Cam shaft/cam gear assembly and thrust strategy for engine using same

A camshaft/cam gear assembly comprising:

• a camshaft defining a first array of threaded fastener bores at one end distributed around an axis of rotation;
• a cam gear in contact with the one end and defining a first array of fastener bores in register with the first array of threaded fastener bores, and also including a second array of fastener bores;
• the cam shaft being attached to the cam gear by a first group of threaded fasteners received through the first array of fastener bores and threaded into the first array of threaded fastener bores;
• a thrust ring in contact with the cam gear and defining a shaft bore and a second array of fastener bores in register with the second array of fastener bores of the cam gear;
• the one end of the cam shaft being received through the shaft bore;
• the thrust ring being attached to the cam gear by a second group of fasteners received in the second array of fastener bores of the cam gear and the second array of fastener bores of the thrust ring;
• the cam gear including a first thrust bearing surface, and the thrust ring including a second thrust bearing surface oriented in opposition to the first thrust bearing surface.

A method of operating an engine that includes a camshaft supported in a housing for rotation about an axis of rotation;

• a cam gear attached to one end of the cam shaft and including a first thrust bearing surface;
• a thrust ring attached to the cam gear and including a second thrust bearing surface;
• and a thrust ring retainer attached to the housing with a plurality of bolts and including a pair of thrust surfaces trapped between the first thrust bearing surface of the cam gear and the second thrust bearing surface of the thrust ring, the method comprising:
• driving rotation of the camshaft about the axis of rotation with the cam gear;
• limiting movement of the camshaft in a first direction along the axis of rotation by contacting a first thrust surface of the pair of thrust surfaces with the first thrust bearing surface of the cam gear;
• and
• limiting movement of the camshaft in a second direction, which is opposite the first direction, along the axis of rotation by contacting a second thrust surface of the pair of thrust surfaces with the second thrust bearing surface of the thrust ring.