JP2004116410A - Valve timing control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure locking operation control. <P>SOLUTION: In this valve timing control device provided with a lock mechanism which realizes intermediate locking in a locking phase, an abutting part between a locking body 60 and an external rotor 2 is provided with a hole, a groove or a projection for reducing contact area, or the surface is knurled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a driving-side rotating member that rotates synchronously with respect to a crankshaft, and a driven-side rotating member that is coaxially disposed with respect to the driving-side rotating member and rotates integrally with a camshaft. It is configured to be variably controllable, and includes a lock mechanism for restraining relative rotation between the driving side rotating member and the driven side rotating member,
The lock mechanism is configured so that the posture can be freely changed between a lock posture in which the relative rotation is restricted and a lock release posture in which the relative rotation is allowed,
In the locked position, the mechanical biasing means causes the one of the driving-side rotating member and the driven-side rotating member to protrude into the other rotating member to restrain the relative rotation. A lock mechanism that retreats from the rotating member to one of the rotating members and allows relative rotation is provided in the lock mechanism,
The present invention relates to a valve opening / closing timing control device having, in a lock release posture, a contact portion in which a lock body abuts one rotation member on the lock body and one rotation member.
[0002]
[Prior art]
During normal operation of the engine, this type of valve timing control device changes the relative rotation phase of a driving-side rotating member such as an external rotor that is rotated synchronously with a crankshaft, and a driven-side rotating member that is connected to a camshaft such as an internal rotor. To ensure proper operation of the engine.
The lock mechanism provided in the valve timing control device is provided to restrict and allow relative rotation between the driving-side rotating member and the driven-side rotating member, and is maintained in an unlocked state when the relative rotation phase is changed. Then, for example, at the time when it is desired to secure a predetermined relative rotation phase such as when starting the engine, the locked state is established.
That is, the lock mechanism takes a lock posture when the engine is started, and takes a lock release posture in a normal operation state. In this way, a proper starting state is ensured at the time of starting.
[0003]
The lock mechanism includes a so-called lock body, and the lock body protrudes from one rotating member side to the other rotating member side, and the relative rotation is restricted by the locking body intervening between the two. Locked posture. On the other hand, when the lock body retreats toward one of the rotating members, the lock body becomes an unlocked posture in which relative rotation between the two is allowed.
[0004]
Various structures can be considered as the rush and retraction control structure of this type of lock body, but usually, the lock body is moved from one rotary member side to the other rotary member side by the action of mechanical biasing means such as a spring. When the relative rotation phase between the two rotating members reaches a lock phase, which is a phase that requires locking, the lock body protrudes into the other rotating member.
[0005]
On the other hand, regarding retraction of the lock body, for example, hydraulic pressure is supplied to the other rotating member side end of the lock body, and the lock body is pushed back to the one rotating member side against the urging force of the mechanical urging means. Structure is adopted. As this kind of lock body, a plate-shaped thing and a pin-shaped thing are proposed.
[0006]
As a conventional example of this type of technology, there is one in which the biasing force of a spring is determined in consideration of the centrifugal force at the time of idling (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0007]
This technology is to change the lock position from the lock position to the unlock position by moving the lock body in the radial direction of the rotating member, and to set the load of a spring that is a biasing means of the lock body toward the other rotating member. It has been proposed to set the biasing force of the spring in consideration of the centrifugal force acting on the pin.
[0008]
That is, in this technique, the biasing force F2 of the spring is selected to be greater than the hydraulic pressure F1 for unlocking and smaller than the sum of the hydraulic pressure F1 and the centrifugal force F3 during idling, thereby avoiding a malfunction during locking. You.
When the relative rotation phase between the two rotating members reaches the lock phase, the change from the unlocked posture to the locked posture is performed by the urging force F2 of the spring when the hydraulic pressure supplied to the inner surface of the lock body is released. From the locked position to the unlocked position, the sum of the force F1 by the hydraulic pressure supplied to the lower surface of the lock body and the centrifugal force F3 generated by the engine rotation exceeds the load F3 by the spring acting on the upper surface of the lock body. Transition at the stage where it was.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-227311 A (Page 2, FIG. 9)
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Now, the problem of the present invention will be described by taking the above configuration as an example.In the course of the development process of the valve opening / closing timing control device, the present inventors have found that the posture change movement time from the unlocked posture to the locked posture is a desired time. It has been found that it can be larger than the time interval.
