Coupling Facilitates Relative Rotary Displacement Between Coupled Members Patents (Class 464/160)
  • Publication number: 20100095919
    Abstract: A magneto-rheological fluid controlled camshaft phaser is provided having a stator with inwardly directed projections which define working spaces therebetween. The stator is adapted to be connected to the crankshaft via a timing gear and chain. A rotor is located radially inside the stator and is connected to the camshaft. Rotor lugs extend radially outwardly from the rotor into the working spaces, dividing them into first and second chambers on each side of the rotor lugs. A magneto-rheological fluid is located in the chambers, and the chambers on each side of each rotor lug are connected via a clearance space between the radially outer surface of the lugs and the inner surface of the stator located between the projections. The rotor is connected to the camshaft. An electromagnetic assembly is mounted adjacent to the stator and includes at least one electromagnet along with at least one ferrous focusing piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jesse Myers, Roger Meyer
  • Publication number: 20100089353
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster for a concentric camshaft of an internal combustion engine is provided. The adjuster includes a stator that is connected to the timing gear, and a rotor located within the stator and connected to the outer camshaft. The rotor includes a plurality of vanes that extend into spaces created between inwardly directed projections of the stator that slidingly engage the outer surface of the rotor to define first and second sets of chambers on each side of the vanes. Front and rear sidewalls are connected to the stator and form the front and rear walls of the chambers. An outer cover is connected to the stator via axially extending fasteners and is adapted to be connected to the inner camshaft. Radial loads acting on the timing gear are transmitted from the stator to the rotor and into the outer camshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jesse Myers, Joseph Moon
  • Publication number: 20100089351
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster for a concentric camshaft assembly of an internal combustion engine is provided. The adjuster includes a stator that is connected to the timing gear, a rotor located within the stator and connected to the outer camshaft. The rotor includes a plurality of vanes that extend into spaces created between inwardly directed projections of the stator to define first and second sets of chambers on each side of the vanes. Front and rear sidewalls are connected to the stator and form the front and rear walls of the chambers. An outer cover connects to the stator to the inner camshaft. Radial loads acting on the timing gear are transmitted from the stator to the rotor and into the outer camshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Jesse Myers, Joseph Moon
  • Publication number: 20100093453
    Abstract: A dual independent phasing system (DIPS) phaser assembly for coaxial camshafts having two axially stacked, thin phasing subassemblies which are each conventional vane-cell type phaser assemblies is provided. These phasers are preassembled together as a unit to make one DIPS phaser assembly. The rotor of the rear phaser is attached to the outer camshaft of the coaxial cam, and the rotor of the front phaser is attached to the inner camshaft. The radial force from the timing chain or belt is transmitted to the outer camshaft via a chain ring or pulley connected to the stator of the rear phaser. In order to provide for ease of mounting, the DIPS phaser assembly (including the front and rear phasers) is attached to the outer camshaft via mounting bolts which are passed through openings in the rotor of the front phaser in order to attach the rear phaser rotor to the outer camshaft. A central mounting bolt is used to connect the front phaser rotor to the inner camshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jesse Myers, Joseph Moon, Roger Meyer
  • Publication number: 20100089350
    Abstract: A camshaft phaser assembly for a concentric camshaft that adjusts the relative rotational position of the inner camshaft relative to the outer camshaft and the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is provided. The phaser has an inner rotor with radially outwardly extending vanes which is attached to the inner camshaft. The rotor is surrounded by a stator having radially inwardly directed projections which contact the outer surface of the rotor and form working spaces into which the vanes extend. The vanes divide the working spaces into first and second sets of pressure chambers which can be pressurized with a hydraulic medium in order to rotate the rotor in an advancing or retarding direction. Front and rear covers are attached to the stator and define the front and rear sides of the pressure chambers. The timing gear or timing belt pulley is connected to the stator. The rear cover includes a splined opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventor: Jesse Myers
  • Publication number: 20100089349
