Fujii, Noriaki (Saitama, JP)
Nakamura, Hiromu (Saitama, JP)
Iwamoto, Junichi (Saitama, JP)

Plaque It!

10/516947

10/07/2008

07/02/2003

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Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo, JP)

74/569

123/90.16, 74/559, 123/90.44, 123/90.39

F01L1/18

74/567, 74/569, 123/90.2, 123/90.41, 123/90.16, 74/559, 123/90.44, 123/90.39

3598385	VEHICLE WHEEL SUSPENSION SYSTEM	August, 1971	Parsons, Jr.
5000138	Engines for use with gasous fuels	March, 1991	Bennett
6009842	Fuel injection system for a multicylinder internal combustion engine with a fuel supply line serving as a high pressure storage device	January, 2000	Hiereth	123/90.27

DE3022188	December, 1981
DE19532334	March, 1997
EP0995885	April, 2000			Rocker arm device for simultaneous control of valve lift and relative timing in a combustion engine
GB314797	May, 1930
GB1137736	December, 1968
JP6188009	June, 1986
JP0571321	March, 1993
JP5340227	December, 1993
JP6280523	October, 1994
JP0874534	March, 1996
JP11246170	September, 1999			DOUBLE LINK TYPE CRANE

Chang, Ching

Arent Fox LLP

What is claimed is:

1. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine, comprising a rocker arm having a valve abutment at one end thereof abutting against an engine valve and a cam abutment at the other end contacting with a valve-operating cam, and a pair of link arms each of which is supported at one end thereof on an engine body for swinging movement about an axis parallel to a rotational axis for said valve-operating cam and connected at the other end directly to the other end of said rocker arm for relative turning movement about an axis parallel to said rotational axis, said one end of at least any one of said link arms being swingably supported on said engine body for continuous movement within a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis for said valve-operating cam, and wherein said rocker arm is formed to be gradually thicker from the valve abutment at the one end toward the cam abutment at the other end, and wherein the other ends of the pair of link arms connected to the other end of the rocker arm are positioned on a line in an input direction from the valve-operating cam to the rocker arm.

2. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein said link arms are connected at the other ends in a row and relatively turnably to the other end of said rocker arm.

3. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one of said link arms closer to said valve-operating cam is swingably supported at one end thereof on the engine body.

4. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 3, wherein one ends of said link arms are disposed on a side opposite from said engine valve with respect to the other ends of said link arms.

5. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one ends of said link arms are disposed on a side opposite from said engine valve with respect to the other ends of said link arms. in a fixed position, and one of said link arms farther from said valve-operating cam is swingably supported at one end thereof movable on the engine body.

6. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine, comprising a rocker arm having a valve abutment at one end thereof abutting against an engine valve and a cam abutment at the other end contacting with a valve-operating cam, and a pair of link arms each of which is supported at one end thereof on an engine body for swinging movement about an axis parallel to a rotational axis for said valve-operating cam and connected at the other end directly to the other end of said rocker arm for relative turning movement about an axis parallel to said rotational axis, said one end of at least any one of said link arms being swingably supported on said engine body for continuous movement within a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis for said valve-operating cam, and wherein the roller as said cam abutment is turnably supported on a cylindrical support tube mounted on said rocker arm and having an axis parallel to said rotational axis for said valve-operating cam, and one of said link arms is connected at the other end to said support tube.

7. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 6, wherein the other of said link arms is connected at the other end to said rocker arm above the roller through a connecting shaft parallel to the roller, and the support tube and the connecting shaft are disposed to extend in an input direction from the valve-operating cam to said rocker arm.

8. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 6, wherein the other of said link arms is connected at the other end to said rocker arm below said roller through a connecting shaft parallel to said roller, and the support tube and the connecting shaft are disposed to extend in an input direction from the valve-operating cam to said rocker arm.

9. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 7, wherein one ends of said link arms are disposed on a side opposite from said engine valve with respect to the other ends of said link arms.

10. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 8, wherein one ends of said link arms are disposed on a side opposite from said engine valve with respect to the other ends of said link arms.

11. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 6, wherein one ends of said link arms are disposed on a side opposite from said engine valve with respect to the other ends of said link arms.

12. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine, comprising a rocker arm having a valve abutment at one end thereof abutting against an engine valve and a cam abutment at the other end contacting with a valve-operating cam, and a pair of link arms each of which is supported at one end thereof on an engine body for swinging movement about an axis parallel to a rotational axis for said valve-operating cam and connected at the other end directly to the other end of said rocker arm for relative turning movement about an axis parallel to said rotational axis, said one end of at least any one of said link arms being swingably supported on said engine body for continuous movement within a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis for said valve-operating cam, wherein one of said link arms closer to said valve-operating cam is swingably supported at one end thereof on the engine body in a fixed position, and one of said link arms farther from said valve-operating cam is swingably supported at one end thereof movable on the engine body, and wherein the roller as said cam abutment is turnably supported on a cylindrical support tube mounted on said rocker arm and having an axis parallel to a rotational axis for said valve-operating cam, and one of said link arms closer to said valve-operating cam is connected at the other end to said support tube.

13. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 12, wherein one of said link arms farther from said valve-operating cam is connected at the other end to said rocker arm above the roller through a connecting shaft parallel to the roller, and the support tube and the connecting shaft are disposed to extend in an input direction from the valve-operating cam to said rocker arm.

14. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 13, wherein one ends of said link arms are disposed on a side opposite from said engine valve with respect to the other ends of said link arms.

15. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 12, wherein one of said link arms farther from said valve-operating cam is connected at the other end to said rocker arm below said roller through a connecting shaft parallel to said roller, and the support tube and the connecting shaft are disposed to extend in an input direction from the valve-operating cam to said rocker arm.

16. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 15, wherein one ends of said link arms are disposed on a side opposite from said engine valve with respect to the other ends of said link arms.

17. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 12, wherein one ends of said link arms are disposed on a side opposite from said engine valve with respect to the other ends of said link arms.

18. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion, comprising a rocker arm having a valve abutment at one end thereof abutting against an engine valve and a cam abutment at the other end contacting with a valve-operating cam, and a pair of link arms each of which is supported at one end thereof on an engine body for swinging movement about an axis parallel to a rotational axis for said valve-operating cam and connected at the other end directly to the other end of said rocker arm for relative turning movement about an axis parallel to said rotational axis, said one end of at least any one of said link arms being swingably supported on said engine body for continuous movement within a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis for said valve-operating cam, wherein said link arms are connected at the other ends in a row and relatively turnably to the other end of said rocker arm, and wherein the roller as said cam abutment is turnably supported on a cylindrical support tube mounted on said rocker arm and having an axis parallel to said rotational axis for said valve-operating cam, and one of said link arms is connected at the other end to said support tube.

19. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 18, wherein the other of said link arms is connected at the other end to said rocker arm above the roller through a connecting shaft parallel to the roller, and the support tube and the connecting shaft are disposed to extend in an input direction from the valve-operating cam to said rocker arm.

20. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 19, wherein one ends of said link arms are disposed on a side opposite from said engine valve with respect to the ends of said link arms.

21. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 18, wherein the other of said link arms is connected at the other end to said rocker arm below said roller through a connecting shaft parallel to said roller, and the support tube and the connecting shaft are disposed to extend in an input direction from the valve-operating cam to said rocker arm.

22. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 21, wherein one ends of said link arms are disposed on a side opposite from said engine valve with respect to the other ends of said link arms.

23. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 18, wherein one ends of said link arms are disposed on a side opposite from said engine valve with respect to the other ends of said link arms.

24. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine, comprising a rocker arm having a valve abutment at one end thereof abutting against an engine valve and a cam abutment at the other end contacting with a valve-operating cam, and a pair of link arms each of which is supported at one end thereof on an engine body for swinging movement about an axis parallel to a rotational axis for said valve-operating cam and connected at the other end directly to the other end of said rocker arm for relative turning movement about an axis parallel to said rotational axis, said one end of at least any one of said link arms being swingably supported on said engine body for continuous movement within a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis for said valve-operating cam, wherein said link arms are connected at the other ends in a row and relatively turnably to the other end of said rocker arm, wherein one of said link arms closer to said valve-operating cam is swingably supported at one end thereof on the engine body in a fixed position, and one of said link arms farther from said valve-operating cam is swingably supported at one end thereof movable on the engine body, and wherein the roller as said cam abutment is turnably supported on a cylindrical support tube mounted on said rocker arm and having an axis parallel to a rotational axis for said valve-operating cam, and one of said link arms closer to said valve-operating cam is connected at the other end to said support tube.

25. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 24, wherein one of said link arms farther from said valve-operating cam is connected at the other end to said rocker arm above the roller through a connecting shaft parallel to the roller, and the support tube and the connecting shaft are disposed to extend in an input direction from the valve-operating cam to said rocker arm.

26. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 25, wherein one ends of said link arms are disposed on a side opposite from said engine valve with respect to the other ends of said link arms.

27. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 24, wherein one of said link arms farther from said valve-operating cam is connected at the other end to said rocker arm below said roller through a connecting shaft parallel to said roller, and the support tube and the connecting shaft are disposed to extend in an input direction from the valve-operating cam to said rocker arm.

28. A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 27, wherein one ends of said link arms are disposed on a side opposite from said engine valve with respect to the other ends of said link arms.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine and particularly, to an improvement in a valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine, which is designed so that the opening lift amount of an engine valve can be changed continuously.

BACKGROUND ART

A valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine designed so that the opening lift amount of an engine valve can be changed continuously is already known, for example, from Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 8-74534 or the like. In this valve-operating system, a rocker arm has at one end a valve abutment abutting against an engine valve; one end of a pushrod is fitted over the other end of the rocker arm, and a link mechanism is mounted between the other end of the pushrod and a valve-operating cam.

In the conventional valve-operating system, it is necessary to ensure relatively large spaces for disposition of the link mechanism and the pushrod between the valve-operating cam and the rocker arm, resulting in an increase in size of the valve-operating system. Moreover, a driving force from the valve-operating cam is transmitted through the link mechanism and the pushrod to the rocker arm and hence, it is difficult to mention that the followability of the rocker arm to the valve-operating cam, i.e., the opening/closing followability of the engine valve is excellent.

The present invention has been accomplished with such circumstances in view, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine, wherein the opening lift amount of the engine valve can be changed continuously, while ensuring providing the compactness and ensuring the excellent followability to the valve-operating cam.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect and feature of the present invention, there is provided a valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine, comprising a rocker arm having a valve abutment abutting against an engine valve and a cam abutment contacting with a valve-operating cam, and a pair of link arms each of which is supported at one end thereof on an engine body for swinging movement about an axis parallel to a rotational axis for the valve-operating cam and connected at the other end directly to the rocker arm for relative turning movement about an axis parallel to the rotational axis, the one end of at least any one of the link arms being swingably supported on the engine body for continuous movement within a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis for the valve-operating cam.

With such arrangement of the first feature, the opening lift amount of the engine valve can be changed continuously by changing the swinging movement-supporting point of at least any one of the link arms on the engine body continuously. Moreover, the pair of link arms are connected directly to the rocker arm and hence, spaces for disposition of the link arms can be reduced, leading to the compactness of the valve-operating system. A power from the valve-operating cam is transmitted directly to the rocker arm and hence, the excellent followability to the valve-operating cam can be ensured.

According to a second aspect and feature of the present invention, in addition to the arrangement of the first feature, the other ends of the link arms are connected in a row and relatively turnably to the other end of the rocker arm provided at one end thereof with the valve abutment. With such arrangement, the link arms can be disposed more compactly, leading to the further compactness of the valve-operating system.

