Abstract: A hydraulic variable camshaft timing (VCT) assembly including a stator having at least one fluid chamber; and a rotor, received by and angularly displaceable relative to the stator, having at least one vane positioned within the fluid chamber extending radially outwardly from a hub, and a hydraulic switch assembly positioned in the rotor to regulate a flow of fluid between an advancing chamber and a retarding chamber through the vane.

Abstract: A variable cam timing phaser mounted to a camshaft and including a housing assembly having an outer circumference for accepting a drive force; a rotor assembly received by the housing assembly defining a chamber separated into an advance chamber and retard chamber by a vane; a control valve in fluid communication with the advance chamber and the retard chamber, a source of fluid, and a sump through at least one exhaust line connected to at least one exhaust port; and at least one check valve in the at least one exhaust line between the control valve and the sump. The at least one check valve prevents air from the sump connected to the at least one exhaust port from being sucked into the variable cam timing phaser through the at least one exhaust port during a torque reversal of the camshaft.

Abstract: An electrically-actuated camshaft phaser including an electrically-actuated lock that includes a planetary gear assembly having a camshaft ring gear configured to be connected to a camshaft, a sprocket ring gear configured to receive rotational input from a crankshaft, and one or more planet gears engaging the camshaft ring gear and the sprocket ring gear, wherein the planetary gear assembly changes the angular position of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft; an electric motor, coupled to the planetary gear assembly, and a solenoid, wherein the electric motor controls the relative angular position of the crankshaft relative to the camshaft and the solenoid selectively moves a mechanical connection into locking engagement thereby preventing relative movement between the camshaft relative to the crankshaft.

Abstract: Using existing phaser control valve and a solenoid to create a pumping chamber which provides enough oil pressure to disengage a locking pin at all conditions.

Abstract: A phaser including a housing assembly having an outer circumference for accepting a drive force; a rotor assembly received by the housing assembly defining a chamber separated into an advance chamber and second chamber by a vane; a control valve in fluid communication with the advance chamber and the retard chamber, a source of fluid, and a sump through at least one exhaust line connected to at least one exhaust port; and at least one check valve in the at least one exhaust line between the control valve and the sump. The at least one check valve prevents air from the sump connected to the at least one exhaust port from being sucked into the variable cam timing phaser through the at least one exhaust port during a torque reversal of a camshaft the variable cam timing phaser is mounted to.

Abstract: An electrically-actuated camshaft phaser including an electrically-actuated lock that includes a planetary gear assembly having a camshaft ring gear configured to be connected to a camshaft, a sprocket ring gear configured to receive rotational input from a crankshaft, and one or more planet gears engaging the camshaft ring gear and the sprocket ring gear, wherein the planetary gear assembly changes the angular position of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft; an electric motor, coupled to the planetary gear assembly, and a solenoid, wherein the electric motor controls the relative angular position of the crankshaft relative to the camshaft and the solenoid selectively moves a mechanical connection into locking engagement thereby preventing relative movement between the camshaft relative to the crankshaft.

Abstract: A variable camshaft timing device that adjusts phase between a camshaft and a crankshaft includes a planetary gear assembly that changes an angular position of the camshaft relative to an angular position of the crankshaft; a sun gear configured to receive an output shaft of an electric motor that rotates at least a portion of the planetary gear assembly and controls phase adjustment between the camshaft and crankshaft by angularly displacing the camshaft with respect to the crankshaft; and a hydraulic lock (82) that releasably engages a portion of the variable camshaft timing device (10) in response to force applied by pressurized fluid thereby selectively preventing rotation of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft.

Abstract: Using existing phaser control valve and a solenoid to create a pumping chamber which provides enough oil pressure to disengage a locking pin at all conditions.