    Abstract: A valve timing adjusting device includes a first rotor rotating integrally with a crankshaft; a second rotor secured integrally with an intake or exhaust camshaft; a first hole formed passing through radially to a shoe formed inside the first rotor; a second hole formed through the shoe, intersecting the first hole; a coil spring pressing a lock pin received in the first hole to thereby engage the lock pin into a concavity formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second rotor; and a shaft inserted into the second hole in order to prevent the coil spring from dashing out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Koji Yudate, Akaria Sakata, Hiroyuki Kinugawa
  • Publication number: 20100089352
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster for a concentric camshaft assembly of an internal combustion engine is provided. The adjuster includes a stator that is connected to the timing gear, and a rotor located within the stator having a plurality of vanes that extend into spaces created between inwardly directed projections of the stator to define chambers on each side of the vanes. Front and rear sidewalls are connected to the stator and form the front and rear walls of the chambers. An outer cover connects to the stator to the inner camshaft via a drive adapter, and the rotor is connected to the outer camshaft. Radial loads acting on the timing gear are transmitted from the stator to the rotor and into the outer camshaft. The drive adapter includes an open cylindrical body having first and second ends. The first end includes a slot or recesses in which a timing feature of the cover engages. The second end has a keyed portion configured to matingly engage a corresponding portion of the inner camshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jesse Myers, Joseph Moon
  • Publication number: 20100083924
    Abstract: A device for camshaft adjustment in an internal combustion engine which has an inner rotor rotationally fixed to a camshaft. The inner rotor is rotationally adjustable relative to an outer rotor that is driveably connected to a crankshaft. At least one hydraulic chamber limited by side walls is introduced into the outer rotor and is divided into two partial chambers by an element extending radially outward from the inner rotor. To lock the relative movement between the inner and outer rotor, two locking pins penetrating the inner rotor axially engage in two recesses of one of the side walls designed as a locking cover. To adjust the play of the locking pins in the recesses, at least one of the recesses has a stop surface for the locking pin, the position of which changes as viewed circumferentially with the radial distance from the axis of the inner rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Michael Busse, Michael Weiss
  • Publication number: 20100075765
    Abstract: A vane-type camshaft adjuster has a side plane that is arranged perpendicular to the center axis of the camshaft adjuster. A coil spring abuts the side plane and is connected between a rotor and stator to maintain the rotor at a certain angular position relative to the stator. In order to create a vane-type camshaft adjuster, the righting moments of which are adjusted in a particularly accurate manner, the coil spring has a rectangular profile, wherein a spring section is angled through the side plane such that the coil spring is supported relative to the stator or the rotor in a pivot-proof positive fitting manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: HYDRAULIK-RING GMBH
    Inventors: Karl Heinz Isenberg, Fatih Dogan
  • Publication number: 20100064996
    Abstract: A helical phaser bias spring including at least one linear region and an adjacent region having a radius of curvature less than that of the helix. A channel in the phaser receives the linear region of the spring and adjacent region to lock the spring to the phaser at either the rotor or the stator. Preferably, the spring includes two linear regions separated by a bend of about 90°. Additional linear regions are possible, separated by right and/or other angle bends. In a phaser rotor or stator, the geometric shape required to hold a spring end having a flat is easier to form with powdered metal tooling or diecasting than is a circular, radial, or axial shape for receiving a spring tang as in the prior art, the packaging volume required for the spring is smaller, and spring friction is lowered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas H. Lichti, Alan G. Strandburg, III
  • Patent number: 7673598
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric camshaft adjuster for adjusting and securing the phase angle of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine with respect to its crankshaft, having a three shaft gearing which is embodied as a harmonic drive (19, 19?) of sleeve design, and a drive wheel (1) which is fixed to the crankshaft and has a first ring gear (2) as well as an output component (4) which is fixed to the camshaft and has a second ring gear (5) arranged next to the first ring gear (2) and an adjustment shaft (10, 10?, 10?, 10??) which can be driven by an electric adjustment motor, with a wave generator (17, 17?, 17?) which has means for elliptically deforming a flexurally elastic, externally toothed sleeve (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schaefer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Publication number: 20100050966
