Electrically-actuated camshaft phaser with backlash reduction

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

• a sun gear configured to receive input from an electric motor and one or more planet gears having radially-outwardly-extending gear teeth that engage the sun gear;
• a first ring gear, having radially-inwardly extending gear teeth that engage the radially-outwardly-extending gear teeth of the planet gear(s), configured to receive rotational output provided by a crankshaft;
• a second ring gear, having radially-inwardly extending gear teeth that engage the radially-outwardly-extending gear teeth of the planet gear(s), configured to couple to a camshaft;
• an outer carrier plate having apertures;
• an inner carrier plate having apertures;
• one or more planet gear pins that engage the inner carrier plate or the outer carrier plate to prevent the relative rotation of the one or more planet gear pin(s) relative to the inner carrier plate or the outer carrier plate, wherein the one or more planet gear pin(s) are received by the apertures of the inner carrier plate or the outer carrier plate that permit radial movement of the one or more planet gear pin(s);
• one or more spring slots in the outer carrier plate and the inner carrier plate;
• and
• one or more springs, received by the one or more spring slots in the outer carrier plate and the inner carrier plate, that bias the one or more planet gear pin(s) and the planet gear(s) toward the first ring gear and the second ring gear, wherein the one or more spring slots are located on one side of the one or more planet gear pin(s) and the apertures of the inner carrier plate or the outer carrier plate are located on an opposite side of the one or more planet gear pin(s).

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

• a sun gear configured to receive input from an electric motor and one or more planet gears having radially-outwardly-extending gear teeth that engage the sun gear;
• a first ring gear, having radially-inwardly extending gear teeth that engage the radially-outwardly-extending gear teeth of the one or more planet gears, configured to receive rotational output provided by a crankshaft;
• a second ring gear, having radially-inwardly extending gear teeth that engage the radially-outwardly-extending gear teeth of the one or more planet gears, configured to couple to a camshaft;
• an outer carrier plate;
• an inner carrier plate;
• apertures in the outer carrier plate and the inner carrier plate, wherein the apertures in at least one of the outer carrier plate or the inner carrier plate includes a radially-extending tab;
• and
• one or more planet gear pin(s) that engage the radially-extending tab to prevent a relative rotation of the one or more planet gear pins relative to the outer carrier plate and the inner carrier plate, wherein the planet gear pins) are received by the apertures that permit radial movement of the planet gear pin(s);
• a spring that biases the planet gear pin(s) and the planet gear(s) toward the first ring gear and the second ring gear, wherein the planet gear pin(s) include(s) a hollow cavity and receive(s) the spring within the hollow cavity.

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

• a sun gear configured to receive input from an electric motor and one or more planet gears having radially-outwardly-extending gear teeth that engage the sun gear;
• a first ring gear, having radially-inwardly extending gear teeth that engage the radially-outwardly-extending gear teeth of the planet gear(s), configured to receive rotational output provided by a crankshaft;
• a second ring gear, having radially-inwardly extending gear teeth that engage the radially-outwardly-extending gear teeth of the planet gear(s), configured to couple to a camshaft;
• one or more planet gear pins that carry the planet gear(s) and engage a portion of the electrically-actuated VCT phaser assembly to prevent the relative rotation of the planet gear pin(s) about a central axis of each planet gear pin of the one or more planet gear pins relative to an inner carrier plate or an outer carrier plate;
• and
• one or more springs that bias the planet gear pin(s) and the planet gear(s) toward the first ring gear and the second ring gear, wherein the one or more springs is axially positioned in between the inner carrier plate or the outer carrier plate, and a radial face of the planet gear(s).