JP2003074315A - Valve timing control device for internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely maintain an angle always as desired the assembly angle of a drive rotary unit and a driven rotary unit. SOLUTION: A permanent magnet block 29 having a plurality of magnetic poles is connected to an intermediate rotary unit 23 of an assembly angle operating mechanism 5, a yoke block 30 is connected to a lever shaft 10. Each yoke 39A, 39B of this block 30 is provided with a first/second pole tooth ring 37, 38 having a plurality of pole teeth opposed to the permanent magnet block 29, so as to place these pole teeth alternately along a circumferential direction. The mutual pole tooth of the yokes 39A, 39B is shifted by a preset pitch. An electromagnetic coil block 32 is fixed to a housing 12, a magnetic incoming/ outgoing part of coils 33A, 33B is opposed to the pole tooth rings 37, 38 through an air gap. A generated magnetic field of the coils 33A, 33B is changed with a prescribed pattern. The intermediate rotary unit 23 is formed of a magnetic material, magnetic flux of the permanent magnet block 29 is made easy to flow.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine, which variably controls the opening / closing timing of an intake-side or exhaust-side engine valve of the internal combustion engine in accordance with operating conditions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of valve timing control device is
In the power transmission path from the crankshaft to the camshaft, the opening / closing timing of the engine valve is controlled by operating the rotation phases of both shafts. That is, in this type of device, a driving rotary body connected to a crankshaft via a timing chain or the like is assembled so that the driven rotary body on the camshaft side can relatively rotate as needed, and these rotary bodies are An assembly angle operation mechanism is interposed between the two to operate the assembly angle, and by appropriately controlling the drive of this assembly angle operation mechanism, the rotation phases of the crankshaft and the camshaft are changed. There is.

As the assembling angle operating mechanism, various ones have been developed, such as a mechanism for converting a linear movement of a hydraulic piston into a rotational movement of both rotating bodies by using a helical gear.
A link has been devised which has many advantages such as a reduced axial length and less friction loss.

As a valve timing control device using a link for an assembly angle operation mechanism, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-4
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 1013.

This device, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, has a housing 1 connected to a crankshaft (not shown) via a timing chain (not shown) or the like.
01 (driving rotor) is rotatably assembled to the end of the camshaft 102 (driven rotor), and the housing 10
A plurality of movable members 104, 104 are slidably engaged with and supported by guide grooves 103 (radial direction guides) formed on the inner end surface of No. 1 along the radial direction, respectively, and a plurality of radial members projecting outward in the radial direction. Lever shaft 1 having levers 105, 105
06 is attached to the end portion of the cam shaft 102, and each movable member 104 and the corresponding lever 105 of the lever shaft 106.
And are pivotally connected by a link 107. Then, at a position facing the guide groove 103 of the housing 101, a spiral groove 108 is formed on a side surface on the guide groove 103 side.
An intermediate rotating body 109 having a (spiral guide) is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the housing 101 and the cam shaft 102, and has a substantially arc shape protruding from one end of each movable member 104 in the axial direction. Plural ridges 110 (engagement portion)
Are guided and engaged with the spiral groove 108. Further, the intermediate rotating body 109 is biased by the mainspring spring 111 toward the side where the rotation is advanced with respect to the housing 101, and
The electromagnetic brake 112 appropriately receives the force on the side that delays the rotation.

In the case of this device, the electromagnetic brake 112 is O
In the FF state, the intermediate rotating body 109 is positioned at the initial position with respect to the housing 101 by receiving the urging force of the spiral spring 111, and the movable member 104 meshing with the spiral groove 108 by the ridge 110 is radially outward. It is displaced to the maximum and causes the link 107 to maintain the assembly angle of the housing 101 and the camshaft 102 at the most retarded position or the most advanced position. Then, when the electromagnetic brake 112 is turned on from this state, the intermediate rotating body 109 is decelerated and relatively rotates to the delay side with respect to the housing 101. As a result, the movable member 104 meshing with the spiral groove 108 is radially inward. The assembly angle of the housing 101 and the camshaft 102 is changed to the most advanced angle position or the most retarded angle position by displacing and gradually tilting the link 107 that has been caused.

[0007]

However, in the case of this conventional valve timing control device, the assembly angle of the housing 101 and the camshaft 102 is maintained by the balance between the urging force of the main spring 111 and the braking force of the electromagnetic brake 112. Therefore, when the fluctuation torque of the camshaft 102 due to the profile of the drive cam and the biasing force of the valve spring is input, the assembly angle of the housing 101 and the camshaft 102 is set against the torque. It is difficult to maintain a constant value, and the desired valve timing control may not be achieved.