[0011]
For example, in the case of employing a start lock structure that locks when the engine is started in a cold state, a change in the relative rotation phase between the rotating members is caused by the rotation of the cam together with the start of the engine. It has been found that, even when the lock member has reached the position, the lock body may protrude into the counterpart rotating member in some cases. If such a delay occurs, proper lock control may not be performed. Also, when a stop lock structure is employed in which the advance oil, retard oil, and lock hydraulic oil are drained when the engine is stopped and lock operation control is performed, the relative rotation phase is the same as the start lock structure. , The rush of the lock body into the mating rotary member may be delayed, and proper lock control may not be performed.
[0012]
More specifically, in the start lock operation between the warm-up operation state and the cold operation state, a delay of several tens of ms may occur.
[0013]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to ensure lock operation control.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a characteristic configuration of the valve opening / closing timing control device according to the present invention is, as described in claim 1, at least part of the contact portion, at least partially with respect to the opposing side surface. The object is to provide a partial contact component that makes contact.
In this case, the partial contact component may be formed by machining the lock body, machining the surface of the mating rotary member facing the lock body, or both.
[0015]
As a result of pursuing the cause of the above-described problem of the present application, the above-described delay is caused, for example, in the configuration shown in FIG. 2, between the head (the radially outer end) of the lock body and the inner surface of the external rotor. It has been found that oil adheres to the oil, and the above-described problem may occur due to the adsorption action of the oil. The inventors presume that this oil is the hydraulic oil used for changing the relative rotation phase.
Furthermore, this kind of oil may be replaced by the rider of the vehicle as appropriate, and it is not considered that the viscosity falls within a predetermined range.
[0016]
Conventionally, the head end surface and the mating side surface (contact surface) of the lock body are flat surfaces, and it is considered that this surface structure may cause a problem in the present application in lock control. .
[0017]
Therefore, in the valve timing control apparatus of the present application, as described above, a partial contact component is provided in a part of the contact portion. By providing such a partial contact configuration portion, it is possible to reduce the adsorption effect of the oil in this portion, and it is possible to enhance the controllability in controlling the lock operation.
[0018]
As described in claim 4, this kind of partial contact component can be any one of a contact area reducing structure, a line contact structure, and a point contact structure at an opposing surface portion facing the opposing surface.
FIGS. 8, 9 (b), (c), and 10 (b) show examples in which a contact area is reduced by providing a concave portion on the facing surface portion, and FIGS. 9 (d) and 10 (d) show examples in which a linear groove is formed and a line contact structure is formed, and a point contact structure is formed by providing a projection at a predetermined portion.
A partial contact structure can be obtained by any of these techniques.
[0019]
Now, with respect to the portion where such a partial contact component is provided, the locking member is configured to restrict the relative rotation in the sliding contact surface on which the locking member slides or the locking position in accordance with the change in the posture of the locking member. The constraining force transmitting surface to which the force is transmitted is removed. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the surface provided on the external rotor and in which the lock body slides along the rotation shaft radial direction or abuts in the rotation circumferential direction is excluded.
[0020]
The sliding surface may obstruct the movement of the lock body, and the restraining force transmitting surface exerts the restraining force required for locking. This is because a problem may occur.
Further, the partial contact constituting portion referred to in the present application is provided on at least a part of the contact portion where the lock body and the mating member surface directly contact each other in the locked posture. For example, as shown in FIG. The lock body has a concave portion 65 into which the spring 61 is fitted, but a portion that does not directly contact in a state where this kind of partial contact structure is not applied is a contact portion referred to in the present application. Absent.
[0021]
Now, as described in claim 2, one end of the lock body on the side of the rotating member in the posture change movement direction of the lock body, which is the direction in which the lock body moves between the lock posture and the lock release posture. It is preferable that the partial contact component is provided on a portion or an inner surface of one of the rotating members opposed to the end of the one rotating member.
