Abstract: A variable cam timing phaser of a variable cam timing system includes a housing and a rotor moveable with respect to the housing. The rotor and the housing define advance and retard chambers. The variable cam timing phaser also includes a control valve assembly. The control valve assembly includes a valve housing defining a valve housing interior, a supply port, first and second working ports, and an exhaust port. The control valve assembly also includes a piston moveable for controlling flow of the hydraulic fluid through the valve housing interior. The exhaust port is fluidly connectable with a sump through a vent path that is defined by at least one of the valve housing and the rotor. The vent path is configured to prevent air from being sucked into the variable cam timing phaser through the vent path.

Abstract: A system (44) for controlling camshaft (28) phase in an engine (20) with a crankshaft (26), including: an actuator (42) driving a phaser (38) attached to the camshaft (28). The phaser (38) has a first portion (46) in communication with the crankshaft (26), a second portion (48) attached to the camshaft (28) and in communication with the first portion (46), and a third portion (50) attached to the actuator (42) and in communication with the second portion (48). One portion includes a receiver (52), and another portion includes a lock (54) having: a first position (78) where the portions with the receiver (52) and lock (54) can rotate with respect to each other; and a second position (80) where the portions with the receiver (52) and lock (54) are coupled. The lock (54) moves between positions in response to predetermined torque differential between the actuator (42) and camshaft (28).

Abstract: A system (44) for controlling camshaft (28) phase in an engine (20) with a crankshaft (26), including: an actuator (42) driving a phaser (38) attached to the camshaft (28). The phaser (38) has a first portion (46) in communication with the crankshaft (26), a second portion (48) attached to the camshaft (28) and in communication with the first portion (46), and a third portion (50) attached to the actuator (42) and in communication with the second portion (48). One portion includes a receiver (52), and another portion includes a lock (54) having: a first position (78) where the portions with the receiver (52) and lock (54) can rotate with respect to each other; and a second position (80) where the portions with the receiver (52) and lock (54) are coupled. The lock (54) moves between positions in response to predetermined torque differential between the actuator (42) and camshaft (28).

Abstract: An actuator for varying a compression ratio of an engine by varying by the rotary motion of a control shaft coupled to a variable compression ratio device. The actuator comprising: a housing assembly mounted to the engine; a rotor assembly coupled to the control shaft defining at least one vane separating a chamber in the housing assembly into a first chamber and a second chamber, the vane being capable of rotation to shift the relative angular position of the rotor assembly from a first rotational position associated with a first compression ratio to a second rotational position associated with a second compression ratio; and a control valve moveable to a first position in which torsional energy from the control shaft is permitted to rotate the rotor assembly in a direction from the first rotational position toward the second rotational position and to a second position opposite the first position.

Abstract: A variable camshaft timing apparatus (10) includes a pulse actuating circuit (24A,50,44,56,60,24R and 24R,52,46,54,58,24A) for oscillating the variable camshaft timing apparatus in reaction to fluid under pulsation, and includes a pressure actuating circuit (30,34,36,40,44,50,24A,24R,52,46,66,80/180,32 and 30,34,38,42,46,52,24R,24A,50,44,64,80/180,32) for oscillating the variable camshaft timing device in reaction to fluid under pressure. Advance and retard valves (44,46) are interconnected with the pulse and pressure actuating circuits for independently and simultaneously activating the pulse and pressure actuating circuits. Finally, an exhaust valve (80,180, 280) is positioned in fluid communication with the pulse and pressure actuating circuits, such that the variable camshaft timing device may be oscillated using one or both of the pulse actuating and pressure actuating circuits, and may be maintained in position using one or both of the pulse actuating and pressure actuating circuits.

Abstract: A variable camshaft timing apparatus (10) includes a pulse actuating circuit (24A, 50, 44, 56, 60, 24R and 24R, 52, 46, 54, 58, 24A) for oscillating the variable camshaft timing apparatus in reaction to fluid under pulsation, and includes a pressure actuating circuit (30, 34, 36, 40, 44, 50, 24A, 24R, 52, 46, 66, 80/180, 32 and 30, 34, 38, 42, 46, 52, 24R, 24A, 50, 44, 64, 80/180, 32) for oscillating the variable camshaft timing device in reaction to fluid under pressure. Advance and retard valves (44, 46) are interconnected with the pulse and pressure actuating circuits for independently and simultaneously activating the pulse and pressure actuating circuits.

Abstract: A valve assembly having a valve (10, 110, 210, 310, 410) that is caused to reciprocate between open and closed positions by engagement of a cam follower (16, 116, 216, 316,416) with a cam (14, 114, 214, 314, 414) that is carried by a rotatable camshaft (12, 112, 212, 312, 412). The valve is resiliently urged against the cam by a coil spring (18, 118, 218, 318, 418), but its return to its closed position is delayed by application of a non-mechanical force against the valve, in opposition to the force imposed by the coil spring, by hydraulic force imposed by hydraulic fluid in a housing (22, 122, 322, 422) that acts against an enlarged portion (10c, 110c, 310c, 410c) of the valve, or by an electromagnetic force imposed by an electromagnetic device (228) that acts on an enlarged portion (210c) of the valve (210).