Patent ID: 7827948

Claim:
A variable valve timing control apparatus of an internal combustion engine, comprising: a drive rotary member rotated by an engine crankshaft; a driven rotary member fixedly connected to a camshaft and transferring a turning force from the drive rotary member to the camshaft; a phase-change mechanism changing a relative rotational phase between the drive and driven rotary members, the phase-change mechanism including: an intermediate rotary member installed between the drive and driven rotary members for a relative rotational phase control and having a guide; a link member linking the intermediate rotary member and the driven rotary member and having an engaging member that is engaged in and guided by the guide, the link member shifting a rotation of the driven rotary member by a rotation of the intermediate rotary member through the guided engaging member; and an operating force application mechanism applying an operating force to the intermediate rotary member to relatively rotate the intermediate rotary member with respect to the drive and driven rotary members, and a holding mechanism which forces the intermediate rotary member and holds the relative rotational phase between the drive and driven rotary members at a predetermined relative rotational phase position; and a releasing mechanism which releases a holding state of the holding mechanism.