The invention relates to a valve-actuating device for actuating a valve of a reciprocating piston engine, comprising a first and second rocker arm rotatably mounted about a common rotational axis; a pushrod connected to the first rocker arm so as to transmit an actuating movement of the first rocker arm to a valve; a first and second cam arranged on a shaft, where the first rocker arm marks a contour of the first cam and the second rocker arm marks a contour of the second cam, where the rocker arms are connected together via a mechanical coupling apparatus having a locking element able to be brought into at least a first position and a second position and configured to transmit an actuating movement of the second rocker arm to the first rocker arm at least in the first position of the locking element; and a switching device having a slotted guide element which is designed to bring the locking element of the coupling apparatus at least from the first position to the second position and vice-versa.

A valve train assembly is provided for modifying a lift of at least one intake valve and/or exhaust valve. The valve train assembly includes at least one tappet that is housed in a rocker housing with at least one rocker lever. The at least one tappet is engaged to an actuator that is operable to change the tappet from a first configuration in which all cam lobe motion is imparted to the rocker lever for opening and closing the intake and/or exhaust valve, to a second configuration in which less than all motion of the cam lobe is transferred to the rocker lever.

A camshaft includes, as a cam that opens and closes an exhaust valve and an intake valve, a ball cam whose protrusion amount changes according to rotation of the camshaft, wherein the camshaft has a double structure consisting of an inner shaft and an outer shaft provided in a manner that the inner shaft is helically displaced with respect to the outer shaft around an axis of the camshaft according to a rotation speed of the camshaft, and the ball cam is accommodated movably in a guide groove provided in the inner shaft and protrudes from the outer shaft, and a protrusion amount of the ball cam from the outer shaft changes when the ball cam moves in the guide groove due to the helical displacement of the inner shaft with respect to the outer shaft.

A camshaft includes, as a cam that opens and closes an exhaust valve and an intake valve, a ball cam whose protrusion amount changes according to rotation of the camshaft, wherein the camshaft has a double structure consisting of an inner shaft and an outer shaft provided in a manner that the inner shaft is helically displaced with respect to the outer shaft around an axis of the camshaft according to a rotation speed of the camshaft, and the ball cam is accommodated movably in a guide groove provided in the inner shaft and protrudes from the outer shaft, and a protrusion amount of the ball cam from the outer shaft changes when the ball cam moves in the guide groove due to the helical displacement of the inner shaft with respect to the outer shaft.

An engine valve actuating apparatus includes a housing that contains an activation piston bore and an actuation piston bore. The activation piston is disposed in the activation piston bore and configured to actuate an engine valve. The actuation piston includes at least one side surface that is in sliding contact with the inner surface of the actuation piston bore so that the actuation piston can slide within the actuation piston bore. The actuation piston also has a guide mechanism, which guides the first and second links to move in a plane between the first position and the second position. At least a part of the guide mechanism is below at least a part of the at least one side surface of the actuation piston.

An engine system is provided, including a controller which estimates an intake-valve-closing temperature inside a cylinder. When an engine operates at a given speed and a demanded engine load is a first load or a second load (>the first load), the controller controls so that a mixture gas inside the cylinder combusts by compression ignition, and controls so that, at the first load, the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the intake-valve-closing temperature is above a first temperature, and at least part of the mixture gas combusts by flame propagation when the intake-valve-closing temperature is below the first temperature, whereas at the second load, the entire mixture gas combusts by compression ignition when the intake-valve-closing temperature is above a second temperature (<the first temperature), and at least part of the mixture gas combusts by flame propagation when the intake-valve-closing temperature is below the second temperature.

A method of providing a rocker arm set for a valvetrain includes providing a first intake rocker arm, a second intake rocker arm and a first exhaust rocker arm. The first intake rocker arm is configured as a switching rocker arm for a first intake valve on a first cylinder. The second intake rocker arm is for a second intake valve on a second cylinder. The second rocker arm is configured to operate in a normal Otto cycle mode. The first exhaust rocker arm is provided for a first exhaust valve on the second cylinder. The first intake rocker arm operates in one of an LIVC or EIVC mode where the first intake rocker arm is configured to open or close at a different time compared to the second intake valve. The first exhaust rocker arm operates in a cylinder deactivation mode.

A method of providing a rocker arm set for a valvetrain includes providing a first intake rocker arm, a second intake rocker arm and a first exhaust rocker arm. The first intake rocker arm is configured as a switching rocker arm for a first intake valve on a first cylinder. The second intake rocker arm is for a second intake valve on a second cylinder. The second rocker arm is configured to operate in a normal Otto cycle mode. The first exhaust rocker arm is provided for a first exhaust valve on the second cylinder. The first intake rocker arm operates in one of an LIVC or EIVC mode where the first intake rocker arm is configured to open or close at a different time compared to the second intake valve. The first exhaust rocker arm operates in a cylinder deactivation mode.

Systems and methods for operating an engine with deactivating and non-deactivating valves is presented. In one example, the engine may include non-deactivating intake valves, deactivating intake valves, and only non-deactivating exhaust valves. The non-deactivating exhaust valves may operate to open and close during an engine cycle while deactivating intake valves remain closed during the engine cycle to prevent air flow through selected engine cylinders.

Systems and methods for operating an engine with deactivating and non-deactivating valves is presented. In one example, the engine may include non-deactivating intake valves, deactivating intake valves, and only non-deactivating exhaust valves. The non-deactivating exhaust valves may operate to open and close during an engine cycle while deactivating intake valves remain closed during the engine cycle to prevent air flow through selected engine cylinders.