JP6589342B2 - Valve timing control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for stably controlling a relative rotation phase of a valve opening / closing timing control device.

  As a valve opening / closing timing control device configured as described above, Patent Literature 1 forms a communication path that connects an advance chamber and a retard chamber with respect to a shoe that protrudes from the inner peripheral side of the shoe housing. A technology that improves the advance angle response by providing a flow control valve that opens when the fluid (oil in the literature) is low pressure and a check valve that allows fluid flow to one side of the communication path. Has been.

  In this patent document 1, when the flow control valve and the check valve are arranged in series, and when the variable torque acts in a state where the engine speed is low and the fluid pressure is low, the flow control valve and the check valve are Displacement of the vane toward the advance side is achieved by flowing fluid to the advance chamber.

  Patent Document 2 is a technique related to a solenoid valve that controls a valve opening / closing timing control device, and a spool that slides by a solenoid mechanism is housed in a sleeve. The sleeve is formed with a first port to which a fluid (hydraulic pressure in the literature) is supplied, and second and third ports for supplying and discharging pressure oil to and from the valve opening / closing timing control device. The spool is formed with a communication path that allows the second and third ports to communicate with each other by forming an oil path in a D shape.

  In this Patent Document 2, the fluid from the first port is supplied from the communication path to the second in the intermediate holding operation for holding the valve opening / closing timing control device at an arbitrary intermediate phase between the most retarded angle phase and the most advanced angle phase. , And supply to the third port at the same time, the fluctuation of the valve timing control device is reduced.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-168103 JP 2003-214552 A

  Taking the control of the valve timing control device by a phase control valve as an example, if the relative rotational phase is maintained at an arbitrary intermediate phase, fluid is supplied to the advance chamber or retard chamber by controlling the phase control valve. Then, the relative rotational phase is displaced to the target intermediate phase. Then, after reaching the intermediate phase, the fluid supply and discharge to and from the advance chamber and the retard chamber are stopped by the control of the phase control valve.

  As such control, for example, in the valve opening / closing timing control device in which fluid is separately supplied to the advance chamber and the retard chamber, when the fluid is supplied only to the advance chamber at the start of the internal combustion engine, Although the fluid is filled only in the advance chamber when the relative rotational phase is displaced to the target intermediate phase, the fluid is not stored in the retard chamber.

  Further, during operation of the internal combustion engine, the cam fluctuation torque of the camshaft acts alternately in the advance direction and the retard direction. Therefore, in a state where the fluid is hardly stored in the advance angle chamber and the retard angle chamber just after the start of the internal combustion engine, the relative rotational phase greatly fluctuates in the direction of the retard angle due to the action of the cam fluctuation torque, In some cases, the vane is displaced to the limit within the valve timing control device to generate a contact noise.

  For such inconvenience, in the configuration shown in Patent Document 1, when the relative rotational phase is maintained at the intermediate phase, a part of the fluid in the retarded chamber is sent to the advanced chamber to suppress vibration. Is also possible. However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, the fluid may not be sent depending on the value of the fluid pressure, and the number of parts is large, resulting in an increase in cost.

  Furthermore, in the configuration shown in Patent Document 2, fluid can be simultaneously supplied to the advance chamber and the retard chamber in the intermediate holding operation, so that it is possible to suppress the fluctuation (flutter) of the relative rotation phase. However, in the configuration of Patent Document 2, there is room for improvement in that the fluid continuously flows during the intermediate holding operation, so that the fluid is wasted and the fuel consumption of the internal combustion engine is reduced.

  An object of the present invention is to constitute a valve opening / closing timing control device capable of suppressing fluctuations in the relative rotational phase even when the relative rotational phase is held at an arbitrary intermediate phase.

A feature of the present invention is a driving side rotating body that rotates synchronously with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine,
A driven-side rotator that rotates integrally with the camshaft on the same rotational axis as the valve opening and closing camshaft;
Comprising at least first and second fluid pressure chambers formed between the driving side rotating body and the driven side rotating body;
Each fluid pressure chamber is divided into an advance chamber and a retard chamber by being partitioned by a corresponding partition formed in the driven-side rotor, and the drive is performed when fluid is supplied to the advance chamber. The relative rotational phase of the side rotating body and the driven side rotating body is displaced in the advance direction, and when the fluid is supplied to the retard chamber, the relative rotational phase is displaced in the retard direction;
The partition portion is formed in the first fluid pressure chamber, and a most advanced angle phase that is a relative rotational phase when the partition portion is in contact with a circumferential wall portion of the retard chamber formed in the second fluid pressure chamber. The relative rotation to a predetermined phase intermediate between the most advanced angle phase and the most retarded angle phase except for the most retarded angle phase that becomes a relative rotation phase when contacting the circumferential wall of the advanced angle chamber. When the phase is positioned, the drive-side rotator is provided with a communication passage that communicates the advance chamber and the retard chamber that are adjacent to each other with the partition portion interposed therebetween.

According to this configuration, since the relative rotation phase is displaced from the most retarded phase in the advance direction, when the fluid is supplied to the advance chamber, the relative rotation phase is displaced in the advance direction and the advance chamber is moved to the advance chamber. Part of the supplied fluid is supplied to the retarded angle chamber via the communication path. As a result, fluid can be stored not only in the advance chamber but also in the retard chamber, the relative rotational phase reaches the target phase, and the fluid supply and discharge to and from the advance chamber and the retard chamber are stopped. Even in this case, fluid is stored in the advance chamber and the retard chamber. As a result, even if the cam fluctuation torque is applied, the fluid stored in the advance chamber and the retard chamber functions as a damper, and the relative rotation phase is in either the advance direction or the retard direction. Prevents large displacement phenomena. In particular, according to this configuration, it is possible to suppress the variation of the relative phase in any phase between the most retarded angle phase and the most advanced angle phase.
Therefore, a valve opening / closing timing control device that can suppress fluctuations in the relative rotational phase even when the relative rotational phase is held at an arbitrary intermediate phase between the most advanced angle phase and the most retarded angle phase has been configured.

