# US 7,610,883 B2 · Valve timing control apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,883 B2 - Document ID: US7610883B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/822,850 - Filed: 2007-07-10 - Published: 2008-02-28 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-08-23 - Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yuji Noguchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610883B2 ## CPC - F01L 1/3442: {using hydraulic chambers with variable volume to transmit the rotating force} - F01L 1/022: {Chain drive} - F01L 1/34409: {by torque-responsive means} - F01L 1/024: {Belt drive} - F01L 2001/0537: {Double overhead camshafts [DOHC]} - F01L 2001/34436: {Features or method for avoiding malfunction due to foreign matters in oil} - F01L 2001/3444: {Oil filters} - F01L 2001/34473: {Lock movement perpendicular to camshaft axis} - F01L 2001/34483: {Phaser return springs} - F01L 2800/01: Starting - F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES ## Abstract A valve timing control apparatus includes a driving side rotational member, a driven side rotational member arranged coaxially to the driving side rotational member, a fluid pressure chamber defined into an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber, a relative rotational phase adjusting mechanism controlling to selectively supply and drain a working fluid to and from the advanced angle chamber and the retarded angle chamber and adjusting a relative rotational phase of the driving side rotational member and the driven side rotational member, and a valve mechanism provided at the advanced angle chamber and establishing communication between an outside of the fluid pressure chamber and the advanced angle chamber in order to allow the driven side rotational member to advance when a fluctuated torque generated at a camshaft exceeds a torque applied to the driven side rotational member by the relative rotational phase adjusting mechanism. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve timing control apparatus for an engine, comprising: a driving side rotational member rotating synchronously to a crankshaft; a driven side rotational member arranged coaxially to the driving side rotational member to be relatively rotatable and rotating integrally to a camshaft; a fluid pressure chamber formed between the driving side rotational member and the driven side rotational member and defined into an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber; a relative rotational phase adjusting mechanism controlling to selectively supply and drain a working fluid to and from the advanced angle chamber and the retarded angle chamber and adjusting a relative rotational phase of the driving side rotational member and the driven side rotational member between a most advanced angle phase where a volume of the advanced angle chamber is maximized and a most retarded angle phase where the volume of the advanced angle chamber is minimized; and a valve mechanism provided at a passage introducing an outside air to the advanced angle chamber and the valve mechanism allowing communication between an outside of the fluid pressure chamber and the advanced angle chamber to introduce the outside air to the advanced angle chamber when a fluctuated torque generated at the camshaft exceeds a torque applied to the driven side rotational member by the relative rotational phase adjusting mechanism. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the advanced angle chamber includes a plurality of advanced angle chambers; the valve mechanism is provided at at least one or the advanced angle chambers; further including a bypass passage connecting the advanced angle chamber provided with the valve mechanism and the other advanced angle chambers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the valve mechanism includes a movable member which selectively establishes and blocks the communication between the outside of the fluid pressure chamber and the advanced angle chamber; and wherein the movable member is configured to move approximately in parallel to a rotational axis of the driving side rotational member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the valve mechanism is positioned closer to a rotational center of the advanced angle chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the valve mechanism allows flow of the outside air from the outside of the fluid pressure chamber to the advanced angle chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the valve mechanism blocks flow of the working fluid from the advanced angle chamber to the outside of the fluid pressure chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the passage introducing an outside air to the advanced angle chamber is formed in the driving side rotational member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the valve mechanism is provided in the driving side rotational member. ### Claim 9 A valve timing control apparatus for an engine, comprising: a driving side rotational member rotating synchronously to a crankshaft; a driven side rotational member arranged coaxially to the driving side rotational member to be relatively rotatable and rotating integrally to a camshaft; a fluid pressure chamber formed between the driving side rotational member and the driven side rotational member and defined into an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber; a relative rotational phase adjusting mechanism controlling to selectively supply and drain a working fluid to and from the advanced angle chamber and the retarded angle chamber and adjusting a relative rotational phase of the driving side rotational member and the driven side rotational member between a most advanced angle phase where a volume of the advanced angle chamber is maximized and a most retarded angle phase where the volume of the advanced angle chamber is minimized; and a one-way valve provided at a passage introducing an outside air to the advanced angle chamber and the one-way valve allowing communication from an outside of the fluid pressure chamber to the advanced angle chamber to introduce the outside air to the advanced angle chamber and blocking the communication from the advanced angle chamber to the outside of the fluid pressure chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the advanced angle chamber includes a plurality of advanced angle chambers; the valve mechanism is provided at at least one of the advanced angle chambers; further including a bypass passage connecting the advanced angle chamber provided with the valve mechanism and the other advanced angle chambers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the valve mechanism includes a movable member which selectively establishes and blocks the communication between the outside of the fluid pressure chamber and the advanced angle chamber, and wherein the movable member is configured to move approximately in parallel to a rotational axis of the driving side rotational member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the valve mechanism is positioned closer to a rotational center of the advanced angle chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 9, the one-way valve allows flow of the outside air from the outside of the fluid pressure chamber to the advanced angle chamber and blocks flow of the working fluid from the advanced angle chamber to the outside of the fluid pressure chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the passage introducing an outside air to the advanced angle chamber is formed in the driving side rotational member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the one-way valve is provided in the driving side rotational member. ### Claim 16 A valve timing control apparatus for an engine, comprising: a driving side rotational member rotating synchronously with a crankshaft; a driven side rotational member coaxial with the driving side rotational member to be relatively rotatable and rotating integrally to a camshaft; a fluid pressure chamber between the driving side rotational member and the driven side rotational member, the fluid pressure chamber being divided into an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber; a retarded angle oil passage fluidly communicating with the retarded angle chamber; an advanced angle oil passage fluidly communicating with the advanced angle chamber; a relative rotational phase adjusting mechanism controlling selective supply and drain of a working fluid to and from the advanced angle chamber and the retarded angle chamber and adjusting a relative rotational phase of the driving side rotational member and the driven side rotational member between a most advanced angle phase where a volume of the advanced angle chamber is maximized and a most retarded angle phase where the volume of the advanced angle chamber is minimized; and a communicating passage communicating the advanced angle chamber to outside the fluid pressure chamber, the communicating passage being different from the retarded angle oil passage and the advanced angle oil passage; a valve positioned in the communicating passage and comprising a movable member movable to one position allowing air outside the fluid pressure chamber to be introduced into the advanced angle chamber by way of the communicating passage when a fluctuated torque generated at the camshaft exceeds a torque applied to the driven side rotational member by the relative rotational phase adjusting mechanism. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the movable member comprising the valve is biased toward the one position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the movable member is movable from the one position to an other position in which air outside the fluid pressure chamber is prevented from being introduced into the advanced angle chamber by way of the communicating passage.