US20090133650A1 - Valve timing control apparatus - Google Patents
Valve timing control apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090133650A1 US20090133650A1 US12/269,089 US26908908A US2009133650A1 US 20090133650 A1 US20090133650 A1 US 20090133650A1 US 26908908 A US26908908 A US 26908908A US 2009133650 A1 US2009133650 A1 US 2009133650A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- rotator
- valve timing
- control apparatus
- timing control
- protrusions
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01L—CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
- F01L1/00—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear
- F01L1/34—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without changing the duration of opening and without affecting the magnitude of the valve lift
- F01L1/344—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without changing the duration of opening and without affecting the magnitude of the valve lift changing the angular relationship between crankshaft and camshaft, e.g. using helicoidal gear
- F01L1/352—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without changing the duration of opening and without affecting the magnitude of the valve lift changing the angular relationship between crankshaft and camshaft, e.g. using helicoidal gear using bevel or epicyclic gear
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01L—CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
- F01L1/00—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear
- F01L1/02—Valve drive
- F01L1/022—Chain drive
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01L—CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
- F01L1/00—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear
- F01L1/02—Valve drive
- F01L1/04—Valve drive by means of cams, camshafts, cam discs, eccentrics or the like
- F01L1/047—Camshafts
- F01L2001/0475—Hollow camshafts
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01L—CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
- F01L1/00—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear
- F01L1/02—Valve drive
- F01L1/04—Valve drive by means of cams, camshafts, cam discs, eccentrics or the like
- F01L1/047—Camshafts
- F01L1/053—Camshafts overhead type
- F01L2001/0537—Double overhead camshafts [DOHC]
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01L—CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
- F01L1/00—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear
- F01L1/34—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without changing the duration of opening and without affecting the magnitude of the valve lift
- F01L1/344—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without changing the duration of opening and without affecting the magnitude of the valve lift changing the angular relationship between crankshaft and camshaft, e.g. using helicoidal gear
- F01L1/3442—Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without changing the duration of opening and without affecting the magnitude of the valve lift changing the angular relationship between crankshaft and camshaft, e.g. using helicoidal gear using hydraulic chambers with variable volume to transmit the rotating force
- F01L2001/34423—Details relating to the hydraulic feeding circuit
- F01L2001/34436—Features or method for avoiding malfunction due to foreign matters in oil
- F01L2001/3444—Oil filters
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01L—CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
- F01L2820/00—Details on specific features characterising valve gear arrangements
- F01L2820/03—Auxiliary actuators
- F01L2820/032—Electric motors
Definitions
- lubricating fluid is supplied to the rotator synchronized with the crankshaft through a guide hole arrangement provided in the rotator synchronized with the camshaft.
- the meshed part between the gear portion of at least one of these rotators and the planetary gear are lubricated with the lubricating fluid.
- This lubricating action may improve the durability of the valve timing control apparatus.
- the planetary carrier 40 is configured into a cylindrical tubular body and has an input portion 41 at an inner peripheral surface of the planetary carrier 40 .
- the input portion 41 is coaxial with respect to the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20 and is connected to the rotatable shaft 7 .
- two engaging grooves 42 are formed in the input portion 41 .
- a joint 43 is securely fixed to the rotatable shaft 7 through, for example, a pin (not shown). Two radial projections of the joint 43 are fitted into the engaging grooves 42 , respectively, to conned between the rotatable shaft 7 and the input portion 41 and thereby to rotate together with the input portion 41 .
- the planetary carrier 40 can rotate integrally with the rotatable shaft 7 in response to the generation of the drive torque and can rotate relative to the driving-side internal gear portion 14 in the advancing direction X or the retarding direction Y.
- the number of teeth of the driving-side external gear portion 52 is smaller than that of the driving-side internal gear portion 14 by a predetermined number, and the number of teeth of the driven-side external gear portion 54 is smaller than that of the driven-side internal gear portion 22 by the same predetermined number.
- the driving-side external gear portion 52 is placed radially inward of the driving side internal gear portion 14 and is meshed with the driving side internal gear portion 14 .
- the driven-side external gear portion 54 which is located on the connecting portion 21 side of the driving-side external gear portion 52 , is placed radially inward of the driven-side internal gear portion 22 and is meshed with the driven-side internal gear portion 22 .
