Camshaft phase controlling device

A camshaft phase controlling device for an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft, said camshaft phase controlling device comprising:

• a timing drive assembly located at one end of said engine and a control assembly located at the other end of said engine, said timing drive assembly having a drive gear adapted to be driven by the crankshaft of said engine;
• a hollow camshaft extending between said timing drive assembly and said control assembly;
• a quill shaft coaxially mounted within said hollow camshaft and having a first portion located at said one end of said engine and being connected to said drive gear through an adjustable connection, said quill shaft having a second portion located at said other end of said engine and being formed with a plurality of helical splines, said hollow camshaft being formed with a cylindrical extension encircling said helical splines and having its inner cylindrical surface formed with straight splines facing said helical splines and extending along the longitudinal axis of said hollow camshaft;
• an axially movable sleeve member surrounding said cylindrical extension of said hollow camshaft and being connected with a cylindrical connector member a portion of which is located between said helical splines and said straight splines;
• a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced pins supported by said cylindrical connector member, each of said pins having its outer end located in the groove portion of said straight splines and having its inner end located in the groove portion of said helical splines;
• and
• a nut member surrounding said sleeve member and being drivingly connected to said sleeve member through a plurality of circumferentially spaced non-recirculating balls encapsulated in said sleeve member and located in a helical groove formed in said nut member so that, upon rotation of said nut member said sleeve member and said cylindrical connector member are moved axially to cause said pins to move axially along said helical splines and said straight splines to provide a phase change of said camshaft relative to said drive gear.

A camshaft phase controlling device for an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft, said camshaft phase controlling device comprising:

• a timing drive assembly located at one end of said engine and a control assembly located at the other end of said engine, said timing drive assembly having a drive gear adapted to be driven by the crankshaft of said engine;
• a hollow camshaft extending between said timing drive assembly and said control assembly;
• a quill shaft coaxially mounted within said hollow camshaft and having a first portion located at said one end of said engine and being connected to said drive gear through an adjustable connection, said quill shaft having a second portion located at said other end of said engine and being formed with a plurality of helical splines, said hollow camshaft being formed with a cylindrical extension encircling said helical splines and having its inner cylindrical surface formed with straight splines facing said helical splines and extending along the longitudinal axis of said hollow camshaft,
• an axially movable sleeve member surrounding said cylindrical extension of said hollow camshaft,
• a cylindrical connector member connected to said sleeve member for axial movement therewith and having a portion thereof located between said helical splines and said straight splines,
• bearing means interposed between said sleeve member and said connector member so as to allow rotative movement of said connector member relative to said sleeve member,
• a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced pins supported by said cylindrical connector member, each of said pins having its upper end located in the groove portion of said straight splines and having its lower end located in the groove portion of said helical splines,
• a nut member surrounding said sleeve member and being drivingly connected to said sleeve member through a plurality of circumferentially spaced non-recirculating balls each of which is encapsulated between a hemispherical cavity formed in said sleeve member and a helical groove formed in said nut member so that, upon rotation of said nut member, said sleeve member and said cylindrical connector member are moved axially to cause said pins to move axially along said helical splines and cause rotative movement of said connector member through said straight splines to angularly rotate said camshaft and provide a phase change of said camshaft relative to said drive gear, and
• an electric stepper motor forming a part of said control assembly for rotating said nut member and causing axial movement of said sleeve member and said connector member.