Abstract: A variable valve timing apparatus includes a stopper piston which has an equalizing passage in an axial direction. Even if the engaging hole is filled with the oil, the equalizing passage enables the oil flows from an engaging hole to a holding hole when the stopper piston enters into the engaging hole. It is possible to form a vane as narrow as possible, and to enlarge a variable angular range. In addition, the stopper piston has both end faces which are substantially identical in surface area. Even if pulsation arises in oil pressure, pressures acting on both end faces of the stopper piston can be substantially cancelled and position of the stopper piston can be stabilized.

Abstract: A variable valve timing device includes a control valve for switching fluid communication among ports. The control valve includes a sleeve, a spool, a movable member, and resilient members. A first resilient member pushes the spool in both of the regions. A second resilient member acts on the spool via the movable member engaged with the spool in an advancing region. In a lock region, the movable member rests on the sleeve to enable the spool to move freely from the second resilient member. As a result, force acting on the spool can be restricted in the lock region. The movable member is supported from a radial inside by the spool and is radially distanced from the sleeve. As a result, it is possible to reduce a sliding resistance acting on the movable member.

Abstract: A valve timing adjuster for an internal combustion engine adjusts valve timing. The valve timing adjuster includes a housing, a vane rotor, a regulation device, a fluid route, and an opening/closing control device. The regulation device regulates a rotational phase of the vane rotor relative to the housing to a regulation position located between a full advance position and a full retard position. The fluid route is communicated with a specific chamber that is at least one of an advance chamber and a retard chamber. The fluid route extends via a radially inner part to be communicated with atmosphere. The radially inner part is located radially between the specific chamber and a rotation center. The opening/closing control device opens and closes the fluid route.

Abstract: A variable valve timing device for an internal combustion engine includes: a variable valve timing mechanism that changes a valve timing; and a phase limiting mechanism that locks a rotational phase between a housing rotor and a vane rotor at an intermediate phase. The phase limiting mechanism engages a first limiting pin with a first engaging groove and engages a second limiting pin with a second engaging groove to lock the housing rotor to the vane rotor. A retard-side side surface of an engaging hole is configured so as to be able to adjust a clearance between the second limiting pin and the retard-side side surface when the first limiting pin is engaged with a first advance end portion.

Abstract: A variable valve timing apparatus includes a stopper piston which has an equalizing passage in an axial direction. Even if the engaging hole is filled with the oil, the equalizing passage enables the oil flows from an engaging hole to a holding hole when the stopper piston enters into the engaging hole. It is possible to form a vane as narrow as possible, and to enlarge a variable angular range. In addition, the stopper piston has both end faces which are substantially identical in surface area. Even if pulsation arises in oil pressure, pressures acting on both end faces of the stopper piston can be substantially cancelled and position of the stopper piston can be stabilized.

Abstract: A variable valve timing apparatus includes a stopper piston which has an equalizing passage in an axial direction. Even if the engaging hole is filled with the oil, the equalizing passage enables the oil flows from an engaging hole to a holding hole when the stopper piston enters into the engaging hole. It is possible to form a vane as narrow as possible, and to enlarge a variable angular range. In addition, the stopper piston has both end faces which are substantially identical in surface area. Even if pulsation arises in oil pressure, pressures acting on both end faces of the stopper piston can be substantially cancelled and position of the stopper piston can be stabilized.

Abstract: A variable valve timing device includes a control valve for switching fluid communication among ports. The control valve includes a sleeve, a spool, a movable member, and resilient members. A first resilient member pushes the spool in both of the regions. A second resilient member acts on the spool via the movable member engaged with the spool in an advancing region. In a lock region, the movable member rests on the sleeve to enable the spool to move freely from the second resilient member. As a result, force acting on the spool can be restricted in the lock region. The movable member is supported from a radial inside by the spool and is radially distanced from the sleeve. As a result, it is possible to reduce a sliding resistance acting on the movable member.

Abstract: A vane rotor includes a vane to partition an advance chamber from a retard chamber. A valve element communicates a lock port with an exhaust port to drain a fluid from the lock port when moving in a first region including an end of a movable range in the first direction. The regulating member moves in the vane rotor in a thrust direction into a recess dented from an inner surface of the housing by being biased from a resilient member to lock the rotation phase in a regulation phase in the first region when a fluid is drained from the lock chamber. The valve element is configured to communicate an operation port with a supply port to supply a fluid into the advance chamber when being in a throttle region in the first region such that a flow of a fluid supplied to the advance chamber is throttled to be less than a flow of a fluid when the valve element is in the end of the movable range in the first direction.

Abstract: When a spool is positioned in a lock range including a stroke end in a first direction, an advance port and a lock port are respectively connected to a supply port and a discharge port. When the spool is positioned in an advance range deviating from the lock range in a second direction, the advance port and the lock port are fluidly connected to the supply port. While a driving source generates a driving force to move the spool in the second direction, a biasing member biases the spool in the first direction. When the spool is positioned at a limit position of the advance range, a biasing force biasing the spool in the first direction is stepwise varied by a specified variation width.

Abstract: A variable valve timing device for an internal combustion engine includes: a variable valve timing mechanism that changes a valve timing; and a phase limiting mechanism that locks a rotational phase between a housing rotor and a vane rotor at an intermediate phase. The phase limiting mechanism engages a first limiting pin with a first engaging groove and engages a second limiting pin with a second engaging groove to lock the housing rotor to the vane rotor. A retard-side side surface of an engaging hole is configured so as to be able to adjust a clearance between the second limiting pin and the retard-side side surface when the first limiting pin is engaged with a first advance end portion.