  In the present invention, the communication path may be formed in a groove shape on the inner wall surface of the drive side rotating body.

  According to this, since the communication path can be formed only by forming a groove on the inner wall surface of the driving side rotating body, for example, a simple configuration as compared with a dedicated hole part or a dedicated pipe line is formed. A communication path can be formed.

  In the present invention, the communication path may be formed in a portion of the drive side rotating body that constitutes the fluid pressure chamber of either the first or the second.

  Many valve opening / closing timing control devices are provided with a plurality of fluid pressure chambers. For example, the relative rotation phase can be controlled by forming a communication path in a portion corresponding to at least one fluid pressure chamber as in the present invention. Variation can be suppressed. In addition, when the communication path is formed at a position corresponding to the plurality of fluid pressure chambers, fluctuations in the relative rotational phase can be suppressed more satisfactorily.

The present invention comprises a lock mechanism that prevents displacement of the relative rotational phase when the relative rotational phase is at the most retarded angle lock phase corresponding to the most retarded angle phase,
The communication path may communicate the advance chamber and the retard chamber when the relative rotational phase is in an advance direction region with respect to the most retarded lock phase.

  According to this, when the relative rotation phase is displaced in the advance direction after releasing the most retarded angle lock state by the lock mechanism, the relative rotation phase is immediately advanced in the advance direction as the fluid is supplied to the advance chamber. Displace. At this time, since a part of the fluid supplied to the advance chamber is supplied to the retard chamber, the fluctuation of the relative rotation phase due to the action of the cam fluctuation torque is suppressed, and the control in which the relative rotation phase is stabilized is possible. Become.

The present invention comprises a lock mechanism that prevents displacement of the relative rotational phase when the relative rotational phase is at an arbitrary intermediate lock phase between the most advanced angle phase and the most retarded angle phase,
The communication path may communicate the advance chamber and the retard chamber when the relative rotational phase is in a retarding direction region with respect to the intermediate lock phase.

  According to this, for example, when the relative rotation phase is displaced between the most retarded phase and the intermediate lock phase, no matter whether the fluid is supplied to either the advance chamber or the retard chamber, one of the fluids Since the portion is supplied to the other through the communication path, fluctuations in the relative rotational phase due to the action of the cam fluctuation torque can be suppressed during the fluid supply. In particular, when the internal combustion engine is stopped and the locked state is not reached at the intermediate lock phase, the fluid is not supplied at the time of starting the internal combustion engine thereafter, so that the communication path is formed between the advance chamber and the retard chamber. The air can freely flow and the relative rotational phase can be greatly displaced to make an early transition to the intermediate lock phase.

The present invention comprises a lock mechanism that prevents displacement of the relative rotational phase when the relative rotational phase is at an arbitrary intermediate lock phase between the most advanced angle phase and the most retarded angle phase,
The communication path may communicate the advance chamber and the retard chamber when the relative rotation phase is in an advance direction region with respect to the intermediate lock phase.

  According to this, for example, when the internal combustion engine is stopped on the advance side from the intermediate lock phase, when the internal combustion engine is started after this, when the fluid is supplied to the retarded angle chamber, a part of the fluid Is supplied to the advance chamber, so that the cam rotation torque tends to cause the relative rotation phase to be easily displaced in the retarded direction, so that the displacement speed can be suppressed in the retarded direction and locked in the intermediate lock phase. It becomes easy to shift to.

The present invention comprises a lock mechanism that prevents displacement of the relative rotational phase when the relative rotational phase is at an arbitrary intermediate lock phase between the most advanced angle phase and the most retarded angle phase,
The communication path includes the advance chamber and the retard angle when the relative rotational phase is in a region retarded from the intermediate lock phase and the relative rotational phase is advanced from the intermediate lock phase. You may communicate with the room.

  According to this, for example, when the relative rotation phase is displaced between the most retarded angle phase and the intermediate lock phase, and when the relative rotation phase is displaced between the most advanced angle phase and the intermediate lock phase, the advance is advanced. Part of the fluid supplied to one of the corner chamber and the retard chamber is supplied to the other through the communication path, and fluctuations in the relative rotational phase due to the action of cam fluctuation torque can be suppressed. In addition, when the relative rotation phase is in the intermediate lock phase, the advance chamber and the retard chamber are not communicated. For example, when the relative rotation phase approaches the intermediate lock phase, Thus, the displacement speed of the relative rotational phase can be increased, and a quick transition to the locked state can be achieved.

It is a figure which shows the cross section and control system of the valve timing control apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the phase control valve in a retard angle position. It is sectional drawing of the phase control valve in a neutral position. It is sectional drawing of the phase control valve in a minute advance angle position. It is sectional drawing of the phase control valve in an advance angle position. It is sectional drawing of the valve timing control apparatus which shows the modification (a) of 1st Embodiment. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the valve timing control apparatus which shows the modification (b) of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the valve timing control apparatus which shows the modification (c) of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the cross section and control system of the valve timing control apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is the XI-XI sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the valve timing control apparatus which shows the modification (c) of 2nd Embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
〔overall structure〕
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the external rotor 10 as the driving side rotator, the internal rotor 20 as the driven side rotator, and the relative rotational phase between the external rotor 10 and the internal rotor 20 (hereinafter referred to as relative rotational phase). The valve opening / closing timing control device A is configured with a lock mechanism L that holds the most retarded angle lock phase.

