# US 6,295,964 B1 · End-feed variable cam timing oil supply and control module

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- Number: US 6,295,964 B1
- Document ID: US6295964B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/636,538
- Filed: 2000-08-10
- Granted: 2001-10-02
- Earliest claimed: 2000-08-10
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Anthony Frank DiMaria; Jeffrey Allen Mullins; John Paul Vivier; Mark Allen Bourcier
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6295964B1

## CPC

- F01L 1/34: characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without changing the duration of opening {and without affecting the magnitude of the valve lift}
- F01L 1/3442: {using hydraulic chambers with variable volume to transmit the rotating force}
- F01M 1/16: Controlling lubricant pressure or quantity (rendering machines or engines inoperative or idling on lubricant pressure failure F01M1/22)
- F01L 2001/0537: {Double overhead camshafts [DOHC]}
- F01L 2001/34433: {Location oil control valves}
- F01L 2001/3444: {Oil filters}
- F01L 2001/34496: {Two phasers on different camshafts}
- F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
- F01M: LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING

## Abstract

A system for controlling a flow of pressurized oil in an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head having a first internal passage arranged to receive a supply of pressurized oil from the engine, wherein the first internal passage includes a flow restrictor; and a second internal passage connecting a section of the first internal passage upstream of the restrictor with a port formed in an external surface of the cylinder head to thereby define a pressurized oil outlet. The system further includes an oil flow control module including a pressurized oil inlet defined in a first surface thereof, and a spool valve operative to direct unrestricted oil flowing through the second passage within the cylinder head into one of a plurality of fluid lines operatively connected to the cam phaser unit, whereupon the spool valve is used to variably advance or retard engine cam timing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for controlling a flow of pressurized oil in an internal combustion engine, wherein the engine includes a cylinder block and a cylinder head, the system comprising:
a first internal passage defined within the cylinder head that receives a flow of pressurized oil from the cylinder block, wherein the first passage includes a flow restrictor at a first location therealong;
an oil outlet defined in an external surface of the cylinder head, the oil outlet being in fluid communication with a first section of the first passage upstream of the flow restrictor, whereby a first portion of the received flow of pressurized oil is urged to flow through the oil outlet; and
an oil flow control module secured to the cylinder head, wherein the module includes an inlet passage receiving the first portion of the received flow, the module further including a plurality of outlet passages, and a control valve operative to direct the first portion of the received flow into a selected one of the outlet passages.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the module is also secured to the cylinder block.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the module includes an oil inlet defined in a first external surface of the module, the oil inlet being in fluid communication with the inlet passage; and wherein the oil outlet of the cylinder head and the oil inlet of the module cooperate to align the module on the cylinder head.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, including a tubular dowel received in both the oil outlet of the cylinder head and the oil inlet of the module.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the module includes a second external surface, and wherein the second external surface of the module defines at least a portion of a chain guide.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, including a filter operative to remove particulate from the first portion of the received flow.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the filter only removes particulate from the first portion of the received flow.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the filter is disposed in the first passage of the cylinder head.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the module further includes a cylindrical projection, the projection including a plurality of oil ports defined therein, each oil port being in fluid communication with a respective one of the outlet passages in the module.

### Claim 10

An oil supply and control module for an internal combustion engine, wherein the engine includes a cylinder block and a cylinder head, the system comprising:
a first internal passage defined within the cylinder head that receives a flow of pressurized oil from the cylinder block, wherein the first passage includes a flow restrictor at a first location therealong;
an oil outlet defined in an external surface of the cylinder head, the oil outlet being in fluid communication with a first section of the first passage upstream of the flow restrictor, whereby a first portion of the received flow of pressurized oil is urged to flow through the oil outlet;
an oil flow control module respectively secured to the cylinder head and the cylinder block, wherein the module includes an inlet passage receiving the first portion of the received flow, the module further including a plurality of outlet passages, and a control valve operative to direct the first portion of the received flow into a selected one of the outlet passages; and
a filter on one of the cylinder head and the module operative to remove particulate from the first portion of the received flow before the first portion of the received flow is directed by the control valve into the selected one of the outlet passages.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the module includes an oil inlet defined in a first external surface of the module, the oil inlet being in fluid communication with the inlet passage; and wherein the oil outlet of the cylinder head and the oil inlet of the module cooperate to align the module on the cylinder head.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, including a tubular dowel received in both the oil outlet of the cylinder head and the oil inlet of the module.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the module includes a second external surface, and wherein the second external surface of the module defines at least a portion of a chain guide.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the filter is disposed in the first passage upstream of the flow restrictor.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the filter only removes particulate from the first portion of the received flow.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the module further includes a cylindrical projection, the projection including a plurality of oil ports defined therein, each oil port being in fluid communication with a respective one of the outlet passages in the module.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The module of claim 10, wherein the restrictor is defined by a reduced-hydraulic-diameter section of the first passage.