Variable valve train

The present invention relates to a variable valve operating mechanism or valve train for changing over operating characteristics of valves in an internal combustion engine.

There is known a variable valve operating mechanism or valve train provided with cam carriers having thereon plural cam lobes different in cam profile for determining valve operating characteristics. The cam carriers are axially slidably fitted on camshafts, respectively, in such a state that rotation of the cam carriers relative to the camshafts is prevented and that axial shift of the cam carriers causes different cam lobes to act on engine valves to change the valve operating characteristics (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Patent Document

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 3980699

In the variable valve train disclosed in Patent Document 1, a spiral lead grooves (stroke curves 9 , 10 ) are formed around a cam carrier (a cam 5 ) axially slidably fitted on a camshaft so as to co-rotatable with the camshaft, and the cam carrier is axially shifted by being engaged with a changeover pin (operating pins 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ) selectively in the lead grooves, while the cam carrier is being rotated, and cams on the cam carrier are changed over to selectively operate on an engine valve (a gas exchange valve 1 ).

Among the two lead grooves on the cam carrier disclosed in Patent Document 1, one is a lead groove (the stroke curve 9 ) for shifting the cam carrier leftward and the other is a lead groove (the stroke curve 10 ) for shifting the cam carrier rightward.

One of the lead grooves for shifting the cam carrier rightward or leftward is a lead groove for increasing speed for changing over from a low-speed cam lobe (a cam orbit 4 ) with a small valve lift amount to a high-speed cam lobe with a large valve lift amount, and the other lead groove is a lead groove for decreasing speed for changing over from the high-speed cam lobe to the low-speed cam lobe.

Normally, when the low-speed cam lobe with a small valve lift amount is changed over to the high-speed cam lobe with a large valve lift amount, engine speed is increased and the cam carrier is rotated at an increased speed together with the camshaft. Conversely, when the high-speed cam lobe is changed over to the low-speed cam lobe, the cam carrier is rotated at a reduced speed.

Therefore, when the cam carrier is shifted under the guidance by the speed-increasing lead groove, the cam carrier is rotated generally at an increased speed, and when the cam carrier is shifted under the guidance by the speed-decreasing lead groove, the cam carrier is rotated generally at a reduced speed.

Patent Document 1 does not state how the speed-increasing and speed-decreasing lead grooves are formed. These two kinds of the lead grooves are interpreted to have a symmetrical arrangement so that these grooves operate to guide the cam carrier for shifting movement.

Technical Problem

As inertia forces applied to the cam carrier shifted under the guidance of the lead grooves are different between the speed-increasing and speed-decreasing rotations, the lead grooves for shifting the cam carrier are required to have optimum contours in consideration of the related inertia forces to prevent excessive displacement of the cam carrier and to shift the cam carrier smoothly and approximately.

When the cam carrier is displaced excessively by the inertia forces, the changeover pin is forced to slidingly contact undesirable portions of the lead grooves, the abrasion of the lead grooves occurs, and durability is impaired.

The present invention is made in view of the above problem and an object of the invention is to provide a variable valve train optimizing the contours of the lead grooves for shifting the cam carrier between speed-increasing rotation and speed-decreasing rotation of the cam carrier, enabling smooth and appropriate shifting the cam carrier, and enhancing durability of the lead grooves.

Solution to Problem

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a variable valve train comprising: a camshaft rotatably supported in a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine; a cylindrical cam carrier fitted on the camshaft in a manner axially slidable relative to and co-rotatable with the camshaft, the cam carrier having therearound a lead groove for fitting engagement by changeover pins and having therearound low-speed and high-speed cam lobes arranged at positions axially adjacent to each other for selectively operating on an engine valve; and a cam changeover mechanism operable to cause the changeover pins to selectively advance and retract to be engaged with and disengaged from the lead groove, so as to cause the cam carrier to be axially shifted under guidance by the lead groove, while the cam carrier is rotated, in a manner to change over the changeover pins to act on the engine valve; characterized in that:

the lead groove includes a speed-increasing lead groove for changeover from the low-speed cam lobe to the high-speed cam lobe and a speed-decreasing lead groove for changeover from the high-speed cam lobe to the low-speed cam lobe, and the speed-increasing lead groove and the speed-decreasing lead groove have different groove contours.

According to the above configuration, the lead groove for increasing speed for changeover from the low-speed cam lobe to the high-speed cam lobe and the lead groove for changeover from the high-speed cam lobe to the low-speed cam lobe are configured mutually different in groove contours, whereby the contours of the lead grooves for shifting the cam carrier are optimized, and the inertial forces acting on the cam carrier are moderately adjusted. Consequently, the cam carrier can be shifted smoothly and appropriately, abrasion of the lead grooves is suppressed, and durability thereof is improved.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a shift rotational angular range in which the cam carrier is rotated, for changeover of the cam lobes, from a shift start to a shift end under guidance by the speed-increasing lead groove is smaller than a shift rotational angular range in which the cam carrier is rotated, for changeover of the cam lobes, from a shift start to a shift end under guidance by the speed-decreasing lead roove.

As for the force for shifting the cam carrier by the lead grooves, the force required in speed-increasing rotation of the cam carrier is greater than the force required in speed-decreasing rotation, and the inertia force applied to the cam carrier increases in the speed-increasing rotation, compared with the speed-decreasing rotation. According to the configuration above, the inertia force applied to the cam carrier is moderately controlled by making the shift rotational angular range of the speed-increasing lead groove smaller than the shift rotational angular range of the speed-decreasing lead groove, and the cam carrier can be shifted smoothly and appropriately. The above-mentioned shift rotational angular range means an angular range in which the cam carrier is rotated from the start of the shift under the guidance by the lead groove for changeover of the cam lobes to the end of the shift. During the shift rotational angular range, a force for shifting the cam carrier is required.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shift start under the guidance by the speed-increasing lead groove has a start timing, which is earlier than a start timing of the shift start under the guidance by the speed-decreasing lead groove.

According to this configuration, the shift start timing by the speed-increasing lead groove is earlier than the shift start timing by the speed-decreasing lead groove, whereby the inertia force applied to the cam carrier can be suppressed by starting the shift at an early timing in an initial period of the speed increasing process in which the rotational speed of the cam carrier rotated for speed increase is still low, so that the cam carrier can be shifted smoothly and appropriately.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the shift rotational angular ranges are set within a rotational angular range of the cam carrier in which a base circle common to the low-speed and high-speed cam lobes with different cam profiles operate on the engine valve.

According to this configuration, the shift rotational angular range is set within the rotational angular range of the cam carrier in which the base circle common to the plural cam lobes different in cam profile operate on the engine valve, whereby the cam carrier can be shifted during the period in which the base circle common to the plural cam lobes is operating on the valve.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The present invention is based on an engine variable valve train comprising a camshaft rotatably supported in a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, and a cylindrical cam carrier fitted on the camshaft in a manner axially slidable relative to and co-rotatable with the camshaft, wherein the cam carrier has therearound a lead groove for fitting engagement by changeover pins and has therearound low-speed and high-speed cam lobes arranged at positions axially adjacent to each other for selectively operating on an engine valve. A cam changeover mechanism is provided to operate to cause the changeover pins to selectively advance and retract to be engaged with and disengaged from the lead groove, so as to cause the cam carrier to be axially shifted under guidance by the lead groove, while the cam carrier is rotated, in a manner to change over the changeover pins to act on the engine valve. In the above configuration of the variable valve train, the speed-increasing lead groove for changing over from the low-speed cam lobe to the high-speed cam lobe and the speed-decreasing lead groove for changing over from the high-speed cam lobe to the low-speed cam lobe are mutually different in contour, and both the lead grooves have the contours suitable for respective functions. As a result, the contours of the lead grooves for shifting the cam carrier are optimized, and the cam carrier can be shifted smoothly and appropriately, abrasion of the lead grooves is suppressed, and the durability is improved.

FIG. 1 is a right side view showing an internal combustion engine provided with a variable valve train according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a left side view showing the internal combustion engine with some covering members removed;

FIG. 3 is a left side view showing the internal combustion engine with a part omitted, the left side view being partially a sectional view showing a part including valves;

FIG. 4 is a top view showing a cylinder head viewed from above in such a state that a cylinder head cover is removed;

FIG. 5 is a top view showing the cylinder head viewed from above in such a state that a camshaft holder is further removed;

FIG. 6 is a top view showing the cylinder head viewed from above in such a state that camshafts are further removed together with cam carriers;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along a line VII-VII in FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along a line VIII-VIII in FIG. 4 and showing a state that the cylinder head cover is added;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along a line IX-IX in FIG. 4 and showing a state that the cylinder head cover is added;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along a line X-X in FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing only main components of an intake side cam changeover mechanism and an exhaust side cam changeover mechanism;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of changeover pins;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing an intake side changeover driving shaft and a first changeover pin;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a state that the first changeover pin and the second changeover pin are inserted in the intake side changeover driving shaft;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state that the first changeover pin is inserted in the exhaust side changeover driving shaft;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view sequentially showing operational processes of main members of the intake side cam changeover mechanism;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view sequentially showing operational processes of main members of the exhaust side cam changeover mechanism;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of an intake side cam carrier and an intake side camshaft, the section being taken at a lead groove cylindrical portion; and

FIG. 19 is a development view of the lead groove cylindrical portion.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 17 , an embodiment according to the present invention will be described below.

An internal combustion engine E is an air-cooled single-cylinder 4-stroke internal combustion engine and is provided with a variable valve operating mechanism or valve train 40 , shown in FIG. 3 , according to this embodiment. The engine E is mounted on a motorcycle (not shown) provided with a four-valve type valve operating mechanism of DOHC structure.

In the description, a longitudinal direction is in accordance with the normal standard of a motorcycle advancing forward, and a transverse direction is a left-right or transverse direction of the motorcycle. In the drawings, FR denotes the front side of the motorcycle, RR denotes the rear side, LH denotes the left side, and RH denotes the right side.

