JP2001289013A - Variable valve timing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To apply the structure for supplying the hydraulic fluid to second spark-advance hydraulic chambers or second spark-lag hydraulic chambers through first spark-advance hydraulic chambers or first spark-lag hydraulic chambers for a device provided with multiple number of vanes. SOLUTION: The first spark-advance hydraulic chamber formed at two positions among spark-advance hydraulic chambers formed at four positions in one side in the circumferential direction of a vane 3B is directly communicated with a first oil passage provided in a rotor 3, and the residual two spark- advance hydraulic chambers are communicated with the first spark-advance hydraulic chamber through a communication port of a plate 19 and a communication groove 22 provided in a sprocket 17. The first spark-lag hydraulic chambers formed at two positions among spark-lag hydraulic chambers formed at four positions in the other side in the circumferential direction of the vane 3B is directly communicated with a second oil passage provided in the rotor 3, and the residual two second spark-lag hydraulic chambers are communicated with the second spark-lag hydraulic chamber through the communication port of the plate 19 and a spring chamber 18 provided in the sprocket 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a variable valve timing device for varying the opening / closing timing of an intake valve or an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vane type valve timing device has been known. In this device, an advance hydraulic chamber and a retard hydraulic chamber are formed on both sides of the vane, and the rotational angular position of the vane is controlled by the hydraulic balance between the two hydraulic chambers. However, in this device, if the hydraulic chamber and the oil passage communicating with the hydraulic chamber are not completely liquid-sealed, fluctuations in camshaft torque increase the pressure in the hydraulic chamber via the vanes and act together with fluctuations in vane angles. Causes external leakage of oil. Also,
If hydraulic oil leaks, vane fluctuations become easier,
Control stability will be impaired. Therefore, as a technique for ensuring control stability, for example, International Publication No. W
There is a "vane-type rotation phase adjusting device" disclosed in O95 / 31633. This device has a structure in which hydraulic oil is supplied to and discharged from one advance hydraulic chamber or retard hydraulic chamber via one advance hydraulic chamber or retard hydraulic chamber. In this case, the hydraulic oil can be made hard to leak, so that the hydraulic pressure fluctuation in the advance hydraulic chamber or the retard hydraulic chamber can be reduced, and the fluctuation of the vane can be suppressed.

[0003]

