US 4,841,924 A · Sealed camshaft phase change device

Abstract

A device (10) for varying the angular phase relation between a camshaft (12) and a crankshaft (unshown) in response to axial displacement of an advancing plate (20) drivingly connected to a support (16) via straight splines (16f) and a drive (18) via angled splines (18d). The support (16) is fixed to an end (12a) of the camshaft (12) for rotation therewith. The drive (18) is journaled on the support (16) and is driven by and in phase with the crankshaft. The advancing plate (20) is also threadably connected to a drum (36) via threads (20c,36a) and the axial displacement is effected by relative rotation between the plate (20) and the drum (36). A clockspring (24) reacting between the support (16) and drum (36) tends to rotate the drum (36) faster than the plate (20) for positioning the plate (20) in a first limit position. The plate ( 20) is selectively movable from the first position toward a second limit position in response to selective application of a frictional retarding force to the drum by an actuation assembly (30). Intermediate plate positions (and of course intermediate phase relations of the camshaft (12) and crankshaft) are provided by balancing the spring and retarding forces. Further, the device contains an internal supply of lubricating oil sealed against leakage by covers (26,28) disposed at the axially facing ends of the device.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An annular phase change device comprising:

support means adapted to be fixed to and rotate about an axis of a first shaft;
drive means journalled on the support means and secured thereto against axial movement, the drive means adapted to be driven by a second shaft;
advancing means including means drivingly interconnecting the support and drive means and operative in response to being moved axially to effect a limited relative rotation of the support and drive means;
drum means mounted for rotation about the axis and operative when rotated relative to the advancing means to effect the axial movement of the advancing means;
actuation means for effecting the relative rotation of the drum means;
sealing means including first and second annular, radially extending covers disposed on axially opposite sides of the device for defining a sealed annular space containing portions of the support, drive, advancing and drum means, said covers each having a radially outer portion fixed and statically sealed to opposite sides of the drive means, said first cover having a radially inner portion in dynamic sealing relation with the drum means, and said second cover having a radially inner portion in dynamic sealing relation with the support means.

3 more elements

An annular phase change device comprising:

support means adapted to be fixed to and rotate about an axis of a first shaft;
drive means journalled on the support means and secured thereto against axial movement, the drive means adapted to be driven by a second shaft;
advancing means disposed radially inward of the drive means and including means drivingly interconnecting the support and drive means, the advancing means operative in response to being moved axially to effect a limited relative rotation of the support means;
drum means mounted for rotation about the axis and disposed radially inward of the advancing means, a radially outer surface of the drum means having helical threads receiving mating threads on a radially inner surface of the advancing means, and a radially inner portion of the drum means including a friction surface;
and
actuation means including friction means for engaging the friction surface, an actuator disposed exterior of the device, and linkage means extending between the friction means and actuator and operative in response to energization of the actuator to move the friction means into engagement with the friction surface for retarding rotation of the drum means relative to the advancing means to effect a threading action therebetween for axially moving the advancing means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sealed camshaft phase change device

Life of this patent

Sealed camshaft phase change device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15