Hydraulic cushioning of a variable valve timing mechanism

A phaser having a hydraulic cushioning mechanism, comprising:

• a) a housing (1) having at least one cavity;
• and
• b) a rotor (2) disposed to move relative to the housing (1), the rotor (2) including
• at least one vane (5) to each cavity, each vane (5) being an extension of the rotor (2) and disposed to oscillate within the cavity, wherein the vane (5) divides the cavity into a first chamber (6) and a second chamber (7);
• at least one passage (12, 13) facilitating fluid communication between the first chamber (6) and the second chamber (7), the passage (12, 13) having a first port for leading fluid out of the first chamber (6) and a second port for leading fluid out of the second chamber (7);
• at least one distance (20, 22) defined by a first terminal point (20a, 22a) and a second terminal point (20b, 22b), the first terminal point (20a, 22a) being in the close proximity of the vane (5) as well as in the close proximity the rotor (2), and the second terminal point (20b, 22b) being only in the close proximity of the rotor (2) and at the distance (20, 22) to the rotor (2), second terminal point (20b, 22b) being in close proximity to the first port;
• and
• a separate inlet passage (28, 30) disposed in part within the vane (5) to allow fluid into the first chamber (6) and the second chamber (7) permitting separate inlet fluid flow into the first chamber (6) or the second chamber (7), thereby the at least one passage (12, 13) is used only outlet fluid flowing.

A method for making a phaser having a hydraulic cushioning mechanism comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a housing (1) having at least one cavity;
• b) providing a rotor (2) disposed to move relative to the housing (1), the rotor (2) including:
• at least one vane (5) to each cavity, each vane (5) being an extension of the rotor (2) and disposed to oscillate within the cavity, wherein the vane (5) divides the cavity into a first chamber (6) and a second chamber (7);
• at least one passage (12, 13) facilitating fluid communication between the first chamber (6) and the second chamber (7), the passage (12, 13) having a first port for leading fluid out of the first chamber (6) and a second port for leading fluid out of the second chamber (7);
• at least one distance (20, 22) defined by a first terminal point (20a, 22a) and a second terminal point (20b, 22b), the first terminal point (20a, 22a) being in the close proximity of the vane (5) as well as in the close proximity the rotor (2), and the second terminal point (20b, 22b) being only in the close proximity of the rotor (2) and at the distance (20, 22) to the rotor (2), second terminal point (20b, 22b) being in close proximity to the first port;
• and
• a separate inlet passage (28, 30) disposed in part within the vane (5) to allow fluid into the first chamber (6) and the second chamber (7) permitting separate inlet fluid flow into the first chamber (6) or the second chamber (7), thereby the at least one passage (12, 13) is used only for outlet fluid flowing.