  The valve opening / closing timing control device A includes a fluid pressure chamber C formed between an external rotor 10 (an example of a driving side rotating body) and an internal rotor 20 (an example of a driven side rotating body), for example, a vane-shaped partitioning portion. The advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb are formed by partitioning with 22. The valve opening / closing timing control device A supplies and discharges hydraulic oil (an example of a fluid) with a phase control valve Va (OCV: oil control valve) with respect to the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb. Setting is possible. The phase control valve Va is controlled by a control unit 60 as an ECU.

  The control unit 60 feeds back a signal from the phase sensor 61 that detects the relative rotation phase of the valve opening / closing timing control device A, and supplies power supplied to the electromagnetic solenoid of the phase control valve Va based on the target relative rotation phase. Set.

  The engine E (an example of an internal combustion engine) includes a crankshaft 1 at a lower portion, a cylinder block 2 at an upper portion, and a piston 3 accommodated in a cylinder bore of the cylinder block 2. The operating force of the piston 3 is connected to a connecting rod 4. The four-cycle type is transmitted to the crankshaft 1.

  An intake valve 5 and an exhaust valve (not shown) are provided above the cylinder block 2, and an intake camshaft 6 that opens and closes the intake valve 5, and an exhaust camshaft (not shown) that opens and closes the exhaust valve. And. The valve opening / closing timing control device A may be provided on the exhaust camshaft so as to control the opening / closing timing of the exhaust valve, or may be provided on both the intake camshaft 6 and the exhaust camshaft.

  The inner rotor 20 is included in the outer rotor 10 and is disposed on the same axis as the rotation axis X so that each of the inner rotor 20 can rotate relative to each other. Further, the inner rotor 20 is connected to the intake camshaft 6 by a connecting bolt 7 so as to rotate integrally with the intake camshaft 6.

[Valve opening / closing timing control device]
The outer rotor 10 includes a cylindrical rotor housing 11, a front plate 12 at a position spaced from the engine E in a direction along the rotational axis X, and a rear plate 13 at a position close to the engine E. It is fastened with a plurality of fastening bolts 14. A timing sprocket 13 s is formed on the outer periphery of the rear plate 13, and the timing chain 8 is wound around the timing sprocket 13 s and the output sprocket 1 s of the crankshaft 1.

  On the inner periphery of the rotor housing 11, a plurality of (four in the embodiment) projecting portions 11 a projecting in the direction of the rotation axis X (center direction) are formed. By forming the plurality of projecting portions 11a, a plurality of fluid pressure chambers C are formed between the outer peripheral portions of the inner rotor 20.

  The internal rotor 20 includes an internal rotor body 21 having a columnar shape and a plurality (four in the embodiment) of partition portions 22 that are formed to protrude outward from the outer periphery of the internal rotor body 21. The inner rotor 20 is disposed at a position sandwiched between the front plate 12 and the rear plate 13, and the outer periphery of the inner rotor body 21 is in contact with the protruding end of the protruding portion 11 a of the outer rotor 10. The diameter is set.

  Moreover, the partition part 22 is comprised by the plate-shaped member supported in the state inserted by the outer periphery of the internal rotor main body 21, and the protrusion end protrudes outwardly by the spring material 23, and is urged | biased. As a result, the protruding end of the partition portion 22 comes into contact with the inner periphery of the rotor housing 11 by the urging force of the spring member 23, and each partition portion 22 partitions the fluid pressure chamber C (a general term for four fluid pressure chambers described later). As a result, the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb are formed at positions sandwiching the partition portion 22. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, when the fluid pressure chamber C is a first fluid pressure chamber C1, a second fluid pressure chamber C2, a third fluid pressure chamber C3, and a fourth fluid pressure chamber C4, By partitioning each partition portion 22, an advance chamber Ca and a retard chamber Cb are formed with respect to the first to fourth fluid pressure chambers C1 to C4.

  The valve opening / closing timing control device A rotates in the drive rotation direction S when the engine E is in operation. A direction in which the internal rotor 20 is displaced in the same direction as the drive rotation direction S with respect to the external rotor 10 is referred to as an advance angle direction Sa, and the internal rotor 20 is displaced in a direction opposite to the drive rotation direction S with respect to the external rotor 10. This direction is referred to as the retard direction Sb.

  With this configuration, when the hydraulic oil is supplied to the advance chamber Ca, the relative rotation phase is displaced in the advance direction Sa, and when the hydraulic oil is supplied to the retard chamber Cb, the relative rotation phase is changed to the retard direction Sb. It is displaced to.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a first circumferential wall W1 is formed in the protruding portion 11a facing the advance chamber Ca in the first fluid pressure chamber C1, and the retard chamber Cb in the second fluid pressure chamber C2. A second circumferential wall W2 is formed on the projecting portion 11a facing the surface. With this configuration, the relative rotational phase is displaced in the advance angle direction Sa, the phase where the partition portion 22 of the second fluid pressure chamber C2 is in contact with the second circumferential wall portion W2 is the most advanced angle phase Qa, and the relative rotation phase is delayed. The phase that is displaced in the angular direction Sb and the partitioning portion 22 of the first fluid pressure chamber C1 contacts the first circumferential wall portion W1 is the most retarded phase Qb. When the partition 22 of the second fluid pressure chamber C2 moves to the most advanced angle phase Qa, the partition 22 of the first fluid pressure chamber C1 reaches the position indicated by the phantom line (two-dot chain line) in FIG. Although it moves, it does not contact the protruding portion 11a. Similarly, when the partitioning portion 22 of the first fluid pressure chamber C1 reaches the most retarded phase Qb, the partitioning portion 22 of the second fluid pressure chamber C2 moves to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. It does not touch the part. In addition, an area in which the partition 22 can move in the middle between the most advanced angle phase Qa and the most retarded angle phase Qb is referred to as an intermediate area Qe.