According to a third aspect and feature of the present invention, in addition to the arrangement of the first or second feature, one of the link arms closer to the valve-operating cam is swingably supported at one end thereof on the engine body in a fixed position, and one of the link arms farther from the valve-operating cam is swingably supported at one end thereof movable on the engine body. With such arrangement, the distance of movement of the link arm with one end movable can be easily ensured, while avoiding the interference with the valve-operating cam.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomes apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1 is a partially vertical sectional view of an internal combustion engine, showing a valve-operating system during a closing operation in a state in which the opening lift amount is large; FIG. 2 is a partially vertical sectional view of the internal combustion engine, showing the valve-operating system during the closing operation in a state in which the opening lift amount is small; FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but during an opening operation in the state in which the opening lift amount is large; and FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but during the opening operation in the state in which the opening lift amount is small;

FIGS. 5 to 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 5 is a partially vertical sectional view of an internal combustion engine, showing a valve-operating system during a closing operation in a state in which the opening lift amount is large; FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5, but during the closing operation in a state in which the opening lift amount is small; FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5, but during an opening operation in the state in which the opening lift amount is large; and FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5, but during the opening operation in the state in which the opening lift amount is small.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Referring first to FIG. 1, a cylinder head 2 constituting a portion of an engine body 1 of an internal combustion engine is provided with an intake port 4 and an exhaust port 5 capable of leading to a combustion chamber 3 , and includes an intake valve 6 as an engine valve for controlling the amount of an air-fuel mixture flowing from the intake port 4 into the combustion chamber 3 , and an exhaust valve 7 for controlling the amount of combustion exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chamber 3 into the exhaust port 5 . The intake and exhaust valves 6 and 7 are disposed so that they can be opened and closed.

The cylinder head 2 is provided with a guide tube 8 for guiding the opening and closing operations of the intake valve 6 , and a guide tube 9 for guiding the opening and closing operations of the exhaust valve 7 . A retainer 10 is fixed to an upper portion of the intake valve 6 protruding from the guide tube 8 , and the intake valve 6 is biased in a closing direction by a valve spring 12 mounted between the retainer 10 and the cylinder head 2 . A retainer 11 is also fixed to an upper portion of the exhaust valve 7 protruding from the guide tube 9 , and the exhaust valve 7 is biased in a closing direction by a valve spring 13 mounted between the retainer 11 and the cylinder head 2 .

A valve-operating system for driving the intake valve 6 to open and close it includes a camshaft 14 disposed above the intake valve 6 and rotatably supported on the cylinder head 2 and a holder (not shown) coupled to the cylinder head 2 , and a rocker arm 18 A which is disposed above the camshaft 14 and has a tappet screw 15 as a valve abutment abutting against an upper end of the intake valve 6 and a roller 17 as a cam abutment contacting with a valve-operating cam 16 provided on the camshaft 14 , and first and second link arms 19 A and 20 A connected to the rocker arm 18 A.

The tappet screw 15 is threadedly engaged with one end of the rocker arm 18 A, so that its advanced and retracted positions can be adjusted. The roller 17 which is in rolling contact with the valve-operating cam 16 is rotatably supported on a cylindrical support tube 21 mounted at the other end of the rocker arm 18 A and having a rotational axis for the valve-operating cam 16 , i.e., an axis parallel to an axis of the camshaft 14 .

Each of support shafts 22 A and 23 A having an axis parallel to the camshaft 14 is mounted at one end of each of the first and second link arms 19 A and 20 A. The support shafts 22 A and 23 A are rotatably connected to the cylinder head 2 in the engine body 1 . Namely, each of the first and second link arms 19 A and 20 A is supported at one end on the cylinder head 2 for swinging movement about an axis parallel to the rotational axis for the valve-operating cam 16 .

The first link arm 19 A is connected at the other end thereof directly to the other end of the rocker arm 18 A for relative turning movement about an axis parallel to the rotational axis for the valve-operating cam 16 , and the second link arm 20 A disposed above the first link arm 19 A is connected at the other end thereof directly to the other end of the rocker arm 18 A for relative turning movement about an axis parallel to the rotational axis for the valve-operating cam 16 in such a manner that it is arranged above and in a row with the other end of the first link arm 19 A. Namely, the other end of the first link arm 19 A is connected to the support tube 21 , and the other end of the second link arm 20 A is connected to the other end of the rocker arm 18 A above the roller 17 through a connecting shaft 24 parallel to the roller 17 . The support tube 21 and the connecting shaft 24 are disposed to extend in an input direction from the valve-operating cam 16 to the rocker arm 18 A.

