Valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine

A valve timing control device for varying an opening and closing timing of an engine valve in an internal combustion engine, the device being disposed between a rotary element synchronously rotating with a crankshaft and a camshaft actuating the engine valve, the device comprising:

• a housing adapted to rotate with one of the rotary element and the camshaft;
• a vane rotor disposed within said housing, said vane rotor having an axial bore having an open end and pressure chamber-side fluid passages open to said axial bore, said vane rotor being adapted to rotate with the other of the rotary element and the camshaft, said vane rotor defines a bottom of the axial bore;
• a vane radially extending from said vane rotor and defining within said housing at least a pair of fluid pressure chambers communicating with said pressure chamber-side fluid passages, respectively, said fluid pressure chambers being circumferentially disposed within said housing;
• a fluid control mechanism for supplying a hydraulic fluid to said fluid pressure chambers and discharging the hydraulic fluid therefrom;
• and
• a shaft received in said axial bore of said vane rotor through said open end, said shaft being formed with pressure source-side fluid passages communicating with said pressure chamber-side fluid passages and said fluid control mechanism.