The internal combustion engine E is mounted on the vehicle with a crankshaft 10 thereof oriented in the transverse (left-right) direction of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 3 a crankcase 1 journaling the crankshaft 10 directed in the transverse direction defines a crank chamber 1 c housing the crankshaft 10 , and a transmission chamber 1 m housing a transmission M is formed at the back of the crank chamber 1 c . An oil pan chamber 1 o for storing lubricant oil is integrated with the bottom of the crank chamber 1 c and partitioned by substantially horizontal partitions 1 h.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the internal combustion engine E is provided with an engine body configured by a cylinder block 2 provided with one cylinder 2 a on the crank chamber 1 c of the crankcase 1 , a cylinder head 3 connected to an upper part of the cylinder block 2 via a gasket and a cylinder head cover 4 covering an upper part of the cylinder head 3 .

A cylinder axis Lc which is a central axis of the cylinder 2 a of the cylinder block 2 is slightly inclined backward. The cylinder block 2 , the cylinder head 3 and the cylinder head cover 4 respectively piled on/over the crankcase 1 are extended upward from the crankcase 1 in an attitude to slightly incline backward.

An oil pan 5 forming the oil pan chamber 10 extends from the bottom of the crankcase 1 .

A main shaft 11 and a counter shaft 12 of the transmission M are horizontally arranged in the transmission chamber 1 m of the crankcase 1 to extend transversely in parallel with the crankshaft 10 (see FIG. 3 ), and the counter shaft 12 passes through the crankcase 1 leftward to protrude outside. The counter shaft 12 functions as an output shaft.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the transmission M arranged in the transmission chamber 1 m at the back of the crank chamber 1 c includes the main shaft 11 and the countershaft 12 , which are equipped with a main gear group 11 g associated with the main shaft 11 and a counter gear group 12 g associated with the counter shaft 12 . The transmission M further includes a gear shift mechanism 15 equipped with a shift drum 16 and shift forks 17 a , 17 b and 17 c respectively operated by a shift operation mechanism.

Still referring to FIG. 3 , a piston 20 reciprocating in the cylinder 2 a of the cylinder block 2 and the crankshaft 10 are coupled via a connecting rod 21 both ends of which are supported by a piston pin 20 p and a crankpin 10 p to constitute a crank mechanism.

This internal combustion engine E is provided with the 4-valve type variable valve operating mechanism 40 having the DOHC structure.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the cylinder head 3 has therein a combustion chamber 30 located opposite to the top of the piston 20 . Two intake ports 31 i extend upward so as to curve forward from the combustion chamber 30 , and two exhaust ports 31 e extend so as to curve backward from the combustion chamber 30 .

The two intake ports 31 i are joined on the upstream side, and a throttle body 22 is provided in an intake passage extending from the joined portion. The upstream side of the intake passage of the throttle body 22 is open.

An ignition plug 23 is attached to the center of a ceiling wall of the combustion chamber 30 with one end of the ignition plug 23 directed into the combustion chamber 30 .

Intake valves 41 and exhaust valves 51 slidably supported by valve guides 32 i and 32 e , respectively, are integrally fitted in the cylinder head 3 . The intake valves 41 and the exhaust valves 51 are driven by the variable valve operating mechanism or valve train 40 provided in engine E. The variable valve train 40 opens and closes intake openings of the intake ports 31 i and exhaust openings of the exhaust ports 31 e in synchronization with the rotation of the crankshaft 10 .

The variable valve train 40 is provided in a valve chamber 3 c formed by the cylinder head 3 and the cylinder head cover 4 .

As shown in FIG. 6 , a top view showing the cylinder head 3 seen from above, in which a part of the variable valve train 40 is removed, the cylinder head 3 is formed in a rectangular shape by a front wall 3 Fr and a rear wall 3 Rr on the front and rear sides in the longitudinal direction, and a left wall 3 L and a right wall 3 R on the left and right sides in the transverse direction. The valve chamber 3 c is partitioned by a bearing wall 3 U formed close to the left wall 3 L in parallel with the left wall, and a gear chamber 3 g is formed between the left wall 3 L and the bearing wall 3 U.

The valve chamber 3 c is located on the upside of the combustion chamber 30 and partitioned into right and left chambers by a bearing wall 3 V.

In an upper end surface of the bearing wall 3 U partitioning the gear chamber 3 g are formed front and rear bearing recesses 3 U i and 3 U e in the shape of a semi-circular cavity. Similarly, in an upper end surface of the bearing wall 3 V partitioning the valve chamber 3 c are formed front and rear bearing recesses 3 V i and 3 V e in the shape of a semi-circular cavity. A plug insertion cylinder 3 V p for inserting the ignition plug 23 is formed in the center of the bearing wall 3 V.

As shown in FIG. 3 , an intake side camshaft 42 is arranged to extend in the transverse direction in a region above the pair of right and left intake valves 41 , and an exhaust side camshaft 52 is arranged to extend in the transverse direction in a region above the pair of right and left exhaust valves 51 . These intake side and exhaust side camshafts 42 and 52 are rotatably journaled in such a manner that these camshafts 42 and 52 are held between the bearing walls 3 U and 3 V. The intake side and exhaust side camshafts 42 and 52 are held on the bearing walls 3 U and 3 V and held from above by camshaft holders 33 and 34 put on the bearing walls 3 U and 3 V, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 10 .

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 10 , the intake side camshaft 42 is provided with a journal portion 42 B of an enlarged diameter to be supported by the bearing wall 3 U, and flanges 42 A and 42 C are formed on the left and right sides of the journal portion 42 B.

A spline shaft 42 D ( FIG. 10 ) having splines on the outer peripheral surface extends on the right side of the right flange 42 C.

A lubricant oil passage 42 h is bored in the intake side camshaft 42 along the longitudinal axis thereof from the right end to the inside of the journal portion 42 B through the inside of the spline shaft 42 D. A lubricant oil communicating hole 42 ha is formed radially from the left end of the lubricant oil passage 42 h to the outer peripheral surface of the journal portion 42 B. From within the lubricating oil passage 42 h extend cam communicating oil hole 42 hb , bearing communicating oil holes 42 hc and cam communicating oil holes 42 hb , which are bored radially in the spline shaft 42 D at spaced-apart three locations in the axial direction.

As FIG. 10 shows, the left cam communicating oil holes 42 hb , the central bearing communicating oil holes 42 hc and the right cam communicating oil holes 42 hb are open to an annular cam peripheral groove 42 bv , an annular bearing peripheral groove 42 cv and an annular cam peripheral groove 42 bv , respectively formed in a state to surround the outer peripheral surface of the spline shaft 42 D at totally three locations.

A plug 45 is press-fitted in the right end of the lubricant oil passage 42 h and the lubricant oil passage 42 h is closed thereby.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 , the bearing 3 UA of the cylinder head 3 has inner circumferential oil grooves 3 U iv and 3 U ev formed in the bearing recesses 3 U i and 3 U e for bearing the intake side camshaft 42 and the exhaust side camshaft 52 , respectively.

In the meantime, as shown in FIG. 7 , a common oil passage 33 s is formed in the camshaft holder 33 in the longitudinal direction and along the top surface of the camshaft holder 33 . The common oil passage 33 s passes above bearing recess 33 i and 33 e of the camshaft holder 33 , respectively, for bearing the intake side camshaft 42 and the exhaust side camshaft 52 .

The common oil passage 33 s passes at its halfway portion through a bolt hole for a fastening bolt 38 d to be described later.

Branch oil passages 33 it and 33 et branching from the common oil passage 33 s are formed to extend to a mating face of the camshaft holder 33 with the bearing 3 UA of the cylinder head 3 (see FIG. 7 ).

Still referring to FIG. 7 , the branch oil passage 33 it communicates with the inner circumferential oil groove 3 Uiv open to the rear side of the bearing recess 3 Ui of the cylinder head 3 , while the branch oil passage 33 et communicates with the inner circumferential oil groove 3 Uev open to the front side of the bearing recess 3 Ue of the cylinder head 3 .

The common oil passage 33 s communicates with a vertical oil passage 33 r at the rear end. The vertical oil passage 33 r communicates with a vertical oil passage 3 Ur in the bearing wall 3 U of the cylinder head 3 .

Accordingly, oil passing through the vertical oil passage 3 Ur of the cylinder head 3 flows into the common oil passage 33 s via the vertical oil passage 33 r in the camshaft holder 33 . Then, the oil is distributed into the branch oil passages 33 it and 33 et from the common oil passage 33 s , and the distributed oil is supplied to the inner circumferential oil grooves 3 U iv and 3 U ev . The supplied oil lubricates the bearings for the intake side camshaft 42 and the exhaust side camshaft 52 .

Further, the lubricating oil communicating hole 42 ha ( FIG. 10 ) in the journal portion 42 B of the intake side camshaft 42 is open to the inner circumferential oil groove 3 Uiv ( FIGS. 7 and 10 ), and oil is supplied from the inner circumferential oil groove 3 Uiv to the lubricating oil passage 42 h in the intake side camshaft 42 through the lubricating oil communicating hole 42 ha.

Similarly, the lubricating oil communicating hole 52 ha in the journal portion 52 B of the exhaust side camshaft 52 is open to the inner circumferential oil groove 3 Uev ( FIG. 7 ), and oil is supplied from the inner circumferential oil groove 3 Uev into the lubricating oil passage 52 h in the exhaust side camshaft 52 through the lubricating oil communicating hole 52 ha.

As shown in FIG. 10 , the oil supplied from the lubricating oil communicating hole 42 ha of the journal portion 42 B of the intake side camshaft 42 into the lubricating oil passage 42 h is discharged from the cam communicating oil holes 42 hb , the bearing communicating oil holes 42 hc and the cam communicating oil holes 42 hb onto the peripheral surface of the spline shaft 42 D.

The oil supplied from the lubricating oil communicating hole 52 ha of the journal portion 52 B of the exhaust side camshaft 52 into the lubricating oil passage 52 h is discharged onto the outer peripheral surface of the spline shaft 52 D from a similar communicating oil hole not shown.

A cylindrical intake side cam carrier 43 is fitted on the spline shaft 42 D of the intake side camshaft 42 via splines.

Accordingly, the intake side cam carrier 43 is axially slidably fitted onto the intake side camshaft 42 in a state in which rotation of the cam carrier 43 relative to the intake side camshaft 42 is prevented.

The oil discharged from the cam communicating oil holes 42 hb , the bearing communicating oil holes 42 hc and the cam communicating oil holes 42 hb is supplied into the spline-fitting portions between the spline shaft 42 D and the intake side cam carrier 43 (see FIG. 10 ).

