JP2005083264A - Valve timing adjustable device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a valve timing adjustable device capable of enhancing workability at assembling of a chip seal without affecting the process at manufacturing of a plate spring and the chip seal. <P>SOLUTION: The valve timing adjustable device is installed in a drive force transmitting system to transmit the rotation force to a camshaft equipped with a cam to open and close a valve. A hydraulic chamber to make relative revolution between a case at an input side for the camshaft and a rotor at an output side to the camshaft is formed between the case and the rotor. The case and the rotor generate the relative revolution by controlling the hydraulic pressure for the hydraulic chamber so as to change rotation phase of the camshaft, and change an opening and closing timing of the valve. Both the chip seal and the plate spring which are attached to the case or the rotor to seal the hydraulic chamber are made of a metal plate. The valve timing adjustable device is a metallic assembly which is previously and mutually assembled with the chip seal and the plate spring. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a variable valve timing device for controlling the opening / closing timing of an intake valve or an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to a seal structure of the variable valve timing device.

  For the purpose of improving the output of an internal combustion engine, a technique has been proposed in which the timing at which an intake valve or exhaust valve opens or closes, that is, the valve timing is changed according to the operating state of the engine.

  Hereinafter, a conventional technique will be described. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional valve timing variable device, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a tip seal structure of the valve timing variable device. is there. In FIG. 4, 1 is an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as ECU) for controlling the oil control valve 2 and the like, 2 is an oil control valve (hereinafter referred to as OCV) 3 for supplying hydraulic oil to the actuator 3 under the control of the ECU 1. Is the actuator that controls the displacement angle of the camshaft 6 with respect to the timing pulley 8 when the hydraulic oil is supplied from the OCV2, and continuously adjusts the opening / closing timing of the intake valve. 4,5 is the hydraulic oil supplied from the OCV2 6 is a camshaft for opening and closing an intake valve of the engine, 7 is a cam of the camshaft 6, 8 is a timing pulley attached to one end of the camshaft 6, and 9 is a bearing of the camshaft 6.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a housing that is rotatably attached to the camshaft 6, 11 is a case fixed to the housing 10, 12 is a bolt that fixes the case 11 to the housing 10, and 13 is fixed to the camshaft 6. 11 is a rotor that rotates relative to 11.

  Turning to FIG. 5, 14 and 16 are chip seals for preventing oil movement between the hydraulic chambers 18 separated by the case 11 and the rotor 13, and 15 (see FIG. 4) is disposed between the case 11 and the chip seal 14. A leaf spring that presses the seal 14 against the rotor 13, 17 (see FIG. 6) is disposed between the rotor 13 and the tip seal 16, and a leaf spring that presses the tip seal 16 against the case 11, and 18 is separated by the case 11 and the rotor 13. Hydraulic chamber.

  Next, the operation will be described. The variable valve timing device controls the rotational direction of the housing 10 by controlling the amount of oil flowing into each hydraulic chamber 18 to control the opening / closing timing of the intake valve and exhaust valve of the engine. In order to prevent the movement of oil between them, the tip seal 14 is pressed against the rotor 13 and the tip seal 16 is pressed against the case 11.

  That is, the tip seal 14 is pressed against the rotor 13 by a leaf spring 15 disposed between the case 11 and the tip seal 14 as shown in FIG. Further, the tip seal 16 is pressed against the case 11 by a leaf spring 17 disposed between the rotor 13 and the tip seal 16 as shown in FIG.

  The tip seals 14 and 16 are assembled so that the tip seals 14 and 16 and the leaf springs 15 and 17 do not fall apart from the left side (front side in FIG. 5) to the right side (back side in FIG. 5). And assembling by inserting between the case 11 and the rotor 13. FIG. 7 shows an example of a combination of the tip seal 14 and the leaf spring 15. The leaf spring 15 is simply on the tip seal 14 and both are not fixed. The same applies to the tip seal 16 and the leaf spring 17. At this time, when the chip seals 14 and 16 are inserted, the leaf springs 15 and 17 may come off and fall. For this reason, the workability | operativity of the assembly | attachment operation | work was very bad and there existed problems, such as not being familiar with mass productivity.

