Continuous Variable Valve Lift Apparatus and Engine with the Same

Abstract

A continuously variable valve lift (CVVL) apparatus may include a control shaft that is disposed in parallel with a camshaft and is rotatably disposed on a journal that is disposed on a cam carrier, a CVVL device that is disposed on the control shaft, a journal bearing that is disposed on the journal such that the control shaft rotates on the journal bearing, and a washer that is disposed on the control shaft across the journal bearing. An engine comprising a CVVL apparatus is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A continuously variable valve lift (CVVL) apparatus, comprising:
 a control shaft that is disposed in parallel with a camshaft and is rotatably disposed on a journal that is disposed on a cam carrier;   a CVVL device that is disposed on the control shaft;   a journal bearing that is disposed on the journal such that the control shaft rotates on the journal bearing; and   a washer that is disposed on the control shaft across the journal bearing.   
     
     
         2 . The continuously variable valve lift apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one side of the washer contacts the CVVL device and the other side thereof contacts the journal bearing such that a gap between the CVVL device and the journal bearing can be uniformly maintained. 
     
     
         3 . The continuously variable valve lift apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the washer is a wave type. 
     
     
         4 . The continuously variable valve lift apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the change variation of the washer ranges from about 1.9 to about 2.3 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The continuously variable valve lift apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the journal bearing is fixed on the journal through a cam cap. 
     
     
         6 . An engine having a continuously variable valve lift apparatus, comprising:
 a control shaft that is disposed in parallel with a camshaft and is rotatably disposed on a journal that is disposed on a cam carrier;   a CVVL device that is disposed on the control shaft;   a journal bearing that is disposed on the journal such that the control shaft rotates on the journal bearing; and   a washer that is disposed on the control shaft across the journal bearing.   
     
     
         7 . The engine of  claim 6 , wherein the washer is a wave type. 
     
     
         8 . The engine of  claim 6 , wherein one side of the washer contacts the CVVL device and the other side thereof contacts the journal bearing such that the gap between the CVVL device and the journal bearing can be uniformly maintained. 
     
     
         9 . The continuously variable valve lift apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the washer has a substantially circular shape with a cut and a wave form. 
     
     
         10 . The engine of  claim 6 , wherein the washer has a substantially circular shape with a cut and a wave form.