CYLINDER HEAD ARRANGEMENT FOR VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION ROCKER ARM ASSEMBLIES

摘要

A novel cylinder head arrangement for an in-line four cylinder or eight cylinder engine. A modified arrangement allows additional space for installation of wider rocker arm assemblies used for variable valve lift (VVL), cylinder deactivation (CDA) and other types of variable valve actuation (VVA). In one embodiment, cam towers adjacent the end two cylinders are not used. At least one end support is used, which may be an outboard bearing on a camshaft for each end. The wider rocker assemblies may then be installed. In another embodiment, cam towers adjacent the inner two cylinders are eliminated and a single camshaft support piece with a support bearing is installed between the inner cylinders to provide support for the camshafts. The wider rocker assemblies may then be installed on at least one of the middle cylinders. A novel oil control valve operates latches in switching rocker arm assemblies.

主权项

1. A cylinder head assembly compatible with an engine having four adjacent cylinders, with a left end cylinder on a far left side of the engine, a right end cylinder on a far right side of the engine, and two middle cylinders, a left middle cylinder and a right middle cylinder, the cylinder head assembly comprising:
at least one overhead camshaft passing over the four adjacent cylinders; an end support on the far left side of the engine supporting a first end of the at least one overhead camshaft; an end support on the far right of the engine supporting a second end of the at least one overhead camshaft; and a cam tower of at least one middle cylinder for supporting the at least one overhead camshaft, wherein a portion of the at least one overhead camshaft extending over the left end cylinder end cylinder is solely supported by the end support on the far left side of the engine and the cam tower of the at least one middle cylinder, and a portion of the at least one overhead camshaft extending over the right end cylinder is solely support by the end support on the far right side of the engine and the cam tower of the at least one middle cylinder, thereby providing additional clearance for installation of oversized rocker assemblies on the left and right end cylinders.