Torque-limiting rotor coupling for an electrically-actuated camshaft phaser

An electrically-actuated variable camshaft timing (VCT) assembly, comprising:

• an electric motor configured to control the VCT assembly, the electric motor including a rotor and a motor output shaft;
• a gearbox assembly comprising an input coupled to the motor output shaft, and an output configured to be coupled to a camshaft of an internal combustion engine;
• and
• a torque-limiting assembly comprising:
• a rotor plate coupled to the motor output shaft such that the rotor plane maintains a fixed angular position relative to the motor output shaft, the rotor including a radially-outwardly-extending flange with an axial surface that is axially biased into releasable engagement with an axial face of the rotor.

An electrically-actuated variable camshaft timing (VCT) assembly, comprising:

• an electric motor configured to control the VCT assembly, the electric motor including a rotor and a motor output shaft;
• a gearbox assembly comprising an input coupled to the motor output shaft, and an output configured to be coupled to a camshaft of an internal combustion engine;
• and
• a torque-limiting assembly comprising a rotor plate fixed to the rotor, the rotor plate including one or more frictional surfaces configured to:
• releasably couple the rotor to the motor output shaft so as to prevent angular displacement of the rotor relative to the motor output shaft when a torque applied to the motor output shaft is less than or equal to a torque limit, and
• decouple the rotor from the motor output shaft so as to permit angular displacement of the rotor relative to the motor output shaft when the torque applied to the motor output shaft is greater than the torque limit.