Still referring to FIG. 10 , a recess 42 Ch for accepting and abutting the left end of the intake side cam carrier 43 is formed in the right surface of the flange 42 C on the right side of the enlarged-diameter journal portion 42 B of the intake side camshaft 42 .

The recess 42 Ch enables the enlarged-diameter journal portion 42 B of the intake side camshaft 42 to be located axially close to the intake side cam carrier 43 , while securing an axial moving space required for the intake side cam carrier 43 . Consequently, the intake side camshaft 42 can be set to be of axially reduced length.

On the intake side cam carrier 43 are formed two right and left pairs of a first cam lobe 43 A and a second cam lobe 43 B, which are different in cam profile. The first cam lobe 43 A is a low-speed cam lobe of a small cam height and hence of a small amount of valve lift, while the second cam lobe 43 B is a high-speed cam lobe of a large cam height and hence of a large amount of valve lift. These low-speed and high-speed cam lobes 43 A and 43 B of each pair are adjacent to each other in the axial direction, and the pairs are placed respectively on the two axial ends of the outer peripheral surface of a journal cylindrical portion 43 C of the cam carrier 43 . The journal cylindrical portion 43 C has a predetermined axial length and extends between the two pairs of the low-speed and high-speed cam lobes 43 A and 43 B.

The adjoining low-speed and high-speed cam lobes 43 A and 43 B have mutually equal outer diameters of their base circles of the cam profiles, and the adjoining low-speed and high-speed cam lobes 43 A and 43 B are located in the same circumferential or angular positions (see FIG. 8 ).

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 10 , the intake side cam carrier 43 is formed with a lead groove cylindrical portion 43 D including circumferential lead grooves 44 on the left side of the low-speed cam lobe 43 A in the left pair of the low-speed cam lobe 43 A and the high-speed cam lobe 43 B. The intake side cam carrier 43 is provided with a right-end cylindrical portion 43 E on the right end of the right high-speed cam lobe 43 B in the right pair of the low-speed cam lobe 43 A and the high-speed cam lobe 43 B.

The lead groove cylindrical portion 43 D has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of a base circle of the same diameter, of the low-speed cam lobe 43 A and the high-speed cam lobe 43 B (see FIG. 10 ).

The lead grooves 44 of the lead groove cylindrical portion 43 D is made up of an annular lead groove 44 c at an axial middle position, a left shift lead groove 44 l and a right shift lead groove 44 r . These shift lead grooves 44 l and 44 r are branched from the middle annular lead groove 44 c and extend spirally and axially away from the middle annular lead groove 44 c to axial positions at a predetermined axial distance from the middle annular lead groove 44 c (see FIGS. 4 and 10 ).

The left shift lead groove 44 l is formed close to the left end of the intake side cam carrier 43 .

Accordingly, the axial end portion of the intake side cam carrier 43 can be made as short as possible and the axial length of the intake side cam carrier 43 itself can be reduced.

When the left end of the intake side cam carrier 43 is placed, as shown in FIG. 10 , in the recess 42 Ch formed in the right side of the journal portion 42 B of the intake side camshaft 42 , a part of the left shift lead groove 44 l formed close to the left end of the intake side cam carrier 43 is also put in the recess 42 Ch. However, as the remaining part of the left shift lead groove 44 l is exposed without being put in the recess 42 Ch, the left shift lead groove does not interfere with a first changeover pin 73 to be described later, and there is no problem in cam switching operation.

Still referring to FIG. 10 , the journal cylindrical portion 43 C of the intake side cam carrier 43 has bearing lubrication holes 43 C a and 43 C b connecting the inside and the outside of the cylindrical portion 43 c . The bearing lubrication holes 43 Ca and 43 Cb are formed at two locations in the axial direction of the journal cylindrical portion 43 C.

Besides, cam lubrication holes 43 Ah and 43 B h are also formed in each pair of the first cam lobe 43 A and the second cam lobe 43 B ( FIGS. 9 and 10 ). The cam lubrication holes 43 Ah and 43 Bh communicate from inside with the outside of the associated surfaces of the cams forming the base circles.

The intake side cam carrier 43 and a similar exhaust side cam carrier 53 are turned clockwise in the side view of FIG. 9 . The cam surface of the high-speed cam lobe 43 B shown in FIG. 9 of the intake side cam carrier 43 being turned slidingly contacts an intake rocker arm 72 to be described later, so that the intake rocker arm 72 is rocked and the intake valve 41 is moved.

The surface of a cam nose of the high-speed cam lobe 43 B has a side on which the cam nose first slidingly contacts the intake rocker arm 72 at a higher cam contact pressure, the other side on which the cam nose slidingly contacts the intake rocker arm 72 afterward at a smaller cam contact pressure. The cam lubrication hole 43 Bh of the high-speed cam lobe 43 B is formed in the cam surface of the base circle of the high-speed cam lobe 43 B at a position closer to the higher cam contact pressure side.

The cam lubrication hole 43 Ah of the low-speed cam lobe 43 A is similarly formed in such a manner that the cam lubrication hole 43 Ah is open in the cam surface of the base circle of the low-speed cam lobe 43 A at a position close to the side with a higher cam contact pressure.

Cam lubrication holes in a low-speed cam lobe 53 A and a high-speed cam lobe 53 B of the exhaust side cam carrier 53 are also formed in a similar way.

A bottomed cylindrical cap 46 is fitted on a right-end cylindrical portion 43 E of the intake side cam carrier 43 .

An intake side driven gear 47 is coaxially fitted on the left flange 42 A of the intake side camshaft 42 from the left side, and the intake side driven gear 47 is integrally fastened by two screws 48 ( FIG. 10 ).

As illustrated in FIG. 10 , the intake side cam carrier 43 is fitted on the spline shaft 42 D of the intake side camshaft 42 via splines, in such a state that the cap 46 is fitted on the right-end cylindrical portion 43 E of the intake side cam carrier 43 , the journal portion 42 B of the intake side camshaft 42 is rotatably supported between the bearing recess 3 U i formed in the bearing wall 3 U of the cylinder head 3 and the semi-circular bearing recess 33 i of the camshaft holder 33 . The journal cylindrical portion 43 C of the intake side cam carrier 43 is rotatably supported between the bearing recess 3 Vi formed in the bearing wall 3 V of the cylinder head 3 and a semi-circular bearing recess 34 i of the camshaft holder 34 .

The intake side camshaft 42 is axially positioned relative to the bearing wall 3 U of the cylinder head 3 and the camshaft holder 33 with the left and right flanges 42 A and 42 C of the journal portion 42 B fitting on the two sides of the cam shaft holder 33 and on the two sides of the bearing wall 3 U of the cylinder head 3 . Then, the intake side driven gear 47 mounted on the left flange 42 A is located in the gear chamber 3 g.

As described above, the intake side cam carrier 43 is spline-fitted on the spline shaft 42 D of the intake side camshaft 42 , so that the intake side cam carrier 43 can be axially shifted, while being rotated together with the intake side camshaft 42 .

As the journal cylindrical portion 43 C, with an axial predetermined length, of the intake side cam carrier 43 is supported by the bearing wall 3 V of the cylinder head 3 and the camshaft holder 34 , axial shift of the intake side cam carrier 43 is limited when the high-speed cam lobe 43 B opposite to the left sides of the bearing wall 3 V and the camshaft holder 34 abuts on the bearing wall 3 V and the camshaft holder 34 , and when the low-speed cam lobe 43 A opposite to the right sides of the bearing wall 3 V and the camshaft holder 34 abuts on the bearing wall 3 V and the camshaft holder 34 (see FIG. 10 ).

Still referring to FIG. 10 , lubricant oil in the lubricant oil passage 42 h in the intake side camshaft 42 is discharged from the cam communicating oil holes 42 hb , the bearing communicating oil holes 42 hc and the cam communicating oil holes 42 hb into the cam peripheral groove 42 bv , the bearing peripheral groove 42 cv and the cam peripheral groove 42 bv , respectively. The oil lubricates the spline-fitted portions between the spline shaft 42 D and the intake side cam carrier 43 around the spline shaft 42 D. The bearing communicating oil holes 42 hc of the journal portion 42 B of the intake side camshaft 42 is located at the same axial position as the bearing wall 3 V and the camshaft holder 34 . Further, the journal cylindrical portion 43 C of the intake side cam carrier 43 surrounding the bearing communicating oil holes 42 hc has the two bearing lubrication holes 43 C a and 43 C b . Thus, in the case of leftward shift of the intake side cam carrier 43 , the bearing lubrication holes 43 Cb are made to confront the bearing communicating oil holes 42 hc , while in the case of rightward shift, the other bearing lubrication holes 43 Ca are made to confront the bearing communicating oil holes 42 hc , respectively, as shown in FIG. 5 . Therefore, oil can be supplied into the bearing recesses 3 V i and 34 i via either of the bearing lubrication holes 43 Ca or the bearing lubrication holes 43 Cb in both the cases, and the bearing recesses 3 V i and 34 i can be supplied with lubricant oil.

To limit the axial shift of the intake side cam carrier 43 and to position the intake side cam carrier 43 , a spherical engaging recesses may be formed, respectively, at axial positions of the bearing lubrication holes 43 C a and 43 C b in the inner circumferential surface of the intake side cam carrier 43 . An engaging ball may be provided to be pressed by a helical spring installed inside at the axial position of each of the bearing communicating oil holes 42 hc of the intake side camshaft 42 and to retractably protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the intake side camshaft 42 . The engaging ball is engaged with each of the two engaging recesses.

The two engaging recesses and the engaging balls may be provided at any position in the axial direction of the intake side cam carrier 43 and the intake side camshaft 42 when the above-mentioned positional relation is met.

The cam communicating oil holes 42 hb and 42 hb on both sides of the bearing communicating oil hole 42 hc of the intake side camshaft 42 are located at the same axial positions as the intake valves 41 and 41 (and the intake rocker arms 72 and 72 described later). In the leftward shift position of the intake side cam carrier 43 , the second cam lobes 43 B and 43 B are located at the same axial positions as the intake valves 41 and 41 , respectively (see FIG. 5 ), and in the rightward shift position of the intake side cam carrier 43 , the first cam lobes 43 A and 43 A are located at the same axial positions as the intake valves 41 and 41 , respectively.