  In order to solve the above problems, the tip seal has an L-shaped cross-section, the tip seal and the elastic member are integrally formed, or an elastic member having a lower hardness than the tip seal is fixed to the tip seal. A technique for improving workability of assembly work is disclosed (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-38909 A

  In the example of Patent Document 1, when the cross-sectional shape of the tip seal is L-shaped, it is necessary to change the shape of the rotor or the case according to the tip seal. Further, when the tip seal and an elastic member such as a spring are integrally formed, there are restrictions on the combination of materials to be integrally formed. Further, when an elastic member having a lower hardness than the chip seal is fixed to the chip seal, it is necessary to use a fixing method suitable for those materials. This improves the workability of the chip seal assembling process, but the process of manufacturing the leaf spring and the chip seal becomes complicated.

  The subject of this invention is providing the valve timing variable apparatus which can improve workability | operativity at the time of assembly | attachment of a chip seal, without affecting the process at the time of manufacturing a leaf | plate spring and a chip seal.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

The present invention is to provide a variable valve timing apparatus for solving the above-mentioned problems. That is,
Provided in a driving force transmission system that transmits a rotational force to a camshaft having a cam that opens and closes a valve, and between a first rotating body on the input side with respect to the camshaft and a second rotating body on the output side to the camshaft. A hydraulic chamber that causes relative rotation is formed between the first and second rotating bodies, and the first rotating body and the second rotating body cause relative rotation by controlling the hydraulic pressure with respect to the hydraulic chamber. In the valve timing variable device in which the rotational phase of the camshaft changes and the opening / closing timing of the valve is changed,
The first rotating body and the second rotating body are fitted concentrically and relatively rotatably so that one of the first rotating body and the second rotating body is outside and the other is inside, and the first and second rotating bodies are one or more in the circumferential direction. A fluid pressure chamber extending in the circumferential direction is formed between the seals by sealing in a liquid-tight manner at a position,
A tip seal mounted on the first rotating body or the second rotating body for the seal, and a leaf spring for biasing the tip seal toward the second rotating body or the first rotating body on the other side,
Both the tip seal and the leaf spring are made of metal sheet metal, and the tip seal and the leaf spring are combined in advance with each other, and the metal assembly is used as the first or second rotating body. It is provided as a variable valve timing device that is mounted and performs a sealing function.

According to claim 2, in the variable valve timing apparatus, the chip seal constituting the metal assembly has a box shape including a bottom portion serving as a sealing surface and both side wall portions bent and raised from both sides of the bottom portion. In addition, the side wall portion has a longitudinal shape in the depth direction, and a pair of claw portions for holding both end portions of the leaf spring is provided on both side wall portions with a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction,
The leaf spring is curved so that it protrudes on the opposite side of the bottom of the tip seal, and an engagement portion that is pressed by the claw portion is formed at both curved ends, and the leaf spring is engaged at both ends. It is attached to the chip seal so that the part is pressed by the claw parts at both ends of the chip seal, and the curved top part protrudes from the claw part on the opposite side to the bottom part, so that an integrated metal assembly is obtained. Is.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the variable valve timing device according to the second aspect, each claw portion of the tip seal is formed such that the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the both side wall portions is formed low, so that the upper end of the middle portion of the both side wall portions is formed. Is formed so as to protrude from the bottom to the opposite side and facing each other in the longitudinal direction, and the engaging portions that are pressed by the claw portions are the same as the convex side in the curved shape at both curved ends of the leaf spring It is formed so as to be bent at a predetermined angle to the side, and engaging portions at both end portions of the leaf spring engage with the claw portions of the chip seal to form an integral metal assembly.

