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US 6,672,264 B2Granted
Valve timing control device of internal combustion engine
AssigneeHitachi Unisia Automotive, Ltd.
InventorsMasahiko Watanabe, Tamotsu Todo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A first stopper device is arranged between an output element of a planetary gear unit and a drive rotation member driven by an output shaft of an engine. The first stopper device stops a relative rotation therebetween when a relative rotation angle therebetween comes to a first predetermined degree. A second stopper device may be arranged between a free element of the planetary gear unit and an input element of the planetary gear unit. The second stopper device stops a relative rotation therebetween when a relative rotation angle therebetween comes to a second predetermined degree.
Claims20
A valve timing control device of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a drive rotation member adapted to be rotated by an output shaft of the engine;
- a driven rotation member coaxial with said drive rotation member, said driven rotation member rotating with a cam shaft of the engine to actuate engine operation valves;
- a relative angle controlling mechanism that controls a relative angle between said drive and driven rotation members;
- and
- an actuating device that actuates said relative angle controlling mechanism, said actuating device having a planetary gear unit which comprises a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier plate and planetary gears rotatably held by the carrier plate and meshed with both said sun gear and said ring gear, said sun gear, said ring gear and said carrier plate serving as one of input, output and free elements, said input element being connectable to and driven by a rotation system that extends from said output shaft of the engine to said cam shaft of the engine, said output element being connectable to a rotation actuation element of said relative angle controlling mechanism in a manner to be controlled in rotation speed upon receiving an input force from said output shaft of the engine;
- and
- a first stopper device arranged between said output element and said drive rotation member, said first stopper device stopping a relative rotation therebetween when the relative rotation angle therebetween comes to a first predetermined degree.
4 more elements
A valve timing control device of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a drive rotation member adapted to be rotated by an output shaft of the engine;
- a driven rotation member coaxial with said drive rotation member, said driven rotation member rotating with a cam shaft of the engine to actuate engine operation valves;
- a relative angle controlling mechanism that controls a relative angle between said drive and driven rotation members;
- and
- an actuating device that actuates said relative angle controlling mechanism, said actuating device having a planetary gear unit which comprises a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier plate and planetary gears rotatably held by the carrier plate and meshed with both said sun gear and said ring gear, said sun gear, said ring gear and said carrier plate serving as one of input, output and free elements, said input element being connectable to and driven by a rotation system that extends from said output shaft of the engine to said cam shaft of the engine, said output element being connectable to a rotation actuation element of said relative angle controlling mechanism in a manner to be controlled in rotation speed upon receiving an input force from said output shaft of the engine;
- a first stopper device arranged between said output element and said drive rotation member, said first stopper device stopping a relative rotation therebetween when the relative rotation angle therebetween comes to a first predetermined degree, and
- a second stopper device arranged between said free element and said input element, said second stopper device stopping a relative rotation therebetween when the relative rotation angle therebetween comes to a second predetermined degree.
4 more elements
A valve timing control device of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a drive rotation member adapted to be rotated by an output shaft of the engine;
- a driven rotation member coaxial with said drive rotation member, said driven rotation member rotating with a cam shaft of the engine to actuate engine operation valves;
- radially extending guide grooves formed in one surface of said drive rotation member;
- a circular guide plate arranged to rotate relative to said drive and driven rotation members, said circular guide plate being formed with a spiral guide groove at one surface thereof that faces said radially extending guide grooves;
- guided members each being slidably guided by both said spiral guide groove and one of said radially extending guide grooves;
- link arms each having one end pivotally connected to said driven rotation member and the other end to which corresponding one of said guided members is connected;
- an actuating device that actuates said circular guide plate to rotate relative to said drive and driven rotation members;
- a stopper device that restricts a rotation of said circular guide plate relative to said drive and driven rotation members,
- wherein when, upon operation of said actuating device, said circular guide plate is rotated relative to said drive and driven operation members, each of said guide members is forced to slide in both said spiral guide groove and the corresponding one of the radially extending guide grooves to induce a relative rotation between said drive and driven rotation members;
- and
- wherein said stopper device comprises a first member that is provided by said circular guide plate and a second member that is provided said drive rotation member, said first and second members contacting with each other to stop the relative rotation between said drive rotation member and said circular guide plate when a relative rotation angle therebetween comes to a predetermined degree.
8 more elements
A valve timing control device of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a drive rotation member adapted to be rotated by an output means of the engine;
- a driven rotation member coaxial with said drive rotation member, said driven rotation member rotating with a cam shaft of the engine to actuate engine operation valves;
- a relative angle controlling mechanism that controls a relative angle between said drive and driven rotation members;
- and
- an actuating device that actuates said relative angle controlling mechanism, said actuating device having a planetary gear unit which comprises a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier plate and planetary gears rotatably held by the carrier plate and meshed with both said sun gear and said ring gear, said sun gear, said ring gear and said carrier plate serving as one of input, output and free elements, said input element being connectable to and driven by a rotation system that extends from said output shaft of the engine to said cam shaft of the engine, said output element being connectable to a rotation actuation element of said relative angle controlling mechanism in a manner to be controlled in rotation speed upon receiving an input force from said output shaft of the engine;
- and
- first stopper means arranged between said output element and said drive rotation member, said first stopper means stopping a relative rotation therebetween when the relative rotation angle therebetween comes to a first predetermined degree.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.