Therefore, when the intake side cam carrier 43 is shifted leftward, the cam lubrication holes 43 B h and 43 B h of the high-speed cam lobes 43 B and 43 B are made to confront the cam communicating oil holes 42 hb and 42 hb of the intake side camshaft 42 , oil is supplied to the cam surfaces of the high-speed cam lobes 43 B and 43 B, and parts in sliding contact with the intake rocker arms 72 and 72 are lubricated as will be understood from FIG. 10 .

When the intake side cam carrier 43 is shifted rightward, the cam lubrication holes 43 Ah and 43 Ah of the low-speed cam lobes 43 A and 43 A are made to confront the cam communicating oil holes 42 hb and 42 hb of the intake side camshaft 42 , oil is supplied to the cam surfaces of the low-speed cam lobes 43 A and 43 A, and parts in sliding contact with the intake rocker arms 72 are lubricated.

As described above, in both the leftward and rightward shifts, oil is supplied to the parts in sliding contact with the cam lobes 43 A and 43 B and the intake rocker arms 72 , and the parts in sliding contact are lubricated.

As will be noted from FIG. 5 , the exhaust side camshaft 52 has the same configuration as the intake side camshaft 42 , and a left flange 52 A, a journal portion 52 B, a right flange 52 C and a spline shaft 52 D are formed in this order.

The exhaust side cam carrier 53 is fitted on the spline shaft 52 D of the exhaust side camshaft 52 via splines. The low-speed cam lobe 53 A and the high-speed cam lobe 53 B of each of two right and left pairs are different in cam profile. The low-speed cam lobe 53 A has a low cam profile and a low amount of valve lift, while the high-speed cam lobe 53 B has a high cam profile and a high amount of valve lift. The two pairs are arranged in axially spaced-apart positions on the outer peripheral surface of the exhaust side cam carrier 53 , with a journal cylindrical portion 53 C of a predetermined axial length between the two pairs on the intake side cam carrier 43 .

The adjoining low-speed and high-speed cam lobes 53 A and 53 B has their outer diameters of base circles of the cam profiles equal to each other.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 11 , the exhaust side cam carrier 53 is provided with a lead groove cylindrical portion 53 D having two lead grooves 54 which are basically parallel but partially communicating with each other. In this respect, the lead groove cylindrical portion 53 D is different from the lead groove cylindrical portion 43 D of the intake side cam carrier 43 . The lead groove cylindrical portion 53 D is provided on the left side of the low-speed cam lobe 53 A of the left pair, with the left lead grooves 54 surrounding the lead groove cylindrical portion 53 D. The exhaust side cam carrier 53 is provided also with a lead groove cylindrical portion 53 E formed on the right side of the high-speed cam lobe scam lobe 53 B of the right pair with the right lead grooves 55 surrounding the lead groove cylindrical portion 53 E. The exhaust side cam carrier 53 is provided also with a right-end cylindrical portion 53 F formed on the right end of the lead groove cylindrical portion 53 E.

Outer diameters of the lead groove cylindrical portions 53 D and 53 E are smaller than the outer diameters of the base circles having the same diameter as those of the first cam lobe 53 A and the second cam lobe 53 B.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the lead grooves 54 of the left lead groove cylindrical portion 53 D include an annular lead groove 54 c adjacent to the left end surface of the exhaust side cam carrier 53 . The annular lead groove 54 c surrounds circumferentially the lead groove cylindrical portion 53 D at a predetermined axial position. The lead grooves 54 of the left lead groove cylindrical portion 53 D also include a right shift lead groove 54 r spirally formed at an axial position spaced rightward by a predetermined axial distance. The right shift lead groove 54 r branches rightward from the annular lead groove 54 c.

The lead grooves 55 of the right lead groove cylindrical portion 53 E include an annular lead groove 55 c circumferentially surrounding the lead groove cylindrical portion 53 E at a predetermined axial position, and a left shift lead groove 55 l spirally formed at a predetermined axial distance leftward of the annular lead groove 55 c and branching leftward from the annular lead groove 55 c.

A bottomed cylindrical cap 56 is fitted on the right-end cylindrical portion 53 F ( FIG. 11 ) of the exhaust side cam carrier 53 .

Besides, an exhaust side driven gear 57 is coaxially fitted to the left flange 52 A of the exhaust side camshaft 52 from the left side and the exhaust side driven gear 57 is integrally fastened by two screws 58 (see FIGS. 4, 5 ).

Referring to FIG. 5 , the exhaust side cam carrier 53 is fitted on the spline shaft 52 D of the exhaust side camshaft 52 via splines. The journal portion 52 B of the exhaust side camshaft 52 is rotatably supported between the bearing recess 3 Ue (see FIG. 6 ) in the bearing wall 3 U of the cylinder head 3 and the semi-circular bearing recess of the camshaft holder 33 . The cap 56 is fitted to the right-end cylindrical portion 53 F of the exhaust side cam carrier 53 , and the journal cylindrical portion 53 C of the exhaust side cam carrier 53 is rotatably supported between the bearing recess 3 Ve (see FIG. 6 ) in the bearing wall 3 V of the cylinder head 3 and a semi-circular bearing recess of the camshaft holder 34 (see FIG. 4 ).

The exhaust side camshaft 52 is axially positioned with the bearing wall 3 U of the cylinder head 3 and the camshaft holder 33 held between the left and right flanges 52 A and 52 C of the journal portion 52 B. The exhaust side driven gear 57 mounted on the left flange 52 A is located in the gear chamber 3 g.

The exhaust side cam carrier 53 , spline-fitted on the spline shaft 52 D of the rotatable exhaust side camshaft 52 axially positioned as described above, can be axially shifted and rotated together with the exhaust side camshaft 52 .

The journal cylindrical portion 53 C having the predetermined axial length of the exhaust side cam carrier 53 is supported by the bearing wall 3 V of the cylinder head 3 and the camshaft holder 34 . Axial shift of the exhaust side cam carrier 53 is limited by abutment of the high-speed cam lobe 53 B of the left pair abuts with the left sides of the bearing wall 3 V and the camshaft holder 34 and by abutment of the low-speed cam lobe 53 A of the right pair with the right sides of the bearing wall 3 V and the camshaft holder 34 .

A supply path of lubricant oil lubricating the exhaust side camshaft 52 , a spline-fitting portion of the exhaust side cam carrier 53 and bearings are substantially the same as in the structure of the intake side camshaft 42 and the intake side cam carrier 43 .

The intake side driven gear 47 mounted on the left flange 42 A of the intake side camshaft 42 and the exhaust side driven gear 57 mounted on the left flange 52 A of the exhaust side camshaft 52 are arranged side by side in the gear chamber 3 g to extend in a plane perpendicular to the thickness directions of the gear chamber 3 g.

As shown in FIG. 2 , both the intake side driven gear 47 on the front side and the exhaust side driven gear 57 on the rear side are of the same diameter, and an idle gear 61 meshing with these driven gears 47 and 48 are provided below and between both the driven gears.

The idle gear 61 is a gear having a larger diameter than the intake side and exhaust side driven gears 47 and 57 the exhaust side driven gear 57 , and, as shown in FIG. 10 , the idle gear 61 is rotatably supported via a bearing 63 on a cylindrical hollow spindle 65 extending between the left wall 3 L of the cylinder head 3 and the bearing wall 3 U and passing through the gear chamber 3 g.

The cylindrical hollow spindle 65 is fixed to the bearing wall 3 U by a bolt 64 passing through the left wall 3 L.

The hollow spindle 65 is fastened and fixed by the bolt 64 in such a state that the inner race of the bearing 63 is held between an end face of an enlarged-diameter portion of the spindle 65 and the bearing wall 3 U. A collar 65 a is fitted on the spindle 65 .

Still referring to FIG. 10 , the idle gear 61 has a cylindrical boss 61 b fitted in the outer race of the bearing 63 and protruding rightward, and an idle chain sprocket 62 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical boss 61 b.

The idle chain sprocket 62 has substantially the same (or somewhat larger) diameter as the idle gear 61 .

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10 , the large-diameter idle chain sprocket 62 is located at the same axial position (in the transverse direction) as the bearing 3 UA forming the bearing recesses 3 U i and 3 U e in the upper end of the bearing wall 3 U for bearing the journal portion 42 B of the intake side camshaft 42 and the journal portion 52 B of the exhaust side camshaft 52 . The idle chain sprocket 62 is located under the bearing 3 UA.

The bearing recesses 33 i and 33 e ( FIG. 7 ) of the camshaft holder 33 position from above the journal portion 42 B of the intake side camshaft 42 and the journal portion 52 B of the exhaust side camshaft 52 in the bearing recesses 3 U i and 3 U e of the bearing 3 UA of the cylinder head 3 . As indicated in FIG. 4 , the camshaft holder 33 has fastening portions 33 a and 33 b on the two sides of the intake side camshaft 42 and fastening portions 33 c and 33 d on the two sides of the exhaust side camshaft 52 . These fastening portions 33 a , 33 b and 33 c , 33 d have bolt holes therein, through which fastening bolts 38 a , 38 b and 38 c , 38 d are passed to fixedly fasten the camshaft holder 33 to the cylinder head 3 .

As the idle chain sprocket 62 of a large diameter is positioned below the bearing 3 UA of the cylinder head 3 , the two outside fastening bolts 38 a and 38 d in the front-rear direction out of the four fastening bolts 38 a , 38 b and 38 c , 38 d fasten the fastening portions 33 a and 33 d on the two sides of the idle chain sprocket 62 (see FIGS. 4 and 7 ).

On the bearing wall 3 U of the cylinder head 3 and the camshaft holder 33 are formed axially protruding portions 3 UB ( FIG. 5 ) and 33 B ( FIG. 4 ), respectively, protruding to the inside (to the right side) in the regions between the intake side camshaft 42 and the exhaust side camshaft 52 .

The protruding portions 3 UB and 33 B protrude to the right side away from the idle chain sprocket 62 to avoid interference with the idle chain sprocket 62 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 . The protruding portions 3 UB and 33 B are provided in substantially the same axial position as the lead groove cylindrical portion 43 D of the intake side cam carrier 43 . The protruding portions 3 UB and 33 B and the lead groove cylindrical portion 43 D are positioned close to each other in the front-rear direction crossing the axial direction.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 , out of the four fastening bolts 38 a , 38 b and 38 c , 38 d , the two inside fastening bolts 38 b and 38 c fasten the fastening portions 33 b and 33 c , respectively, of the protruding portion 33 B to the protruding portions 3 UB.