- an inner peripheral wall of the support hole 15 is rotatably supported by the camshaft 2 , and the support hole 15 is placed coaxial with the driven-side rotator 20 , which is fixed to a connecting portion 6 of the camshaft 2 with screws.
- the camshaft 2 supports the inner peripheral wall of the support hole 15 from a radially inner side of the support hole 15 such that a relatively high radial positioning accuracy between the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20 is maintained while enabling the relative rotation between the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20 .
- the guide hole arrangement 81 (more specifically, the throttling portions 81 a ) opens in the outer end surface 24 , which is opposed to the camshaft-side contact surface 61 of the camshaft 2 and the inner end surface 18 of the driving-side rotator 10 .
- the guide hole arrangement 81 includes the throttling portions 81 a , each of which is formed as the recess that is axially recessed in the outer end surface 24 of the connecting portion 21 of the driven-side rotator 20 to create the communicating hole or passage.
- the guide hole arrangement 81 and the contaminant capturing space 82 of the guide passage 80 are formed between the first surface portion 11 , 18 and the second surface portion 24 , 25 . Therefore, it is not required to form a hole that extends through the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20 .
- the guide passage 80 of the present embodiment can be formed through a sintering process, a forging process or a press working process, which are other than a drilling process and a cutting process.
- the guide passage 80 includes the contaminant capturing space 82 .
- the contaminant capturing space 82 guide the lubricating oil, which is supplied into the guide passage 80 , toward the outer side of the gear portions 14 , 22 , 52 , 54 . Furthermore, at the outer side of the gear portions 14 , 22 , 52 , 54 , the contaminant capturing space 82 forms the contaminant accumulating portion, at which the contaminants contained in the lubricating oil are accumulated. In this way, the lubricating oil, which is supplied into the guide passage 80 , flows through the foreign contaminant capturing space 82 , at which the foreign contaminants contained in the lubricating oil are removed.
- the contaminant capturing space 82 is placed at least between the inner peripheral surface 11 of the driving-side rotator 10 and the outer peripheral surface 25 of the driven-side rotator 20 to form the annular gap.
- the lubricating oil which is supplied into the guide passage 80 , flows into this annular gap of the contaminant capturing space 82 , the contaminants are effectively accumulated at the inner peripheral surface 11 side of the annular gap through the application of the centrifugal force, and thereby the contaminants are deposited at the inner peripheral surface 11 .
- the stopper projections 73 - 75 and the stopper recesses 76 - 78 have the above-described limiting function to limit the variable range of the relative phase between the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20 upon installation of the stopper projections 73 - 75 into the stopper recesses 76 - 78 , respectively, in a manner that allows the rotation (the swing motion) of the respective stopper projections 73 - 75 within the predetermined circumferential range (predetermined swing range).
- the redundant stopper recesses 77 , 78 and the corresponding stopper projections 74 , 75 have the fail-safe liming function, which becomes effective at the time of failure of the stopper recess 76 and the stopper projection 73 .
- a third embodiment of the present invention which is a modification of the first embodiment, will be described with reference to FIG. 10 .
- a plurality of protrusions 85 each of which is configured into a generally planar quadrangular prism body, is provided in the recess 83 that is formed by the inner end surface 18 and the inner peripheral surface 11 in the contaminant capturing space 82 .
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Valve Device For Special Equipments (AREA)
Abstract
A guide passage is provided between a driving-side rotator and a driven-side rotator to supply lubricating fluid into an interior of the first rotator. A planetary gear is received in the driving-side rotator and is meshed with a gear portion of the driving-side rotator to make a planetary motion and thereby to change a relative phase between the driving-side rotator and the driven-side rotator. The guide passage guides the lubricating fluid toward a location on a radially outer side of the gear portion and the planetary gear and has a contaminant capturing space to accumulate contaminants contained in the lubricating fluid.
Description
- This application is based on and incorporates herein by reference Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-303474 filed on Nov. 22, 2007.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a valve timing control apparatus, which controls valve timing of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine, which is driven by a camshaft through transmission of a torque from a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine.
- 2. Description of Related Art
- Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-71056 discloses a valve timing control apparatus, in which a planetary gear is meshed with one or more gear portions provided in at least one of a rotator synchronized with a crankshaft and a rotator synchronized with a camshaft. A relative phase between these rotators is changed by a planetary motion of the planetary gear.