However, the prior art device disclosed in the above publication discloses a communicating oil that communicates one advanced hydraulic chamber or retarded hydraulic chamber with the other advanced hydraulic chamber or retarded hydraulic chamber. A channel is provided through the shaft of the vane. In this case, it is difficult to increase the number of communication oil passages because the strength of the shaft may be reduced. However, in recent years,
Because the control pressure can be lowered by increasing the pressure receiving area,
A device having a large number of vanes (for example, four) is generally used.
It is extremely difficult to apply the structure of the conventional device to a device having a large number of vanes. The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a second advance hydraulic chamber or a second advance hydraulic chamber via a first advance hydraulic chamber or a first retard hydraulic chamber.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a variable valve timing device which has a structure for supplying and discharging hydraulic oil to the retard hydraulic chamber and which can apply a communication oil passage communicating the hydraulic chambers to a device having a large number of vanes.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a variable valve timing apparatus comprising: a first advance hydraulic chamber and a second advance hydraulic chamber formed in different vane operating chambers; A communication oil passage communicating the first retard hydraulic chamber and the second retard hydraulic chamber is provided, and the second advance hydraulic chamber or the second retard hydraulic chamber is connected to the first retard hydraulic chamber via the communication oil path. Hydraulic oil is supplied via the first advance hydraulic chamber or the first retard hydraulic chamber, and at least a part of the communication oil passage is provided in the housing as a whole. With this structure, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the strength of the shaft portion of the rotor as compared with a case where all of the communication oil passages are provided on the shaft portion of the rotor.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the variable valve timing device according to the first aspect, the communication oil passage is opened in a thrust surface of the housing as a whole which forms one end surface or the other end surface in the axial direction of the vane working chamber. are doing. This allows
At least a portion of the communication oil passage can be provided in the housing as a whole.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the variable valve timing device according to the second aspect, the communication oil passage is opened near the outermost diameter portion of the second advance hydraulic chamber or the second retard hydraulic chamber. are doing. In this case, when the communication oil passage is opened near the innermost diameter portion of the second advance hydraulic chamber or the second retard hydraulic chamber, when the internal combustion engine is stopped, the uppermost portion of the rotational center is located above the rotation center. The hydraulic oil in the second advance hydraulic chamber or the second retard hydraulic chamber communicates because the communication oil passage opening near the outer diameter portion is located at a higher position than the communication oil passage opening near the innermost diameter portion. The amount flowing out through the oil passage can be reduced. This allows
When the internal combustion engine is started, the hydraulic oil can be charged into the advance hydraulic chamber or the retard hydraulic chamber in a shorter time.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the variable valve timing device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the communication oil passage is provided in the housing as a whole, bypassing the shaft of the rotor. In this case, since there is no need to provide a communication oil passage in the shaft of the rotor, it is possible to avoid a decrease in the strength of the shaft of the rotor.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a variable valve timing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, further comprising a coil spring for urging the rotor in the advance direction with respect to the housing as a whole. There is an annular spring chamber for accommodating a coil spring around the camshaft or the shaft of the rotor, and this spring chamber is used as a communication oil passage. In this case, since it is not necessary to newly provide a communication oil passage, the cost for providing the communication oil passage can be reduced. Further, since the existing spring chamber is used as the communication oil passage, the structural change due to the provision of the communication oil passage can be reduced.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the variable valve timing device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the housing as a whole is connected to a sprocket connected to a drive shaft of the internal combustion engine, and is fixed to the sprocket. A housing forming a sliding surface with the vane and one end surface in the axial direction of the vane working chamber, interposed between the sprocket and the housing,
A plate forming the other end surface in the axial direction of the vane operating chamber, and the plate includes a first oil passage as a part of the communication oil passage.
And a communication port that opens to the first advanced hydraulic chamber and the second advanced hydraulic chamber, or the first retarded hydraulic chamber and the second delayed hydraulic chamber. According to this configuration, at least a part of the communication oil passage can be provided outside the plate with respect to the vane working chamber.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the variable valve timing device according to the sixth aspect, further comprising a coil spring for urging the rotor in the advance direction with respect to the housing as a whole, wherein the sprocket is a camshaft or a shaft of the rotor. An annular spring chamber for accommodating a coil spring is formed around the portion, and this spring chamber is used as a communication oil passage. The plate includes a spring chamber, a first advanced hydraulic chamber and a second advanced hydraulic chamber. Alternatively, a communication port for communicating the spring chamber with the first retard hydraulic chamber and the second retard hydraulic chamber is open.
In this case, since it is not necessary to newly provide a communication oil passage, the cost for providing the communication oil passage can be reduced. Further, since the existing spring chamber is used as the communication oil passage, the structural change due to the provision of the communication oil passage can be reduced. Further, since the spring chamber is formed outside the plate with respect to the vane working chamber, most of the communication oil passage can be provided outside the plate.