It should be noted here that the support shaft 22 A mounted at one end of one 19 A of the first and second link arms 19 A and 20 A closer to the valve-operating cam 16 is swingably supported on the cylinder head 2 in a fixed position, whereas the support shaft 23 A mounted at one end of one 20 A of the first and second link arms 19 A and 20 A farther from the valve-operating cam 16 is swingably supported on the cylinder head 2 for continuous movement within a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis for the valve-operating cam 16 , i.e., the axis of the camshaft 14 , and is driven by an electric motor, an electromagnetic actuator, a hydraulic mechanism and the like.

Moreover, one end of each of the first and second link arms 19 A and 20 A is disposed on a side opposite from the intake valve 6 with respect to the other end of each of the first and second link arms 19 A and 20 A. Such disposition makes it possible to avoid that a turning movement-supporting structure at one end of each of the first and second link arms 19 A and 20 A and a driving structure at one end of the second link arm 20 A interfere with members such as the retainer 10 and the valve spring 12 associated with the intake valve 6 .

To ensure that the roller 17 is always in sliding contact with the valve-operating cam 16 , for example, a torsion spring 25 is mounted between the first link arm 19 A and the cylinder head 2 to surround the support shaft 22 A mounted at one end of the first link arm 19 A.

In the valve-operating system of such arrangement, if the lift amount of the intake valve 6 is desired to assume the maximum value, the support shaft 23 A of the second link arm 20 A is disposed at a position shown in FIG. 1, and if the lift amount of the intake valve 6 is desired to be decreased, for example, to about 20% of the maximum lift amount, the support shaft 23 A of the second link arm 20 A is moved downwards from the position shown in FIG. 1 (the position shown by a dashed line) as shown in FIG. 2.

An instantaneous center C of the rocker arm 18 A is a point of intersection of a straight line connecting the axes of the support shaft 22 A and the support tube 21 to each other and a straight line connecting the axes of the support shaft 23 A and the connecting shaft 24 . An instantaneous center C of the rocker arm 18 A when the support shaft 23 A has been displaced to the position shown in FIG. 2 has been displaced to a position in proximity to the intake valve 6 with respect to an instantaneous center C of the rocker arm 18 A when the support shaft 23 A is in the position shown in FIG. 1. Thus, a lever ratio (=A/B) which is a ratio of a distance A between a contact point of the tappet screw 15 with the intake valve 6 and the instantaneous center C to a distance B between a contact point of the roller 17 with the valve-operating cam 16 and the instantaneous center C is varied, and the lever ratio in a state shown in FIG. 2 is smaller than that in a state shown in FIG. 1.

With such a variation in lever ratio, when the roller 17 , i.e., the other end of the rocker arm 18 A is pushed up by the valve-operating cam 16 when the support shaft 23 A is in the position shown in FIG. 1, an opening lift amount L 1 of the intake valve 6 assumes a maximum value, as shown in FIG. 3, and when the roller 17 , i.e., the other end of the rocker arm 18 A is pushed up by the valve-operating cam 16 when the support shaft 23 A is in the position shown in FIG. 2, an opening lift amount L 2 of the intake valve 6 assumes a value as low as, for example, 20% of the maximum lift amount L 1 , as shown in FIG. 4.

Moreover, the position of the support shaft 23 A can be changed continuously, and the lever ratio can be changed continuously by the continuous change in position of the support shaft 23 A, whereby the opening lift amount of the intake valve 6 can be changed continuously.

A valve-operating system for driving the exhaust valve 7 to open and close the latter is constructed as is the above-described valve-operating system for driving the intake valve 6 to open and close the latter, and includes a rocker arm 18 having at one end the tappet screw 15 as a valve abutment which abuts against an upper end of the exhaust valve 7 .