  According to claim 4, in the variable valve timing device according to claim 3, engaging portions formed at both ends of the leaf spring are respectively inserted between the claw portions of the tip seal and the upper ends of both side wall portions. A slit is formed, and each engagement portion of the leaf spring is inserted into each slit, and a metal assembly in which the tip seal and the leaf spring are integrally combined is formed.

  According to claim 5, in the variable valve timing apparatus according to claim 2, each of the claw portions of the tip seal is formed so that both end sides in the longitudinal direction of both side wall portions are lower than the intermediate portion, so that both end portions of both side wall portions are formed. In the form protruding from the side to the opposite side of the bottom part, they are formed so as to face each other outward in the longitudinal direction, and the engaging parts pressed by the claw parts are convex on the curved ends of the leaf spring. Is formed so as to be bent at a predetermined angle to the same side and projecting on both sides in the width direction through a shoulder surface whose width at both ends is larger than the middle portion of the leaf spring. The engaging portion engages with the claw portion of the chip seal to form an integral metal assembly.

  According to claim 6, in the variable valve timing device according to claim 2, each claw portion of the tip seal includes an inclined surface inclined outward in the longitudinal direction with reference to the height direction of both side wall portions. Both end portions where the shoulder surface of the engaging portion of the leaf spring engages with the inclined surface, and the plate portion of the engaging portion protruding to both sides in the width direction of the leaf spring is formed lower than the middle portion of the both side wall portions It is made into an integral metal assembly.

  In the above valve timing variable device of the present invention, the tip seal and the leaf spring have a relatively simple shape and are manufactured by bending a metal plate. Therefore, in the step of manufacturing the tip seal without impairing mass productivity. There is no effect. Further, since the tip seal and the leaf spring are configured as an integral metal assembly, the leaf spring does not come off when the tip seal is assembled, and workability can be improved. Further, since the shape of the rotor and the case is not changed, there is no need for a development design period for the shape change (that is, no cost increase), and the tip seal and leaf spring of the existing valve timing variable device are replaced. It is also possible.

  A valve timing variable device that can improve the workability when assembling the tip seal without affecting the process of manufacturing the leaf spring and tip seal. The tip seal and leaf spring are both made of metal sheet metal. And a metal assembly in which the tip seal and the leaf spring are previously combined with each other.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to examples shown in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a tip seal structure of a variable valve timing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In addition, each component other than the later-described tip seal and leaf spring in the first embodiment is the same as each component of the conventional valve timing variable device shown in FIGS. Common constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The tip seal 31 is formed by bending a single metal plate as shown in FIG. First, before performing the bending process, engaging portions 31a (claw portions in the present invention) for engaging the leaf springs 32 are formed in advance at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the portion that becomes the side wall portion after bending. Next, the chip seal 31 is formed by bending it into a box shape at the inner side in the longitudinal direction of the metal plate at the dotted line portion in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1B, the tip seal 31 is formed such that the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of both side wall portions is low, and both end portions of the leaf spring 32 are opposed to each other in the longitudinal direction. Has a slit-like engaging portion 31a that can be engaged.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the metal leaf spring 32 is curved so as to protrude toward the opposite side to the bottom of the tip seal 31, and the engaging portions 31a of the tip seal 31 are provided at both curved ends. An engaging portion that is pressed down is formed, and the engaging portion is formed to be bent at a predetermined angle on the same side as the convex side in the curved form.

  When the tip seal 31 and the leaf spring 32 are engaged, the result is as shown in FIG. FIG.1 (d) is sectional drawing which looked at FIG.1 (c) from the A direction and the B direction, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 1D, the leaf spring 32 is mounted such that the curved top portion protrudes upward from the engaging portion 31 a of the tip seal 31.