(8) The variable valve timing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the number of the vanes of the rotor is set to four or more and an even number, and The same number of chambers and second advance hydraulic chambers or the same number of first retard hydraulic chambers and second retard hydraulic chambers are provided. When the number of vanes is set to an even number of four or more, the advance hydraulic chamber and the retard hydraulic chamber are provided in the same number as the number of vanes. In this case, the first oil passage communicated with the oil passage
The number of advance hydraulic chambers and the number of second advance hydraulic chambers or the number of first retard hydraulic chambers and the number of second retard hydraulic chambers are equal to each other. It is possible to effectively suppress the fluctuation of the vane without expanding.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the variable valve timing apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the first advance hydraulic chamber and the second advance hydraulic chamber or the first retard hydraulic chamber and the second retard hydraulic chamber are provided. The angular hydraulic chambers are arranged axisymmetrically. As a result, a well-balanced variable valve timing device can be realized.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the variable valve timing devices according to the first to ninth aspects, a stopper hole is movably incorporated in one of the rotor and the housing as a whole and provided in the other. Has a stopper pin that restricts the relative rotation between the rotor and the housing as a whole, and when hydraulic oil is supplied to the oil reservoir groove provided in communication with the stopper hole and hydraulic pressure is applied to the stopper pin, A stopper mechanism is provided in which the stopper pin is pushed out of the stopper hole and releases the rotation restriction between the rotor and the housing as a whole by the stopper pin. At least the second advance hydraulic chamber or the second retard hydraulic chamber is filled with hydraulic oil. Before the operation, the hydraulic oil is supplied to the oil reservoir groove, and the hydraulic pressure required to push the stopper pin out of the stopper hole is secured. According to this configuration, the stopper pin can be pushed out of the stopper hole before at least the second advance hydraulic chamber or the second retard hydraulic chamber is filled with the hydraulic oil. In this case, since the stopper pin can be quickly and smoothly extracted from the stopper hole, the startup time can be shortened and the responsiveness can be improved.

[0014]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a variable valve timing device 1
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. The variable valve timing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a rotor 3 fixed to a camshaft 2 for opening and closing an intake valve or an exhaust valve of an engine (internal combustion engine) (not shown) and rotating integrally with the camshaft 2.
And an entire housing (described below) that rotates by transmitting the torque of the engine, and controls the rotation phase of the rotor 3 with respect to the entire housing by hydraulic pressure to open and close the intake valve or the exhaust valve (valve timing). Is changed.

(Structure of Rotor 3) The rotor 3 has a shaft 3A having a through hole 3a in the center and a plurality of (four in this embodiment) vanes 3B protruding around the shaft 3A.
(See FIG. 2). The rotor 3 has a shaft 3
One end face (the right end face in FIG. 1) of A is abutted against the tip end face of the camshaft 2, the circumferential position with respect to the camshaft 2 is determined by the pins 4 engaging with both ends, and the bush 5 The bolt 6 is inserted into the through hole 3 a of the shaft portion 3 </ b> A, and the bolt 6 is coupled to the screw hole 2 a formed in the cam shaft 2 and fixed to the cam shaft 2.

A) A first oil passage 7 and a second oil passage 8 are provided in the shaft portion 3A. The first oil passage 7 is a passage leading to a first advance hydraulic chamber described later, and as shown in FIG.
One end is opened on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 3A, the other end is opened on the inner peripheral surface of the shaft portion 3A, and is provided so as to penetrate the shaft portion 3A in the radial direction. And an oil passage 10 provided in the camshaft 2. The second oil passage 8 is a passage that communicates with a first retard hydraulic chamber described later. As shown in FIG. 6, one end of the second oil passage 8 is opened on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 3A, and the other end is formed of the shaft portion 3A.
, And communicates with an oil passage 11 provided in the camshaft 2. The first oil passage 7 and the second oil passage 8 are provided two each, and are provided at radially symmetric positions with respect to the rotation center of the shaft 3A (see FIG. 2).

B) The four vanes 3B are provided at substantially equal intervals around the shaft 3A, as shown in FIG. However, one set of vanes 3B facing in the radial direction is provided with a larger circumferential width than the other set of vanes 3B. One of the vanes 3B having a large circumferential width has a cylindrical hole 13 into which a cylindrical sleeve 12 is press-fitted.
And an engaging pin 16 that engages with the other end of a return spring 15 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) described later is press-fitted and fixed to the other vane 3B. The cylindrical hole 13 is open at one end surface of the vane 3B and has a bottom surface at the other end side. The small hole 14 is provided to penetrate from the bottom surface of the cylindrical hole 13 to the other end surface of the vane 3B. As shown in FIG. 1, the engagement pin 16 protrudes from one end face of the vane 3B and extends to a spring chamber 18 provided in a sprocket 17 described later.

