# US 10,371,017 B2 · Valve opening and closing timing control apparatus

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- Number: US 10,371,017 B2
- Document ID: US10371017B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/704,258
- Filed: 2017-09-14
- Published: 2018-10-04
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-30
- Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Toru Sakakibara; Yuji Noguchi; Takeo Asahi; Hideyuki Suganuma; Hiroyuki Hamasaki; Tomohiro Kajita
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371017B2

## CPC

- F01L 1/344: changing the angular relationship between crankshaft and camshaft, e.g. using helicoidal gear
- F01L 1/36: peculiar to machines or engines of specific type other than four-stroke cycle
- F01L 1/46: Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups
- F02D 13/02: during engine operation
- F01L 2001/34483: {Phaser return springs}
- F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
- F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W)

## Abstract

A valve opening and closing timing control apparatus includes: a driving side rotator configured to rotate synchronously with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; a driven side rotator disposed coaxially with a rotation axis of the driving side rotator and configured to rotate integrally with a valve opening and closing camshaft; a phase controller configured to control a relative rotation phase between the driving side rotator and the driven side rotator by supply and discharge of a fluid; and a torsion spring configured to attain a biasing force to displace the relative rotation phase between the driving side rotator and the driven side rotator in a predetermined direction. The driving side rotator is fastened to a cover-shaped plate, and the torsion spring includes a first arm and a second arm.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A valve opening and closing timing control apparatus comprising:
a driving side rotator configured to rotate synchronously with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine;
a driven side rotator disposed coaxially with a rotation axis of the driving side rotator and configured to rotate integrally with a valve opening and closing camshaft;
a phase controller configured to control a relative rotation phase between the driving side rotator and the driven side rotator by supply and discharge of a fluid; and
a torsion spring configured to attain a biasing force to displace the relative rotation phase between the driving side rotator and the driven side rotator in a predetermined direction,
wherein the driving side rotator is fastened to a cover-shaped plate, which accommodates the driven side rotator therein and covers the driven side rotator, via a fastening bolt, and a screwing structure that is screwed to the fastening bolt or a head portion of the fastening bolt is formed as a first hook portion that protrudes from the cover-shaped plate,
the torsion spring includes a first arm provided on one end side thereof so as to be locked by the first hook portion and a second arm provided on a remaining end side thereof so as to be locked by a second hook portion of a locking member that rotates integrally with the camshaft, and
when a height of the first hook portion from a surface of the cover-shaped plate is assumed to a locking height H, a height of the second hook portion from the surface of the cover-shaped plate at a locking position is assumed to a reference height a, a distance between opposite end positions of a spring material in a close contact state of the torsion spring is assumed to a close contact length b, and a thickness of the spring material of the torsion spring in a direction along the rotation axis is assumed to a spring material thickness e, a lower limit value of the locking height H of the first hook portion is set based on an equation of H≥a−b+(e/2).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The valve opening and closing timing control apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the locking member includes an anti-separation portion configured to suppress separation of the second arm locked by the second hook portion in a direction along the rotation axis.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The valve opening and closing timing control apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the first hook portion is a boss, which protrudes from a surface of the cover-shaped plate and has a female screw portion screwed to the fastening bolt therein.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The valve opening and closing timing control apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein, when the relative rotation phase is displaced from a predetermined area among an area from a maximum advance phase to a maximum retardance phase, a positional relationship in which the first arm and the second arm overlap each other appears when viewed in a direction along the rotation axis.