Abstract: An advancing check valve is placed in an advancing connection passage of a spool to enable a flow of hydraulic fluid in a first direction from a retarding port side toward an advancing port side upon placement of the spool in an advancing position and to limit a flow of hydraulic fluid in a second direction from the advancing port side toward the retarding port side upon placement of the spool in the advancing position. A retarding check valve is placed in a retarding connection passage of the spool to enable a flow of hydraulic fluid in the second direction upon placement of the spool in a retarding position and to limit a flow of hydraulic fluid in the first direction upon placement of the spool in the retarding position.

Abstract: A valve timing adjuster for an internal combustion engine adjusts valve timing. The valve timing adjuster includes a housing, a vane rotor, a regulation device, a fluid route, and an opening/closing control device. The regulation device regulates a rotational phase of the vane rotor relative to the housing to a regulation position located between a full advance position and a full retard position. The fluid route is communicated with a specific chamber that is at least one of an advance chamber and a retard chamber. The fluid route extends via a radially inner part to be communicated with atmosphere. The radially inner part is located radially between the specific chamber and a rotation center. The opening/closing control device opens and closes the fluid route.

Abstract: A vane rotor includes a vane to partition an advance chamber from a retard chamber. A valve element communicates a lock port with an exhaust port to drain a fluid from the lock port when moving in a first region including an end of a movable range in the first direction. The regulating member moves in the vane rotor in a thrust direction into a recess dented from an inner surface of the housing by being biased from a resilient member to lock the rotation phase in a regulation phase in the first region when a fluid is drained from the lock chamber. The valve element is configured to communicate an operation port with a supply port to supply a fluid into the advance chamber when being in a throttle region in the first region such that a flow of a fluid supplied to the advance chamber is throttled to be less than a flow of a fluid when the valve element is in the end of the movable range in the first direction.

Abstract: A variable valve timing apparatus includes a stopper piston which has an equalizing passage in an axial direction. Even if the engaging hole is filled with the oil, the equalizing passage enables the oil flows from an engaging hole to a holding hole when the stopper piston enters into the engaging hole. It is possible to form a vane as narrow as possible, and to enlarge a variable angular range. In addition, the stopper piston has both end faces which are substantially identical in surface area. Even if pulsation arises in oil pressure, pressures acting on both end faces of the stopper piston can be substantially cancelled and position of the stopper piston can be stabilized.

Abstract: When a spool is positioned in a lock range including a stroke end in a first direction, an advance port and a lock port are respectively connected to a supply port and a discharge port. When the spool is positioned in an advance range deviating from the lock range in a second direction, the advance port and the lock port are fluidly connected to the supply port. While a driving source generates a driving force to move the spool in the second direction, a biasing member biases the spool in the first direction. When the spool is positioned at a limit position of the advance range, a biasing force biasing the spool in the first direction is stepwise varied by a specified variation width.

Abstract: An intake VVT mechanism includes: link mechanisms and connected to an intake camshaft and operated to change a phase of an intake valve; and a control pin sliding on a guide plate along a guide groove to allow the link mechanism to operate; a control pin sliding on the guide plate along a guide groove to allow the link mechanism to operate. The control pin is detached from an end of the guide groove when the control pins and are moved in a direction allowing the phase to be retarded until the control pin abuts against an end of the guide groove.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery and an alternator as a power source, and a plurality of vehicle load groups that operate commonly receiving power supply from the power source. When a plurality of requests for actuating the plurality of loads are made simultaneously, a control circuit determines a request of higher priority and a request of lower priority based on a predetermined priority for each of said requests. The control circuit operates the corresponding load as requested in response to the request of high priority, and operates the corresponding load with the operation limited to consume smaller power than requested in response to the request of low priority. More preferably, one of the plurality of loads is variable valve timing apparatus changing a timing of opening/closing an intake valve or an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A valve timing adjuster includes a first rotor, a second rotor, a spool valve, a connection passage, and a connection check valve. A spool of the spool valve is displaceable to a first position such that the first rotor is rotated relative to the second rotor. The spool is displaceable to a second position to hold the phase of a camshaft at a full phase. The connection passage connects a first output port with a second output port of the spool valve when the spool is positioned at the first position. The connection check valve of the connection passage allows working fluid to flow from the second output port toward the first output port.

Abstract: An advancing check valve is placed in an advancing connection passage of a spool to enable a flow of hydraulic fluid in a first direction from a retarding port side toward an advancing port side upon placement of the spool in an advancing position and to limit a flow of hydraulic fluid in a second direction from the advancing port side toward the retarding port side upon placement of the spool in the advancing position. A retarding check valve is placed in a retarding connection passage of the spool to enable a flow of hydraulic fluid in the second direction upon placement of the spool in a retarding position and to limit a flow of hydraulic fluid in the first direction upon placement of the spool in the retarding position.

Abstract: A check valve is provided in a fluid passage between a phase change valve and a fluid supply source. The check valve enables a flow of the hydraulic fluid from the fluid supply source to a retarding chamber or an advancing chamber defined in a housing in corporation with a vane rotor received therein. The check valve blocks a flow of the hydraulic fluid from the retarding chamber or the advancing chamber to a fluid supply source side. A filter is provided in the fluid passage between the check valve and the fluid supply source to remove debris from the hydraulic fluid before supplying of the hydraulic fluid to the check valve.