    Abstract: A valve timing control device includes a driving side rotational member, a driven side rotational member, a fluid pressure chamber, a parting portion dividing the fluid pressure chamber into an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber, a restriction member, a restriction recessed portion for restricting a displacement of a relative rotational phase within a range between a most advanced angle phase or a most retarded angle phase and a predetermined phase when the restriction member is inserted into the restriction recessed portion, and a restriction cancellation passage, wherein a communication between the accommodation portion and one of the advanced angle chamber and the retarded angle chamber via the cancellation passage is interrupted at least when the restriction member contacts one of end portions of the restriction recessed portion, and the restriction member is restricted so as not to move over the other one of the end portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo Ozawa, Yuki Nishida, Masaki Kobayashi, Yoshihiro Kawai
  • Patent number: 7669568
    Abstract: A valve timing controller has a shaft body as an output rotor, a torque generating system which generates the controlling torque outputted from the shaft body, and a planet carrier as an input rotor connected with the shaft body. A phase adjusting mechanism adjusts the relative rotational phase between a crankshaft and a camshaft according to the control torque inputted into the planet carrier from the shaft body. A bearing rotatably supports the planet carrier. The planet carrier forms a cylindrical input wall press-inserted in an inner circumference of the bearing. The input wall is provided with a fitting recess on its inner surface for engaging with the shaft body, the input wall is provided with a thin-wall portion of which thickness is reduced in a radial direction, and the fitting recess and the thin-wall portion are circumferentially arranged apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Taei Sugiura, Yasushi Morii
  • Patent number: 7661397
    Abstract: In a hydraulic camshaft adjuster for a camshaft of an internal combustion engine and a method of assembling the camshaft adjuster including an inner body, which is connected to the camshaft in a rotationally fixed manner and has outwardly extending blades and an outer body which has inwardly projecting blades which form, together with the outwardly extending blades, at least one hydraulic medium chamber between two housing side covers connected to the outer body and operatively connected to a crankshaft of an engine so as to be driven thereby, a locking bolt is provided for locking the inner body in relation to the outer body with a predetermined play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Kai Lehmann, Michael Scheele
  • Publication number: 20100031906
    Abstract: A vane-type camshaft phaser for an internal combustion engine, in which an intermediate locking pin and seat are provided for locking the camshaft phaser at a position intermediate of its full advanced and retard positions, one of the locking pin and seat having a non-circular cross section, and the cross-sectional shapes of the locking pin and seat being substantially dissimilar to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Richard Cuatt, Michael James Fox, Thomas Huntington Fischer
  • Publication number: 20100024754
    Abstract: [OBJECT] After having determined a phase angle, the phase angle is maintained as the determined one without consuming electric power. [ACHIEVING MEANS] An intermediate member 14 is movably disposed on the outer periphery of an inner cylinder part 12 that is relatively rotatably disposed with respect to an outer cylinder part 10 to which a driving force of a crankshaft is transmitted and that is connected to a camshaft. In a process in which the intermediate member 14 moves in the axial direction when a solenoid 74 or a solenoid 76 is energized, balls 46 and 48 move in mutually opposite directions in response to a displacement in the axial direction caused by the movement of the intermediate member 14, and the phase between the outer cylinder part 10 and the camshaft 2 is variably adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michihiro Kameda, Hiroshi Aino
  • Publication number: 20100029396
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fixed constant velocity universal joint that can be made compact, has little decrease in load capacity even when the fixed constant velocity universal joint is made compact and is at an operating angle, and can improve high angle strength and durability through lessening instances in which a ball runs over a track at a high angle. In the fixed constant velocity universal joint of the present invention, a cage 28 includes four pockets 29, the pockets 29 being a pair of long pockets 30 of which a circumferential direction spacing is wide and a pair of short pockets 31 of which the circumferential direction spacing is narrow. The pair of long pockets 30 are shifted by 180 degrees along a circumferential direction and a pair of short pockets 31 are shifted by 180 degrees along the circumferential direction. As a result, the long pockets 30 and the short pockets 31 are alternately disposed along the circumferential direction. A long pocket 30 houses two balls 27.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Teruaki Fujio, Manabu Hoshino, Tohru Nakagawa, Wasaburo Suganuma
  • Patent number: 7650861
