ICE. The lower cooling jacket has coolant flow paths in fluid communication with coolant flow paths of a cylinder block of the ICE. Coolant flow paths of the upper cooling jacket are in fluid communication with those of the lower cooling jacket through one of a plurality of passages. The passages can be selectively plugged to define coolant flow direction through the cylinder head. The upper and lower cooling jackets are in heat exchange relationship with surfaces of the exhaust manifold to cool exhaust gas flowing therethrough.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders each having intake and exhaust valves and at least one camshaft timed to operate the valves with a high performance fixed overlap. Each camshaft has a cam phaser controlled to equally vary the intake and exhaust valve timing for superior full throttle performance over the engine speed range; Valve deactivation mechanisms operate to deactivate up to half the cylinders during idle and light load operation for increasing fuel efficiency and emission control and maintaining stable operation of the operating cylinders. The engine may also be started with half the cylinders cut out and then run with stable operation in this mode during idle and light load because the increased load on the operating cylinders gives stable operation with an increased valve overlap permitting increased performance and emission control at higher load operation on all the cylinders.

Abstract: A method is provided for starting an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder having at least one inlet valve and one exhaust valve. In accordance with one embodiment the method includes the steps of opening an inlet valve of any cylinder that would otherwise undergo a wasted power stroke and opening an exhaust valve of any cylinder that would otherwise undergo a wasted compression stroke.