摘要 |
A guide plate (10) for a valve actuation mechanism (14), the guide plate (10 ) having a slot or profiled surface defining a valve actuating portion and a n on valve actuating portion. A valve actuating member such as a pin (50, 51), moves along the slot (12) or profiled surface in a cyclic fashion, wherein t he pin (50, 51) is connected to a valve so that when the pin (50, 51) moves alo ng the valve actuating portion (17), the valve is actuated, and when the pin moves along the non valve actuating portion (15), the valve is not actuated. The non-valve actuating portion (15) of the slot (12) or profiled surface is of sufficient length such that the entire range of cyclic motion of the pin (50, 51) is able to be contained within the non-valve actuating portion (15) . To move the range of cyclic motion from one section of the guide path (12) t o another, the guide plate (10) may be moved relative to the pin (50, 51). Sai d arrangement allows a valve to be selectively operated or deactivated without changing the cyclic motion of the pin (50, 51), but by merely moving the gui de plate (10).
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