Variable timing cam follower lever assembly

A cam follower lever mechanism for transmitting an actuating force from a cam, having an outer surface, to an engine component while permitting variations in the timing of operation of the engine component, comprising:

• a pivot support mounted adjacent the cam to define a pivot axis;
• a follower lever means mounted on said pivot support for pivotal movement about said pivot axis, said follower lever means including a timing control lever mounted for nonpivotal movement relative to said pivot axis, said timing control lever including a first end connected to said pivot support for pivotal and nonpivotal movement relative to said pivot axis and a second end positioned a spaced distance from said first end in abutment with the outer surface of the cam and movable along the outer surface of the cam;
• an actuating means for causing the nonpivotal movement of said timing control lever along the outer surface of the cam to vary the timing of operation of the engine component, said actuating means including a pressurized supply of actuating fluid, at least one actuator cavity formed in said timing control lever for receiving actuating fluid and a control valve means for varying the amount of fluid in said at least one actuator cavity to cause the nonpivotal movement of said first end of said timing control lever for varying the timing of operation of the engine component.

A cam follower lever mechanism for transmitting an actuating force from a cam, having an outer surface, to an engine component while permitting variations in the timing of operation of the engine component, comprising:

• a pivot support mounted adjacent the cam to define a pivot axis;
• a follower lever means mounted on said pivot support for pivotal movement about said pivot axis, said follower lever means including a timing control lever mounted for pivotal and nonpivotal movement relative to said pivot axis;
• an actuating means for causing the nonpivotal movement of said timing control lever to vary the timing of operation of the engine component, said actuating means including a pressurized supply of actuating fluid, a first actuator cavity formed in said timing control lever on one side of said pivot support for receiving actuating fluid, a second actuator cavity formed on an opposite of said pivot support for receiving actuating fluid, and a control valve means for controlling the amount of fluid in said first and said second actuator cavities to cause the nonpivotal movement of said timing control lever for varying the timing of operation of the engine component.