In view of this, the present invention makes it possible to always maintain the assembly angle of the driving rotary member and the driven rotary member at a desired angle, and to control the valve timing accurately and stably. The present invention aims to provide a valve timing control device.

[0009]

As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to a drive rotating body which is rotationally driven by a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, and a camshaft or a separate member connected to the shaft. A driven rotor to which power is transmitted from the drive rotor, a radial guide provided on one of the drive rotor and the driven rotor, and the drive rotor and the driven rotor. While being relatively rotatably provided, an intermediate rotating body having a spiral guide on a surface facing the radial guide, and being engaged with the radial guide so as to be displaceable in the radial direction,
A plurality of movable members each provided with an engaging portion for guiding and engaging with the spiral guide at one end in the axial direction, and separated from the rotation center of the other one of the drive rotor and the driven rotor. A link that pivotally connects the movable member and the movable member, and an operation force applying unit that is attached to the non-rotating member and applies a relative rotational operation force to the intermediate rotating body with respect to the drive rotating body and the driven rotating body. By rotating the intermediate rotating body with respect to the drive rotating body and the driven rotating body by the operation force applying means, the movable member engaged with the spiral guide is radially aligned with the radial guide. To
In a valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine, which converts the displacement into a relative rotation of a driving rotary body and a driven rotary body via the link, the operating force applying means is attached to the intermediate rotary body, and a magnetic pole is formed by a permanent magnet. And a permanent magnet block configured to appear alternately along the circumferential direction,
A yoke formed by combining a first pole tooth ring and a second pole tooth ring having a plurality of pole teeth facing the magnetic pole surface of the permanent magnet block so that their pole teeth alternate in the circumferential direction. A plurality of sets, the yokes of which are assembled such that their pole teeth are displaced from each other by a set pitch along the circumferential direction, and the yoke block is provided on one side of the drive rotor and the driven rotor as a whole; The yoke block has a plurality of phases of electromagnetic coils corresponding to the respective yokes, and the magnetic entry / exit portions of the respective electromagnetic coils face the first pole tooth ring and the second pole tooth ring of the corresponding yoke via an air gap. And an electromagnetic coil block fixedly installed on the non-rotating member, and the intermediate rotating body is made of a magnetic material.

In the case of the present invention, when the electromagnetic coil of the electromagnetic coil block is excited to generate a magnetic field in a predetermined direction, magnetic induction is generated in the corresponding yoke of the yoke block, and the pole teeth of the first pole tooth ring of the yoke are generated. Magnetic poles corresponding to the direction of the magnetic field appear on the pole teeth of the second pole tooth ring. Further, since the pole teeth of the plurality of yokes of the yoke block are displaced from each other along the circumferential direction by the set pitch, when the magnetic fields generated by the electromagnetic coils of the plurality of phases of the electromagnetic coil block are changed in a predetermined pattern, N and S It is possible to move the pole teeth, in which an arbitrary magnetic pole appears, by the set pitch along the circumferential direction of the yoke block. When the magnetic poles move by the set pitch in this way, the permanent magnet block follows the magnetic pole movement on the yoke block due to the attraction and repulsion action between the magnetic poles of the pole teeth of the yoke block and the magnetic pole surface of the permanent magnet block. It rotates with the rotating body. Further, when the change of the magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coil is stopped, the yoke block and the permanent magnet block stop at a predetermined relative rotation position.
At this time, attraction repulsion continues to act between the magnetic poles of the pole teeth of the yoke and the magnetic pole surface of the permanent magnet between the two blocks, so the relative rotational positions of both blocks are reliably held by this force, and as a result , The assembling angle of the driving rotary body and the driven rotary body is maintained constant. Then, at this time, since the intermediate rotating body that supports the permanent magnet block is formed of the magnetic material, the magnetic flux easily flows on the back side of the permanent magnet block,
Less loss of magnetic force. Therefore, the attraction and repulsion action between the yoke block and the permanent magnet block is increased, and the relative rotational positions of both blocks are held more strongly.

It is preferable that the thickness of the intermediate rotating body is set so that the magnetic force of the permanent magnet block appearing in the spiral guide becomes a magnetic force in a range in which the magnetic piece is not adsorbed. Specifically, the magnetic force is 10 gauss. It is desirable to set as follows. In this case, the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet block mainly flows in the region of the intermediate rotor adjacent to the block, and the magnetic force appearing in the spiral guide portion does not attract the magnetic piece, so the magnetic piece sticks to the spiral. The increase in friction between the guide and the movable member does not occur.

