A variable valve mechanism of an internal combustion engine includes an outer arm, an inner arm, a switching device that switches between a coupled state and a non-coupled state, and a lost motion spring. The lost motion spring has an extending portion extending from the outside of the space to the inside of the space. The extending portion has a contact portion that is in contact with the inner arm in the space and being configured to swing in conjunction with swinging of the inner arm. A through-hole is formed in a vertically intermediate portion of the outer arm such that connecting portions are provided at vertically opposite sides of the through-hole, and a portion of the extending portion, a swinging amount of which is smaller than that of the contact portion, passes through the through-hole that allows the portion to swing therein.

The present invention concerns a method and a device for electrically controlling a valve actuator in a two-stroke or four-stroke combustion engine where the actuator comprises a solenoid (A), a plunger (5) and a spring (6), wherein the engine has at least one cylinder (1) with at least one freely controllable engine valve disc (10) with corresponding valve stem (11) and a valve spring (4), where a distance (7) is provided between the lower end of the plunger and the upper end of the valve stem and where air is supplied, or exhaust gases are evacuated from, a combustion chamber (3) past a lower part of the valve stem with the valve disc via at least one channel (2) in the cylinder, wherein the valve actuator is activatable to open the engine valve. The invention is characterized in that the opening of the engine valve is initiated after activation of the solenoid, wherein the following acceleration of the plunger brings its lower end to strike the upper end of the valve stem for initial opening of the valve.

The aim of the invention is to ensure that a hydraulic drive (10) for accelerating and braking a gas exchange valve (20) of internal combustion engines or other reciprocating engines operates in a simple, reliable and recuperative manner. To this end, a first pressure tank (41) for providing a first pressure p.sub.1, a restoring energy accumulator preferably embodied as a spring (25), and at least one hydraulic basic pressure tank (40) having a lower pressure p.sub.0 than the first pressure tank (41) are provided. A controllable opening (49) of a first valve (46) is arranged with at least one non-return valve (47) located upstream or downstream of the opening in the flow path, in a connection line (48) between the first hydraulic pressure tank (41) and the working cylinder (22), said non-return valve allowing the pressure medium (30) to flow towards the working cylinder (22) but preventing it from flowing back towards the pressure tank (41). In order to also initiate the closing movement or the braking of the gas exchange valve in a hydraulically simple and reliable manner, a controllable opening (59) of a second valve (56) is arranged in a second connection line (58) between the first pressure tank (41) and the working cylinder (22), with a non-return valve (57) that prevents flow towards the working cylinder (22) but allows backflow towards the pressure tank (41).

A retainer gripping device, configured to grip a retainer accommodating a set of cotters inside the retainer, includes a retainer gripping unit, a retainer supporting portion, and a cotter supporting portion. The retainer gripping unit is configured to grip the retainer. The retainer supporting portion is configured such that the retainer gripped by the retainer gripping unit is placed in a state in which the set of cotters are accommodated inside the retainer. The cotter supporting portion is configured to support lower end edge portions of the cotters accommodated inside the retainer in a state in which the lower end edge portions are lifted upward higher than a lower end edge portion of the retainer.

The invention relates to a valve rotating device (24) for a valve (10), preferably an intake valve or exhaust valve, of an internal combustion engine The valve rotating device (24) has a valve restoring spring (22) for preloading the valve (10) toward a closed position of the valve (10) and a Belleville spring (40), which is arranged in operative connection between the valve restoring spring (22) and a support surface (44), which is lubricated with a lubricating fluid. An at least partially, preferably completely, peripherally extending collar portion (46) is arranged on a periphery, preferably inner periphery, of the Belleville spring (40). The collar portion (46) can have a wear-reducing effect and/or can make the valve rotating device (24) easier to install.

An internal combustion engine switches valve operation states, reduces or prevents wear of a cam and a rocker arm, and reduces the size of the cylinder head to ensure a sufficient valve lift amount. A valve spring retainer includes a cylindrical portion including a first through hole with an inner diameter decreases from the first end portion toward the second end portion, a cone-shaped portion including a second through hole with an inner diameter increases as it extends away from the second end portion of the cylindrical portion, and a flange portion extending radially outward from the cone-shaped portion. An outer diameter of the cylindrical portion is constant from the first end portion to the second end portion, and an outer diameter of the cone-shaped portion increases as it extends away from the second end portion.

A valve gear includes a lost motion mechanism including a lost motion spring. A pillar is inserted into the lost motion spring, and a seat supports a lower end portion of the lost motion spring. A protrusion is provided on an opposite side of the seat from the lost motion spring. When viewed from an axial direction of the lost motion mechanism, the protrusion does not project out of the seat. By fitting the protrusion into the recess of the cylinder head, the seat, i.e., the lost motion mechanism is attached to the cylinder head.

A system for controlling actuation of an engine valve comprises a pivot and a torsion spring having first and second legs operatively connected to the pivot. A lever arm is adjustably affixed to and extending away from the pivot, and is further rotatable about a pivot axis of the pivot between a retracted position and an extended position and vice versa relative to a motion conveying component. Furthermore, a housing is provided having a pivot bore formed therein with the pivot rotatably disposed in the pivot bore. The housing further comprises a first and second openings intersecting with the pivot bore such that the first and second legs extend out of the first opening and the lever arm extends out of the second opening. When a first force is applied by the motion conveying component to the lever arm, such first force maintains the lever arm in the extended position.

Some embodiments of a present disclosure provide a variable valve lift device. The variable valve lift device includes a main shaft, a sleeve, an oil cylinder and a valve mechanism. The sleeve is provided on the main shaft in a sleeve manner, can be driven by the main shaft to rotate together with the main shaft, and can further linearly move relative to the main shaft along an axis direction of the main shaft. A cam assembly is disposed on the sleeve, and includes at least two cams with different projection heights. The oil cylinder includes a cylinder barrel and a piston disposed in the cylinder barrel, the cylinder barrel is fixed onto the main shaft, the piston is fixedly connected to the sleeve. Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide an automobile having the above variable valve lift device.

A valve rocker arm assembly, a variable air distribution mechanism, and an engine are provided according to the present disclosure. The valve rocker arm assembly includes: an oil inlet hose; a rocker arm shaft, an oil drain channel, an oil return groove, and a first oil path being provided in the rocker arm shaft, the oil drain channel being communicated with the oil return groove by means of the first oil path; a first rocker arm and a second rocker arm rotatably connected onto the rocker arm shaft, a piston cavity, an oil inlet path, an oil drain path and a piston being provided on the second rocker arm; a one-way opening device provided in the oil inlet path and/or the oil inlet hose; and a control valve connected to the oil drain channel.