[0022]
The lock body moves in a predetermined direction during the posture change movement. In this direction, one end of the lock body on the side of the rotating member is usually a contact surface, and corresponds to the end of movement of the lock body. If the attraction force described in the present application is generated in this vicinity, it becomes a factor inhibiting movement.
Therefore, by providing the partial contact component on this end face and in the vicinity thereof, it is possible to reduce the obstruction of the movement of the lock body by the suction force.
[0023]
And, as described in claim 3, between the locking posture and the unlocking posture, the orthogonal contact portion orthogonal to the posture changing movement direction of the lock body, which is the direction in which the lock body moves, Preferably, the partial contact component is provided.
When a suction force is generated in the orthogonal contact portion, the suction force acts in a direction opposite to the direction of the urging force. Therefore, by providing the partial contact component in the orthogonal contact portion, it is possible to obtain a relatively large effect of reducing the attraction force.
[0024]
Further, as described in claim 5, one rotating member is a driving-side rotating member, and the other rotating member is the driven-side rotating member,
In the radial direction of rotation, which is a direction that approaches or separates from the rotation axis of the rotating member, the driving-side rotating member is located on the outer diameter side with respect to the driven-side rotating member, and the lock body is configured to lock the rotating radial direction with the locking posture and lock. It is preferable to set the direction to move to the release posture.
[0025]
This configuration corresponds to the structure described above in the section of the prior art.
Therefore, the selection range of the biasing force of the spring as the biasing means is relatively narrow, and the inventor of the present application newly finds and solves a problem to be solved by adjusting the biasing means side. In some cases, it is impossible.
On the other hand, as in the present application, by providing a partial contact configuration portion at a position where a problematic attraction force is likely to be generated, and reducing the effect of the attraction force, the biasing side is established by the prior art. The problem addressed by the present application can be separately solved while utilizing the structure.
[0026]
More specifically, in the configuration disclosed in the prior art, when setting the urging force by the spring as the urging means, this is set by adding the amount of adsorption action by oil, and the release side follows the current structure. In such a case, there is a possibility that a normal operation cannot be obtained due to the shift to the locking posture.
On the other hand, since the predetermined contact portion is a partial contact component, the generation of the suction force in this portion can be reduced, and the influence of the suction on the transition from the unlocked position to the locked position by the urging means can be reduced. Can be reduced, and normal operation can be performed while the design of the biasing means side satisfies the requirements of the conventional method.
[0027]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
(Basic configuration)
As shown in FIG. 1, the valve opening / closing timing control device is disposed coaxially with the external rotor 2 as a driving-side rotating member that rotates synchronously with respect to a crankshaft of an automobile engine, An internal rotor 1 as a driven-side rotating member that rotates integrally with the camshaft is provided.
[0028]
The internal rotor 1 is integrally attached to a tip end of a camshaft 3 supported so as to rotate integrally with a cylinder head of the engine.
[0029]
The external rotor 2 is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the internal rotor 1 within a range of a predetermined relative rotation phase, and a timing sprocket integrally provided on the front plate 22, the rear plate 23 and the outer periphery of the external rotor 2. 20.
[0030]
A power transmission member 24 such as a timing chain or a timing belt is provided between the timing sprocket 20 and a gear attached to a crankshaft of the engine.
[0031]
Then, when the crankshaft of the engine is rotationally driven, the rotational power is transmitted to the timing sprocket 20 via the power transmission member 24, so that the external rotor 2 provided with the timing sprocket 20 moves in the rotational direction S shown in FIG. And the internal rotor 1 is rotationally driven along the rotational direction S to rotate the camshaft 3, and the cam provided on the camshaft 3 pushes down the intake or exhaust valve of the engine to open it. .
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of protrusions 4 functioning as radially inwardly protruding shoes are arranged on the outer rotor 2 so as to be spaced apart from each other along the rotation direction. A fluid pressure chamber 40 defined by the outer rotor 2 and the inner rotor 1 is formed between each of the adjacent protrusions 4 of the outer rotor 2.