At this time, the lubricating liquid may be supplied to the spiral guide from the radially inner side of the intermediate rotor. In this case, the lubricating liquid flows outward in the radial direction due to the centrifugal force that accompanies the rotation of the driving rotor and the driven rotor. Become. Furthermore, in this case,
The spiral guide may be formed by a spiral groove having a substantially semicircular cross section, and the engaging portion of the movable member may be formed by a sphere so that the sphere is engaged with the spiral groove. In this case, the lubricating liquid smoothly flows along the substantially semicircular cross section of the spiral groove, and the foreign matter attached to the spiral groove can be more surely dropped by this flow.

As another means for solving the above-mentioned problems, an operating force applying means is attached to the intermediate rotating body so that the magnetic poles of the permanent magnets appear alternately along the circumferential direction. A first permanent magnet block having a plurality of pole teeth facing a magnetic pole surface of the permanent magnet block;
A plurality of pairs of yokes are formed by combining the pole tooth ring and the second pole tooth ring so that the pole teeth of the second pole tooth ring alternate with each other along the circumferential direction. And a yoke block that is assembled so as to be displaced along a set pitch along the An electromagnetic coil block fixedly installed on a non-rotating member so that a magnetic inlet / outlet portion of an electromagnetic coil faces a first pole tooth ring and a second pole tooth ring of a corresponding yoke via an air gap. And the intermediate rotor is made of a non-magnetic material,
The permanent magnet block is fixed to the intermediate rotating body through a member made of a magnetic material.

In the case of the present invention, the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet block easily flows inside the member made of a magnetic material interposed between the block and the intermediate rotating body. Therefore, the loss of magnetic force is reduced, and the relative rotational positions of the yoke block and the permanent magnet block are held more reliably. Further, since the intermediate rotating body is made of a non-magnetic material, no magnetic field is generated in the intermediate rotating body, and therefore the magnetic material piece is not attracted to the spiral guide.

Further, in this case, the intermediate rotor may be made of a sintered metal, which makes it possible to easily manufacture the intermediate rotor at low cost.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, a first embodiment of the present invention (the invention corresponding to claim 1) shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 will be described. Incidentally, this embodiment applies the valve timing control device according to the present invention to the power transmission system on the intake side of an internal combustion engine, but it can also be applied to the power transmission system on the exhaust side of the internal combustion engine in the same manner. Is.

As shown in FIG. 1, the valve timing control device includes a cam shaft 1 rotatably supported by a cylinder head (not shown) of an internal combustion engine, and a front end portion of the cam shaft 1 as required. A drive plate 3 (drive rotating body in the present invention) having a timing sprocket 2 on the outer periphery, which is assembled so as to be capable of relative rotation, and is connected to a crankshaft (not shown) via a chain (not shown), and An assembly angle operation mechanism 5 arranged on the front side (left side in FIG. 1) of the drive plate 3 and the camshaft 1 for rotating the assembly angle of the both 3, 1 and this assembly angle operation mechanism 5. Further, it is arranged on the front side, and is provided with an operating force imparting means 4 for driving and operating the mechanism 5, and is mounted across the cylinder head (not shown) of the internal combustion engine and the front surface of the rocker cover to operate the assembly angle operating mechanism 5. V covering the front and periphery region of the force application means 4
TC housing 12 (non-rotating member in the present invention),
Is equipped with.

The drive plate 3 is formed in a disk shape having a stepped support hole 6 in the center thereof, and the support hole 6 portion is
It is rotatably supported by a flange ring 7 that is integrally connected to the front end of the camshaft 1. The front surface of the drive plate 3 (the surface on the side opposite to the camshaft 1) is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, three radial guides 8 composed of a pair of parallel guide walls 8a and 8b are mounted at equal intervals in the circumferential direction and along substantially the radial direction of the plate 3. A substantially rectangular movable member 17 is slidably assembled between the guide walls 8a and 8b of the direction guide 8.

On the front side of the flange ring 7, there is arranged a lever shaft 10 (a driven rotary member in the present invention) having three levers 9 protruding radially, and the lever shaft 10 together with the flange ring 7 is bolted. It is connected to the camshaft 1 by 13. A supply passage 25 for the lubricating liquid is provided along the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion of the bolt 13 from the camshaft 1 to the flange ring 7 and the lever shaft 10. The lubricating liquid is supplied to lubricate and cool the internal parts. It is adapted to be supplied into the VTC housing 12 through the passage 25. One end of a link 14 is pivotally connected to each lever 9 of the lever shaft 10 by a pin 15, and each movable member 17 assembled to the radial guide 8 is connected to the pin 11 at the other end of each link 14. It is pivotally connected by.