  Between the outer rotor 10 and the inner rotor 20, there is provided a torsion spring 15 that biases the relative rotational phase from the most retarded phase Qb to the intermediate phase Qm shown in FIG. The intermediate phase Qm is set as an optimum phase for favorably starting the engine E in the cold state, and the torsion spring 15 causes the relative rotational phase to exert an urging force from the most retarded phase Qb to the intermediate phase Qm. It is configured.

[Valve opening / closing timing control device: Lock mechanism]
As shown in FIG. 2, the locking mechanism L can be moved in and out in the radial direction with respect to the most retarded angle locking recess 25 formed on the outer periphery of the inner rotor body 21 of the inner rotor 20 and the protruding portion 11 a of the outer rotor 10. And a plate-like lock member 26 and a lock spring 27 that urges the lock member 26 toward the most retarded angle lock recess 25.

  The most retarded angle locking recess 25 is formed at one location on the outer periphery of the inner rotor main body 21, and the locking member 26 is also provided at one projection 11 a correspondingly. The relative attitude with which the lock member 26 engages with the most retarded angle lock recess 25 is the most retarded angle lock phase, and this most retarded angle lock phase coincides with the most retarded angle phase Qb.

[Valve opening / closing timing control device: flow path configuration]
The inner rotor body 21 of the inner rotor 20 is formed with an advance passage 31 that communicates with the advance chamber Ca and a retard passage 32 that communicates with the retard chamber Cb. Particularly, in this valve opening / closing timing control device A, the lock mechanism L reaches the locked state in the most retarded angle lock phase (the most retarded angle phase Qb). The angular channel 31 is also used as the unlocking channel. That is, the advance passage 31 for supplying hydraulic oil to the advance chamber Ca at a position adjacent to the lock mechanism L is communicated with the most retarded lock recess 25 and supplied to the most retarded lock recess 25. An auxiliary flow path 31 a for supplying the hydraulic oil to the advance chamber Ca is formed on the outer periphery of the inner rotor body 21.

  Thus, by supplying the hydraulic oil to the advance passage 31 in the state of being in the most retarded lock phase, the lock member 26 is separated from the most retarded lock recess 25 by the fluid pressure, and thereafter the advance chamber The hydraulic oil is supplied to Ca, and the relative rotational phase is displaced in the advance direction Sa.

  A hydraulic oil supply passage 35 for supplying hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump P driven by the engine E to the phase control valve Va is formed. The phase control valve Va supplies the hydraulic oil from the hydraulic oil supply channel 35 to either the advance channel 31 or the retard channel 32, and from the advance channel 31 and the retard channel 32. Drain hydraulic oil. The hydraulic pump P is configured to supply lubricating oil stored in an oil pan of the engine E as hydraulic oil.

(Phase control valve)
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the phase control valve Va operates a cylindrical sleeve 51, a columnar spool 52 accommodated therein, a spool spring 53 that biases the spool 52, and the spool 52. An electromagnetic solenoid 54 is provided.

  The sleeve 51 includes a pump port 51p to which hydraulic oil is supplied from the hydraulic pump P, an advance port 51a communicating with the advance channel 31, a retard port 51b communicating with the retard channel 32, and an end portion A drain port 51d at a position is formed.

  The spool 52 is formed with a first land portion 52a that controls supply / discharge of hydraulic fluid at the advance port 51a and a second land portion 52b that controls supply / discharge of hydraulic fluid at the retard port 51b.

  The electromagnetic solenoid 54 is configured by arranging a solenoid coil 54b on the outer periphery of a plunger 54a made of a magnetic material such as iron. The electromagnetic solenoid 54 displaces the spool 52 against the urging force of the spool spring 53 as the electric power supplied to the solenoid coil 54b increases.

  In the phase control valve Va, the spool 52 is set to the retard position Rb by the urging force of the spool spring 53 in a state where no electric power is supplied to the electromagnetic solenoid 54. Then, by increasing the power supplied to the electromagnetic solenoid 54, the spool 52 is set to the neutral position Rn, the minute advance angle position Rs, and the advance angle position Ra in this order.

  In this phase control valve Va, the spool 52 is set to the retard position Rb shown in FIG. 3, so that the first land portion 52a closes the advance port 51a and the second land portion 52b opens the retard port 51b. To do. As a result, the hydraulic oil supplied to the pump port 51p is sent from the retard port 51b to the retard chamber Cb, and the hydraulic oil in the advance chamber Ca is received from the advance port 51a and discharged from the drain port 51d. As a result, displacement of the relative rotational phase in the retard direction Sb is realized.

  When the spool 52 is set to the retard position Rb and the relative rotational phase is displaced in the retard direction Sb and reaches the most retarded phase Qb, the lock member 26 is moved to the maximum by the urging force of the lock spring 27. Engage with the retard lock recess 25 and the lock mechanism L reaches the locked state.

  Further, when the spool 52 is set to the neutral position Rn shown in FIG. 4, the first land portion 52a closes the advance port 51a, and the second land portion 52b closes the retard port 51b. As a result, the supply and discharge of hydraulic oil to and from the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb are prevented. As a result, the supply and discharge of hydraulic oil to and from the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb are prevented, and the maintenance of the relative rotation phase is realized.

  Further, when the spool 52 is set to the minute advance angle position Rs shown in FIG. 5, the first land portion 52a slightly opens the advance port 51a, and the second land portion 52b closes the retard port 51b. . As a result, a small amount of hydraulic oil is supplied to the advance chamber Ca, the discharge of the hydraulic oil from the retard chamber Cb is prevented, and the maintenance of the relative rotational phase is realized. That is, at this small advance angle position Rs, no fluid is discharged from the retard chamber Cb, so that the relative rotation phase can be maintained. The functions of the communication path 17 and the minute advance angle position Rs shown in FIG. 2 will be described later.

  Further, when the spool 52 is set to the advance position Ra shown in FIG. 6, the first land portion 52a opens the advance port 51a, and the second land portion 52b closes the retard port 51b. As a result, the hydraulic oil supplied to the pump port 51p is sent from the advance port 51a to the advance chamber Ca, and the hydraulic oil in the retard chamber Cb is received from the retard port 51b and discharged from the drain port 51d. As a result, the relative rotational phase is displaced in the advance direction Sa.

[Communication passage]
In the valve opening / closing timing control device A, the communication passage 17 that communicates the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb at positions adjacent to each other with the partition portion 22 in between is arranged in a groove shape with respect to the external rotor 10 (drive side rotating body). Is formed. That is, the communication path 17 is formed in a groove shape with respect to the inner wall surface exposed to the fluid pressure chamber C in the rear plate 13 constituting the outer rotor 10. In particular, since the valve timing control device A rotates at a relatively high speed, the communication passage 17 is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the fluid pressure chamber C (from the rotation axis X) in order to flow the hydraulic oil reliably even in a situation where centrifugal force acts. It is formed on the side to be separated.

  Therefore, for example, when hydraulic oil is supplied to the advance chamber Ca when the engine E is started, the hydraulic oil is supplied to the most retarded lock recess 25 after a lapse of time for the hydraulic oil to fill the advance chamber Ca. The hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic oil rises and the lock state of the lock mechanism L is released. Following this, the relative rotational phase is displaced in the advance direction Sa. When the communication passage 17 reaches a relative rotation phase that communicates the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb with the partition portion 22 interposed therebetween in accordance with the displacement in the advance direction Sa, the supply passage 17 is supplied to the advance chamber Ca. A part of the hydraulic oil thus passed is supplied to the retarding chamber Cb through the side end of the partition portion 22.

  In the valve opening / closing timing control device A, hydraulic fluid leaks from the gap between the rotor housing 11 and the front plate 12 or the gap between the rotor housing 11 and the rear plate 13. Further, the valve timing control device A communicates with the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb through the communication passage 17. From this configuration, when the relative rotational phase reaches the target intermediate phase Qm, the oil necessary for resisting the cam fluctuation torque is set by setting the spool 52 of the phase control valve Va to the minute advance position Rs. At the same time as supplying a large amount of hydraulic oil to the advance chamber Ca, a part of the supplied hydraulic oil is supplied to the retard chamber Cb via the communication passage 17, so that the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb The pressure acting on the partition 22 is balanced so that the relative rotational phase can be maintained at the target intermediate phase Qm.

  That is, the control when the relative rotational phase is displaced from the most retarded phase Qb to an arbitrary intermediate phase Qm and held at the intermediate phase Qm is performed as follows. In this control, the control unit 60 sets the phase control valve Va to the advance position Ra, supplies hydraulic oil to the advance chamber Ca, unlocks the lock mechanism L, and supplies the advance chamber Ca to the advance chamber Ca. The relative rotational phase is displaced in the advance direction Sa by the oil pressure. When hydraulic fluid is thus supplied to the advance chamber Ca, a part of the hydraulic oil is supplied to the retard chamber Cb via the communication path 17.

  The retarding passage 32 has a structure that opens to the outer periphery of the inner rotor main body 21 of the inner rotor 20, and the valve opening / closing timing control device A rotates at a high speed, and therefore enters the retarding chamber Cb via the communication passage 17. The supplied hydraulic oil is stored on the outer peripheral side of the retard chamber Cb by centrifugal force. For this reason, the hydraulic oil that is not discharged from the retarded flow channel 32 and supplied to the retarded chamber Cb via the communication passage 17 remains in the retarded chamber Cb.

  In this way, even in the process of displacing the relative rotational phase in the advance direction Sa, the advance chamber Ca is filled with hydraulic oil and the hydraulic oil is also stored in the retard chamber Cb. Even in a situation where torque acts, the hydraulic oil present in the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb functions like a damper and does not change the relative rotational phase.

  Thereafter, when the relative rotational phase reaches the target intermediate phase Qm, the control unit 60 minutely controls the phase control valve Va at the timing when the phase sensor 61 detects that the relative rotational phase has reached the intermediate phase Qm. Set to advance angle position Rs. It is also conceivable to set the phase control valve Va to the neutral position Rn at this timing. However, since the hydraulic oil leaks from the gap between the rotor housing 11 and the front plate 12, or the gap between the rotor housing 11 and the rear plate 13, the valve opening / closing timing control device A is set to the neutral position Rn. Since the hydraulic oil leaks, it is difficult to maintain the relative rotational phase at the intermediate phase Qm for a long time.