[0033]
A vane groove 41 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the internal rotor 1 at a position facing each of the fluid pressure chambers 40, and the fluid pressure chamber 40 is formed in the vane groove 41 in a relative rotation direction (arrow in FIG. 2). In the S1 and S2 directions), a vane 5 that partitions the advance chamber 43 and the retard chamber 42 is slidably inserted in the radial direction.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vane 5 is urged toward the wall surface w of the fluid pressure chamber by a spring 51 provided on the inner diameter side.
[0034]
The advance chamber 43 communicates with the advance passage 11 formed in the internal rotor 1, the retard chamber 42 communicates with the retard passage 10 formed in the internal rotor 1, and the advance passage 11 and the retard The passage 10 is connected to a hydraulic circuit 7 described below.
[0035]
Between the internal rotor 1 and the external rotor 2, when the relative rotation phase is in a predetermined lock phase (phase shown in FIG. 2) set between the most advanced phase and the most retarded phase, A lock mechanism 6 capable of restraining relative rotation between the rotor 1 and the external rotor 2 is provided.
[0036]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lock mechanism 6 includes a retard lock part 6 </ b> A and an advance lock part 6 </ b> B provided on the external rotor 2, and a concave lock oil on a part of the outer peripheral part of the internal rotor 1. And a chamber 62.
[0037]
As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, the retard angle lock portion 6A and the advance angle lock portion 6B include a lock body 60 slidably provided in the outer rotor 2 in the radial direction, and a lock body 60 having a diameter. A spring 61 is provided as mechanical biasing means for biasing inward. The spring 61 is fitted into the recess 65 of the lock body 60 and urges the lock body 60 from the external rotor 2 side to the inner diameter side.
In the examples shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 8, and 9, the lock body 60 is a plate type having a plate shape, and may be a pin type having a pin shape as shown in FIG. Further, other shapes can be adopted.
[0038]
In the present application, the lock body 60 is provided with a partial contact component 66. As shown in FIG. 8, the partial contact component 66 is provided with a pair of recesses 67 in the head of a lock body 60 having a plate shape to reduce the contact area with the inner surface of the external rotor.
As a result, the contact area between the lock body 60 and the outer rotor 2 is reduced, and oil is prevented from entering between the contact portions, and the movement of the lock body 60 to the inner rotor side is prevented from being delayed by the suction force. ing.
[0039]
The retard lock portion 6A prevents the internal rotor 1 from rotating relative to the external rotor 2 in the retard direction by causing the lock body 60 to protrude into the lock oil chamber 62. The lock portion 6B prevents the internal rotor 1 from rotating relative to the external rotor 2 in the advancing direction by causing the lock body 60 to protrude into the lock oil chamber 62.
[0040]
As shown in FIG. 2, the relative rotation between the internal rotor 1 and the external rotor 2 is caused by projecting the lock bodies 60 of both the retard lock part 6A and the advance lock part 6B into the lock oil chamber 62. A so-called locked state is achieved in which the phase is restricted to a predetermined lock phase set between the most advanced phase and the most retarded phase. The posture that the lock mechanism 6 takes in this state is called a lock posture. The lock phase is set such that the opening and closing timing of the valve of the engine can obtain a smooth startability of the engine.
[0041]
Here, when the lock body 60 enters the lock oil chamber 62, the lock oil supplied through the hydraulic circuit 7 into the lock oil chamber 62 is drained as shown in FIGS. In this state, it is caused by the urging force of the spring 61. On the other hand, the retraction of the lock body 60 from the lock oil chamber 62 occurs in a state where the lock oil is supplied to the lock oil chamber 62 via the hydraulic circuit 7 as shown in FIG. The posture taken by the lock mechanism 6 in this state is called a lock release posture.
[0042]
Therefore, the supply and discharge of the lock oil governs the operation of the lock mechanism 6. However, in order to lock, it is natural that the relative position between the outer rotor 2 and the inner rotor 1 needs to be in the lock phase.
[0043]
[Hydraulic oil supply / discharge configuration]
The hydraulic circuit 7 basically supplies and discharges oil as hydraulic oil to one or both of the advance chamber 43 and the retard chamber 42 via the advance passage 11 and the retard passage 10, and the vane 5, the relative rotational phase of the outer rotor 2 and the internal rotor 1 is changed to the most advanced phase (the relative rotational phase when the volume of the advanced chamber 43 is maximum). It functions as a relative rotation phase adjustment mechanism that can be adjusted to a retard phase (a relative rotation phase when the volume of the retard chamber 42 is maximized).