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster for adjusting the relative angular positions of a camshaft and a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine in accordance with a setting shaft is provided. In which the setting shaft is driven by a setting assembly and has a driving connection with an adjusting gear through a coupling. The drive moment is transmitted in the coupling by a radial extension (21) of a first coupling half (19), which contacts a second coupling half (25) without play in a circumferential direction and which is movable in a direction of a Y-Y axis relative to a second coupling half (25). This permits compensation of eccentricities between the setting shaft of the setting assembly and the adjusting gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Patent number: 7647904
    Abstract: A cam phaser apparatus comprising a triple member gear system for transferring a driving torque from a drive member to a driven member and for selectively adjusting the angular relationship between the drive and driven members, said triple member gear system comprising a first member comprising a driving part, a second member comprising a driven part connectable to a cam sprocket or pulley, and a third member comprising an adjusting means connectable to a camshaft, said third member being connected to means for rotating said third member or applying a braking torque and/or a motoring torque to said third member to vary the angular relationship between the first and second members, wherein the cam phaser apparatus further comprises a selectively actuable coupling means for selectively coupling two of said first, second and third members. In one embodiment the coupling means comprises a magnetic coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe S. Farah, Peter Baur
  • Patent number: 7644691
    Abstract: A device (1) for varying the control times of an internal combustion engine (100) is provided. A device (1) is proposed, with a means for limiting the angle of rotation, this being optimized in terms of the magnitude of the transmittable forces. A further aspect of the invention relates to making the mounting of the device (1) more flexible to the effect that the same components can be used in devices (1) with different relative angle-of-rotation ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Mike Kohrs
  • Publication number: 20100000481
    Abstract: [Object] Heat generation is not caused by friction in a phase varying apparatus for use with a vehicle engine. [Solution Means] A phase varying apparatus for use with a vehicle engine varies the opening/closing timing of an intake valve or an exhaust valve. The phase varying apparatus includes a rotary drum (44A) screwed to an intermediate member (30); an electromagnetic clutch (42) including a plurality of magnets (80) that are fixedly arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction of the rotary drum and that are magnetized alternately in opposite directions and a coil wound around an iron core (60); and ferromagnetic-material-made magnetic flux induction members (82, 84) having a plurality of claws (82B, 84B) close to magnetic poles of a magnet, having a slight gap between the iron core and the magnetic flux induction member, and forming a magnetic path (85) made up of the iron core and the magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Homma, Minoru Shino, Naoya Ishihara
  • Publication number: 20100000479
    Abstract: A device (10) for variably adjusting control times of gas exchange valves (9a, 9b) of an internal combustion engine (1), including an external rotor (22) and an internal rotor (23) that is arranged such that it can rotate in relation to the external rotor. One of the components is drivingly connected to the crankshaft (2) and the other component is drivingly connected to the camshaft (6, 7). At least one pressure chamber (33) is provided and each of the pressure chambers (33) is divided into two counter-working pressure chambers (35, 36). One of the working chambers (35, 36) of each pressure chamber (33) acts as an advance chamber and the other pressure chamber (35, 36) as a retarding chamber. At least two rotation angle limiting devices (42, 43) are provided, with each of the rotation angle limiting devices (42, 43) being able to assume an unlocked state and locked state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Andreas Strauss, Michael Busse
  • Patent number: 7640902
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster which operates according to the vane-type motor principle, which means being able to move to and fro within a certain angle, generally comprises a stator and a rotor. The rotor itself is provided as a composite system of at least two components. One of the components is a cover. A further component of the composite system may be denoted as the rotor core. The cover is placed on the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hydraulik-Ring GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Knecht, Dirk Pohl, Jan Eimert
  • Publication number: 20090312937
    Abstract: An improved control and diagnostic algorithm for coordinating the operation and checking reliability of oil control valves for a vane-type camshaft phaser in an internal combustion engine. A first oil control valve governs the rotational position of the phaser rotor within the stator, and a second oil control valve controls the locking and unlocking of a locking pin operable between the rotor and the stator. The algorithm determines when a change is needed in the position of the locking pin, commands the rotor to a predetermined angular position to permit the position change to be carried out, determines whether the commanded change was carried out successfully, and reports instances wherein the commanded locking pin position change was unsuccessful.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 7624710