Since each movable member 17 is connected to the corresponding lever 9 of the lever shaft 10 via the link 14 in the state where it is guided by the radial guide 8 as described above, the movable member 17 receives an external force. When received and displaced along the radial guide 8, the drive plate 3 and the lever shaft 10 are relatively rotated by the action of the link 14 in a direction and an angle corresponding to the displacement of the movable member 17.

A holding hole 18 is provided at a predetermined position on the front side of each movable member 17, and a retainer 20 for holding a ball 19 as an engaging portion is slidably accommodated in the holding hole 18. At the same time, a coil spring 21 for urging the retainer 20 forward is housed. Retainer 20
Is provided with a hemispherical recess 20a in the center of the front surface, and the ball 19 is rotatably accommodated in this recess 20a.

A substantially disk-shaped intermediate rotating body 23 made of iron-based metal or the like is supported via a ball bearing 22 in front of the protruding position of the lever 9 on the lever shaft 10. A spiral groove 24 having a semicircular cross section is formed on the rear surface of the intermediate rotor 23.
A (spiral guide) is formed, and the ball 19 of each movable member 17 is rotatably guided and engaged with the spiral groove 24. The spiral of the spiral groove 24 is gradually reduced along the rotation direction R of the drive plate 3 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 and 8 (in FIG. 2, only the center line of the spiral groove 24 is shown). Is formed. Therefore, when the intermediate rotating body 23 relatively rotates in the delay direction with respect to the drive plate 3 in a state where the sphere 19 of the movable member 17 is engaged with the spiral groove 24, the movable member 17 has a radius along the spiral shape of the spiral groove 24. When the intermediate rotating body 23 relatively rotates in the advancing direction, it moves outward in the radial direction.

In the case of this embodiment, the assembly angle operating mechanism 5
Is constituted by the radial guide 8 of the drive plate 3, the movable member 17, the link 14, the lever 9, the spiral groove 24 of the intermediate rotating body 23, and the like described above. This assembly angle operation mechanism 5 moves the movable member 17 in the radial direction via the spiral groove 24 when a relative rotational operation force with respect to the cam shaft 1 is input from the operation force imparting means 4 to the intermediate rotating body 23. The displacement is further performed, and the rotational force is amplified to a set magnification through the link 14 and the lever 9, and the relative rotational force is applied to the drive plate 3 and the cam shaft 1.

On the other hand, the operating force applying means 4 includes an annular plate-shaped permanent magnet block 29 joined to the front side of the intermediate rotating body 23 (the side opposite to the drive plate 3) and the lever shaft 1.
A thin annular plate-shaped yoke block 30 integrally connected to the 0 and an electromagnetic coil block 32 mounted in the VTC housing 12 are provided, and a plurality of electromagnetic coils included in the electromagnetic coil block 32 are provided. Coil 33
A and 33B are connected to a drive circuit (not shown) including an excitation circuit, a pulse distribution circuit, etc., and this drive circuit is controlled by a controller (not shown).
The controller receives various input signals such as a crank angle, a cam angle, an engine speed, an engine load, etc., and outputs a control signal corresponding to the operating state of the engine to the drive circuit at any time.

As shown in FIG. 4, the permanent magnet block 29 has magnetic poles (N) extending in a radial direction on a plane orthogonal to the axial direction.
A plurality of magnetic poles (S poles) are magnetized along the circumferential direction so that different magnetic poles alternate. In FIG. 4, the magnetic pole surface of the N pole is indicated by 36n, and the magnetic pole surface of the S pole is indicated by 36s.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the yoke block 30 is provided with two sets of yokes 39A and 39B formed by a pair of first and second pole tooth rings 37 and 38, the inner peripheral edge of which is a lever. It is integrally connected to the shaft 10.

The first and second pole tooth rings 37 and 38 of the yokes 39A and 39B are made of a metal material having a high magnetic permeability, and as shown in FIG.
38a and a plurality of substantially trapezoidal pole teeth 37b ..., 38 extending radially inward or outward from the bases 37a, 38a.
b ... and are provided. In the case of this embodiment, the pole teeth 37b, 38b of each pole tooth ring 37, 38 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction and the tooth tips are directed toward the mating pole tooth ring side, that is, the first pole. The tooth tips of the tooth ring 37 extend radially inward and the tooth tips of the second pole tooth ring 38 extend radially outward. Then, the first pole tooth ring 37
The second pole tooth ring 38 and the second pole tooth ring 38 are joined by a resin material 40 which is an insulator such that the pole teeth 37b, 38b of the second pole tooth ring 38 are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction and have an equal pitch.

The two yokes 39A and 39B forming the yoke block 30 are arranged radially outward and inward so as to form a substantially disk-like structure, and have their respective polar teeth 37.
b and 38b are assembled so as to be displaced by a quarter pitch along the circumferential direction.