The operation of the first embodiment will be described below. The first and second link arms 19 A and 20 A supported at one ends thereof on the cylinder head 2 for swinging movement about the axis parallel to the rotational axis for the valve-operating cam 16 are connected at the other ends directly to the rocker arm 18 A for relatively turning movement about the axis parallel to the rotational axis. The second link arm 20 A is swingably supported at the one end thereof on the cylinder head 2 for continuous movement within the plane perpendicular to the rotational axis for the valve-operating cam 16 .

Therefore, the instantaneous center C of the rocker arm 18 A is changed by continuously changing the swinging movement-supporting point of the second link arm 20 A on the cylinder head 2 . Thus, the lever ratio can be changed continuously, whereby the opening lift amount of the intake valve 6 can be changed continuously.

Moreover, the first and second link arms 19 A and 20 A are connected directly to the rocker arm 18 A and hence, spaces for disposition of the link arms 19 A and 20 A can be reduced to provide the compactness to the valve-operating system. A power from the valve-operating system 16 is transmitted directly to the rocker arm 18 A and hence, an excellent followability to the valve-operating cam 16 can be ensured.

The other ends of the first and second link arms 19 A and 20 A are connected in a row and relatively turnably to the other end of the rocker arm 18 A provided at one end with the tappet screw 15 . Therefore, the link arms 19 A and 20 A can be disposed more compactly, leading to the further compactness of the valve-operating system.

Further, one 19 A of the first and second link arms 19 A and 20 A closer to the valve-operating cam 16 is swingably supported at one end on the cylinder head 2 in the fixed position, and the other 20 A of the first and second link arms 19 A and 20 A farther from the valve-operating cam 16 is swingably supported at one end movable on the cylinder head 2 . Therefore, the distance of movement of the second link arm 20 A with one end movable can be easily ensured, while avoiding the interference with the valve-operating cam 16 .

Moreover, the first link arm 19 A is connected to the rocker arm 18 A through the support tube 21 mounted on the rocker arm 18 A to support the roller 17 which is in rolling contact with the valve-operating cam 16 , and the support tube 21 also serves as a connecting shaft. Therefore, it is unnecessary to separately mount an exclusive connecting shaft for connecting the first link arm 19 A, thereby enabling a reduction in number of parts and contributing to a reduction in size of the rocker arm 18 A.

Further, the support tube 21 and the connecting shaft 24 are disposed to extend in the input direction from the valve-operating cam 16 to the rocker arm 18 A and hence, the efficiency of transmission from the valve-operating cam 16 to the rocker arm 18 A can be enhanced, while avoiding that the connecting shaft 24 interferes with the valve-operating cam 16 .

A second embodiment of a second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. Referring to first to FIG. 5, a valve-operating system for driving an intake valve 6 to open and close it includes a camshaft 14 disposed above the intake valve 6 and rotatably supported on a cylinder head 2 and a holder (not shown) coupled to a cylinder head 2 , a rocker arm 18 B which is disposed below the camshaft 14 and which has a tappet screw 15 as a valve abutment abutting against an upper end of the intake valve 6 and a roller 17 as a cam abutment contacting with a valve-operating cam 16 provided on the camshaft 14 , and first and second link arms 19 B and 20 B connected to the rocker arm 18 B.

The roller 17 which is in rolling contact with the valve-operating cam 16 is rotatably supported on a cylindrical support tube 21 mounted at an upper portion of the other end of the rocker arm 18 B and having an axis parallel to an axis of the camshaft 14 .

Support shafts 22 B and 23 B having axes parallel to the camshaft 14 are mounted at one ends of the first and second link arms 19 B and 20 B, respectively and turnably connected to the cylinder head 2 . Namely, each of the first and second link arms 19 B and 20 B is supported at one end on the cylinder head 2 for swinging movement about an axis parallel to a rotational axis for the valve-operating cam 16 .