    Abstract: A valve timing controller includes a first rotor having a first gear, a second rotor having a second gear, and a planet gear engaged with the first and the second gear. The first rotor has the support opening and accommodates the second rotor therein. The second rotor has the supporting spindle part which supports the support opening from its inner circumference. The support opening and the supporting spindle part are formed in a minor diameter rather than the second gear which engages the planet gear with lubricant. The supporting opening and the supporting spindle part are positioned at a place which deviates from the second gear in an axial direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Motoki Uehama, Yasushi Morii
  • Publication number: 20090288625
    Abstract: A valve timing control device includes a phase displacement restricting mechanism for creating a restricting state where relative rotational phase displacement of a driven side rotational member relative to a driving side rotational member is restricted within a permissible range and an unrestricting state where the restriction is released, a communication passageway for establishing communication between the phase displacement restricting mechanism and one of an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber, a valving element chamber provided midway the communication passageway, a valving element provided in the valving element chamber; the valving element selectively positioned to a closing state for closing the communication passageway to render the phase displacement restricting mechanism into the restricting state and an opening state for opening up the communication passageway to render the phase displacement restricting mechanism into the unrestricting state, and a leak passageway formed in the v
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoto Toma, Shigemitsu Suzuki, Hiroki Mukaide, Yasutaka Miura
  • Patent number: 7621243
    Abstract: A valve timing controller includes a first rotary element having a first gear part, a second rotary element having a second gear part, and a planetary gear including a third gear part and a fourth gear part which respectively engage with the first gear part and the second gear part. The planetary gear performs a planetary motion to vary a relative rotational phase between the first rotary element and the second rotary element. The valve timing controller further includes a supporting member supporting the planetary gear in such a manner that the planetary gear is slidable in its axial direction between the first rotary element and the second rotary element, and an elastic member restricting a displacement of the planetary gear in its axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Taei Sugiura, Yasushi Morii
  • Publication number: 20090279917
    Abstract: A resilient driving force member 10 having at least one helical spring 16, each helical spring 16 having an support member 14 connected to one end thereof and an engaging portion 20 connected to the other end, the engaging portion extending further from an axis X central to the turns of the helical spring 16 than the turns, where the engaging portion 20 of the resilient driving force member 10 is adapted to engage a corner or side of another driving force member of substantially similar size having either a twisted or non-twisted recess such that, when so engaged, rotational driving force can be transferred from one driving force member to the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Samuel Wai Keung Tsui, Alexander Slocum
  • Patent number: 7614372
    Abstract: A torque bias coil spring for a camshaft phaser disposed in an annular well formed in the phaser rotor and having a central arbor for supporting the spring. The radius of the central arbor is such that the spring has radial operating clearance of 5-10%, as in the prior art. However, the improved arbor includes regions of higher radius at the arbor ends supporting the innermost and outermost coils of the spring. These regions serve to prevent the spring from being laterally displaced during torsional motion, thus minimizing the relative motion at the spring contact points, reducing stress on the spring, and improving the efficiency of the spring by reducing frictional hysteresis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Lichti, Michael J. Fox
  • Patent number: 7614370
    Abstract: A vane-type camshaft phaser for varying the timing of combustion valves in an internal combustion engine includes a seat formed in the sprocket at the appropriate position of intermediate rotation and a locking pin slidably disposed in a vane of the rotor for engaging the seat to lock the rotor at the intermediate position. A bias spring system disposed on a cover plate urges the rotor toward the locking position from any position retarded of the locking position. A first spring system embodiment comprises a pair of compression spring assemblies. A second spring system embodiment comprises an internal torsion spring. In each embodiment, the phaser may be assembled without having the spring system coupled to the rotor, thereby overcoming a rotor cocking problem inherent in prior art phasers, assuring reliable mounting of an assembled phaser onto an engine camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Fischer, Dominic Borraccia