  For this reason, control for setting the phase control valve Va to the minute advance angle position Rs is performed at the timing when the relative rotational phase reaches the intermediate phase Qm. As described above, the minute advance angle position Rs supplies a limited amount of hydraulic oil to the advance chamber Ca while preventing the hydraulic oil from being discharged from the retard chamber Cb. The limited amount of hydraulic oil is the amount necessary to maintain the relative rotational phase against cam fluctuation torque. That is, in the situation where the cam fluctuation torque is applied, the hydraulic oil existing in the advance chamber Ca flows to the retard chamber Cb via the communication passage 17, so that the leakage amount described above and the communication passage 17 are reduced. This is a value that exceeds the combined amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the retarding chamber Cb.

  Therefore, when the phase control valve Va is set to the minute advance angle position Rs, the hydraulic oil leaking from the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb is sufficiently compensated, and the force against the cam fluctuation torque is advanced. The cam fluctuation torque is received like a damper by the hydraulic oil supplied to the chamber Ca and stored in the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb, and the hydraulic oil is applied to the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb. Since it can be filled, the relative rotational phase can be maintained at the intermediate phase Qm while suppressing vibration.

  In this way, the communication path 17 is formed and combined with the minute advance angle position Rs of the phase control valve Va, so that the relative rotation can be achieved without a dedicated lock mechanism L for maintaining the relative rotation phase at the intermediate phase Qm. The phase is shifted to the preset intermediate phase Qm, and it is possible to maintain the state in a state where the influence of the cam fluctuation torque is suppressed. Further, for example, even when the relative rotational phase is displaced from the most retarded phase Qb to the intermediate phase Qm, there is no inconvenience of being fluctuated by the cam fluctuation torque.

[Modification of First Embodiment]
(A) In the first embodiment, the communication passage 17 is formed corresponding to one of the plurality of fluid pressure chambers C. However, as shown in FIG. The communication path 17 may be formed. When the plurality of communication passages 17 are formed in this way, the communication passages 17 are formed corresponding to all the fluid pressure chambers C, or the communication passages are formed corresponding to a plurality of fluid pressure chambers C. 17 can be formed.

  By forming the communication passages 17 corresponding to the plurality of fluid pressure chambers C in this way, the hydraulic oil stored in the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb functions as a damper, so that the relative rotational phase is increased. Variation can be suppressed. Further, the communication path 17 may be formed in the front plate 12. In the configuration in which the communication path 17 is formed in the front plate 12 in this way, the communication path 17 may be formed in the rear plate 13 together.

(B) As shown in FIG. 8, the communication path 17 may be formed on the inner wall surface of the rotor housing 11 that contacts the protruding end of the partition portion 22. In the case where the communication path 17 is formed in the rotor housing 11 as described above, the communication path 17 may be further formed in the plurality of fluid pressure chambers C, and the communication path is provided in at least one of the front plate 12 and the rear plate 13. 17 may be combined with the configuration forming 17.

(C) As shown in FIG. 9, the partition 22 is integrally formed with the inner rotor body 21 in a block shape protruding from the outer periphery of the inner rotor body 21 of the inner rotor 20. Also in the configuration of this modified example, a plurality of communicating paths 17 may be formed as in the modified examples (a) and (b) described above, or the communicating paths 17 may be formed on the inner wall surface of the rotor housing 11.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.
The second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, but has a configuration in which the relative rotation phase is held at the most retarded angle phase Qb and the intermediate phase Qm by the lock mechanism L. The point which has the lock control valve Vb (OSV: oil switching valve) for controlling the mechanism L differs from 1st Embodiment.

  In this 2nd Embodiment, the structure which functions similarly to 1st Embodiment is attached | subjected the code | symbol common to 1st Embodiment, description of a common structure is abbreviate | omitted and a different point is demonstrated below.

[Valve opening / closing timing control device: Lock mechanism]
The lock mechanism L is formed on the outer periphery of the inner rotor body 21 corresponding to the most retarded angle phase Qb, and on the outer periphery of the inner rotor body 21 corresponding to the intermediate phase Qm. A pair of intermediate lock recesses 28, a pair of plate-like lock members 26 supported so as to be freely retractable in the radial direction with respect to the protrusions 11a of the outer rotor 10, and each lock member 26 in the direction of the recesses. And a lock spring 27 that is biased toward the end.

  In this valve opening / closing timing control device A, the lock member 26 of one lock mechanism L is engaged with the most retarded angle lock recess 25, so that the relative rotation phase is the most retarded angle lock phase (matches the most retarded angle phase Qb). Retained. Further, each lock member 26 of the two lock mechanisms L is engaged with the corresponding intermediate lock recess 28, so that the relative rotational phase is held at the intermediate lock phase (which coincides with the intermediate phase Qm).

[Valve opening / closing timing control device: flow path configuration]
The inner rotor body 21 of the inner rotor 20 has an advance passage 31 communicating with the advance chamber Ca, a retard passage 32 communicating with the retard chamber Cb, and an unlocking flow communicating with the pair of intermediate lock recesses 28. A path 33 is formed. Particularly, in this valve opening / closing timing control device A, since one lock mechanism L reaches the locked state in the most retarded angle lock phase, the advance channel 31 is not provided with a dedicated channel for unlocking. Also used for unlocking flow path.

  Thus, by supplying the hydraulic oil to the advance passage 31 in the state of being in the most retarded lock phase, the lock member 26 is separated from the most retarded lock recess 25 by the fluid pressure, and thereafter the advance chamber The hydraulic oil is supplied to Ca, and the relative rotational phase is displaced in the advance direction Sa. In addition, when the hydraulic oil is supplied to the unlocking flow path 33 in the intermediate lock phase, the lock member 26 is detached from the pair of intermediate lock recesses 28.

