# US 11,306,627 B2 · Continuous variable valve duration apparatus and engine provided with the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,627 B2 - Document ID: US11306627B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/113,009 - Filed: 2020-12-05 - Published: 2022-01-13 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-08 - Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation - Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation - Inventors: Hyeon Woo Kim; Kyoung Pyo Ha; Back Sik Kim; Jong Gu Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306627B2 ## CPC - F01L 13/0015: {for optimising engine performances by modifying valve lift according to various working parameters, e.g. rotational speed, load, torque} - F01L 1/047: Camshafts - F01M 11/02: Arrangements of lubricant conduits - F01L 1/267: {with means for varying the timing or the lift of the valves} - F01L 2001/0473: {Composite camshafts, e.g. with cams or cam sleeve being able to move relative to the inner camshaft or a cam adjusting rod} - F01L 2013/103: {Electric motors} - F01L 2820/041: Camshafts position or phase sensors - F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES - F01M: LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING ## Abstract A continuously variable valve duration apparatus may include a camshaft, a cam unit on which a cam is formed, wherein the camshaft is inserted into the cam unit, first and second guide brackets into which the camshaft is inserted, a wheel housing movably mounted to the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket, respectively, an internal wheel rotatably provided on each wheel housing and transmitting rotation of the camshaft to the cam unit, a worm wheel mounted on the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket, respectively to engage the wheel housing, a control shaft which is rotatably mounted on the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket, and engages with the each worm wheel to move the position of the wheel housing according to its rotation, and a connecting member that connects the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve duration control apparatus comprising: a camshaft; a cam unit on which a cam is formed, wherein the camshaft is inserted into the cam unit; a first guide bracket and a second guide bracket into which the camshaft is inserted; a wheel housing movably mounted to the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket, respectively; an internal wheel mounted on the camshaft and rotatably mounted on each wheel housing of the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket, wherein the internal wheel is configured of transmitting a rotation of the camshaft to the cam unit; a worm wheel mounted on the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket, respectively to engage with each wheel housing; a control shaft which is rotatably mounted on the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket, and engages with each worm wheel to move a position of the wheel housing according to rotation thereof; and a connecting member that connects the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket, wherein a control shaft hole in which the control shaft is rotatably mounted is formed in the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket, and wherein the control shaft is inserted inside the connecting member, and the connecting member is mounted in the control shaft hole. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve duration control apparatus of claim 1, further including an oil exhaust hole from which oil is exhausted is formed at the connecting member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The valve duration control apparatus of claim 1, further including: an upper guide boss formed on the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket, respectively; a guide shaft formed at the wheel housing, wherein the guide shaft is movably inserted into the upper guide boss and formed with a guide thread; an internal thread formed on an inside of the worm wheel and engaged with the guide thread, and an external thread formed on an outside of the worm wheel; and a control worm formed on the control shaft and engaging with the external thread. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The valve duration control apparatus of claim 3, further including a thrust bearing mounted on the upper guide boss to support the worm wheel, respectively. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The valve duration control apparatus of claim 4, further including a worm cap coupled to the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket to support the thrust bearing respectively. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The valve duration control apparatus of claim 1, further including a control shaft bearing mounted on the control shaft hole to support a rotation of the control shaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The valve duration control apparatus of claim 3, further including: a lower guide boss formed on the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket, respectively; and a guide rod formed on the wheel housing and inserted into the lower guide boss to guide a movement of the wheel housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The valve duration control apparatus of claim 7, wherein a center portion of the internal wheel is aligned to deviate from an imaginary line connecting the upper guide boss and the lower guide boss. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The valve duration control apparatus of claim 1, further including an upper stopper and a lower stopper respectively formed at the wheel housing to limit a movement of the wheel housing in contact with the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The valve duration control apparatus of claim 1, further including a bracket oil hole formed at the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket to supply lubrication oil to each worm wheel mounted on the first guide bracket and the second guide bracket, respectively. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The valve duration control apparatus of claim 1, further including: a first sliding hole and a second sliding hole respectively formed at the internal wheel; a cam slot formed at the cam unit; a roller wheel connected to the camshaft and rotatably inserted into the first sliding hole; and a roller cam slidably inserted into the cam slot and rotatably inserted into the second sliding hole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The valve duration control apparatus of claim 11, wherein the roller cam includes: a roller cam body slidably inserted into the cam slot; a cam head rotatably inserted into the second sliding hole; and a protrusion configured to inhibit the roller cam from being removed from the internal wheel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The valve duration control apparatus of claim 11, wherein the roller wheel includes: a wheel body slidably connected to the camshaft; and a wheel head rotatably inserted into the first sliding hole. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The valve duration control apparatus of claim 13, further including: a camshaft oil hole formed within the camshaft in a longitudinal direction of the camshaft; a body oil hole formed at the wheel body of the roller wheel and fluidically-communicating with the camshaft oil hole; and an oil groove formed at the wheel head of the roller wheel and fluidically-communicating with the body oil hole. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The valve duration control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cam unit includes a first cam portion and a second cam portion which are disposed corresponding to a cylinder and an adjacent cylinder respectively; and wherein the internal wheel includes a first internal wheel and a second internal wheel configured to transmit the rotation of the camshaft to the first cam portion and the second cam portion, respectively. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The valve duration control apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first internal wheel and the second internal wheel are rotatably connected to each other. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The valve duration control apparatus of claim 15, further including a first bearing and a second bearing internally disposed within the wheel housing and supporting the first internal wheel and the second internal wheel, respectively. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An engine provided with the valve duration control apparatus of claim 1.