  • Publication number: 20090272348
    Abstract: When an engine speed of an engine is low, a force by a spring to bias a low speed lock pin in the direction in which the pin is to be inserted into a low speed pin introduction hole is greater than a centrifugal force acting on a weight. This causes the low speed lock pin to be inserted into the low speed pin introduction hole, so that the phase of an intake camshaft relative to an exhaust camshaft is fixed. When the engine speed of the engine is high, a force to bias a high speed lock pin in the direction in which the pin is to be inserted in a high speed pin introduction hole by a centrifugal force acting on a weight is greater than a force by a spring to bias the high speed lock pin in the direction in which the pin is pulled out from the high speed lock pin introduction hole. This causes the high speed lock pin to be inserted into the high speed pin introduction hole, so that the phase of the intake camshaft relative to the exhaust camshaft is fixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minoru Yamamoto, Toshimasa Morita
  • Publication number: 20090272349
    Abstract: A vane-type phaser connected to drive an assembled camshaft includes a drive member and a driven member each connected to a respective one of the inner and outer shafts of the camshaft. A first of the members includes a disc with at least one arcuate cavity that is open at both axial ends. The second member includes two closure plates sealing off the axial ends of each cavity of the first member and at least one vane formed separately from the closure plates which is movably received in a respective cavity to divide the cavity into two variable volume working chambers. Each vane is secured at both its axial ends to the two closure plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: MECHADYNE PLC
    Inventors: Ian Methley, Jonathan Alexander Aspinall
  • Publication number: 20090272350
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster (1) for an internal combustion engine is provided, which includes a housing (21) and in which a relative angular position between a driving gear (22?) and an output element allocated to the camshaft is adjustable. In a first connection region (28), the housing is connected in a fixed manner to a support element (20) which is connected in a fixed fashion to a plastic toothed ring (19) in a radially outward direction in a second connection region (29). The outer surface of the carrier element (20) fits an inner surface of the toothed ring (19) in the second connection region (29). The carrier element (20) makes it possible to bridge the radial gap between the toothed ring (19) and the outer surface of the housing (21), and the second connection region accurately predefines a position of the toothed ring (19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2005
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Thomas Kleiber, Rainer Ottersbach
  • Patent number: 7610884
    Abstract: A first-side check valve prevents a hydraulic fluid from being discharged out of a retard chamber, and a second-side check valve prevents the hydraulic fluid from being discharged out of an advance chamber. A first-side control valve opens or closes a first-side discharge passage by a pilot pressure received through a retard pilot passage. A second-side control valve opens or closes a second-side discharge passage by the pilot pressure received through an advance pilot passage. Another check valve is disposed in a supply passage between a phase switch valve and a branch point, at which a supply passage is branched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Kinya Takahashi, Masayasu Ushida, Takao Nojiri, Seiji Yaokou, Jun Yamada
  • Patent number: 7610885
    Abstract: A rotor (2) and/or rotor housing (1) for a camshaft adjuster for a motor vehicle engine and a method for manufacturing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Neumayer Tekfor Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Stueckrad, Stefan Malm, Helmut Straub, Walter Richter
  • Publication number: 20090266322
    Abstract: A vane-type camshaft phaser including a bias spring to urge the rotor toward an intermediate locking position from any rotational position retarded of the locking position. The rotor comprises non-coaxially acting primary and secondary locking pins for mating with primary and secondary locking pin seats in the phaser stator. The primary seat is elongated and is readily located by the primary locking pin to provide a first limit to the rotor phase angle authority in the retard direction. Camshaft torque reversals cause the rotor phase angle to dither. With each torque reversal the secondary locking pin passes over its seat, allowing multiple opportunities for re-engagement. The clearance of the secondary locking pin to its seat defines the rotary lash in the phaser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas H. Fischer
  • Publication number: 20090265083