  In this valve opening / closing timing control device A, a communication space centering on the rotation axis X is formed with respect to the internal rotor 20, and the advance flow path 31, the retard flow path 32, and the unlocking flow are formed in this communication space. A port communicating with the path 33 is formed. The flow path forming shaft portion 36 is disposed so as to be inserted into the communication space, and the flow path forming shaft portion 36 is provided with a phase control valve Va and a lock control valve Vb.

  Three channels (advanced channel 31 and retarded channel 32) communicated with the advanced channel 31, the retarded channel 32, and the unlock channel 33 are provided on the outer periphery of the channel forming shaft portion 36. , An unlocking flow path 33). In addition, a seal 37 is provided between the outer periphery of the flow path forming shaft portion 36 and the communication space to connect each port to the flow path separately.

  Further, a hydraulic oil supply passage 35 is formed for supplying hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump P driven by the engine E to the phase control valve Va and the lock control valve Vb.

  The phase control valve Va is configured as an electromagnetic valve, and is configured to be operated to a retard angle position Rb, a neutral position Rn, a minute advance angle position Rs, and an advance angle position Ra. The configuration of the phase control valve Va is the same as that described in the first embodiment.

  The lock control valve Vb is configured to be freely operated between a lock position and a lock release position. The lock control valve Vb is in a state in which hydraulic oil is discharged from the lock release passage 33 without supplying power to the electromagnetic solenoid, and is in a state in which hydraulic oil is supplied to the lock release passage 33 at the lock release position.

[Communication passage]
In this valve opening / closing timing control device A, a pair of communication passages 17 (for connecting the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb at positions adjacent to the external rotor 10 (drive-side rotator) with the partition portion 22 interposed therebetween) A superordinate concept of the first communication path 17a and the second communication path 17b) is formed in the outer rotor 10 in a groove shape on the inner wall surface of the fluid pressure chamber C.

  The first communication passage 17a has an advance chamber when the relative rotational phase is intermediate between the intermediate lock phase (matches the intermediate phase Qm) and the most retarded lock phase (matches the most retarded phase Qb). The rear plate 13 is formed in a groove shape at a portion exposed to the fluid pressure chamber C so that Ca and the retard chamber Cb communicate with each other.

  The second communication path 17b allows the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb to communicate with each other when the relative rotational phase is between the intermediate lock phase (which coincides with the intermediate phase Qm) and the most advanced phase Qa. The rear plate 13 is formed in a groove shape at a portion exposed to the fluid pressure chamber C.

  The first communication path 17a and the second communication path 17b are formed in a positional relationship in which hydraulic fluid does not flow through each other, and the partition portion 22 is positioned so as to overlap the first communication path 17a or the second communication path 17b. If present, the hydraulic oil does not flow between the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb in the fluid pressure chamber C, and the partition portion 22 is out of the intermediate lock phase. In some cases, the hydraulic oil is allowed to flow to the first communication path 17a or the second communication path 17b via the side end of the partition portion 22.

  Thereby, for example, when the phase control valve Va is set to the advance position Ra, the hydraulic oil is supplied to the advance chamber Ca, and the hydraulic oil in the retard chamber Cb can be discharged through the retard channel 32. Therefore, the relative rotational phase is displaced in the advance direction Sa. However, the retarding passage 32 has a structure that opens to the outer periphery of the inner rotor body 21 of the inner rotor 20, and the hydraulic oil supplied to the retarding chamber Cb is stored on the outer peripheral side of the retarding chamber Cb by centrifugal force. Therefore, most of the hydraulic fluid supplied to the retarding chamber Cb via the first communication passage 17a remains in the retarding chamber Cb.

  Thereby, even in the situation where the cam fluctuation torque of the intake camshaft 6 acts, the hydraulic oil existing in the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb functions like a damper and does not change the relative rotation phase.

  In particular, as described above, the minute advance angle position Rs is set at the minute advance angle position Rs so that the amount of hydraulic oil necessary to resist the cam fluctuation torque is supplied to the advance chamber Ca at the same time. By supplying a part of the hydraulic oil to the retard chamber Cb via the communication passage 17, the pressure acting on the partition portion 22 from the advance chamber Ca and the retard chamber Cb is balanced, and the relative rotation phase is adjusted. It is also possible to maintain the target intermediate phase Qm.

  Further, for example, when the relative rotational phase is displaced from the most advanced angle phase Qa to the intermediate phase Qm and held at the intermediate lock phase, the phase control valve Va is set to the retard position Rb and the retard chamber Cb is operated. Supply oil. When hydraulic fluid is supplied to the retard chamber Cb as described above, a part of the hydraulic fluid is supplied to the advance chamber Ca via the second communication passage 17b. Until the intermediate phase Qm is reached, the relative rotational phase is displaced at a low speed, and when approaching the intermediate lock phase, the relative rotational phase is increased in speed, and the state can be quickly shifted to the locked state.

  As described above, even when the relative rotational phase is displaced from the most advanced angle phase Qa to the intermediate phase Qm, the hydraulic fluid can be stored in the retarded angle chamber Cb and the advanced angle chamber Ca. The fluctuation of the relative rotation phase due to the action of is favorably suppressed.