Further, the hydraulic circuit 7 also performs lock and unlock operations required to execute the relative rotation phase setting.
[0044]
More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hydraulic circuit 7 is driven by the driving force of the engine, and supplies a hydraulic oil or an oil to be a lock oil described later to the control valve 76 side, and a power supply by the ECU 9. The system is provided with a solenoid-type control valve 76 for changing the position of the spool by the amount control to supply and discharge oil to and from a plurality of ports, and an oil pan 75 for storing oil.
The advance passage 11 and the retard passage 10 are connected to predetermined ports of the control valve 76.
[0045]
The lock oil chamber 62 communicates with a lock oil passage 63 formed in the internal rotor 1, and the lock oil passage 63 is connected to a predetermined port of the control valve 76 of the hydraulic circuit 7.
[0046]
That is, the hydraulic circuit 7 is configured to supply and discharge oil as lock oil to the lock oil chamber 62 through the lock oil passage 63, and the lock oil is supplied to the lock oil chamber 62 from the control valve 76. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the lock body 60 retreats to the outer rotor 2 side, and the locked state of the relative rotation between the outer rotor 2 and the inner rotor 1 is released.
[0047]
(Operation control of control valve)
As shown in FIG. 4, the control valve 76 of the hydraulic circuit 7 changes the spool position from the position W1 to the position W4 in proportion to the amount of power supplied from the ECU 9, and controls the advance chamber 43, the retard chamber 42, and the lock. The oil chamber 62 is configured to switch between supply, drain, stop, and the like of oil serving as hydraulic oil or lock oil.
[0048]
That is, by setting the spool position of the control valve 76 to the position W1, the drain operation of draining the lock oil in the lock oil chamber 62 together with the hydraulic oil in the advance chamber 43 and the retard chamber 42 to the oil pan 75 side is executed. Can be.
[0049]
By setting the spool position of the control valve 76 to the position W2, the lock oil is supplied to the lock oil chamber 62 to release the locked state of the relative rotation between the outer rotor 2 and the inner rotor 1, While the hydraulic oil is being drained, the hydraulic oil is supplied to the advance chamber 43 to perform an advance transition operation of moving the relative rotation phase between the external rotor 2 and the internal rotor 1 in the advance direction S2.
[0050]
By setting the spool position of the control valve 76 to the position W3, the supply of hydraulic oil to the advance chamber 43 and the retard chamber 42 is stopped while unlocking the relative rotation between the external rotor 2 and the internal rotor 1. Thus, a holding operation of holding the relative rotational phase between the outer rotor 2 and the inner rotor 1 at the current phase can be executed.
[0051]
By setting the spool position of the control valve 76 to the position W4, the locked state of the relative rotation between the outer rotor 2 and the inner rotor 1 is released, and further, while the hydraulic oil in the advance chamber 43 is drained, the retard chamber 42 , The operation of shifting the relative rotation phase between the outer rotor 2 and the inner rotor 1 in the retard direction S1 can be performed.
Note that the operation configuration of the control valve 76 is not limited to the above, and can be appropriately changed.
[0052]
(Operation control)
The ECU 9 provided in the engine includes a memory storing a predetermined program and the like, a CPU, an input output interface, and the like.
As shown in FIG. 1, the ECU 9 includes a cam angle sensor 90a for detecting a phase of a camshaft, a crank angle sensor 90b for detecting a phase of a crankshaft, an oil temperature sensor 90c for detecting a temperature of engine oil, and a crankshaft. Various types of sensors such as a speed sensor 90d for detecting the speed (engine speed), an IG key switch (abbreviated as IG / SW) 90e, and other sensors such as a vehicle speed sensor, an engine coolant temperature sensor, or a slot opening sensor The detection signal of the sensor is input. Further, the ECU 9 determines the relative rotation phase between the camshaft and the crankshaft, that is, the valve opening / closing timing control device, based on the phase of the camshaft detected by the cam angle sensor 90a and the phase of the crankshaft detected by the crank angle sensor 90b. The relative rotation phase between the inner rotor 1 and the outer rotor 2 can be determined.
