IP Library Granted Patent US 8,051,817
Granted Patent B2
US 8,051,817 · App. 12/458,774 · Granted Nov 8, 2011

Variable valve mechanism

Assignee: Otics Corporation
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,051,817
App. No.
12/458,774
Granted
Nov 8, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides a variable valve mechanism which includes a camshaft having a drive cam, a rocker shaft provided parallel to the camshaft, and a variable mechanism that is provided on the rocker shaft and interposed between the drive cam and a valve, and that changes an opening/closing amount of the valve. The variable mechanism includes a main arm that engages with the drive cam, a cam arm that has a cam surface pressing the valve, a control cam that is provided on the rocker shaft, and has an outer peripheral surface whose distance from a shaft center of the rocker shaft varies gradually, and a displacement member whose distance from the shaft center is changed by turning of the control cam. A relative phase between the main arm and the cam arm is displaced as the distance between the displacement member and the shaft center changes.

Claims (21)

1. A variable valve mechanism ( 10 ), comprising:

a camshaft ( 12 ) including a drive cam ( 14 );

a rocker shaft ( 25 ) provided parallel to the camshaft ( 12 ); and

a variable mechanism ( 30 ) that is provided on the rocker shaft ( 25 ) and interposed between the drive cam ( 14 ) and a valve ( 13 ), and that changes an opening/closing amount of the valve ( 13 ), wherein

the variable mechanism ( 30 ) includes

a main arm ( 35 ) that is swingably supported by the rocker shaft ( 25 ), and engages with the drive cam ( 14 ),

a cam arm ( 40 ) that is swingably supported by the rocker shaft ( 25 ), and has a cam surface ( 41 ) pressing the valve ( 13 ),

a control cam ( 31 ) that is provided on the rocker shaft ( 25 ), and has an outer peripheral surface ( 32 ) whose distance from a shaft center ( 26 ) of the rocker shaft ( 25 ) varies gradually, and

a displacement member ( 48 ) that is connected to the main arm ( 35 ) and the cam arm ( 40 ) through a connection member ( 46 , 47 ) and is in contact with the control cam ( 31 ), wherein a distance between the displacement member ( 48 ) and the shaft center ( 26 ) is changed by turning of the control cam ( 31 ), and wherein

a relative phase between the main arm ( 35 ) and the cam arm ( 40 ) is displaced as the distance between the displacement member ( 48 ) and the shaft center ( 26 ) changes.

2. The variable valve mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein

the main arm ( 35 ) comprises an arm plate ( 36 ) in which the rocker shaft ( 25 ) is inserted through an intermediate portion thereof, and a cam roller ( 37 ) which is rotatably shaft-attached to one end of the arm plate ( 36 ) and engages with the drive cam ( 14 ).

3. The variable valve mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein

the cam arm ( 40 ) comprises a cam surface portion ( 42 ) having the cam surface ( 41 ), and an arm piece portion ( 43 ) that protrudes from a back side of the cam surface portion ( 42 ), and wherein

the rocker shaft ( 25 ) is inserted through an intermediate portion of the arm piece portion ( 43 ).

4. The variable valve mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein

the cam surface ( 41 ) comprises a base surface portion ( 44 ) having an arc shape about the shaft center ( 26 ), and a planar lift surface portion ( 45 ) continuous from the base surface portion ( 44 ).

5. The variable valve mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein

the variable mechanism ( 30 ) is formed as a pantograph-like link mechanism by the main arm ( 35 ), the cam arm ( 40 ), and the connection members ( 46 , 47 ).

6. The variable valve mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein

the displacement member ( 48 ) is a roller ( 48 ) which is rotatably shaft-attached to the connection member ( 46 , 47 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2009
From: YAMAGUCHI, KOKI
To: OTICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023031/0111 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2008-200043 · Aug 1, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100024753A1 · Feb 4, 2010