[Modification of Second Embodiment]
(A) Also in the second embodiment, the first communication passage 17a and the second communication passage 17b may be formed in the plurality of fluid pressure chambers C as in the modification (a) of the first embodiment. Further, the communication path 17 (a superordinate concept of the first communication path 17a and the second communication path 17b) may be formed in the front plate 12. In the configuration in which the communication path 17 is formed in the front plate 12 in this way, the communication path 17 may be formed in the rear plate 13 together.

(B) Similarly to the modified example (b) of the first embodiment, the communication path 17 may be formed on the inner wall surface of the rotor housing 11 where the protruding end of the partition portion 22 contacts. In the case where the communication passage 17 is formed in the rotor housing 11 as described above, the communication passage 17 may be formed in the plurality of fluid pressure chambers C, and the communication passage 17 is provided in at least one of the front plate 12 and the rear plate 13. The structure combined with the structure to form may be sufficient.

(C) As shown in FIG. 12, the partition portion 22 is formed integrally with the inner rotor body 21 so as to have a block shape protruding from the outer periphery of the inner rotor body 21 of the inner rotor 20. Unlike the second embodiment, this modification is a configuration in which the relative rotational phase is not locked in the most retarded angle phase Qb, and the oil passage configuration is slightly different. The second embodiment is common to the first embodiment in that the second communication path 17b is formed.

  In this modification, since the partition portion 22 has a width in the circumferential direction, the first communication path 17a and the second communication path 17b function so that the first communication path 17a and the second communication path 17b function in phases other than the intermediate phase Qm. The passage 17a and the second communication passage 17b are formed at positions overlapping in the circumferential direction.

  Further, also in the configuration of the modification (c), a plurality of communication paths 17 are formed as in the modifications (a) and (b) described above, and the communication paths 17 are formed on the inner wall surface of the rotor housing 11. You may do it.

(D) In the configuration provided with the lock mechanism L that holds the relative rotation phase at the intermediate lock phase corresponding to the intermediate phase Qm, the communication path is connected only in one of the retarded direction Sb and the advanced angle direction Sa from the intermediate lock phase. 17 may be formed.

  The present invention can be used for a valve opening / closing timing control device that sets a relative rotation phase by supplying and discharging hydraulic oil.

1 Crankshaft 6 Camshaft (Intake camshaft)
10 Drive side rotating body (external rotor)
17 communication path 20 driven side rotating body (internal rotor)
22 Partition E Internal combustion engine
C Fluid pressure chamber Ca Advance angle chamber Cb Delay angle chamber L Lock mechanism Qa Most advanced angle phase Qb Most retarded phase Sa Advance angle direction Sb Delay angle direction X Rotation axis

Claims (7)

A drive-side rotating body that rotates synchronously with the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine;
A driven-side rotator that rotates integrally with the camshaft on the same rotational axis as the valve opening and closing camshaft;
Comprising at least first and second fluid pressure chambers formed between the driving side rotating body and the driven side rotating body;
Each fluid pressure chamber is divided into an advance chamber and a retard chamber by being partitioned by a corresponding partition formed in the driven-side rotor, and the drive is performed when fluid is supplied to the advance chamber. The relative rotational phase of the side rotating body and the driven side rotating body is displaced in the advance direction, and when the fluid is supplied to the retard chamber, the relative rotational phase is displaced in the retard direction;
The partition portion is formed in the first fluid pressure chamber, and a most advanced angle phase that is a relative rotational phase when the partition portion is in contact with a circumferential wall portion of the retard chamber formed in the second fluid pressure chamber. The relative rotation to a predetermined phase intermediate between the most advanced angle phase and the most retarded angle phase except for the most retarded angle phase that becomes a relative rotation phase when contacting the circumferential wall of the advanced angle chamber. A valve opening / closing timing control device in which the drive-side rotator is provided with a communication passage that communicates the advance chamber and the retard chamber that are adjacent to each other with the partition portion interposed therebetween when the phase is positioned.   The valve opening / closing timing control device according to claim 1, wherein the communication path is formed in a groove shape on an inner wall surface of the drive-side rotator.   3. The valve opening / closing timing control device according to claim 1, wherein the communication passage is formed in a portion of the driving side rotating body constituting either the first or second fluid pressure chamber. 4. A lock mechanism that prevents displacement of the relative rotational phase when the relative rotational phase is at the most retarded lock phase corresponding to the most retarded phase;
The communication path according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication path communicates the advance chamber and the retard chamber when the relative rotational phase is in an advance direction region with respect to the most retarded lock phase. The valve opening / closing timing control device described. A lock mechanism that prevents displacement of the relative rotational phase when the relative rotational phase is at an arbitrary intermediate lock phase between the most advanced angle phase and the most retarded angle phase;
The communication path according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication path communicates the advance chamber and the retard chamber when the relative rotation phase is in a region retarded from the intermediate lock phase. Valve opening / closing timing control device. A lock mechanism that prevents displacement of the relative rotational phase when the relative rotational phase is at an arbitrary intermediate lock phase between the most advanced angle phase and the most retarded angle phase;
4. The communication path according to claim 1, wherein the communication path communicates the advance chamber and the retard chamber when the relative rotational phase is in an advance direction region with respect to the intermediate lock phase. 5. Valve opening / closing timing control device. A lock mechanism that prevents displacement of the relative rotational phase when the relative rotational phase is at an arbitrary intermediate lock phase between the most advanced angle phase and the most retarded angle phase;
The communication path includes the advance chamber and the retard angle when the relative rotational phase is in a region retarded from the intermediate lock phase and the relative rotational phase is advanced from the intermediate lock phase. The valve timing control apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3 which connects a chamber.

Images