The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 09, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 07, 2000
Hideo Nagaosa, Nishikamo-gun, JP;
Yoshihiko Masuda, Okazaki, JP;
Yoshihito Moriya, Nagoya, JP;
Shuuji Nakano, Nagoya, JP;
Shinichiro Kikuoka, Nishikamo-gun, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota, JP;
Abstract
A variable valve apparatus of an internal combustion engine is capable of realizing more precise valve characteristic control by reducing the error in-detection of the amount of movement of a camshaft caused by a difference in the rate of thermal expansion. The variable valve apparatus has a camshaft that is supported so as to be rotatable and slidable in a direction of an axis thereof and that has three-dimensional cams whose cam profile continuously changes in the direction of the axis. The apparatus also has an actuator for moving the camshaft in the direction of its axis. The apparatus further has a camshaft position sensor provided in a cylinder head, a detected portion provided in the camshaft, and a camshaft movement amount detection portion for detecting the amount of movement of the camshaft in the direction of the axis. The camshaft movement amount detection portion is provided near a camshaft reference position.