[0053]
The ECU 9 adjusts the amount of power supplied to the control valve 76 of the hydraulic circuit 7 based on the operating state of the engine, such as the temperature of the engine oil, the number of revolutions of the crankshaft, the vehicle speed, the slot opening, and the like. It is configured to control the relative rotation phase between the internal rotor 1 and the external rotor 2 to a phase suitable for the operation state.
[0054]
〔motion〕
Next, start lock control of the valve timing control device at the time of engine start will be described with reference to FIG.
[0055]
Start lock operation
When an input signal is input from the IG / SW 90e, the ECU 9 cranks the crankshaft (meaning forcibly rotating the crankshaft with a starter) and starts the engine. With the spool position of the control valve 76 as the position W1, the hydraulic oil in the advance chamber 43 and the retard chamber 42 and the lock oil in the lock oil chamber 62 are drained.
[0056]
When the crankshaft is cranked in a state where the hydraulic oil in the advance chamber 43 and the retard chamber 42 is drained, fluid is generated due to a periodic cam fluctuation torque generated for driving the valve to open and close on the camshaft. The vane 5 reciprocates in the pressure chamber 40, and the relative rotational phase of the internal rotor 1 and the external rotor 2 periodically fluctuates in a region sandwiching the lock phase. At the time of this start, the pair of lock members 60 are in the unlocked position, and are urged by the spring 61 toward the internal rotor 1.
[0057]
That is, while the pair of lock members 60 are urged toward the internal rotor 1, the relative rotation phase periodically fluctuates in a region sandwiching the lock phase, thereby causing the instant when the relative rotation phase becomes the lock phase. Then, the pair of lock bodies 60 protrude into the lock oil chamber 62, and the lock state is established in which the relative rotational phase is favorably restrained by the lock phase. In this locking operation, in the present application, since the external rotor 2 and the head of the lock body 60 (which will be the contact portion in the present application) are provided with the partial contact component 66, they have entered this portion. The locking operation is not easily affected by oil.
In this way, when the engine is started, the relative rotation phase is quickly locked to the lock phase, whereby good engine startability can be obtained.
[0058]
As described above, after starting in the locked state, the relative rotation phase control can be performed according to the operating state of the engine.
[0059]
[Another embodiment]
(1) Another embodiment of the lock mechanism
In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the lock mechanism moves from the outer rotor on the outer diameter side, which is the driving side, to the inner rotor side, which is the driven side, to configure the lock mechanism. However, the moving direction of the lock body is not limited to the rotation radial direction orthogonal to the rotation axis, but is moved in a direction parallel to the rotation axis or in a direction inclined with respect to this direction to lock. May be.
[0060]
Further, the movement of the lock body may be configured to be locked by the movement in the opposite direction, in addition to the lock by the movement from the driving side to the driven side described in the embodiment.
(2) Lock body shape
As the lock body, besides the plate type shown in the above-mentioned embodiment, a pin type one can also be adopted. FIG. 9 shows a plate type, and FIG. 10 shows a pin shape. In these figures, a relatively large concave portion 65 indicates a storage portion of the spring 61 as mechanical biasing means.
(3) Position of the partial contact component
In the above-described embodiment, the partial contact component is provided on the head of the lock body 60 having the plate shape. May be provided at any position near the head.
(4) Structure of partial contact component
In the above-described embodiment, the concave portion is provided to reduce the contact area. However, processing such as forming a large number of linear grooves in this portion, performing knurling, and further providing a projection is performed. Alternatively, a line contact structure or a point contact structure may be used.
In FIG. 9 (A), the plate subjected to knurling, and in the one shown in FIG. 9 (B), the shape of the plate head is made semicircular in the cross section in the thickness direction. , In which the contact area is reduced.
As described above, in the case of the plate type, a smooth movement of the lock body can be secured by making its cross-sectional shape symmetric with respect to the center axis of the thickness. In addition, those having grooves and those having a point contact structure were shown.
