INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inhibit the misalignment of a camshaft in a radial direction caused by the reception of a valve reaction force, and to reduce the generation of strike noise at a cam journal. SOLUTION: This internal combustion engine 10 is provided with an intake camshaft 52 and an exhaust camshaft 54. The camshafts 52, 54 are provided with variable valve timing mechanisms (VVT) 62, 64. The VVTs 62, 64 are provided with eccentric masses 70, 72 at positions eccentric to rotation axis lines O1, O2 of the camshafts 52, 54. When valve reaction forces act on the camshafts 52, 54 from cams 56, 58, the eccentric masses 70, 72 apply centrifugal forces in an opposite direction of the valve reaction force on the camshafts 52, 54. Consequently, the eccentric masses 70, 72 can inhibit the misalignment of the camshafts 52, 54 in the radial direction caused by receiving the valve reaction force. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT