Infinitely variable lift cam follower with consistent dwell position

In an internal combustion engine having a rotatable camshaft, a cam on said camshaft, a combustion chamber and a reciprocable valve member for opening and closing a valve port in communication with the combustion chamber, an apparatus for cyclically actuating the valve member comprising:

• valve operating means for reciprocating the valve member;
• cam follower means co-operable with the cam and engaging the valve operating means for actuating the valve member, the cam follower means having a first contact surface with the cam and a second contact surface with the valve operating means, the first and second contact surfaces formed as curved surfaces with first and second predetermined radii, respectively;
• and
• displaceable pivot means supporting the cam follower means, the pivot means disposed generally between the first and second contact surfaces.

An apparatus for operating at least one valve to vary a valve lift distance and extent of duration of peak valve opening relative to an operating cycle of an internal combustion engine, said valve controlling the flow of fluid with respect to a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine, said combustion chamber defined by a cylinder in the engine and piston means moveable in the cylinder for varying the volume thereof, said engine also including a rotatable camshaft driven in timed relation with a speed of said engine and means for transmitting reciprocating movement to said valve including cam follower means engaging valve operating means and being operable to effect movement of said valve to an open position, said apparatus comprising:

• a swing shaft disposed having a longitudinal axis of rotation parallel to and offset from said camshaft, the swing shaft capable of angular rotation through a predetermined arc, the longitudinal axis of the swing shaft perpendicular to and offset from a longitudinal axis of the valve;
• said cam follower means carried by the swing shaft and having an external smooth curved surface with a predetermined radius, the curved surface simultaneously and continuously engageable with the cam and the valve operating means for transmitting reciprocating movement at any position along the predetermined arc of angular rotation of the swing shaft;
• and
• pivot means connecting the cam follower means to the swing shaft, the pivot means having an axis of rotation parallel to and offset from the longitudinal axis of the swing shaft, the pivot means disposed generally between the cam and valve operating means for allowing reciprocating rotation of the cam follower means independent of angular rotation of the swing shaft.