As already described and shown in FIG. 4 , the camshaft holder 34 positions the journal cylindrical portion 43 C of the intake side cam carrier 43 and the journal cylindrical portion 53 C of the exhaust side cam carrier 53 , and the journal cylindrical portions 43 C and 53 C are held between the bearing wall 3 V and the camshaft holder 34 . On the two sides of the length of the journal cylindrical portion 43 C, the camshaft holder 34 is fastened to the cylinder head 3 by fastening bolts 39 a and 39 b with the journal cylindrical portion 43 C held between the fastening bolts 39 a and 39 b , and by fastening bolts 39 c and 39 d with the journal cylindrical portion 53 C held between the fastening bolts 39 c and 39 d.

An ignition plug insertion cylinder 34 p is formed in the center of the camshaft holder 34 and coupled to a plug insertion cylinder 3 Vp of the bearing wall 3 V (see FIG. 4 ).

Referring to FIG. 2 , a cam chain 66 is wound around the large-diameter idle chain sprocket 62 and a small-diameter driving chain sprocket 67 on the crankshaft 10 .

As will be noted from FIG. 2 tension is applied to the cam chain 66 wound on the idle chain sprocket 62 and the driving chain sprocket 67 by a cam chain tensioner guide 68 . The cam chain 66 is guided by a cam chain guide 69 to be driven.

Accordingly, as rotation of the crankshaft 10 is transmitted to the idle chain sprocket 62 via the cam chain 66 , the idle chain sprocket 62 is driven in rotation, causing the idle gear 61 to rotate. The rotation of the idle gear 61 turns the intake side driven gear 47 and the exhaust side driven gear 57 meshing with the idle gear 61 , the intake side driven gear 47 causing the intake side camshaft 42 to rotate and the exhaust side driven gear 57 causing the exhaust side camshaft 52 to rotate.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of only main components of an intake side cam changeover mechanism 70 and an exhaust side cam changeover mechanism 80 of the variable valve train or valve operating mechanism 40 .

The intake side cam carrier 43 and the exhaust side cam carrier 53 are fitted via the splines on the intake side camshaft 42 and the exhaust side camshaft 52 , respectively, which are rotated in synchronization with the crankshaft 10 .

The intake side cam changeover mechanism 70 includes an intake side changeover driving shaft 71 , which is arranged on the rear of and below the intake side camshaft 42 in parallel with the camshaft 42 . The exhaust side cam changeover mechanism 80 includes an exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 , which is arranged on the rear of and below the exhaust side camshaft 52 in parallel with the camshaft 52 .

The intake side changeover driving shaft 71 and the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 are supported by the cylinder head 3 .

Referring to FIG. 6 , the valve chamber 3 c of the cylinder head 3 is formed integrally therein with a cylindrical portion 3 A extending linearly in the transverse direction from a position in front of the center of the bearing wall 3 U through the bearing wall 3 V to the right wall 3 R.

The valve chamber 3 c of the cylinder head 3 is also formed integrally therein with a cylindrical portion 3 B extending linearly in the transverse direction on and along the inner surface of the rear wall 3 Rr, from a position in front of the bearing wall 3 U through the bearing wall 3 V to the right wall 3 R.

The intake side changeover driving shaft 71 is axially slidably inserted in an axial hole of the cylindrical portion 3 A and the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 is axially slidably inserted in an axial hole of the cylindrical portion 3 B.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 , the cylindrical portion 3 A are cut at two locations corresponding to the right and left intake valves 41 , on the two sides of the bearing wall 3 V, so that the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 is exposed through the cutout portions. The intake rocker arms 72 are swingably supported in the cutout portions by the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 .

That is, the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 functions as a rocker arm shaft.

Referring to FIG. 11 , one end of each of the intake rocker arms 72 abuts on the upper end of each of the intake valves 41 , and either of the low-speed cam lobe 43 A or the high-speed cam lobe 43 B is adapted to slidingly contact a curved upper end surface of the one end of the associated intake rocker arm 72 by axial shift of the intake side cam carrier 43 .

Accordingly, when the intake side cam carrier 43 is rotated, either of the low-speed cam lobe 43 A or the high-speed cam lobe 43 B acts on and swing the associated intake rocker arm 72 according to a profile of either one of the cam lobes 43 A or 43 B, to press the associated intake valve 41 , and either of the first cam lobe 43 A or the second cam lobe 43 B operates to open the associated intake valve for the combustion chamber 30 .

Similarly, the cylindrical portion 3 B are cut at positions corresponding to the right and left exhaust valves 51 on both sides of the bearing wall 3 V, and the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 is exposed in the cutout portions. Exhaust rocker arms 82 are rockably supported in the cutout portions by the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 (see FIG. 6 ).

That is, the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 functions as a rocker arm shaft.

As shown in FIG. 11 , one end of each of the exhaust rocker arms 82 abuts on an upper end of each of the exhaust valves 51 , and either of the low-speed cam lobe 53 A or the high-speed cam lobe 53 B is adapted to slidingly contact a curved upper end surface of the one end of the associated exhaust rocker arm 82 by axial shift of the exhaust side cam carrier 53 .

Accordingly, when the exhaust side cam carrier 53 is rotated, either of the low-speed cam lobe 53 A or the high-speed cam lobe 53 B operates to rock the associated exhaust rocker arm 82 according to a profile of either of the cam lobe 53 A or the second cam lobe 53 B to press the associated exhaust valve 51 , and either of the first cam lobe 53 A or the second cam lobe 53 B operates to open the associated exhaust valve for the combustion chamber 30 .

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , on the cylindrical portion 3 A are provided two adjoining cylindrical bosses 3 As to protrude toward the lead groove cylindrical portions 43 D of the intake side cam carrier 43 at locations adjacent to the lead groove cylindrical portions 43 D. The two cylindrical bosses 3 As are positioned close to the bearing wall 3 U.

The cylindrical bosses 3 As have their inside holes open into the axial hole in the cylindrical portion 3 A.

The first changeover pin 73 and a second changeover pin 74 are slidably fitted in the inside holes of the right and left cylindrical bosses 3 As.

With reference to FIG. 8 , the openings of the cylindrical bosses 3 As from which the first changeover pin 73 and the second changeover pin 74 protrude from the cylindrical bosses 3 As overlap with the largest-diameter circles of the cam noses of the first and second cam lobes 43 A and 43 B as viewed in the axial view of FIG. 8 .

That is, the largest-diameter circle of the first cam lobe 43 A having the lower cam nose overlaps with the openings of the cylindrical bosses 3 As in the axial view of FIG. 8 .

Therefore, the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 can be disposed as close to the intake side camshaft 42 as possible and the internal combustion engine E can be made compact.

As shown in FIG. 12 , the first changeover pin 73 has an end cylindrical portion 73 a and a base cylindrical portion 73 b , which are linearly coupled by an intermediate rod 73 c.

The base cylindrical portion 73 b has a smaller outer diameter than the end cylindrical portion 73 a.

From the end cylindrical portion 73 a protrudes a fitting end 73 ae of a reduced diameter.

A conical end surface 73 bt is formed on the base cylindrical portion 73 b on the end thereof connected to the intermediate rod 73 c.

The end surface of the base cylindrical portion 73 b on the side of the intermediate rod 73 c may be spherical.

The second changeover pin 74 has the same shape as the first changeover pin 73 .

The intake side changeover driving shaft 71 , as shown in FIG. 13 , has an elongated through opening 71 a extending along the shaft center in the left end portion of the shaft 71 , and a circular hole 71 b extending across the shaft center in the left end of the elongated opening 71 a . The elongated opening 71 a is basically of a rectangular cross-sectional shape diametrically penetrating the shaft 71 .

The width of the elongated opening 71 a is slightly larger than the diameter of the intermediate rod 73 c of the first changeover pin 73 , and the inner diameter of the circular hole 71 b is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the base cylindrical portion 73 b but is smaller than the outer diameter of the end cylindrical portion 73 a of the first changeover pin 73 .

Still referring to FIG. 13 , one opening end surface of the elongated opening 71 a of the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 is formed to have a cam face 71 C made up of axially extending and sloping linear flat surface 71 Cp and concave curved surface 71 Cv of a predetermined shape, formed in the intermediate portions of the linear flat surface 71 Cp.

As FIG. 14 shows, the intermediate rod 73 c of the first changeover pin 73 is passed through the elongated opening 71 a of the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 in such a manner that the intermediate rod 73 c is slidably received in the elongated opening 71 a.

The first changeover pin 73 is fitted into the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 as follows.

As shown in FIG. 13 , a helical spring 75 is wound about the first changeover pin 73 . The inner diameter of the helical spring 75 is larger than the outer diameter of the base cylindrical portion 73 b and the outer diameter of the helical spring 75 is smaller than the outer diameter of the end cylindrical portion 73 a . Therefore, the end surface of the end cylindrical portion 73 a on the side of the intermediate rod 73 c abuts on the end of the helical spring 75 when the first changeover pin 73 is inserted inside the helical spring 75 from the side of the base cylindrical portion 73 b.

When the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 is inserted into the axial hole in the cylindrical portion 3 A of the cylinder head 3 , the circular hole 71 b is made coaxial with an internal hole of the cylindrical boss 3 As formed on the cylindrical portion 3 A. When the first changeover pin 73 with the helical spring 75 wound therearound is inserted into the internal hole of the cylindrical boss 3 As with its base cylindrical portion 73 b ahead, the first changeover pin 73 is slidably inserted into the internal hole of the cylindrical boss 3 As together with the helical spring 75 (see FIG. 8 ). Further, the base cylindrical portion 73 b pierces the circular hole 71 b of the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 that has been inserted in the axial hole of the cylindrical portion 3 A (see FIG. 13 ).

The helical spring 75 is not allowed to pierce the circular hole 71 b even when the base cylindrical portion 73 b of the first changeover pin 73 pierces the circular hole 71 b of the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 . The end of the helical spring 75 abuts on an opening end surface of the circular hole 71 b , and the helical spring 75 is compressed between the opening end surface of the circular hole 71 b and the end surface of the end cylindrical portion 73 a.