(Structure of the whole housing) The whole housing is composed of a sprocket 17 to which a rotational force is transmitted from a crankshaft (drive shaft / not shown) of an engine via a chain (not shown), and the other end surface side of the sprocket 17. Plate 19 adjacent to (left end face side in FIG. 1)
And a housing 21 and the like fixed to the sprocket 17 with bolts 20 via the plate 19. a) As shown in FIG. 3, the sprocket 17 is an annular body having a cylindrical boss portion 17a at a center portion and a tooth portion 17b for hanging a chain on the outer periphery. The boss 17a is fitted and supported by the camshaft 2,
It is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the camshaft 2. The sprocket 17 is provided with an annular spring chamber 18, an arc-shaped communication groove 22, four screw holes 23 through which the bolts 20 are inserted, an oil sump groove 24 that communicates with the spring chamber 18, and the like.

The spring chamber 18 is a space for accommodating the return spring 15, and as shown in FIG. 3, an enlarged chamber 18a whose outer diameter is enlarged in a part of the circumferential direction is provided in an arc shape. An engagement groove 18b that supports one end of the return spring 15 is provided on a bottom surface of the return spring 18a. The return spring 15 generates torque between the sprocket 17 and the engaging pin 16 press-fitted and fixed to the vane 3B, and urges the rotor 3 toward the advance angle (the right-hand rotation direction in FIG. 2) against the sprocket 17. ing. The communication groove 22 is
A space for communicating a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) communication ports (described later) formed in the plate 19, and is provided near the outer periphery of the sprocket 17 (inside the tooth portion 17b) at about 3/3 of the entire circumference. 4 are provided in an arc shape.

The oil sump groove 24 is provided for applying a hydraulic pressure to the stopper pin 25 described below, and as shown in FIG. 3, an enlarged chamber 18a of the spring chamber 18 with respect to the center of rotation.
And is provided in a rectangular shape in communication with the spring chamber 18. A ring-shaped bush 26 is provided on one end surface of the sprocket 17 in which the oil sump groove 24 is provided.
Are fixed by press fitting. The spring chamber 18, the communication groove 22, and the oil sump groove 24 open on the other end surface side (the left end surface side in FIG. 1) of the sprocket 17, respectively.
One end side is closed. The bush 26 forms the stopper hole of the present invention. At the most advanced position (position shown in FIG. 2) of the rotor 3 with respect to the sprocket 17, the cylindrical hole 13 provided in the vane 3B and the circumferential and radial directions are formed. Are provided at the same position.

The stopper pin 25 has a spring 27 inside the sleeve 12 pressed into the cylindrical hole 13 of the vane 3B.
And is urged by the spring 27 toward the sprocket 17 (to the right in FIG. 1). When the rotor 3 is at the most advanced position, the stopper pin 25
By fitting into the bush 26 press-fitted into the sprocket 17, the rotor 3
Can be restricted from rotating. When the rotation of the rotor 3 is restrained, hydraulic oil is supplied to the oil sump groove 24, and when the hydraulic pressure applied to the distal end surface of the stopper pin 25 overcomes the urging force of the spring 27, the stopper pin 25 is moved from the bush 26. By being pushed out, the rotational movement of the rotor 3 becomes possible.

B) The plate 19 is a plate-shaped annular body having an outer diameter large enough to close the communication groove 22 of the sprocket 17. The plate 19 is disposed between the sprocket 17 and the rotor 3 and covers the other end surface of the sprocket 17. As shown in FIG. 4, the plate 19 has a fitting hole 19a for fitting to the camshaft 2, four round holes 19b for inserting bolts 20, and a sprocket 1
7, a circular hole 19c into which the bush 26 is press-fitted, and the arc-shaped relief groove 1 allowing the engagement pin 16 to move.
9d, four communication ports 28 communicating with the communication groove 22 of the sprocket 17 and four communication ports 29 communicating with the spring chamber 18 of the sprocket 17 are provided.

