Variable Valve Train Pivoting Lever Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing variable valve trains for internal combustion engines often have complex structures, numerous parts, and require significant installation space, making them inefficient and difficult to manage.
Innovation Solution
A simplified variable valve train design featuring a camshaft with a pivoted lever element and a first lever arm connected to a pivoting shaft, allowing for adjustable pivot axis positions to change the cam contour transmission to the rocker arm, thereby influencing valve lift height and reducing the number of required parts and installation space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional variable valve train designs are used, then valve timing and lift can be adjusted, but the structure becomes complicated with many parts and large installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cam follower and lever element into a single integrated pivoted lever element that performs multiple functions: following the cam contour, transmitting motion, and enabling valve actuation. This merging reduces the total number of parts while maintaining variable valve timing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoted lever element serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it acts as a cam follower, a lever arm for motion transmission, and a structural connector between the cam mechanism and rocker arm. This multi-functionality reduces component count while preserving adjustability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional variable valve train designs are used, then valve timing and lift can be adjusted, but the installation space becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the cam follower and lever element into one compact pivoted lever element, the patent reduces the spatial footprint of the valve train mechanism while maintaining full variable valve lift control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoted lever element is positioned within the existing camshaft and rocker arm structure, nesting the adjustment mechanism within the available space rather than adding external components that would increase installation area.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional components are added for variable valve control, then valve lift variability is achieved, but the system robustness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoted lever element uses its own pivot axis position adjustment to control valve lift variability, eliminating the need for separate adjustment mechanisms. This self-contained approach reduces potential failure points and maintains system robustness.
Solution Approach 2:
The integration of control functionality into the existing pivoted lever element structure avoids adding separate adjustment mechanisms that would introduce additional failure points, thereby maintaining system robustness while achieving variable valve operation.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a variable valve train (10) for an internal combustion engine. The variable valve train (10) comprises a camshaft (14) with a cam (24) and a rocker arm (22) for actuating at least one gas exchange valve (12) of the internal combustion engine. The variable valve train (10) has a pivoting lever element (16), in particular a pivoting lever linkage, which has a contact surface (34) and a cam follower (28). The contact surface (34) is in operative connection, in particular in contact, with the rocker arm (22), and the cam follower (28) follows a cam contour of the cam (24). The variable valve train (10) has a first lever arm (18) which pivotably mounts the pivoting lever element (16) and which is connected to a driven pivot shaft (36) for pivoting about a longitudinal axis (A) of the pivot shaft (36).