An oil passage switching valve suitable for a valve timing changing apparatus includes: a valve body, opening or closing an oil passage of operating oil; an urging spring, urging to position the valve body to a position corresponding to the retard position in a pause state; and a switching element, positioning the valve body to a position corresponding to the retard position when a state quantity of the operating oil is in a first range, and switching a position of the valve body in response to the state quantity (pressure or temperature) of the operating oil while resisting an urging force of the urging spring to position the valve body to a position corresponding to the advance position when the state quantity of the operating oil is in a second range greater than the first range.

A system for selectively activating and deactivating cylinders includes a first cylinder positioned in a cylinder block. A first intake or exhaust valve is coupled to the first cylinder and is actuated by a first coupling mechanism. A first oil control solenoid is coupled to the first coupling mechanism, the first oil control solenoid deactivates the first coupling mechanism to maintain the first intake or exhaust valve in a closed position. A second cylinder is positioned in the cylinder block, and a second intake or exhaust valve is coupled to the second cylinder. The second intake or exhaust valve is actuated by a second coupling mechanism. A second oil control solenoid is coupled to the second coupling mechanism, the second oil control solenoid deactivates the second coupling mechanism to maintain the second intake or exhaust valve in a closed position. The first oil control solenoid and the second oil control solenoid have different operating parameters.

A control device and a control method for a variable valve timing mechanism are provided so as to improve the accuracy of cam phase angle interpolation without using a motor rotation angle sensor. The control device for the variable valve timing mechanism includes a controller configured to detect a phase angle of a cam based on a cam signal and control the phase angle of the cam by using an electric motor. The controller is configured such that a motor torque estimation unit calculates a motor torque from a motor current based on motor characteristics, a motor rotation-angle estimation unit calculates a motor rotation angle at least based on the motor torque and an engine operating state, and a conversion unit and a feedback control unit interpolate the cam phase angle of the variable valve timing mechanism from the motor rotation angle.

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.

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.

A valve timing adjustment device having a phase adjustment unit including an input rotator, a driving rotator that rotates in conjunction with a crankshaft, a driven rotator that rotates in conjunction with a camshaft that changes a relative rotation phase between the driving rotator and the driven rotator. A controller is configured to perform a startup phase control when operation of the internal combustion engine is started, the startup phase control including setting the relative rotation phase to a predetermined initial phase, and perform a startup preparation control during a period after the internal combustion engine is stopped and before the startup phase control is performed, the startup preparation control including changing the relative rotation phase.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling lubrication of a connecting rod bearing of an internal combustion engine arrangement. The method comprises the steps of controlling an inlet valve to be maintained in the closed position during a movement of the reciprocating piston from the top dead center during an intake stroke for a predetermined number of crank angle degrees; and positioning the inlet valve in the open position when the reciprocating piston has traveled the predetermined number of crank angle degrees from the top dead center, wherein lubricating medium is provided to the connecting rod bearing within a predetermined time period before the inlet valve is arranged in the open position.

An oil passage switching valve suitable for a valve timing changing apparatus includes: a valve body, opening or closing an oil passage of operating oil; an urging spring, urging to position the valve body to a position corresponding to the retard position in a pause state; and a switching element, positioning the valve body to a position corresponding to the retard position when a state quantity of the operating oil is in a first range, and switching a position of the valve body in response to the state quantity (pressure or temperature) of the operating oil while resisting an urging force of the urging spring to position the valve body to a position corresponding to the advance position when the state quantity of the operating oil is in a second range greater than the first range.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling lubrication of a connecting rod bearing of an internal combustion engine arrangement. The method comprises the steps of controlling an inlet valve to be maintained in the closed position during a movement of the reciprocating piston from the top dead center during an intake stroke for a predetermined number of crank angle degrees; and positioning the inlet valve in the open position when the reciprocating piston has traveled the predetermined number of crank angle degrees from the top dead center, wherein lubricating medium is provided to the connecting rod bearing within a predetermined time period before the inlet valve is arranged in the open position.

In a valve drive system, a rocker arm is swung by a cam. An exhaust valve abuts on a first end portion of the rocker arm. A second end portion of the rocker arm is supported by a lash adjuster. The lash adjuster includes a bottomed cylindrical body, a plunger that is contained in the body and that is biased in a direction in which the plunger abuts on the rocker arm, a pooling chamber that is formed in the plunger, a filling chamber that is formed by the plunger and a bottom surface of the body, and a valve body that blocks inflow of oil from the pooling chamber to the filling chamber when the plunger is put in the body. The oil supply to the pooling chamber is stopped when an exhaust throttle valve is closed for actuating an exhaust brake.