C) As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 21 has four fan-shaped vane working chambers formed therein, and accommodates the vanes 3B in the respective vane working chambers.
The outside is covered. The vane working chamber is closed at one axial end by a plate 19 and at the other end by the housing 2.
Vane 3B closed by four thrust wall surfaces 21a (see FIG. 1) and circumferentially partitioned by four projecting portions 21c projecting toward the center inside cylindrical outer wall portion 21b of housing 21 and housed therein. Are formed in a size that can be relatively rotated and moved within a predetermined angle range. In the vane working chamber, a space formed on one side in the circumferential direction of the vane 3B is formed as an advanced hydraulic chamber 30, and a space formed on the other circumferential side of the vane 3B is formed as a retard hydraulic chamber 31 therein. The two hydraulic chambers are kept liquid-tight by the tip seals 32 and 33.

Here, the four advance hydraulic chambers 30 communicate with each other via four communication ports 28 provided on the plate 19 and communication grooves 22 provided on the sprocket 17. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the four communication ports 28
Each of them is opened to four different advance hydraulic chambers 30. However, two of the four advanced hydraulic chambers 30 (hereinafter referred to as first advanced hydraulic chambers 30a) communicate directly with the first oil passages 7 provided in the rotor 3, respectively. 2
Advanced hydraulic chamber 30 (hereinafter referred to as second advanced hydraulic chamber 30b)
) Is a communication groove 22 provided in the sprocket 17.
And a first oil passage 7 of the rotor 3 through the first advance hydraulic chamber 30a.

The four retard hydraulic chambers 31 are provided with four communication ports 29 provided on the plate 19 and the sprocket 1.
7 communicate with each other via a spring chamber 18. That is, as shown in FIG.
Are opened to four different retard hydraulic chambers 31, respectively. However, two of the four retard angle hydraulic chambers 31
The first retard hydraulic chamber 31a (hereinafter, referred to as a first retard hydraulic chamber 31a) directly communicates with a second oil passage 8 provided in the rotor 3, and the second two retard hydraulic chambers 31 (hereinafter, referred to as a second retard hydraulic chamber 31a). Retard hydraulic chamber 3
1b) communicates with the second oil passage 8 of the rotor 3 via the spring chamber 18 provided in the sprocket 17 and the first retard hydraulic chamber 31a.

Next, the features of the variable valve timing device 1 shown in this embodiment will be described. For example, when the engine stops and hydraulic oil flows out of the advance hydraulic chamber 30 and the retard hydraulic chamber 31, the rotor 3 is moved to the initial position shown in FIG. Position). In this state, the stopper pin 25 is urged by the spring 27 to
To prevent the rotor 3 from moving (ramping) in the rotation direction.

Thereafter, when the ignition switch is turned on, a hydraulic pump (not shown) is actuated in response to a command from an ECU (electronic control unit) not shown, and the camshaft 2 is moved from a hydraulic circuit (not shown) of the engine to the camshaft 2. Hydraulic oil is supplied to the advance hydraulic chamber 30 via the provided oil passage 10 → the oil passage 9 provided on the bolt 6 → the first oil passage 7 provided on the rotor 3. At this time, the hydraulic oil is first supplied to the first advance hydraulic chamber 30a which is in direct communication with the first oil passage 7 of the rotor 3, and thereafter, the communication of the plate 19 from the first advance hydraulic chamber 30a. Hydraulic oil is supplied to the second advance hydraulic chamber 30b through the opening 28 and the communication groove 22 of the sprocket 17.