Further, the yoke block 30 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, both side surfaces thereof are arranged so as to face the permanent magnet block 29 and the electromagnetic coil block 32 in the axial direction, but the first and second pole tooth rings 37, 38 of the yokes 39A, 39B are , The ring-shaped base portions 37a and 38a are located on the electromagnetic coil block 32 side (left side in the drawing), and the trapezoidal pole teeth 37b and 38b are located on the permanent magnet block 29 side (right side in the drawing). The connecting portions between the teeth 37b and 38b and the base portions 37a and 38a are formed by being bent appropriately. Then, the yokes 39A, 3 of the yoke block 30
9B are the first and second pole tooth rings 37, 38 of each yoke.
Similar to the spaces, they are joined by the resin material 40 which is an insulator.

On the other hand, the electromagnetic coil block 32 has two layers of electromagnetic coils 33A, 33 arranged side by side in the radial direction.
B and the electromagnetic coils 33A and 33B are arranged in the respective peripheral regions,
The magnetic flux generated in the electromagnetic coil 33A is applied to the yoke block 30.
And a yoke 41 for guiding to the magnetically entering end portions 34, 35 (see FIG. 3) near each other.

The magnetic entry / exit portions 34, 35 of the electromagnetic coils 33A, 33B respectively correspond to the yokes 39A, 39 of the yoke block 30, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG.
It faces the ring-shaped base portions 37a, 38a of B via an air gap a in the axial direction. Therefore,
When the electromagnetic coils 33A and 33B are excited to generate a magnetic field in a predetermined direction, magnetic induction is generated in the corresponding yokes 39A and 39B of the yoke block 30 via the air gap a, and as a result, each of the yokes 39A and 39B is caused. Magnetic poles corresponding to the direction of the magnetic field appear in the pole tooth rings 37 and 38.

The magnetic fields generated by the electromagnetic coils 33A and 33B are
The magnetic poles of the pole teeth 37b and 38b facing the magnetic pole surfaces 36n and 36s of the permanent magnet block 29 are ¼ in the circumferential direction by switching in sequence in response to the pulse input of the drive circuit. It is designed to move pitch by pitch. Therefore, at this time, the intermediate rotating body 23 follows the movement of the magnetic poles along the circumferential direction on the yoke block 30 and rotates relatively to the lever shaft 10.

The electromagnetic coil block 32 is held by a holding block 42 made of a non-magnetic material such as aluminum, except for the magnetic entry / exit portions 34, 35 of both yokes 41, 41. It is attached to the VTC housing 12 via 42. The holding block 42 includes the yoke 4 on the side of the electromagnetic coil 33A on the radially outer side.
1, the inner peripheral surface of the electromagnetic coil 33B side yoke 41 on the radially inner side, and the magnetic entry / exit portions 3 of both yokes 41, 41.
4, 35 and the end surface on the opposite side are surrounded, and the bottom wall thereof is fixed to the inner surface of the end wall of the VTC housing 12 through locking pins 46 (see FIG. 1) to prevent rotation.
A ball bearing 50 is arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the holding block 42, and the block 42 is rotatably engaged with the lever shaft 10 via the ball bearing 50.

Further, on the outer peripheral wall of the holding block 42,
A cylindrical portion 49 extending in the direction of the timing sprocket 2 and surrounding the outer peripheral region of the yoke block 30 and the permanent magnet block 29 to the outer peripheral region of the intermediate rotating body 23 is integrally formed. The tubular portion 49 is the electromagnetic coil block 32.
Foreign matter is prevented from entering from the outer peripheral side into the space between the intermediate rotating body 23 and the electromagnetic body.

The supply passage 25 formed in the lever shaft 10 communicates with the tip of the lever shaft 10 so as to introduce the lubricating liquid into the cooling passage 48 of the holding block 42, while the lever 9 and the link 14 are communicated with each other. Pivot connection part and intermediate rotating body 23
And branch passages 53 and 54 for introducing the lubricating liquid to the engaging portions of the movable member 17 (engaging portions of the spiral groove 24 and the ball 19), respectively.
Is equipped with. Since these branch passages 53 and 54 are arranged radially inward of the pivotal connection portion and the engaging portion to be lubricated, the lubricating liquid introduced through these passages 53 and 54 operates the internal combustion engine. Due to the action of centrifugal force associated with the above, it is positively sent to the pivotal support connecting portion and the engaging portion.