When the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 is shifted leftward in the state that the base cylindrical portion 73 b of the first changeover pin 73 has moved fully through the circular hole 71 b , with the intermediate rod 73 c at an axial position within the axial extent of the elongated opening 71 a , the intermediate rod 73 c is caused to be inserted into the elongated opening 71 a in such a state that the helical spring 75 is compressed.

Then, as shown in FIG. 14 , the conical end surface 73 bt of the base cylindrical portion 73 b of the first changeover pin 73 is urged and abutted on the cam surfaces 71 C which are the opening end surface of the elongated opening 71 a of the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 , under the resilient urging force of the helical spring 75 , whereby the first changeover pin 73 is fitted in position.

As described above, as the intermediate rod 73 c of the first changeover pin 73 is passed through the elongated opening 71 a of the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 , the conical end surface 73 bt of the base cylindrical portion 73 b is pressed and abutted on the cam faces 71 C which are the opening end surfaces of the elongated opening 71 a of the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 , under the force of the helical spring 75 . Then, when the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 is axially shifted, the cam face 710 , on which the conical end face 73 bt of the base cylindrical portion 73 b of the first changeover pin 73 is in contact, is also axially shifted, whereby the first changeover pin 73 is caused to advance or retract in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the first changeover driving shaft 71 , following the contour of the cam surface 71 C. This mechanism for advancing or retracting the first changeover pin 73 constitutes a linear motion cam mechanism Ca.

The linear motion cam mechanism Ca operates in the following manner. When the conical end face 73 bt of the first changeover pin 73 abuts on the flat surface 71 Cp of the cam face 710 of the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 , the first changeover pin 73 takes a retracted position, while, when the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 is shifted and the conical end face 73 bt abuts on the concave curved face 71 Cv of the cam face 71 C, the first changeover pin 73 advances under the urging force of the helical spring 75 .

The second changeover pin 74 also has the same configuration as the first changeover pin 73 . The second changeover pin 74 similarly is passed through the same elongated opening 71 a of the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 , and a conical end face 74 bt of a base cylindrical portion 74 b is also pressed and abutted on the cam face 71 C under the force of a helical spring 75 , whereby a linear motion cam mechanism Ca is configured (see FIG. 14 ).

When the first changeover pin 73 and the second changeover pin 74 are fitted through the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 , the second changeover pin 74 is first fitted and thereafter the first changeover pin 73 is fitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the right side of the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 is formed with a shift regulation hole 71 z which is an elongated hole having a predetermined axial length. The shift regulation hole 71 z is located at the right side of the region where the intake rocker arm 72 is supported (see FIG. 11 ). A shift regulation pin 76 is inserted through a small hole 3 Ah ( FIG. 6 ) formed in the cylindrical portion 3 A of the cylinder head 3 and engages in the shift regulation hole 71 z . Thus, axial shift of the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 is limited between predetermined positions.

As shown in FIG. 14 , the first changeover pin 73 and the second changeover pin 74 are arranged in parallel with each other, and the first changeover pin 73 and the second changeover pin 74 are passed through the common elongated opening 71 a of the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 .

FIG. 14 shows a state in which the first changeover pin 73 is located in the center of the concave curved surface 71 Cv of the cam surface 71 C of the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 , the first changeover pin 73 being at the position in which the first changeover pin 73 has advanced with the conical end surface 73 bt abutting on the concave curved face 71 Cv. FIG. 14 further shows a state in which the second changeover pin 74 abuts on the flat surface 71 Cp of the cam surface 71 C, and the second changeover pin 74 is located in a retracted position.

When the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 is shifted rightward from state of FIG. 14 , the conical end surface 73 bt of the first changeover pin 73 ascends the inclined parts of the concave curved surface 71 Cv from the center region of the concave curved surface 71 Cv, so that the first changeover pin 73 is caused to gradually retract and the conical end surface 73 bt abuts on the flat surface 71 Cp. On the other hand, the conical end surface 74 bt of the second changeover pin 74 descends the inclined parts of the concave curved surface 71 Cv from the flat surface 71 Cp, so that the second changeover pin 74 is caused to advance with the conical end surface 74 bt abutting on the center region of the concave curved face 71 Cv.

As described above, the first changeover pin 73 and the second changeover pin 74 can be alternately advanced or retracted by the axial shift of the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 .

To press the first and second changeover pins 73 and 74 in the advancing directions, the helical springs 75 are interposed between the end cylindrical portions 73 a and 74 a and the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 . Instead, a helical spring may be interposed between an end surface (an end surface on the reverse side of each conical end surface 73 bt or 74 bt ) of each base cylindrical portion 73 b or 74 b and the bottom of a recess formed in the surface of the cylindrical portion 3 A.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the axially center region of the cylindrical portion 3 B has thereon a cylindrical boss 3 Bs formed at the left side of the bearing wall 3 V and the exhaust rocker arm 82 , so as to protrude toward the lead groove cylindrical portion 53 D ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) of the exhaust side cam carrier 53 at a location corresponding to the lead groove cylindrical portion 53 D. Another similar cylindrical boss 3 Bs is formed in the center of the cylindrical portion 3 B on the right side of the bearing wall 3 V and the second exhaust rocker arm 82 . This latter cylindrical boss 3 Bs protrudes at a location corresponding to the lead groove cylindrical portion 53 E of the exhaust side cam carrier 53 toward the lead groove cylindrical portion 53 E.

Referring to FIG. 11 , on the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 are formed axially elongated through openings 81 a 1 and 81 a 2 similar to the elongated through opening 71 a . The elongated openings 81 a 1 and 81 a 2 are formed through the axial center axis of the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 in axially spaced apart portions of the shaft 81 in the left side and in the right side. Circular holes 81 b 1 and 81 b 2 similar to the circular hole 71 b are also provided at the left ends of the elongated openings 81 a 1 and 81 a 2 .

The width of each of the elongated openings 81 a 1 and 81 a 2 and the internal diameter of each of the circular holes 81 b 1 and 81 b 2 are the same as those of the elongated opening 71 a and the circular hole 71 b of the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 .

As shown in FIG. 15 , the opening end surface of the left elongated opening 81 a 1 of the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 is formed as a cam surface 81 C 1 made up of an axially flat surface 81 Cp on the rim of the opening, and a concave curved surface 81 Cv with a predetermined contour formed in an axially intermediate portion of the flat surface 81 Cp. The flat surface 81 Cp extend axially linear and formed to be inclined or slope.

As shown in FIG. 11 , one opening end surface of the right elongated opening 81 a 2 of the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 is configured in a similar manner as the left elongated opening 81 a 1 and has a cam surface 81 C 2 made up of an axially flat inclined surface on the rim of the opening, and a concave curved surface 81 Cv with a predetermined contour located close to the right of the flat surface.

The left and right elongated openings 81 a 1 and 81 a 2 and the left and right cam surfaces 81 C 1 and 81 C 2 of the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 are symmetrically formed in the axial direction.

As shown in FIG. 15 , an intermediate rod 83 c of a first changeover pin 83 pierces the left elongated opening 81 a 1 of the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 in a manner slidable along the left elongated opening, and a linear motion cam mechanism Cb is formed by the cam surface 81 C 1 .

Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 11 , a second changeover pin 84 is slidably fitted in the right elongated opening 81 a 2 of the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 and a linear motion cam mechanism Cc is configured by the cam surface 81 C 2 .

A procedure for the assembly is performed utilizing the circular holes 81 b 1 and 81 b 2 in the same way as the assembly of the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 and the first changeover pin 73 .

The first changeover pin 83 and the second changeover pin 84 are assembled simultaneously.

A shift limiting hole 81 z shown in FIG. 11 is an axially elongated hole with a predetermined axial length, and is formed axially adjacent to the right side of the right elongated opening 81 a 2 of the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 . Axial shift of the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 is limited to a shift between predetermined axial positions by a shift limiting pin 86 (see FIG. 6 ) fitted into a small hole 3 Bh in the cylindrical portion 3 B of the cylinder head 3 to pass through the shift regulation hole 81 z.

FIG. 15 shows such a state that the first changeover pin 83 is located to abut on the right flat surface 81 Cp on the right side of the cam surfaces 81 C 1 of the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 , with a conical end face 83 bt of the first changeover pin 83 abutting on the flat surface 81 Cp. In this state, the first changeover pin 83 is in a retracted position. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6 , a conical end face 84 bt of the second changeover pin 84 abuts on the concave curved surface 81 Cv of the right cam face 81 C 2 , and the second changeover pin 84 is in an advanced position.

When the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 is shifted rightward from this state, the conical end face 83 bt of the first changeover pin 83 descends the inclined portion of the concave curved surface 81 Cv from the flat surface 81 Cp, and the conical end surface 83 bt abuts on the center region of the concave curved surface 81 Cv, so that the changeover pin 83 advances. On the other hand, the conical end surface 84 bt of the second changeover pin 84 ascends the inclined surface of the concave curved surface 81 Cv from the center region of the concave curved surface 81 Cv, and the conical end surface 84 bt abuts on the flat surface 81 Cp, so that the second changeover pin 84 retracts.

As described above, the first changeover pin 83 and the second changeover pin 84 can be alternately advanced or retracted by the axial shift of the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 .

The above-described intake side cam changeover mechanism 70 and the above-described exhaust side cam changeover mechanism 80 are arranged, as shown in FIG. 8 , on the side of the crankshaft 10 relative to an axis Ci of the intake side camshaft 42 and an axis Ce of the exhaust side camshaft 52 . Further, the intake side cam changeover mechanism 70 on one side is arranged between an intake side plane Si and an exhaust side plane Se. The intake side plane Si is a plane including the axis Ci of the intake side camshaft 42 and extending parallel to the cylinder axis Lc. The exhaust side plane Se is a plane including the axis Ce of the exhaust side camshaft 52 and extending parallel to the cylinder axis Lc.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4 , an intake side hydraulic actuator 77 for axially shifting the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 is provided to protrude from the right wall 3 R of the cylinder head 3 and an exhaust side hydraulic actuator 87 for axially shifting the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 is provided to protrude at the back of the intake side hydraulic actuator 77 in line with respect to the front-rear direction.

The operation of the intake side cam changeover mechanism 70 will be described, with reference to the explanatory figure of FIG. 16 , in the case when the intake side cam carrier 43 is axially shifted by the intake side cam changeover mechanism 70 so as to change the low-speed cam lobe 43 A and the high-speed cam lobe 43 B and to make the changed cam lobe act on the intake rocker arm 72 , referring to below.