When hydraulic oil is filled in the advance hydraulic chamber 30,
The hydraulic path is switched, and the oil path 11 provided on the camshaft 2 is connected to the hydraulic circuit. Then, from the hydraulic circuit, the oil passage 11 of the camshaft 2 → the second oil passage 8 provided in the rotor 3
Hydraulic oil is supplied to the retard hydraulic chamber 31 via. At this time, hydraulic oil is first supplied to the first retarded hydraulic chamber 31a which is in direct communication with the second oil passage 8 of the rotor 3, and thereafter, the communication of the plate 19 from the first retarded hydraulic chamber 31a. Hydraulic oil is supplied to the second retard hydraulic chamber 31b through the port 29 and the spring chamber 18 of the sprocket 17.

When hydraulic oil is supplied to the first retard hydraulic chamber 31a, a part of the hydraulic oil flowing through the spring chamber 18 flows into the oil reservoir groove 24 communicating with the spring chamber 18, so that the stopper pin 25 Hydraulic pressure acts on the end face. When the hydraulic pressure overcomes the urging force of the spring 27, the stopper pin 25 is pushed out of the bush 26, and the angular position of the rotor 3 can be controlled. When the stopper pin 25 is fitted in the bush 26, that is, when the rotor 3 is at the most advanced position, the small hole 14 opened at the bottom of the cylindrical hole 13.
Communicates with a through hole 21d (see FIG. 1) provided in a thrust wall surface 21a of the housing 21, and a stopper pin 25
Is configured to release the back pressure to the outside.

(Effects of the present embodiment) In the variable valve timing device 1 described above, the second advance hydraulic chamber 30b is
The hydraulic oil is supplied to the second advance hydraulic chamber 30b via the first advance hydraulic chamber 30a and the communication groove 22 through the first advance hydraulic chamber 30a. Therefore, even when the hydraulic oil flows out of the second advance hydraulic chamber 30b, the hydraulic oil does not flow directly from the second advance hydraulic chamber 30b to the first oil passage 7 provided in the rotor 3, and the communication groove 22 does not flow out. And the first advance hydraulic chamber 30a. Thereby, even if the internal pressure of the advance hydraulic chamber 30 increases due to the fluctuation of the vane 3B, the amount of hydraulic oil leaking from the advance hydraulic chamber 30 can be reduced, and the fluctuation of the vane 3B in the vane operating chamber can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to suppress the torque fluctuation of the camshaft 2.

Similarly, the second retard hydraulic chamber 31b communicates with the first retard hydraulic chamber 31a through the spring chamber 18,
Hydraulic oil is supplied via the first retard hydraulic chamber 31a and the spring chamber 18. Therefore, even when the hydraulic oil flows out from the second retard hydraulic chamber 31b, the second retard hydraulic chamber 3
1b does not flow directly into the second oil passage 8 provided in the rotor 3, but flows out through the spring chamber 18 and the first retard hydraulic chamber 31a. This allows
Even if the internal pressure of the retard hydraulic chamber 31 increases due to the fluctuation of the vane 3B, the amount of hydraulic oil leaking from the retard hydraulic chamber 31 can be reduced, so that the fluctuation of the vane 3B in the vane operating chamber can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to suppress the torque fluctuation of the camshaft 2. This variable valve timing device 1
Are a first advance hydraulic chamber 30a and a second advance hydraulic chamber 30b.
And the first retard hydraulic chamber 31a
Spring chamber 1 that communicates with the second retard hydraulic chamber 31b
Since each of the shafts 8 is provided on the sprocket 17, the strength of the rotor shaft 3A does not decrease and the reliability can be improved as compared with the case where the communication oil passage of the present invention is provided on the shaft 3A of the rotor 3.

