# US 10,480,424 B2 · Internal-combustion engine valve timing control apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,424 B2 - Document ID: US10480424B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/740,555 - Filed: 2016-06-08 - Published: 2018-07-05 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-29 - Assignees: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. - Applicants: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. - Inventors: Kuninaga Hatsugai; Kenji Sato - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480424B2 ## CPC - F02D 13/0215: {changing the valve timing only} - F01L 1/024: {Belt drive} - F01L 1/3442: {using hydraulic chambers with variable volume to transmit the rotating force} - F01L 1/356: making the angular relationship oscillate {, e.g. non-homokinetic drive} - F01L 2001/3443: {Solenoid driven oil control valves} - F01L 2001/34433: {Location oil control valves} - F01L 2001/34469: {Lock movement parallel to camshaft axis} - F01L 2001/34479: {Sealing of phaser devices} - F01L 2001/34483: {Phaser return springs} - F01L 2301/00: Using particular materials - F01L 2303/00: Manufacturing of components used in valve arrangements - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - 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) - F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract Provided is a valve timing control apparatus, for an internal combustion engine, capable of sufficiently draining hydraulic oil from between a pulley and a housing body. The pulley includes a through-hole extending axially therethrough at a position radially outward with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the housing body. The through-hole is formed so as to extend over a bottom portion and cylindrical portion of the pulley. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, the valve timing control apparatus comprising: a housing body formed in a cylindrical shape, and including a plurality of shoes formed so as to project from an inner peripheral surface of the housing body; a vane rotor including a rotor configured to rotate integrally with a camshaft of the internal combustion engine, and a vane formed so as to project from an outer peripheral surface of the rotor and dividing a space between adjacent shoes of the plurality of shoes into an advance angle chamber and a retard angle chamber; and a pulley including a cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape, configured such that rotation from a crankshaft is transmitted to an outer peripheral side of the pulley, and accommodating the housing body at an inner peripheral side of the pulley, and a bottom portion closing a first side of the housing body and to which the housing body is secured; and a plate closing a second side of the housing body, wherein the pulley includes a through-hole extending therethrough in a rotation axis direction of the pulley at a position radially outward with respect to an outer peripheral surface of the housing body, wherein the cylindrical portion includes a groove formed on an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, the groove extending in the rotation axis direction of the pulley, and wherein the groove is in communication with the through-hole. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve timing control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the through-hole is formed so that at least a part of the through-hole is located radially outward with respect to a smallest diameter of an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion at an opening end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The valve timing control apparatus of claim 2, wherein the through-hole is disposed between two straight lines respectively connecting a rotation axis of the pulley and circumferentially opposite ends of an associated shoe of the plurality of shoes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The valve timing control apparatus of claim 3, wherein the through-hole is provided so as to be radially spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the housing body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The valve timing control apparatus of claim 3, wherein the through-hole is provided at a position overlapping the outer peripheral surface of the housing body as viewed in a radial direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The valve timing control apparatus of claim 3, wherein the through-hole is formed in a shape of a slot extending in a circumferential direction of the pulley. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The valve timing control apparatus of claim 3, wherein the through-hole is formed in a shape of a round hole. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The valve timing control apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pulley is formed by sintering, and the through-hole is formed by using a sintering mold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The valve timing control apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plate, the housing body, and the pulley are jointly fastened with a bolt. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The valve timing control apparatus of claim 9, wherein the through-hole is located outward with respect to the bolt in a radial direction of the pulley and disposed to line up with the bolt in the radial direction. ### Claim 11 A valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, the valve timing control apparatus comprising: a housing body formed in a cylindrical shape, and including a plurality of shoes formed so as to project from an inner peripheral surface of the housing body; a vane rotor including a rotor configured to rotate integrally with a camshaft of the internal combustion engine, and a vane formed so as to project from an outer peripheral surface of the rotor and dividing a space between adjacent shoes of the plurality of shoes into an advance angle chamber and a retard angle chamber; and a pulley including a cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape, configured such that rotation from a crankshaft is transmitted to an outer peripheral side of the pulley, and accommodating the housing body at an inner peripheral side of the pulley, and a bottom portion closing a first side of the housing body and to which the housing body is secured; and a plate closing a second side of the housing body, wherein the pulley includes a through-hole extending therethrough in a rotation axis direction of the pulley at a position radially outward with respect to an outer peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein the through-hole is connected to an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion without a step in the rotation axis direction of the pulley. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The valve timing control apparatus of claim 11, wherein the cylindrical portion includes a groove formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, the groove extending in the rotation axis direction of the pulley, and the groove is in communication with the through-hole. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The valve timing control apparatus of claim 12, wherein the through-hole is disposed between two imaginary straight lines respectively connecting a rotation axis of the pulley and circumferentially opposite ends of an associated shoe of the plurality of shoes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The valve timing control apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plate, the housing body, and the pulley are jointly fastened with a bolt. ### Claim 15 A valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, the valve timing control apparatus comprising: a housing body formed in a cylindrical shape; and a pulley including a cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape, configured such that rotation from a crankshaft is transmitted to an outer peripheral side of the pulley, and accommodating the housing body at an inner peripheral side of the pulley, and a bottom portion closing a first end side of the housing body and to which the housing body is secured, wherein the pulley includes a through-hole extending therethrough in a rotation axis direction of the pulley at a position radially outward with respect to an outer peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein the cylindrical portion includes a groove formed on an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, the groove extending in the rotation axis direction of the pulley, and wherein the groove is in communication with the through-hole.