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus for a valve timing adjustment mechanism that adjusts timing of opening and closing an intake or exhaust valve of an engine includes an output-side rotor, a cam-side rotors a hydraulic pump, a control device, a control valve, a storage device. The control device outputs a signal associated with rotation of one of the rotors relative to the other one. The control valve controls the speed of the rotation. The storage device prestores standard data indicating a predetermined relation between a dead zone width and a parameter correlated with the dead zone width for each hydraulic oil temperature. A value of the parameter of the adjustment mechanism during a hold state is learned by changing the signal. The control device computes the signal based on the value learned, the standard data, and hydraulic oil temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kajiwara, Minoru Wada
  • Patent number: 7603975
    Abstract: A valve timing controller includes a first gear rotating together with a crankshaft, a planetary carrier eccentric to the first gear, a second gear engaging with the planetary carrier. The second gear performs a planetary motion while engaging with the first gear. The planetary motion is converted into a rotational motion of the camshaft to change a relative rotational phase between the crankshaft and the camshaft. A pressing element is provided between the planetary carrier and the second gear for pressing the second gear by the elastic force. An action line of the elastic force is inclined to the eccentric direction line of the planetary carrier in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Taei Sugiura, Motoki Uehama, Akiyuki Sudou, Yasushi Morii
  • Publication number: 20090250029
    Abstract: The invention relates to a camshaft adjusting device for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The camshaft adjusting device has a stator which is driven via a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, a rotor which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the camshaft, and it being proposed that the rotary angle position of the rotor can be varied with respect to the stator by way of a piston which can be displaced in the radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventor: Viktor LICHTENWALD
  • Publication number: 20090250028
    Abstract: A valve timing adjusting apparatus includes a housing, a vane rotor, a lock member, a resilient member, and a control unit. The housing includes a limitation groove, limitation stoppers, and a lock hole. When the lock member is received in the groove, the rotational phase is controlled within a predetermined range. When the lock member is fitted with the lock hole, the rotational phase is locked to a lock phase. The resilient member urges the lock member toward the limitation groove and the lock hole in the predetermined direction. The control unit controls a driving force that actuates the lock member in a direction opposite from the predetermined direction. The lock member has small and large diameter portions that are receivable in the lock hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiki FUJIYOSHI, Osamu SATO
  • Patent number: 7597073
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes a driving side rotational member synchronously rotatable with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, a driven side rotational member arranged coaxially with the driving side rotational member and synchronously rotatable with a camshaft of the internal combustion engine, a plurality of fluid pressure chambers each including an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber, a plurality of vanes each dividing the fluid pressure chamber into the advanced angle chamber and the retarded angle chamber, an intermediate member of which a portion is provided in the fluid pressure chamber and engageable with the driving side rotational member and the driven side rotational member, and an engagement member for causing the intermediate member to engage with either one of the driving side rotational member and the driven side rotational member in response to an operating state of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeo Asahi
  • Patent number: 7597075
    Abstract: Adjustment device (1) for adjusting a relative rotational angle position of a camshaft (3) relative to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is provided. The adjusting device includes a crankshaft-fixed drive part (4) and a camshaft-fixed driven part (5). The adjustment device (1) has an adjustment motor (2) as a primary adjustment device and an auxiliary drive (11) as a secondary adjustment device. When the adjusting motor fails, the camshaft (3) can be moved into a fixed rotational angle position, an emergency running position, by the auxiliary drive (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Mike Kohrs, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Publication number: 20090247309
    Abstract: A shaft of a pinion gear is engaged with a ring gear extends toward the front side in a final gear case that is provided in a power transmission system between a power unit and a wheel. Splines are provided on each of an outer circumference of the shaft, and on an inner circumference of a cylindrical portion of a pinion joint that forms a receiving portion of a joint provided at the rear end of a drive shaft for transmitting power from the power unit to the pinion gear. The two splines are engaged with each other. The pinion joint is fixed to the pinion gear by a bolt that is threadedly engaged with a threaded portion formed at the lower portion of a hole in the pinion gear shaft. A flexible portion of the bolt is formed between a head portion and the threaded portion of the bolt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventor: Shinji ITO