Abstract: A variable camshaft timing device that adjusts phase between a camshaft and a crankshaft includes a planetary gear assembly that changes an angular position of the camshaft relative to an angular position of the crankshaft; a sun gear configured to receive an output shaft of an electric motor that rotates at least a portion of the planetary gear assembly and controls phase adjustment between the camshaft and crankshaft by angularly displacing the camshaft with respect to the crankshaft; and a hydraulic lock (82) that releasably engages a portion of the variable camshaft timing device (10) in response to force applied by pressurized fluid thereby selectively preventing rotation of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft.

Abstract: A cam torque actuated variable cam timing phaser can include a rotor (20) enclosed by an endplate (64) within a housing (10). The housing (10) can have at least one cavity (10a) to be divided by a vane (22) rigidly attached to the rotor (20). The vane (22) can divide the cavity (10a) into a first chamber (16) and a second chamber (18). Passages (26, 28, 56, 58) can connect the first and second chambers (16, 18) facilitating oscillation of the vane (20) within the cavity (10a). A detent valve (50) can move between an open position and a closed position. When in the open position, the detent valve (50) can connect portions of a detent passage (56, 58) extending through the rotor (20) and through the endplate (64) allowing pressurized actuating fluid flow with respect to the first and second chambers (16, 18) in response to a relative angular position of the rotor (20) with respect to the endplate (64). A lock pin (60) can move between a locked position and a released position.

Abstract: A cam torque actuated variable cam timing phaser can include a rotor (20) enclosed by an endplate (64) within a housing (10). The housing (10) can have at least one cavity (10a) to be divided by a vane (22) rigidly attached to the rotor (20). The vane (22) can divide the cavity (10a) into a first chamber (16) and a second chamber (18). Passages (26, 28, 56, 58) can connect the first and second chambers (16, 18) facilitating oscillation of the vane (20) within the cavity (10a). A detent valve (50) can move between an open position and a closed position. When in the open position, the detent valve (50) can connect portions of a detent passage (56, 58) extending through the rotor (20) and through the endplate (64) allowing pressurized actuating fluid flow with respect to the first and second chambers (16, 18) in response to a relative angular position of the rotor (20) with respect to the endplate (64). A lock pin (60) can move between a locked position and a released position.

Abstract: A variable cam timing system for an engine with at least one camshaft comprising: a housing, a rotor, and a controlled bypass. The housing has an outer circumference for accepting drive force and chambers. The rotor has a connection to a camshaft coaxially located within the housing. The housing and the rotor define at least one vane separating a chamber in the housing into advance and retard chambers. The vane is capable of rotation to shift the relative angular position of the housing and the rotor. The controlled bypass provides fluid communication between the chambers. When the valve is closed, the valve blocks passage between the chambers and when the valve is open fluid flows through the passage extending between the advance chamber to the retard chamber. A method for reducing the valve event is also disclosed.

Abstract: A variable cam timing system for an engine with at least one camshaft comprising: a housing, a rotor, and a controlled bypass. The housing has an outer circumference for accepting drive force and chambers. The rotor has a connection to a camshaft coaxially located within the housing. The housing and the rotor define at least one vane separating a chamber in the housing into advance and retard chambers. The vane is capable of rotation to shift the relative angular position of the housing and the rotor. The controlled bypass provides fluid communication between the chambers. When the valve is closed, the valve blocks passage between the chambers and when the valve is open fluid flows through the passage extending between the advance chamber to the retard chamber. A method for reducing the valve event is also disclosed.

Abstract: A spool valve for variable cam timing phaser comprising a spool, a plurality of check valves and passages from the advance chamber and the retard chamber to a port in the spool valve. The spool having at least two lands separated by a central spindle, slidably mounted within a bore. When the spool is in the first position, fluid from the advance chamber flows through the passage and the port to the bore surrounding the central spindle of the spool valve and through a check valve and port to the passage to the retard chamber. When the spool is in the second position, fluid from the retard chamber flows through the passage and the port to the bore surrounding the central spindle of the spool valve and through a check valve and port to the passage to the advance chamber.