Since this valve timing control device has the above-described structure, when the internal combustion engine is started or idle, as shown in FIG. 2, the assembly angle between the drive plate 3 and the lever shaft 10 is set to the latest. By maintaining the angle side, the rotation phase of the crankshaft and the camshaft 1 (the opening / closing timing of the engine valve) is set to the most retarded side, and the engine rotation can be stabilized and the fuel consumption can be improved.

Then, when the operation of the engine shifts to the normal operation from this state and a command to change the rotational phase to the most advanced side is issued from the controller (not shown) to the drive circuit of the electromagnetic coil block 32, The electromagnetic coil block 32 changes the generated magnetic field in a predetermined pattern in accordance with the instruction, and relatively rotates the permanent magnet block 29 together with the intermediate rotor 23 to the delay side. As a result, the movable member 17 engaged with the spiral groove 24 by the sphere 19 is maximally displaced inward in the radial direction along the radial guide 8 as shown in FIG. The assembly angle of the drive plate 3 and the lever shaft 10 is changed to the most advanced angle side. As a result,
The rotation phases of the crankshaft and the camshaft 1 are changed to the most advanced angle side, whereby the output of the engine can be increased.

When a command is issued from the controller to change the rotation phase to the most retarded side from this state, the electromagnetic coil block 32 changes the generated magnetic field in the reverse pattern to advance the intermediate rotating body 23. 2, the movable member 17 engaged with the spiral groove 24 is maximally displaced outward in the radial direction along the radial guide 8 as shown in FIG. As a result, the movable member 17 moves the drive plate 3 and the lever shaft 10 via the link 14 and the lever 9.
Is relatively rotated to change the rotation phases of the crankshaft and the camshaft 1 to the most retarded angle side.

Furthermore, the change of the rotational phase of the crankshaft and the camshaft 1 is not limited to the most advanced angle side position and the most retarded angle side position, but can be changed to an arbitrary position by the control of the controller. As shown in FIG. 8, it is also possible to change to an intermediate position between the most retarded position and the most advanced position.

Further, in the case of this valve timing control device, each electromagnetic coil 3 is changed even after the rotation phase is changed as described above.
The excitation of 3A and 33B is continued, and the rotation phase thereof is maintained by the attraction and repulsion action between the yoke block 30 and the permanent magnet block 29. Therefore, a large fluctuating torque of the camshaft 1 caused by the profile of the drive cam (not shown) and the biasing force of the valve spring (not shown) causes the movable member 1 to move through the lever shaft 10 and the link 14.
Even when it is input to 7, the assembling angle of the drive plate 2 and the lever shaft 10 is firmly maintained by the attraction and repulsion action between the yoke block 30 and the permanent magnet block 29.

Particularly, in this valve timing control device, since the intermediate rotor 23 to which the permanent magnet block 29 is fixed is made of a magnetic material, the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet block 29 flows inside the intermediate rotor 23. , The magnetic flux is hard to leak to the outside. Therefore, the attractive repulsive force between the yoke block 30 and the permanent magnet block 29 becomes larger, and the assembling angle between the drive plate 3 and the lever shaft 10 is also maintained more strongly in this respect.

By the way, during operation of the engine, a magnetic substance piece may be generated inside the VTC housing 12 or may be mixed with the lubricating liquid and flow into the VTC housing 12, as described above. When the magnetic flux flows through the intermediate rotating body 23, the magnetic material pieces in the VTC housing 12 are easily attracted to the periphery thereof. However, in this embodiment, at least the spiral groove 24 is set by setting the thickness of the intermediate rotating body 23 so that the magnetic force of the permanent magnet block 29 appearing in the spiral groove 24 does not attract the magnetic piece. It is devised so that magnetic pieces are not adsorbed inside. That is, since the magnetic flux flowing through the intermediate rotor 23 flows more in the portion closer to the permanent magnet block 29, the magnetic piece is prevented from adhering to the spiral groove 24 by increasing the thickness of the intermediate rotor 23 to a certain extent or more. can do. The magnetic force in the range in which the magnetic pieces were not adsorbed was 10 Gauss or less in the result of the experiment conducted by the applicant.

Further, in the case of this valve timing control device, since the lubricating liquid is introduced from the branch passage 54 on the radially inner side of the intermediate rotating body 23, the lubricating liquid is subjected to the action of the centrifugal force to flow in the spiral groove 24. Flowing relatively vigorously, spiral groove 2
The magnetic material piece that has attempted to adhere to the inside of 4 can be washed away by the flow. And at this time, the spiral groove 24
The flow of the lubricating liquid therein is smoother because the spiral groove 24 has a substantially semicircular cross section. Therefore, in the case of this device, it is possible to reliably prevent the magnetic material piece from adhering to the spiral groove 24, and therefore, the friction at the engaging portion between the spiral groove 24 and the ball 19 due to the adhesion of the magnetic material piece. The increase can be avoided.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention (an invention corresponding to claim 6) shown in FIG. 9 will be described.
It should be noted that the valve timing control device of this embodiment has the same structure as that of the intermediate rotor and the permanent magnet block except for the structure shown in FIGS.
Since it is similar to that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 8,
The same parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description of the overlapping parts will be omitted.