  The tip seal 31 and the leaf spring 32 are assembled from the case 11 (the first rotating body in the present invention) and the rotor from the left side (front side in FIG. 5) to the right side (the other side in FIG. 5). 13 (second rotating body in the present invention) is assembled by inserting it, but since the leaf spring 32 is engaged with the tip seal 31, it is like the conventional tip seals 14, 16 and leaf springs 15, 17 Therefore, the workability when assembling the tip seal 31 and the leaf spring 32 is improved. Further, since the tip seal 31 and the leaf spring 32 are manufactured by processing a metal plate, the structure is simple and the workability and mass productivity of the tip seal 31 and the leaf spring 32 are not impaired.

  Next, the operation will be described. The variable valve timing device controls the rotational direction of the housing 10 by controlling the amount of oil flowing into each hydraulic chamber 18 (hydraulic chamber in the present invention), thereby controlling the opening and closing timing of the intake valve and exhaust valve of the engine. In order to prevent oil from moving between the hydraulic chambers 18, the tip seal 31 is replaced by the elastic force of the leaf spring 32 instead of the conventional tip seals 14 and 16 and the leaf springs 15 and 17 in FIG. 6. Alternatively, it is configured to be pressed against the case 11.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a tip seal structure of the variable valve timing device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that components and operations other than the later-described tip seal and leaf spring in Embodiment 2 are the same as those of the conventional valve timing variable device shown in FIGS. Elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The tip seal 41 is formed by bending a single metal plate as shown in FIG. First, before performing the bending process, engaging portions 41a (claw portions in the present invention) for engaging the leaf springs 42 after bending are formed in advance at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the portion that becomes the side wall portion after bending. deep. Next, the tip seal 41 is formed by bending it into a box shape inside the longitudinal direction of the metal plate at the dotted line portion of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2B, the tip seal 41 is formed such that the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of both side wall portions is low, and both end portions of the leaf spring 42 are opposed to each other in the longitudinal direction. Has a slit-like engaging portion 41a so that can be engaged.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the metal leaf spring 42 is curved so as to be convex on the side opposite to the bottom of the tip seal 41, and the engaging portions 41a of the tip seal 41 are provided at both curved ends. An engaging portion that is pressed down is formed, and the engaging portion is formed to be bent at a predetermined angle on the same side as the convex side in the curved form.

  When the tip seal 41 and the leaf spring 42 are engaged, and the claw-like portion at the top of the engaging portion 41a is inclined at a predetermined angle inward in the longitudinal direction of the tip seal 41, as shown in FIG. become. FIG. 2D is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2C viewed from the C direction and the D direction, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, the leaf spring 42 is mounted such that the curved top portion protrudes above the engaging portion 41 a of the tip seal 41.

  The tip seal 41 and the leaf spring 42 are assembled from the case 11 (the first rotating body in the present invention) and the rotor from the left side (front side in FIG. 5) to the right side (the other side in FIG. 5). 13 (second rotating body in the present invention) is assembled by being inserted, but since the leaf spring 42 is engaged with the tip seal 41, like the conventional tip seals 14, 16 and leaf springs 15, 17 Therefore, the workability at the time of assembling the tip seal 41 and the leaf spring 42 is improved. Further, since the tip seal 41 and the leaf spring 42 are manufactured by processing a metal plate, the structure is simple and the workability and mass productivity of the tip seal 41 and the leaf spring 42 are not impaired.

  In addition, the leaf spring 42 is not easily detached from the tip seal 41 by inclining the claw-like portion at the upper part of the engaging portion 41a inward with respect to the longitudinal direction by a predetermined angle. The assembly accuracy and sealing performance of 42 are further improved.