The plate 19 includes an advance hydraulic chamber 30.
A communication port 28 that communicates with the communication groove 22 and a communication port 29 that communicates with the retard hydraulic chamber 31 and the spring chamber 18 are provided. Of these communication ports 28 and 29, the second
The communication port 28 opening to the advance hydraulic chamber 30b or the communication port 29 opening to the second retard hydraulic chamber 31b is the outermost diameter of the second advance hydraulic chamber 30b or the second retard hydraulic chamber 31b. It is desirable to provide near the part. This means that when the engine is stopped, the communication port 28 or 29 is located above the center of rotation when the engine is stopped, as compared with the case where the communication port 28 or 29 is provided near the innermost diameter portion of the second advance hydraulic chamber 30b or the second retard hydraulic chamber 31b. In this case, since the communication port 28 or 29 provided near the outermost diameter portion is located at a position higher than the communication port 28 or 29 provided near the innermost diameter portion, the second advance hydraulic chamber 30b or the second retardation hydraulic chamber 30b is provided. Square hydraulic chamber 3
The amount of the hydraulic oil 1b flowing out from the communication port 28 or 29 can be reduced. As a result, when the engine is started,
The hydraulic oil can be filled into the advance hydraulic chamber 30 or the retard hydraulic chamber 31 in a shorter time. However, as in the present embodiment, the communication port 2 that opens to the second advance hydraulic chamber 30b
If it is structurally difficult to provide both of the hydraulic chambers 8 and the communication port 29 that opens to the second retard hydraulic chamber 31b near the outermost diameter portion of each hydraulic chamber 30b, 31b, as shown in FIG. It is desirable to provide a communication port 28 opening to the advance hydraulic chamber 30 near the outermost diameter portion of the advance hydraulic chamber 30.

(Modification) In the above embodiment, the communication groove 22 for communicating the first advance hydraulic chamber 30a and the second advance hydraulic chamber 30b, and the first retard hydraulic chamber 31a and the second Although the spring chamber 18 communicating with the retard hydraulic chamber 31b is provided on the sprocket 17, it may be provided on the housing 21 side. Alternatively, a part of the communication oil passage of the present invention may be provided on the camshaft 2. If the required strength of the rotor shaft portion 3A can be secured, a part of the communication oil passage may be provided in the rotor shaft portion 3A. The present invention need not be four vanes 3B, but can be applied to a configuration having two, three, five or more vanes 3B, for example.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a variable valve timing device (A in FIG. 2);
-A sectional view).

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the variable valve timing device (B in FIG. 1);
-B sectional view).

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the sprocket (a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 1).
It is.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a plate.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a variable valve timing device showing a relationship between an advance hydraulic chamber and an oil passage.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a variable valve timing device showing a relationship between a retard hydraulic chamber and an oil passage.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Variable valve timing device 2 Camshaft 3 Rotor 3A Shaft 3B Vane 15 Return spring (Coil spring) 17 Sprocket (Housing whole) 18 Spring chamber (Communication oil passage) 19 Plate (Housing whole) 21 Housing (Housing whole) 21a Thrust Wall surface (thrust surface) 22 Communication groove (communication oil passage) 24 Oil reservoir groove (stopper mechanism) 25 Stopper pin (stopper mechanism) 26 Bush (stopper hole / stopper mechanism) 27 Spring (stopper mechanism) 28 Communication port 29 Communication port 30 Advanced hydraulic chamber 30a First advanced hydraulic chamber 30b Second advanced hydraulic chamber 31 Delayed hydraulic chamber 31a First retarded hydraulic chamber 31b Second retarded hydraulic chamber

Claims (10)

