Patent ID: 7204216

Claim:
A variable valve mechanism comprising: a rocker arm, one end of which is in contact with a non-valve-disc lateral end of a valve stem, the other end of which functions as a fulcrum, and the central portion of which is provided with an arm roller; a lash adjuster that expands and contracts to provide zero tappet clearance and is positioned to support the fulcrum of said rocker arm; an oscillation arm that has an oscillation cam surface for coming into contact with said arm roller and oscillates in synchronism with the rotation of a cam, thereby transmitting the pressure of the cam to said rocker arm; and an adjustment mechanism for changing the reference arm rotation angle of said oscillation arm in relation to said rocker arm with a view toward changing the operating angle and/or lift amount of a valve disc within a predetermined adjustment range, wherein the axis line of said lash adjuster is substantially parallel to a virtual straight line that joins the rotation center of said oscillation arm to the rotation center of said arm roller throughout operation of the adjustment mechanism.