FIG. 16 sequentially shows operational process steps of main members of the intake side cam changeover mechanism 70 .

FIG. 16 ( 1 ) shows such a state that the intake side cam carrier 43 has been shifted to a position on the left side, the high-speed cam lobes 43 B act on the associated intake rocker arms 72 and the intake valves 41 are operated according to valve operating characteristics set in the cam profile of the high-speed cam lobes 43 B.

At this time, the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 is also located in a position shifted to the left side, the concave curved surface 71 Cv of the cam surface 71 C is located at a position of the first changeover pin 73 , and the first changeover pin 73 abuts on the concave curved surface 71 Cv, so that the first changeover pin 73 is advanced and the first changeover pin 73 is fitted in the annular lead groove 44 c of the lead groove cylindrical portion 43 D of the intake side cam carrier 43 .

The second changeover pin 74 abuts on the flat surface 71 Cp of the cam surface 71 C, so that the second changeover pin 74 is retracted and separated from the lead groove 44 .

As the first changeover pin 73 is fitted in the annular lead groove 44 c circumferentially formed in the intake side cam carrier 43 , which is rotated via the splines together with the intake side camshaft 42 , the intake side cam carrier 43 is maintained in a predetermined position without being axially shifted.

When the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 is shifted rightward from this state by the intake side hydraulic actuator 77 , the first changeover pin 73 is guided to ascend the inclined surface of the concave curved face 71 Cv so that the first changeover pin 73 starts to retract, while the second changeover pin 74 is guided toward the inclined surface of the concave curved face 71 Cv from the flat surface 71 Cp so that the second changeover pin 74 is ready to advance (see FIG. 16 ( 2 )). In this state, the first changeover pin 73 and the second changeover pin 74 are ready to be separated from the lead groove 44 by substantially the same distance (see FIG. 16 ( 3 )). Then, as the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 is shifted rightward further, the first changeover pin 73 abuts on the flat surface 71 Cp and is further retracted, while the second changeover pin 74 abuts on the concave curved surface 71 Cv so that the second changeover pin 74 further advances and is fitted into the right shift lead groove 44 r of the lead groove cylindrical portion 43 D (see FIG. 16 ( 4 )).

When the second changeover pin 74 is fitted into the right shift lead groove 44 r , the intake side cam carrier 43 is axially shifted rightward, while being rotated, with the right shift lead groove 44 r being engaged with and guided by the second changeover pin 74 (see FIG. 16 ( 4 ) and FIG. 16 ( 5 )).

When the intake side cam carrier 43 is shifted rightward, the second changeover pin 74 axially moved to the left relative to the intake side cam carrier 43 is guided and fitted into the central annular lead groove 44 c , and the intake side cam carrier 43 is maintained in the rightward shifted predetermined position (see FIG. 16 ( 5 )). At this time, the low-speed cam lobes 43 A act on the intake rocker arms 72 in place of the high-speed cam lobes 43 B, and the intake valves 41 are operated according to valve operating characteristics set in the cam profile of the low-speed cam lobes 43 A.

As described above, the cam lobes for acting on the intake valves 41 can be changed over from the second cam lobes 43 B to the first cam lobes 43 A by shifting the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 rightward.

When the second changeover pin 74 is retracted by conversely shifting the intake side changeover driving shaft 71 to the left from the above state, the second changeover pin 74 is separated from the annular lead groove 44 c , while the first changeover pin 73 advances, so that the first changeover pin 73 is fitted into the left shift lead groove 44 l . As a result, the intake side cam carrier 43 is shifted leftward with the left shift lead groove 44 l being engaged by and guided by the first changeover pin 73 , so that the cam lobes for acting on the intake valves 41 can be changed over from the low-speed cam lobes 43 A to the high-speed cam lobes 43 B.

Next, the operation of the exhaust side cam changeover mechanism 80 will be described referring to the explanatory figure of FIG. 17 .

FIG. 17 ( 1 ) shows such a state that the exhaust side cam carrier 53 is located in a position shifted to the left side, the high-speed cam lobes 53 B act on the exhaust rocker arms 82 , and the exhaust valves 51 are operated according to valve operating characteristics set in the cam profile of the second cam lobes 53 B.

At this time, the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 is also located in an axial position on the left side, the first changeover pin 83 abuts on the flat surface 81 Cp of the left cam surface 81 C 1 so that the first changeover pin 83 is retracted and separated from the left lead groove 54 , while the second changeover pin 84 is located in a position of the concave curved surface 81 Cv of the right cam surface 81 C 2 , so that the second changeover pin 84 abuts on the concave curved surface 81 Cv and is therefore advanced. In this state, the second changeover pin 84 is fitted into the annular lead groove 55 c of the right lead groove 55 on the exhaust side cam carrier 53 , whereby the exhaust side cam carrier 53 is maintained in a predetermined axial position without being axially shifted.

When the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 is shifted rightward from the above state by the hydraulic actuator 87 for the exhaust side, the second changeover pin 84 is guided by the inclined surface of the concave curved surface 81 Cv, the second changeover pin 84 is ready to be retracted, while the first changeover pin 83 is guided toward the inclined surface of the concave curved surface 81 Cv from the flat surface 81 Cp, so that the first changeover pin 83 is ready to advance (see FIG. 17 ( 2 )). Thereafter, the first changeover pin 83 and the second changeover pin 84 are separated by substantially the same distance from the lead grooves 54 and 55 (see FIG. 17 ( 3 )). As the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 is shifted further rightward, the second changeover pin 84 abuts on the flat surface 81 Cp so that the second changeover pin 84 further retracts and the first changeover pin 83 abuts on the concave curved surface 81 Cv to be advanced further. As a result, the first changeover pin 83 is fitted into the right shift lead groove 54 r of the left lead groove 54 (see FIG. 17 ( 4 )).

When the first changeover pin 83 is fitted into the right shift lead groove 54 r , the exhaust side cam carrier 53 is axially shifted to a rightward shifted position, while being rotated, such that the first changeover pin 83 engaging with the right shift lead groove 54 r gradually engages with the left annular lead groove 54 c (see FIG. 17 ( 4 ) and FIG. 17 ( 5 )).

As the first changeover pin 83 is fitted in the left annular lead groove 54 c when the exhaust side cam carrier 53 is shifted rightward, the exhaust side cam carrier 53 is maintained in a rightward shifted predetermined position (see FIG. 17 ( 5 )). At this time, in place of the high-speed cam lobes 53 B, the low-speed cam lobes 53 A act on the exhaust rocker arms 82 , and the exhaust valves 51 are operated according to valve operating characteristics set in the cam profile of the low-speed cam lobes 53 A.

As described above, the cam lobes for acting on the exhaust valves 51 can be changed over from the high-speed cam lobes 53 B to the low-speed cam lobes 53 A by shifting the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 rightward.

The first changeover pin 83 and the second changeover pin 84 are moved oppositely by conversely shifting the exhaust side changeover driving shaft 81 leftward from the above state. The first changeover pin 83 is retracted and separated from the annular lead groove 54 c , the second changeover pin 84 is advanced to be fitted into the left shift lead groove 55 l . The exhaust side cam carrier 53 is shifted leftward under the guidance by the left shift lead groove 55 l , and the cam lobes for acting on the exhaust valves 51 can be changed over from the low-speed cam lobes 53 A to the high-speed cam lobes 53 B.

Normally, when the low-speed cam lobes 43 A and 53 A having a small valve lift amount are changed over to the high-speed cam lobes 43 B and 53 B having a large valve lift amount, engine speed is increased and the cam carriers 43 and 53 are rotated at an increased speed together with the camshafts 42 and 52 . Conversely, when the high-speed cam lobes 43 B and 53 B are changed over to the low-speed cam lobes 43 A and 53 A, the cam carriers 43 and 53 are rotated at a reduced speed.

Therefore, the left shift lead grooves 44 l and 55 l for shifting the cam carriers 43 and 53 leftward to change over the low-speed cam lobes 43 A and 53 A to the high-speed cam lobes 43 B and 53 B will be called speed-increasing lead grooves, and, conversely, the right shift lead grooves 44 r and 54 r for shifting the cam carriers 43 and 53 rightward to change over the high-speed cam lobes 43 B and 53 B to the low-speed cam lobes 43 A and 53 A will be called speed-decreasing lead grooves.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 16 , the speed-increasing lead groove 44 l (the left shift lead groove) and the speed-decreasing lead groove 44 r (the right shift lead groove) in the intake side cam carrier 43 are not mutually symmetrical in the axial direction, and the lead grooves 44 l and 44 r have groove shapes suitable for a speed increasing rotation and a speed decreasing rotation of the intake side cam carrier 43 .

FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing the intake side cam carrier 43 and the intake side camshaft 42 , the section being taken by a plane extending perpendicular to their longitudinal axis at the axial location of the lead groove cylindrical portion 43 D. FIG. 19 is a development showing the lead groove 44 (the speed-increasing lead groove 44 l , the intermediate annular lead groove 44 c and the speed-decreasing lead groove 44 r ) in the area of the lead groove cylindrical portion 43 D.

As shown in FIG. 18 , each of the low-speed cam lobe 43 A and the high-speed cam lobe 43 B operates to press the rocker arm by its cam nose with varying contact pressure, and each of these cam lobes 43 A and 43 B has its cam contact pressure increasing side and its cam contact pressure decreasing side. There is a boundary between the base circle of the cam lobes 43 A and 43 B and the cam contact pressure decreasing sides of these cam lobes 43 A and 43 B. The positional angle of such boundary about the center of both the intake side cam carrier 43 and the intake side camshaft 42 is taken as a reference angle 0°.

As shown in FIG. 19 , the speed-increasing lead groove 44 l and the speed-decreasing lead groove 44 r are not symmetrical with each other with respect to the intermediate annular lead groove 44 c surrounding the intake side cam carrier 43 without being axially biased.

As shown in FIG. 19 , the speed-increasing lead groove 44 l starts to curve rightward at a rotational angle α 1 rotated from the reference angle 0°. The speed-increasing lead groove 44 l is then gradually displaced rightward along the base circle, and the speed-increasing lead groove 44 l is merged into the intermediate annular lead groove 44 c at a rotational angle α 2 (see also FIG. 18 ) considerably prior to the terminal end of the base circle.