  Next, the operation will be described. The variable valve timing device controls the rotational direction of the housing 10 by controlling the amount of oil flowing into each hydraulic chamber 18 (hydraulic chamber in the present invention), thereby controlling the opening and closing timing of the intake valve and exhaust valve of the engine. In order to prevent the movement of oil between the hydraulic chambers 18, the tip seal 41 is replaced by the elastic force of the leaf spring 42 instead of the conventional tip seals 14 and 16 and the leaf springs 15 and 17 in FIG. 6. Alternatively, it is pressed against the case 11.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the tip seal structure of the variable valve timing device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that components and operations other than the later-described tip seal and leaf spring in the third embodiment are the same as those of the conventional valve timing variable device shown in FIGS. Elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The tip seal 51 is formed by bending a single metal plate as shown in FIG. First, before performing the bending process, engaging portions 51a (claw portions in the present invention) for engaging the leaf springs 52 after the bending are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the portion that becomes the side wall portion after the bending. It is formed in advance so as to face the direction. Next, the chip seal 51 is formed by bending it into a box shape at the inner side in the longitudinal direction of the metal plate at the dotted line portion in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3B, the tip seal 51 is formed so that both end sides in the longitudinal direction of both side wall portions are lower than the middle portion, and has inclined surfaces inclined outward in the longitudinal direction at both ends of both side wall portions. A pair of engaging portions 51a is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the metal leaf spring 52 is curved so as to be convex on the opposite side to the bottom of the tip seal 51, and the engaging portions 51a of the tip seal 51 are provided at both curved ends. The engagement portion pressed by the protrusion protrudes to both sides in the width direction through a shoulder surface whose width at both ends is larger than the intermediate portion of the leaf spring 52 so that the engagement portion is bent at a predetermined angle on the same side as the convex side in the curved form. To be formed.

  When the tip seal 51 and the leaf spring 52 are engaged, the result is as shown in FIG. FIG.3 (d) is sectional drawing which looked at FIG.3 (c) from the E direction and the F direction, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the leaf spring 52 is mounted such that the curved top portion protrudes above the engaging portion 51 a of the tip seal 51.

  The tip seal 51 and the leaf spring 52 are assembled from the case 11 (first rotating body in the present invention) and the rotor from the left side (front side in FIG. 5) to the right side (the other side in FIG. 5). 13 (second rotating body in the present invention) is assembled by being inserted, but since the leaf spring 52 is engaged with the tip seal 51, the conventional tip seals 14, 16 and leaf springs 15, 17 Therefore, the workability at the time of assembling the tip seal 51 and the leaf spring 52 is improved. Further, since the tip seal 51 and the leaf spring 52 are manufactured by processing a metal plate, the structure is simple and the workability and mass productivity of the tip seal 51 and the leaf spring 52 are not impaired.

  Next, the operation will be described. The variable valve timing device controls the rotational direction of the housing 10 by controlling the amount of oil flowing into each hydraulic chamber 18 (hydraulic chamber in the present invention), thereby controlling the opening and closing timing of the intake valve and exhaust valve of the engine. In order to prevent the oil from moving between the hydraulic chambers 18, the tip seal 51 is replaced by the elastic force of the leaf spring 52 instead of the conventional tip seals 14 and 16 and the leaf springs 15 and 17 in FIG. 6. Alternatively, it is pressed against the case 11.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the knowledge of those skilled in the art can be used without departing from the spirit of the claims. Various modifications based on this are possible.

Sectional drawing which shows the chip seal structure of the valve timing variable apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the chip seal structure of the valve timing variable apparatus by Embodiment 2 of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the chip seal structure of the valve timing variable apparatus by Embodiment 3 of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the conventional valve timing variable apparatus. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 3. Sectional drawing which shows the chip seal structure of a prior art. The perspective view which shows the structure of the chip seal and leaf | plate spring of a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

1 Electronic control unit (ECU)
2 Oil control valve (OCV)
3 Actuator 6 Camshaft 10 Housing 11 Case 13 Rotor 14 Tip Seal 15, 17 Plate Spring 16 Tip Seal 18 Hydraulic Chamber 31, 41, 51 Tip Seal 32, 42, 52 Plate Spring

Claims (6)