The other end of the first link arm 19 B is connected to the support tube 21 . Namely, the other end of the first link arm 19 B is connected directly to the other end of the rocker arm 18 B for relative turning movement about an axis parallel to the rotational axis for the valve-operating cam 16 . In addition, the second link arm 20 B is disposed below the first link arm 19 B and connected at the other end to the other end of the rocker arm 18 B below the roller 17 through a connecting shaft 24 parallel to the roller 17 . Namely, the second link arm 20 B is connected at the other end directly to the other end of the rocker arm 18 B for relative turning movement about the axis parallel to the rotational axis for the valve-operating cam 16 in such a manner that it is arranged below in a row with the other end of the first link arm 19 B.

Moreover, the support shaft 22 B mounted at one end of one 19 B of the first and second link arms 19 B and 20 B closer to the valve-operating cam 16 is swingably supported on the cylinder head 2 in a fixed position, and the support shaft 23 B mounted at one end of the other 20 B of the first and second link arms 19 B and 20 B farther from the valve-operating cam 16 is swingably supported on the cylinder head 2 for continuous movement within a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis for the valve-operating cam 16 , i.e., the axis of the camshaft 14 .

To ensure that the roller 17 is always in sliding contact with the valve-operating cam 16 , for example, a torsion spring 25 is mounted between the first link arm 19 B and the rocker arm 18 B to surround the support tube 21 mounted at the other end of the first link arm 19 B.

In such valve-operating system, if the lift amount of the intake valve 6 is desired to assume the maximum value, the support shaft 23 B of the second link arm 20 B is disposed at a position shown in FIG. 5, and if the lift amount of the intake valve 6 is desired to be decreased, for example, to “0”, the support shaft 23 B of the second link arm 20 B is moved downwards from the position shown in FIG. 5 (the position shown by a dashed line) as shown in FIG. 5), as shown in FIG. 6.

When the roller 17 , i.e., the other end of the rocker arm 18 B is pushed down by the valve-operating cam 16 when the support shaft 23 B is in the position shown in FIG. 5, the opening lift amount of the intake valve 6 assumes the maximum value, as shown in FIG. 7. On the other hand, when the roller 17 , i.e., the other end of the rocker arm 18 B is pushed down by the valve-operating cam 16 when the support shaft 23 B is in the position shown in FIG. 6, the intake valve 6 remains closed and stopped, as shown in FIG. 8.

Moreover, the position of the support shaft 23 B can be changed continuously, and the opening lift amount of the intake valve 6 can be changed continuously by continuously changing the position of the support shaft 23 B.

Even according to the second embodiment, the opening lift amount of the intake valve 6 can be changed continuously by continuously changing the swinging movement-supporting point of the second link arm 20 B on the cylinder head 2 .

Moreover, the first and second link arms 19 B and 20 B are connected directly to the rocker arm 18 B and hence, spaces for disposition of the link arms 19 B and 20 B can be reduced, leading the compactness of the valve-operating system. A power from the valve-operating system 16 is transmitted directly to the rocker arm 18 B and hence, an excellent followability to the valve-operating cam 16 can be ensured.

The other ends of the first and second link arms 19 B and 20 B are connected in a row and relatively turnably to the other end of the rocker arm 18 B provided at one end with the tappet screw 15 . Therefore, the link arms 19 A and 20 A can be disposed more compactly, leading to the further compactness of the valve-operating system.

Further, one 19 B of the first and second link arms 19 B and 20 B closer to the valve-operating cam 16 is swingably supported at one end on the cylinder head 2 in the fixed position, and one 20 B of the first and second link arms 19 B and 20 B farther from the valve-operating cam 16 is swingably supported at one end movable on the cylinder head 2 . Therefore, the distance of movement of the second link arm 20 B with one end movable can be easily ensured, while avoiding the interference with the valve-operating cam 16 .

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications in design may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention defined in claims.

For example, the one end of one of the pair of link arms 19 A and 20 A; 19 B and 20 B is movable in each of the above-described embodiments, but both of the one ends of both the link arms 19 A and 20 A; 19 B and 20 B may be movable.

The present invention is applicable not only to the valve-operating system for the internal combustion engine for the vehicle but also to a valve-operating system for an internal combustion engine for a boat propelling machine such as an outboard engine system including a crankshaft supported to be directed vertically.