In the case of this valve timing control device, the intermediate rotor 123 is made of sintered metal which is a non-magnetic material, and the permanent magnet block 29 is intermediately rotated via the magnetic ring 60 made of a magnetic material such as iron-based metal. It is attached to the front surface of the body 123. A concave portion 123 a is formed on the front surface of the intermediate rotating body 123, and the magnetic ring 60 has the concave portion 123 a.
It is fitted to a.

In the case of this embodiment, although the intermediate rotor 123 itself is made of sintered metal which is a non-magnetic material, the magnetic ring 60 is interposed between the permanent magnet block 29 and the intermediate rotor 123. Therefore, the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet block 29 easily flows through the magnetic ring 60, and as a result, a strong magnetic attractive repulsive force is generated between the yoke block 30 and the permanent magnet block 29. Therefore, also in this embodiment, the assembly angle of the drive plate 3 and the lever shaft 10 can be firmly maintained at a desired angle as in the first embodiment.

Further, in this embodiment, since the intermediate rotating body 123 is made of a non-magnetic material, the magnetic field of the permanent magnet block 29 does not act on the spiral groove 24. Therefore, the magnetic material piece in the VTC housing 12 is not adsorbed in the spiral groove 24, and the increase in the friction between the spiral groove 24 and the ball 19 due to the adsorption can be reliably eliminated.

Further, in the case of this embodiment, since the intermediate rotating body 123 is formed of the sintered metal, it can be relatively easily manufactured by the mold, and high mechanical strength can be easily obtained. In addition to the sintered metal, for example, a hard resin or the like can be used as the material of the intermediate rotating body 123.

In the two embodiments described above, the drive plate 3 having the timing sprocket 2 is used as the drive rotating body. However, the drive rotating body is not limited to this, and a timing pulley to which rotation is transmitted by a belt or It is also possible to employ gear parts that directly mesh with the gears of other shafts.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, the electromagnetic coil block is fixedly installed on the non-rotating member, and the magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coil of this block is changed in a predetermined pattern to relatively rotate the yoke block and the permanent magnet block. In addition to moving, the basic structure that holds the relative rotating position of the yoke block and the permanent magnet block by the magnetic attraction repulsive force acting between the yoke block and the permanent magnet block. Formed by material,
Alternatively, since a magnetic material is interposed between the permanent magnet block and the intermediate rotor to improve the flow of magnetic flux on the back side of the permanent magnet block, the assembly angle between the drive rotor and the driven rotor is increased. The magnetic attraction repulsive force can always be surely retained. Therefore, according to the present invention, irrespective of the torque fluctuation of the camshaft due to the profile of the drive cam and the biasing force of the valve spring,
The valve timing can always be controlled accurately and stably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1 showing the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. 1 showing the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an electromagnet block showing the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the same embodiment, omitting illustration of a filling resin material of a yoke block.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an electromagnetic coil block showing the same embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing an operating state of the same embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing another operating state of the same embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a conventional technique.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the same technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Camshaft 3 ... Drive plate (drive rotor) 4 ... Operation force imparting means 8 ... Radial guide 10 ... Lever shaft (driven rotor) 12 ... VTC housing (non-rotating member) 14 ... Link 17 ... Movable member 19 ... Ball (engaging part) 23, 123 ... Intermediate rotor 24 ... spiral groove (spiral guide) 29 ... Permanent magnet block 30 ... York block 32 ... Electromagnetic coil block 33A, 33B ... Electromagnetic coil 33, 34 ... Magnetic entry / exit 37 ... 1st pole tooth ring 38 ... Second pole tooth ring 39A, 39B ... York 60 ... Magnetic ring (member made of magnetic material) a ... Air gap

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Katsunari Yoshida             1370 Onna, Atsugi, Kanagawa             Nissia Jex F term (reference) 3G013 AA06 BC06 BD41                 3G018 AB02 BA01 BA10 BA32 CA16                       DA36 DA38 DA39 DA40 DA42                       DA68 DA81