FIGS. 10 (a) to 10 (d) show, in order of description, a lock pin having a substantially cylindrical shape, a plurality of concentric circumferential projections formed around the axis, and a radial groove formed. Knurling, and projections symmetrical to the axis.
Also in this case, smooth movement of the pin can be guaranteed by adopting a structure symmetrical to the center axis of the pin.
(5) Forming position of the partial contact component
In the embodiments described so far, the partial contact configuration portion referred to in the present application is provided on the lock body side. However, since the purpose is to reduce the contact area, the mating member (for example, the external rotor) with respect to the lock body is provided. This predetermined portion may be formed at (a predetermined portion).
FIG. 11 shows such an example. This is for the configuration of FIG. 2 and shows an example in which a partial contact component 630 is provided on the external rotor side.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a valve timing control apparatus;
FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view showing a locked state of a relative rotation phase by a lock mechanism;
FIG. 3 is an elevational sectional view showing an unlocked state of a relative rotation phase by a lock mechanism.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation configuration of a control valve.
FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing a control state of the valve timing control device when the engine is started.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing details of a lock mechanism.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the operation of the lock mechanism.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a lock body.
FIG. 9 is a view showing another embodiment of a lock body having a plate shape.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a lock body having a pin shape.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another embodiment in which a partial contact component is provided on a mating member with respect to a lock body.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Internal rotor
2: External rotor
3: camshaft
4: Projection
5: Vane
6: Lock mechanism
6A: Lock part for retard angle
6B: Lead angle lock
7: Hydraulic circuit
9: ECU
10: retarded passage
11: Advance passage
20: Timing sprocket
22: Front plate
23: Rear plate
24: Power transmission member
40: Fluid pressure chamber
41: Vane groove
42: retard room
43: Advance chamber
60: Lock body
61: Spring
62: Lock oil chamber
63: Lock oil passage
66: Partial contact component
70: Pump
75: Oil pan
76: Control valve
90a: cam angle sensor
90b: crank angle sensor
90c: Oil temperature sensor
90d: rotation speed sensor
90e: IG key switch (IG / SW)
630: Partial contact component

Claims (5)

The relative rotation phase between the drive-side rotating member that rotates synchronously with the crankshaft and the driven-side rotating member that is arranged coaxially with the drive-side rotating member and rotates integrally with the camshaft can be variably controlled. And a lock mechanism for restraining relative rotation between the driving-side rotating member and the driven-side rotating member,
The lock mechanism is configured to be able to change its posture between a lock posture in which the relative rotation is restricted and a lock release posture in which the relative rotation is allowed,
In the locked position, the rotation of one of the driving-side rotating member and the driven-side rotating member is inserted into the other rotating member to restrain the relative rotation by the action of the mechanical urging means, and the lock release is performed. A lock body that retreats from the other rotating member to the one rotating member in the posture and allows the relative rotation is provided in the lock mechanism,
A valve opening / closing timing control device having a contact portion in which the lock body abuts the one rotating member in the unlocking posture, the locking body and the one rotating member having:
A valve timing control device, wherein at least a part of the contact portion is provided with a partial contact configuration portion that partially contacts an opposing side surface. The one rotation member side end of the lock body or the one rotation member in a posture change movement direction of the lock body that is a direction in which the lock body moves between the lock posture and the lock release posture. 2. The valve timing control device according to claim 1, wherein the partial contact component is provided on an inner surface of the one rotating member facing a side end. The partial contact configuration part is provided in an orthogonal contact part orthogonal to a posture change movement direction of the lock body, which is a direction in which the lock body moves between the lock posture and the lock release posture. Item 4. The valve timing control device according to Item 1. The valve opening / closing timing control according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the partial contact configuration portion comprises at least one of a contact area reducing structure, a line contact structure, and a point contact structure at an opposing surface portion opposing the position. apparatus. The one rotating member is the drive-side rotating member, the other rotating member is the driven-side rotating member,
In a rotation radial direction that is a direction that approaches or separates from a rotation axis of the rotation member, the driving-side rotation member is located on the outer diameter side with respect to the driven-side rotation member, and the lock body is configured to rotate in the rotation radial direction. The valve opening / closing timing control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a direction in which the valve moves between the lock position and the unlock position.

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