A compression release mechanism including a camshaft, a cam provided on the camshaft and protruding outward in a radial direction of the camshaft, a lever, of which a portion is disposed in the camshaft, a support shaft supporting the lever such that the lever is swingable between a first position and a second position relative to the camshaft, and a spring attached to the camshaft, to urge the lever toward the first position. The lever includes a cam portion configured to protrude out from the camshaft with the lever at the first position, a centrifugal weight for moving the lever toward the second position in accordance with rotation of the camshaft, and an abutment portion configured to be in abutment with an inner peripheral surface of the camshaft with the lever at the first position, and be located away from the inner peripheral surface with the lever at the second position.

A compression release mechanism including a camshaft, a cam provided on the camshaft and protruding outward in a radial direction of the camshaft, a lever, of which a portion is disposed in the camshaft, a support shaft supporting the lever such that the lever is swingable between a first position and a second position relative to the camshaft, and a spring attached to the camshaft, to urge the lever toward the first position. The lever includes a cam portion configured to protrude out from the camshaft with the lever at the first position, a centrifugal weight for moving the lever toward the second position in accordance with rotation of the camshaft, and an abutment portion configured to be in abutment with an inner peripheral surface of the camshaft with the lever at the first position, and be located away from the inner peripheral surface with the lever at the second position.

If an engine coolant temperature is equal to or lower than a first low-temperature determination value and a battery temperature is equal to or lower than a second low-temperature determination value when a request to start up an engine is made, the advancement driving of a variable valve operating mechanism is first started. Then, when an advancement amount of the variable valve operating mechanism later becomes equal to or larger than a prescribed startup start determination value, is started.

If an engine coolant temperature is equal to or lower than a first low-temperature determination value and a battery temperature is equal to or lower than a second low-temperature determination value when a request to start up an engine is made, the advancement driving of a variable valve operating mechanism is first started. Then, when an advancement amount of the variable valve operating mechanism later becomes equal to or larger than a prescribed startup start determination value, is started.

An exhaust valve rocker arm assembly operable in a combustion engine mode and an engine decompression mode, the exhaust valve rocker arm assembly selectively opening first and second exhaust valves and including a rocker shaft, exhaust valve rocker arm assembly and a ball engine decompression mechanism. The exhaust valve rocker arm assembly has an exhaust rocker arm that receives the rocker shaft and is configured to rotate around the rocker shaft. The ball engine decompression mechanism is configured on the exhaust rocker arm and selectively actuates a valve plunger causing an exhaust valve to perform engine decompression. The ball engine decompression mechanism includes a capsule assembly having a capsule, a biasing member and a ball. The capsule has a cylindrical body that extends between a first end having an actuation face and a second end having a spring return face.

An exhaust valve rocker arm assembly operable in a combustion engine mode and an engine decompression mode, the exhaust valve rocker arm assembly selectively opening first and second exhaust valves and including a rocker shaft, exhaust valve rocker arm assembly and a ball engine decompression mechanism. The exhaust valve rocker arm assembly has an exhaust rocker arm that receives the rocker shaft and is configured to rotate around the rocker shaft. The ball engine decompression mechanism is configured on the exhaust rocker arm and selectively actuates a valve plunger causing an exhaust valve to perform engine decompression. The ball engine decompression mechanism includes a capsule assembly having a capsule, a biasing member and a ball. The capsule has a cylindrical body that extends between a first end having an actuation face and a second end having a spring return face.

A lift regulator for a variable lift valve gear has a cam contour arranged around an axis of rotation of the lift regulator for deflecting a lift adjustment of the valve gear on rotation of the lift regulator about the axis of rotation. The cam contour has a region deflecting from a resting position, a changeover region, and a region deflecting back to the resting position. A variable lift valve gear and a method for operating the variable lift valve gear are disclosed.

A lift regulator for a variable lift valve gear has a cam contour arranged around an axis of rotation of the lift regulator for deflecting a lift adjustment of the valve gear on rotation of the lift regulator about the axis of rotation. The cam contour has a region deflecting from a resting position, a changeover region, and a region deflecting back to the resting position. A variable lift valve gear and a method for operating the variable lift valve gear are disclosed.

Methods and systems are provided for cylinder deactivation to reduce tailpipe emissions and increase exhaust temperature. In one example, a method may include operating a first set of cylinders in a first combustion cycle over modified eight strokes and a second set of cylinders in a second combustion cycle over modified four strokes. Each cylinder in the first set of cylinders may be selectively deactivated via a variable displacement engine (VDE) mechanism while each cylinder in the second set of cylinders may be selectively deactivated via an active decompression technology (ADT) mechanism.

Methods and systems are provided for cylinder deactivation to reduce tailpipe emissions and increase exhaust temperature. In one example, a method may include operating a first set of cylinders in a first combustion cycle over modified eight strokes and a second set of cylinders in a second combustion cycle over modified four strokes. Each cylinder in the first set of cylinders may be selectively deactivated via a variable displacement engine (VDE) mechanism while each cylinder in the second set of cylinders may be selectively deactivated via an active decompression technology (ADT) mechanism.