Abstract: First and second connecting portions 61a and 62a are arranged in parallel and relatively turnably connected to a rocker arm 36 and a movable support portion 62b of a second link arm 62 is placed nearer to an engine valve 19 than a fixed support portion 61b of a first link arm 61. This makes it possible to decrease the size of a valve operating system and ensure the follow-up ability of the opening/closing operation as well as to vary a lift amount of the engine valve continuously while maintaining the reliability and durability of drive means.

Abstract: First and second connecting portions 61a and 62a are arranged in parallel and relatively turnably connected to a rocker arm 36 and a movable support portion 62b of a second link arm 62 is placed nearer to an engine valve 19 than a fixed support portion 61b of a first link arm 61. This makes it possible to decrease the size of a valve operating system and ensure the follow-up ability of the opening/closing operation as well as to vary a lift amount of the engine valve continuously while maintaining the reliability and durability of drive means.

Abstract: A fuel injection valve is provided which produces good atomization of fuel and increases the accuracy of the distribution rate of the fuel to a pair of diverging injection holes, even when the amount of assist air is decreased. The fuel injection valve includes a valve housing having a pair of diverging injection holes which diverge from each other in the forward direction with respect to a junction disposed in front of a fuel injection hole. The valve housing is provided with air supply passages for supplying assist air to a fuel flow injected from the fuel injection hole. A pintle inserted through the fuel injection hole has a tip end portion reduced in diameter in the forward direction and is coaxially connected to a valve member. The diameter D of the fuel injection hole, the width W of the junction in a plane intersecting axes of the diverging injection holes and the distance L from the fuel injection hole to the junction are determined to satisfy relations, 0.04<W/D<0.4 and 0.5<L/D<10.