Therefore, when the first changeover pin 73 is fitted into the speed-increasing lead groove 44 l of the rotating intake side cam carrier 43 , the intake side cam carrier 43 starts a leftward shift at the rotational angle α 1 of the carrier 43 , and the leftward shift is finished at the rotational angle α 2 . Thus, the intake side cam carrier 43 is shifted to a predetermined axial position toward the left side in an angular range θ a of shift rotational angle between the shift start rotational angle α 1 and the shift end rotational angle α 2 , so that changeover operation of the cam lobes for operating the intake valve 41 via the intake rocker arm 72 is performed from the low-speed cam lobe 43 A to the high-speed cam lobe 43 B.

As also shown in FIG. 19 , the speed-decreasing lead groove 44 r starts to curve leftward at a rotational angle β 1 which is later than the reference angle 0° and slightly later than the rotational angle α 1 , the speed-decreasing lead groove 44 r is then gradually displaced leftward along the base circle, and the lead groove 44 r is merged into the intermediate annular lead groove 44 c at a rotational angle β 2 (see also FIG. 18 ) which is slightly later than the rotational angle α 2 and considerably prior to the terminal end of the base circle.

Accordingly, when the second changeover pin 74 is fitted into the speed-decreasing lead groove 44 r of the rotating intake side cam carrier 43 , the carrier 43 starts a rightward shift at the rotational angle β 1 of the cam carrier 43 , the right shift is finished at the rotational angle β 2 , the intake side cam carrier 43 is shifted to a predetermined axial position on the right side in an angular range θb between the shift start rotational angle β 1 and the shift end rotational angle β 2 , and the changeover of the cam lobe for operating the intake valve 41 via the intake rocker arm 72 is performed from the high-speed cam lobe 43 B to the low-speed cam lobe 43 A.

The shift rotational angular range θ a is a range in which the intake side cam carrier 43 is rotated and shifted to the left under the guidance of the speed-increasing lead groove 44 l and the cam carrier 43 ends the leftward shift. The shift rotational angular range θ b is a range in which the intake side cam carrier 43 is rotated and shifted to the right under the guidance of the speed-decreasing lead groove 44 r and the carrier 43 ends the rightward shift. Comparing the shift rotational angular range θ a and the shift rotational angular range θ b , the shift rotational angle θ a relating to the speed-increasing lead groove 44 l is smaller than the shift rotational angular range θ b relating to the speed-decreasing lead groove 44 r as will be noted from FIGS. 18 and 19 (θ a<θb ).

One embodiment of the variable valve train according to the present invention has been described in detail above and produces the following effects.

As for the force required to axially shift the cam carrier by the lead groove, the force required during the speed-increasing rotation of the cam carrier is greater than the force required during the speed-decreasing rotation, and, therefore, inertia force exerted on the cam carrier in the speed-increasing rotation is also greater.

Concerning the shift rotational angular ranges θ a and θ b , in which the intake side cam carrier 43 is rotated from the time point at which the cam carrier 43 starts its axial shift under the guidance of the lead groove 44 to the time point of the end of the axial shift of the cam carrier 43 , the shift rotational angular range θ a for the speed-increasing lead groove 44 l is, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 , smaller than the shift rotational angular range θb for the speed-decreasing lead groove 44 r.

As the intake side cam carrier 43 is rotated generally for speed increase when the cam carrier 43 is shifted in the shift rotational angular range θ a under guidance by the lead groove 44 l , a great inertia force is applied to the intake side cam carrier 43 . However, such great inertia force acting on the intake side cam carrier 43 is moderately suppressed by reducing the shift rotational angular range θ a in which the shifting of the intake side cam carrier 43 takes place, so that the intake side cam carrier 43 can be shifted smoothly and appropriately.

Besides, as the intake side cam carrier 43 is rotated generally to decrease the speed when the intake side cam carrier 43 is shifted in the shift rotational angular range θ b under guidance by the lead groove 44 r , a great inertia force is not applied to the intake side cam carrier 43 . Therefore, such relatively small inertia force applied to the intake side cam carrier 43 need not be suppressed by reducing the shift rotational angular range θb in which the shifting of the intake side cam carrier 43 takes place, so that the intake side cam carrier 43 can be shifted smoothly and appropriately.

As described above, the first and second changeover pins 73 and 74 are prevented from being slidingly contacted by an unrelated portion of the lead groove 44 , due to the above measures for suppressing application of the inertia force and for smoothly and appropriately shifting the intake side cam carrier 43 . Therefore, abrasion of the lead groove 44 is prevented, and durability of the lead groove 44 is improved.

In particular, when the intake side cam carrier 43 is shifted under guidance by the speed-decreasing lead groove 44 r , the intake side cam carrier 43 is shifted in the extent of the shift rotational angular range θb set to be relatively large. For this reason, frictional resistance is reduced when the second changeover pin 74 slidingly contacts the speed-decreasing lead groove 44 r , the abrasion of the speed-decreasing lead groove 44 r is further reduced, and the durability can be improved.

As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 , the shift start rotational angle α 1 at which the speed-increasing lead groove 44 l shifts the intake side cam carrier 43 leftward is a rotational angle earlier than the shift start rotational angle β 1 at which the speed-decreasing lead groove 44 r shifts the intake side cam carrier 43 rightward.

As the intake side cam carrier 43 is generally rotated for speed increase when the cam carrier 43 is shifted at the shift rotational angle θ a in the speed-increasing lead groove 44 l , the shift is started at the shift start rotational angle α 1 of an early timing at which the rotational speed is still low, and, moreover, the intake side cam carrier 43 is shifted by the relatively small shift rotational angle θ a . This means that the shift rotational angle θ a is biased to an early timing zone in which the rotational speed is low. Therefore, inertia force applied to the intake side cam carrier 43 is possibly small, and the intake side cam carrier 43 can be shifted more smoothly and more appropriately.

Besides, when the intake side cam carrier 43 is rotated generally to decrease speed when the cam carrier 43 is shifted in the shift rotational angular range θb in the speed-decreasing lead groove 44 r , inertia force applied to the intake side cam carrier 43 is small from the beginning even at the shift start rotational angle β 1 of slightly later timing than the timing of the rotational angle α 1 . Therefore, the inertia force can be readily suppressed, and the intake side cam carrier 43 can be shifted more smoothly and more appropriately.

As shown in FIG. 18 , the shift rotational angle θ a relating to the speed-increasing lead groove 44 l and the shift rotational angle θb relating to the speed-decreasing lead groove 44 r are both set within a rotational angular range of the intake side cam carrier 43 in which the base circle common to the high-speed cam lobe 43 B and the low-speed cam lobe 43 A operates on the intake valve 41 via the intake rocker arm 72 . Therefore, the intake side cam carrier 43 can be shifted independently of the time period in which the base circle common to the high-speed cam lobe 43 B and the low-speed cam lobe 43 A are operating on the intake rocker arm 72 .

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 17 , the left shift lead groove (the speed-increasing lead groove) 55 l and the right shift lead groove (the speed-decreasing lead groove) 54 r on the exhaust side cam carrier 53 are not mutually symmetrical contrary to the lead grooves of the intake side cam carrier 43 , and the left and right shift lead grooves 55 l and 54 r are in the shape of a groove suitable for speed increasing rotation and speed decreasing rotation of the exhaust side cam carrier 53 .

Accordingly, as in the case of the intake side cam carrier 43 , the exhaust side cam carrier 53 can be shifted smoothly and appropriately, abrasion of the lead grooves 54 and 55 is suppressed, and durability can be improved.

The variable valve train according to the embodiment of the present invention have been described above. The mode of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes can be made within the scope of the present invention.

For example, in this embodiment, the changeover pin is advanced and retracted by the linear motion cam mechanism by axially shifting the changeover driving shaft in the cam changeover mechanism. However, the changeover pin may be advanced and retracted in a direction at right angles with the axial direction by rotating the cam surface accompanied by rotation of of the changeover driving shaft.

Besides, the hydraulic actuator is used for driving the changeover driving shaft. However, an electromagnetic solenoid, an electric motor and others may be used instead.

E - - - Internal combustion engine

M - - - Transmission

3 - - - Cylinder head

3 A, 3 B - - - Cylindrical portion

3 c - - - Valve train

40 - - - Variable valve train

41 - - - Intake valve

42 - - - Intake side camshaft

42 A - - - Left flange

42 B - - - Journal portion

42 C - - - Right flange

42 D - - - Spline shaft

43 - - - Intake side cam carrier

43 A - - - Low-speed cam lobe

43 B - - - High-speed cam lobe

43 C - - - Journal cylindrical portion

43 D - - - Lead groove cylindrical portion

43 E - - - Right end cylindrical portion

44 - - - Lead groove

44 c - - - Annular lead groove

44 l - - - Speed-increasing lead groove (Left shift lead groove)

44 r - - - Speed-decreasing lad groove (Right shift lead groove)

51 - - - Exhaust valve

52 - - - Exhaust side camshaft

52 A - - - Left flange

52 B - - - Journal portion

52 C - - - Right flange

52 D - - - Spline shaft

53 - - - Exhaust cam carrier

53 A - - - Low-speed cam lobe

53 B - - - High-speed cam lobe

53 C - - - Journal cylindrical portion

53 D - - - Lead groove cylindrical portion

53 E - - - Lead groove cylindrical portion

54 - - - Left lead groove

54 c - - - Annular lead groove

54 r - - - Speed-decreasing lead groove (Right shift lead groove)

55 - - - Right lead groove

55 c - - - Annular lead groove

55 l - - - Speed-increasing lead groove (Left shift lead groove)

70 - - - Intake side cam changeover mechanism

71 - - - Intake side changeover driving shaft

71 C - - - Cam surface

72 - - - Intake rocker arm

73 - - - First changeover pin

74 - - - Second changeover pin

75 - - - Helical spring

Ca - - - Linear motion cam mechanism

80 - - - Exhaust side cam changeover mechanism

81 - - - Exhaust side changeover driving shaft

81 C 1 , 81 C 2 - - - Cam surface

82 - - - Exhaust rocker arm

83 - - - First changeover pin

84 - - - Second changeover pin

85 - - - Helical spring

Cb, Cc - - - Linear motion cam mechanism