[Claims] A rotor having a shaft fixed to a cam shaft of an internal combustion engine, a plurality of vanes protruding around the shaft, and a rotatably supported coaxially with the rotor; A plurality of vane working chambers in which the vanes can relatively rotate and move within a predetermined angle range, and a housing as a whole is rotated by transmitting a rotational force from a drive shaft of the internal combustion engine. In the vane operating chamber, a space formed on one side in the circumferential direction of the vane is configured as an advanced hydraulic chamber, and a space formed on the other side in the circumferential direction of the vane is configured as a retarded hydraulic chamber. A variable valve timing device that varies a rotation phase of the rotor with respect to the housing as a whole according to a discharged hydraulic pressure, wherein a first advanced hydraulic pressure chamber and a second advanced hydraulic pressure are formed in different vane working chambers. Room Has a communication oil passage that communicates between the first retard hydraulic chamber and the second retard hydraulic chamber, and the second advance hydraulic chamber or the second retard hydraulic chamber has the communication oil path. Hydraulic oil is supplied via the first advance hydraulic chamber or the first retard hydraulic chamber via an oil passage, and at least a part of the communication oil passage is provided in the housing as a whole. A variable valve timing device. 2. The variable valve timing device according to claim 1, wherein the communication oil passage is opened to a thrust surface of the housing as a whole, which forms one end surface or the other end surface in the axial direction of the vane working chamber. A variable valve timing device. 3. The variable valve timing device according to claim 2, wherein the communication oil passage is connected to the second advance hydraulic chamber or the second advance hydraulic chamber.
A variable valve timing device, wherein the valve is open near the outermost diameter portion of the retard hydraulic chamber. 4. The variable valve timing device according to claim 1, wherein the communication oil passage is provided in the housing as a whole, bypassing a shaft of the rotor. Variable valve timing device. 5. The variable valve timing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a coil spring for urging the rotor in an advance direction with respect to the housing as a whole, wherein the housing as a whole is provided with the cam. A variable valve timing device, comprising: an annular spring chamber for accommodating the coil spring around a shaft or a shaft portion of the rotor, wherein the spring chamber is used as the communication oil passage. 6. The variable valve timing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing as a whole is connected to a sprocket connected to a drive shaft of the internal combustion engine, and is fixed to the sprocket and the vane is connected to the sprocket. And a housing that forms one end surface in the axial direction of the vane working chamber, and a plate that is interposed between the sprocket and the housing and that forms the other end surface in the axial direction of the vane working chamber. The plate has an opening in the first advance hydraulic chamber and the second advance hydraulic chamber, or the first retard hydraulic chamber and the second retard hydraulic chamber as a part of the communication oil passage. A variable valve timing device, wherein a communication port is provided. 7. The variable valve timing device according to claim 6, further comprising: a coil spring for urging the rotor in an advance direction with respect to the housing as a whole, wherein the sprocket is the camshaft or the shaft of the rotor. An annular spring chamber for accommodating the coil spring is formed around the portion, and the spring chamber is used as the communication oil passage; and the plate includes the spring chamber, the first advance hydraulic chamber, and the second A variable valve timing device, wherein a communication port for communicating the advanced hydraulic chamber or the spring chamber with the first retard hydraulic chamber and the second retard hydraulic chamber is opened. 8. The variable valve timing device according to claim 1, wherein the number of the vanes is set to four or more and an even number, and the first advance hydraulic chamber and A variable valve timing device, wherein the same number of second advance hydraulic chambers or the first retard hydraulic chamber and the second retard hydraulic chamber are provided. 9. The variable valve timing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first advance hydraulic chamber and the second advance hydraulic chamber or the first retard hydraulic chamber and the second retard hydraulic chamber. Is a variable valve timing device, wherein the variable valve timing device is arranged axially symmetrically. 10. The variable valve timing device according to claim 1, wherein the variable valve timing device is movably incorporated into one of the rotor and the housing as a whole, and fitted into a stopper hole provided in the other. A stopper pin for restraining relative rotation between the rotor and the housing as a whole, and when hydraulic oil is supplied to an oil reservoir groove provided in communication with the stopper hole and hydraulic pressure is applied to the stopper pin, A stopper mechanism that pushes the stopper pin out of the stopper hole to release the stopper pin from restricting rotation of the rotor and the housing as a whole; and at least the second advance hydraulic chamber or the second retard hydraulic pressure. Before the chamber is filled with the hydraulic oil, the hydraulic oil is supplied to the oil sump groove and the hydraulic pressure required to push out the stopper pin from the stopper hole is reduced. Variable valve timing system, characterized in that it is holding.