  • Publication number: 20090235884
    Abstract: A vane-type camshaft phaser for varying the timing of combustion valves including a first torsional bias spring disposed on a cover plate spring guide and grounded to the cover plate and to a slot in a spring retainer to urge the rotor toward an intermediate locking position from any position retarded of the locking position. A second torsional bias spring also anchored to the cover plate and spring retainer urges the rotor in the advance direction over the full range of phaser authority to compensate for added camshaft torque loads imposed by non-valve actuating functions such as driving a mechanical fuel pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas H. Fischer, Daniel G. Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20090235883
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, including a drive rotary member that is rotated by the crankshaft, a driven rotary member that transmits rotational force input from the drive rotary member, to the camshaft, and an electromagnetic mechanism that acts to vary a relative rotational phase between the drive rotary member and the driven rotary member. After an ignition switch is turned off and the engine is stopped, the electromagnetic mechanism acts to produce detent torque and hold the relative rotational phase between the drive rotary member and the driven rotary member in a predetermined phase position by the detent torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventor: Masahiko WATANABE
  • Patent number: 7584731
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster for an internal combustion engine comprises a stator having inwardly projecting stator vanes, which are distributed over the periphery of the stator and which have at least one stator vane accommodating pocket located in the stator. This stator vane accommodating pocket is open toward the interior and a stator vane planet gear is mounted inside the stator vane accommodating pocket. A rotor is mounted inside the stator and comprises rotor vanes having at least one rotor vane accommodating pocket open toward the exterior, inside of which a rotor vane planet gear is mounted. The stator vane planet gears mesh with a denticulated segment located on the outer periphery of the rotor between each of the rotor vanes, and the rotor vane planet gears mesh with a denticulated segment located on the inner periphery of the stator between each of the stator vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: GKN Sinter Metals Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Bachmann, Rolf Schwarze
  • Patent number: 7584728
    Abstract: An oil flow control valve (10) in a combustion engine is operated for affecting a cam phaser (26) disposed at an output side of said oil flow control valve (10). The cam phaser includes a spool (14) disposed in a spool housing (12). The method for operating the valve includes synchronising a displacement of said spool (14) in said housing (12) with combustion demands, and synchronising movement of said spool (14) with oil pressure characteristics on the output side of the oil flow control valve (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Axel H. Berndorfer
  • Patent number: 7584729
    Abstract: A motor current (driving current of motor) is estimated based on a target motor speed, an actual motor speed, and an engine speed. When the estimated motor current exceeds the upper limit value equivalent to a heat generation limiting current, the motor current is restricted by restricting a variation (motor speed F/B amount) in target motor speed outputted to an EDU from an ECU. If it is continued that a deviation between the target motor speed and the actual motor speed exceeds a predetermined value, the estimated motor current exceeds this upper limit value and the restricting action of the motor current is continued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignees: DENSO Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshikazu Tanaka, Masaomi Inoue, Yuuichi Takemura, Zenichiro Mashiki
  • Publication number: 20090211549
    Abstract: The camshaft adjuster is a plurality of return springs which are in parallel to one another in a spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jesse MYERS, Gregory MULLER, Roger MYER
  • Patent number: 7578274
    Abstract: A locking unit of a camshaft adjuster (1) for an internal combustion engine is provided, in which a locking pin (19) establishes a positive connection between a driving element and a driven element of the camshaft adjuster (1). The driving element and/or the driven element are formed by a plastic part. An insert (26) against which the locking pin (19) rests and which is supported relative to the plastic part in the area of an inner and outer contour is inserted into the plastic part. Providing large area support of the contours makes it possible to use plastic as a material in spite of the great stress that occurs, particular attention being paid to a good introduction of force into the plastic part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Thomas Kleiber, Wolfram Kruhoffer