Abstract: A VCT system for an internal combustion engine having at least one camshaft and a VCT phaser mounted to the camshaft. The phaser having a plurality of advance chambers and retard chambers, an advance line in fluid communication with the advance chamber and leading to a cam bearing area of the camshaft, and a retard line in fluid communication with the retard chamber and leading to the cam bearing area of the camshaft. A cam bearing supports the cam bearing area around the camshaft and has ports aligned with the advance line and the retard line. A plurality of seals are located inside the cam bearing. At least one seal is between the ports to the advance line and the retard line, and a pair of seals are on opposite sides of the ports aligned with the advance and retard line. A control system is located separately from the phaser.

Abstract: A variable camshaft timing system having a camshaft with a vane-type rotor, where oscillation of the housing relative to the vane is actuated by pressurized engine oil, derived in part from a torque pulse in the camshaft. An annular locking plate is positioned coaxially with the camshaft and the housing. It is moveable relative to the housing along the longitudinal central axis of the camshaft between two positions, the teeth on the locking plate engaging the teeth on the housing and where the teeth on the locking plate are disengaged from the teeth on the housing, each position preventing circumferential movement of the housing relative to the rotor. The locking plate is biased by a plurality of metallic straps towards engagement of the teeth on locking plate with the teeth on the housing. The straps have one end secured to the locking plate and another end secured to the rotor.

Abstract: The present invention controls the position of a center mounted spool valve (192) with an externally mounted vacuum controlled actuator (301). The actuator position is preferably controlled by a pulse width modulated or variable force solenoid (302), which modulates the amount of vacuum going to the actuator (301). A microprocessor (208) reads the phase angle and adjusts the duty cycle or current based on the error signal of the control loop (450). In a preferred embodiment, a position sensor (304) further controls the position of the spool valve (192). The position sensor (304) creates an inner loop (400) with position feedback on the position of the actuator (301) and spool valve (192), while the outer loop controls the phase angle. Added to the spool valve position is an offset to move the spool valve (192) to its steady state or null position (410).

Abstract: A phaser which includes a housing and a rotor disposed to rotate relative to each other is provided. The housing has at least one cavity disposed to be divided by a vane rigidly attached to the rotor. The vane divides the cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber. The phaser further includes passages connecting the first and the second chamber, thereby facilitating the oscillation of the vane within the cavity. The phaser includes: a) a valve disposed to form at least two openings for fluid flowing between the first chamber and the second chamber and being disposed to keep at least one opening closed; and b) at least one by-pass disposed to stop or slow down the rotation between the housing and the rotor, thereby allowing a locking mechanism to lock the housing and the rotor together independent of fluid flow.

Abstract: A phaser which includes a housing and a rotor disposed to rotate relative to each other is provided. The housing has at least one cavity disposed to be divided by a vane rigidly attached to the rotor. The vane divides the cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber. The phaser further includes passages connecting the first and the second chamber, thereby facilitating the oscillation of the vane within the cavity. The phaser includes: a) a valve disposed to form at least two openings for fluid flowing between the first chamber and the second chamber and being disposed to keep at least one opening closed; and b) at least one by-pass disposed to stop or slow down the rotation between the housing and the rotor, thereby allowing a locking mechanism to lock the housing and the rotor together independent of fluid flow.

Abstract: The present invention controls the position of a center mounted spool valve (192) with an externally mounted vacuum controlled actuator (301). The actuator position is preferably controlled by a pulse width modulated or variable force solenoid (302), which modulates the amount of vacuum going to the actuator (301). A microprocessor (208) reads the phase angle and adjusts the duty cycle or current based on the error signal of the control loop (450). In a preferred embodiment, a position sensor (304) further controls the position of the spool valve (192). The position sensor (304) creates an inner loop (400) with position feedback on the position of the actuator (301) and spool valve (192), while the outer loop controls the phase angle. Added to the spool valve position is an offset to move the spool valve (192) to its steady state or null position (410).