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A driven rotating body that is rotationally driven by a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, and a driven rotating body that is composed of a camshaft or a separate member connected to the shaft, and that receives power from the driving rotating body, A radial guide provided on one of the drive rotating body and the driven rotating body,
An intermediate rotating body which is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the drive rotating body and the driven rotating body, and has a spiral guide on a surface facing the radial guide, and is displaceable in the radial direction in the radial guide. One of the plurality of movable members, which are engaged with each other in the guide direction and each of which has an engaging portion that is guidedly engaged with the spiral guide at one end in the axial direction, and the driving rotary body and the driven rotary body. A link that pivotally connects the movable member and a part that is separated from the center of rotation of the other one, and a non-rotating member that is attached to the intermediate rotating body and applies a relative rotational operation force to the drive rotating body and the driven rotating body. An operating force applying means for applying the operating force applying means, wherein the operating force applying means rotationally operates the intermediate rotating body with respect to the driving rotating body and the driven rotating body to radially move the movable member engaged with the spiral guide. Follow the guide In the valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine, which displaces the displacement in the radial direction and converts the displacement into the relative rotation of the driving rotary body and the driven rotary body via the link, A permanent magnet block that is attached and configured such that the magnetic poles of the permanent magnets appear alternately along the circumferential direction, a first pole tooth ring having a plurality of pole teeth facing the pole faces of the permanent magnet block, and There are a plurality of pairs of yokes that are formed by combining two pole teeth rings so that the pole teeth of the two pole teeth are alternately arranged along the circumferential direction. It has a yoke block that is assembled so as to be displaced and is provided entirely on one of the driving rotary body and the driven rotary body, and a plurality of phase electromagnetic coils corresponding to each yoke of this yoke block. An electromagnetic coil block fixedly installed on a non-rotating member so that the magnetic entry / exit of the magnetic coil faces the first pole tooth ring and the second pole tooth ring of the corresponding yoke via an air gap. A valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine, wherein the intermediate rotor is made of a magnetic material. 2. The thickness of the intermediate rotating body is set so that the magnetic force of the permanent magnet block appearing in the spiral guide is within a range in which the magnetic piece is not adsorbed. Valve timing control device for internal combustion engine. 3. The valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the intermediate rotor is set such that the magnetic force appearing in the spiral guide is 10 gauss or less. 4. The lubricating liquid is supplied to the spiral guide from the radially inner side of the intermediate rotating body.
4. The valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine according to any one of 3 to 3. 5. The spiral guide is formed by a spiral groove having a substantially semicircular cross section, while the engaging portion of the movable member is formed by a sphere, and the sphere is engaged with the spiral groove. The valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. A driven rotating body that is rotationally driven by a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, and a driven rotating body that is composed of a camshaft or a separate member coupled to the same shaft, and a driven rotating body to which power is transmitted from the driving rotating body, A radial guide provided on one of the drive rotating body and the driven rotating body,
An intermediate rotating body which is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the drive rotating body and the driven rotating body, and has a spiral guide on a surface facing the radial guide, and is displaceable in the radial direction in the radial guide. One of the plurality of movable members, which are engaged with each other in the guide direction and each of which has an engaging portion that is guidedly engaged with the spiral guide at one end in the axial direction, and the driving rotary body and the driven rotary body. A link that pivotally connects the movable member and a part that is separated from the center of rotation of the other one, and a non-rotating member that is attached to the intermediate rotating body and applies a relative rotational operation force to the drive rotating body and the driven rotating body. An operating force applying means for applying the operating force applying means, wherein the operating force applying means rotationally operates the intermediate rotating body with respect to the driving rotating body and the driven rotating body to radially move the movable member engaged with the spiral guide. Follow the guide In the valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine, which displaces the displacement in the radial direction and converts the displacement into the relative rotation of the driving rotary body and the driven rotary body via the link, A permanent magnet block that is attached and configured such that the magnetic poles of the permanent magnets appear alternately along the circumferential direction, a first pole tooth ring having a plurality of pole teeth facing the pole faces of the permanent magnet block, and a first pole tooth ring. There are a plurality of pairs of yokes that are formed by combining two pole teeth rings so that the pole teeth of the two pole teeth are alternately arranged along the circumferential direction. It has a yoke block that is assembled so as to be displaced and is provided entirely on one of the driving rotary body and the driven rotary body, and a plurality of phase electromagnetic coils corresponding to each yoke of this yoke block. An electromagnetic coil block fixedly installed on a non-rotating member so that the magnetic entry / exit of the magnetic coil faces the first pole tooth ring and the second pole tooth ring of the corresponding yoke via an air gap. A valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine, wherein the intermediate rotating body is formed of a non-magnetic material, and the permanent magnet block is fixed to the intermediate rotating body via a member made of a magnetic material. 7. The valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 6, wherein the intermediate rotating body is made of sintered metal.