Provided in a driving force transmission system that transmits a rotational force to a camshaft having a cam that opens and closes a valve, and between a first rotating body on the input side with respect to the camshaft and a second rotating body on the output side to the camshaft. A hydraulic pressure chamber that causes relative rotation is formed between the first and second rotating bodies, and the first rotating body and the second rotating body rotate relative to each other by controlling the hydraulic pressure with respect to the hydraulic pressure chamber. In the valve timing variable device in which the rotational phase of the camshaft is changed and the opening / closing timing of the valve is changed,
The first rotating body and the second rotating body are fitted concentrically and relatively rotatably so that one of the first rotating body and the second rotating body is outside and the other is inside, and the first and second rotating bodies are connected to each other in the circumferential direction. The fluid pressure chamber extending in the circumferential direction is formed between the seals by being slidably sealed in a liquid-tight manner at a plurality of positions,
A tip seal mounted on the first rotating body or the second rotating body for the sealing, and a leaf spring that biases the tip seal toward the second rotating body or the first rotating body on the other side. ,
Both the tip seal and the leaf spring are made of metal sheet metal, and the tip seal and the leaf spring are combined in advance with each other, and this metal assembly is the first or second rotating body. A valve timing varying device, which is mounted on the valve and fulfills a sealing function. The chip seal constituting the metal assembly has a box shape with a bottom portion serving as a sealing surface and both side wall portions bent and raised from both sides of the bottom portion, and has a longitudinal shape in the depth direction of the side wall portions. Forming a form, provided with a pair of claws for holding both ends of the leaf springs on the both side wall portions at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction,
The leaf spring is curved so as to be convex on the side opposite to the bottom portion of the tip seal, and engaging portions that are pressed by the claw portions are formed at both curved end portions. The engaging portion is attached to the tip seal so that the engaging portion is pressed by the claw portions at both ends of the tip seal, and the curved top portion protrudes from the claw portion on the opposite side to the bottom portion, The variable valve timing device according to claim 1, wherein the variable valve timing device is an integral metal assembly.   Each claw portion of the tip seal is formed so that the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the both side wall portions is formed low, so that it protrudes from the upper end of the middle portion of the both side wall portions to the side opposite to the bottom portion, and It is formed so as to face each other in the longitudinal direction, and at both curved end portions of the leaf spring, an engaging portion pressed by the claw portion is formed to be bent at a predetermined angle on the same side as the convex side in the curved form. 3. The variable valve timing device according to claim 2, wherein the engaging portions at both ends of the leaf spring are engaged with the claw portions of the tip seal to form an integral metal assembly.   Between each nail | claw part of the said chip seal, and the upper end of the said both-sides wall part, the slit which each inserts the engaging part formed in the both ends of the said leaf | plate spring is formed, and each said leaf | plate spring is formed in each slit The variable valve timing device according to claim 3, wherein each of the engaging portions is inserted into a metal assembly in which the tip seal and the leaf spring are integrally combined.   Each claw part of the tip seal is formed in such a manner that both end sides in the longitudinal direction of the both side wall parts are formed lower than the intermediate part, so that it protrudes from the both end sides of the both side wall parts to the opposite side to the bottom part. It is formed so as to face outward in the longitudinal direction, and at both curved end portions of the leaf spring, an engaging portion pressed by the claw portion is bent and raised at a predetermined angle on the same side as the convex side in the curved form. And an engagement portion at both ends of the leaf spring is formed on the claw portion of the tip seal. The valve timing varying device according to claim 2, wherein the valve timing varying device is engaged with each other to form an integral metal assembly. Each claw portion of the tip seal includes an inclined surface inclined outward in the longitudinal direction with reference to the height direction of the both side wall portions, and the shoulder of the engaging portion of the leaf spring is provided on the inclined surface. The plate portions of the engaging portions that are engaged with each other and protruded on both sides in the width direction of the leaf spring are positioned at both end portions formed lower than the middle portion of the both side wall portions, thereby The variable valve timing device according to claim 2, wherein the variable valve timing device is a metal assembly.

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