- In the case of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-71056, in which the differential gear mechanism that has the planetary gear as its main functional component, is used, the differential gear mechanism, which follows the operational state of the internal combustion engine, is frequently operated. Thus, notable frictional abrasion may occur at the meshed part between the gears of the differential gear mechanism.
- In view of this, lubricating fluid is supplied to the rotator synchronized with the crankshaft through a guide hole arrangement provided in the rotator synchronized with the camshaft. Thereby, the meshed part between the gear portion of at least one of these rotators and the planetary gear are lubricated with the lubricating fluid. This lubricating action may improve the durability of the valve timing control apparatus.
- In the valve timing control apparatus of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-71056, the lubricating fluid, which passes from the guide hole arrangement into the interior of the valve timing control apparatus, is supplied from an oil passage that is placed on the center side in the camshaft. Therefore, the lubricating fluid tends to flow from the radially inner side toward the radially outer side and is accumulated at, for example, in the meshed part between the gear portion and the planetary gear.
- In this type of structure, in which the lubricating fluid tends to be accumulated in the meshed part between the gears, when the lubricating fluid, which contains abrasive contaminants, is supplied, the abrasion of the meshed part tends to be accelerated. Thus, the lifetime of the valve timing control apparatus may possibly be deteriorated by the abrasion.
- At the camshaft side, i.e., at the lubricating fluid supply source of the internal combustion engine, the lubricating fluid is filtered through an oil filter. Therefore, the relatively clean lubricating fluid is supplied to the valve timing control apparatus. However, minute contaminants (e.g., abrasion debris), which are smaller than the mesh size of the oil filter, are directly supplied into the valve timing control apparatus. Therefore, it is difficult to lubricate the meshed part between the gear portions in the valve timing control apparatus. Also, the abrasive debris may possibly be generated due to a damage of a component of the internal combustion engine and may possibly be introduced into the oil passage between the valve timing control apparatus and the oil filter at the lubricating fluid supply source.
- The present invention is made in view of the above disadvantage. Thus, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a valve timing control apparatus, which exhibits improved durability. It is another objective of the present invention to provide a valve timing control apparatus, which can improve its durability while achieving a relatively high productivity thereof.
- In order to achieve the objectives of the present invention, there is provided a valve timing control apparatus that controls valve timing of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine, which is driven by a camshaft through transmission of a torque from a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine to open and close the at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve. The valve timing control apparatus includes a first rotator, a second rotator, a guide passage, at least one gear portion and a planetary gear. The first rotator is rotated synchronously with one of the crankshaft and the camshaft. The second rotator is received in the first rotator and is rotated synchronously with the other one of the crankshaft and the camshaft. The guide passage is provided in at least one of the first rotator and the second rotator to supply lubricating fluid, which is received from a lubricating fluid supply source of the internal combustion engine through the camshaft, into an interior of the first rotator. The at least one gear portion is provided in at least one of the first rotator and the second rotator. The planetary gear is received in the first rotator and is meshed with a corresponding one of the at least one gear portion to make a planetary motion and thereby to change a relative phase between the first rotator and the second rotator. The guide passage guides the lubricating fluid toward a location on an outer side of the at least one gear portion and the planetary gear and has a space to accumulate contaminants contained in the lubricating fluid.
- The invention, together with additional objectives, features and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:
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FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view taken along line I-I inFIG. 3 , showing a basic structure of a valve timing control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line II-II inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line III-III inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line IV-IV inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line V-V inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 6 is a partial cross sectional view showing a main feature of the valve timing control apparatus shown inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 7 is a partial exploded diagram showing a surface portion of a second rotator shown inFIG. 6 ; -
FIG. 8 is a partial cross sectional view showing a valve timing control apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 9 is a partial exploded diagram showing a surface portion of a driving-side rotator shown inFIG. 8 ; -
FIG. 10 is a partial exploded diagram showing a surface portion of a driving-side rotator of a valve timing control apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 11 is a partial cross sectional view showing a valve timing control apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 12 is a partial cross sectional view showing a valve timing control apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 13 is a partial cross sectional view showing a valve timing control apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; and -
FIG. 14 is a partial cross sectional view showing a valve timing control apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. - Various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiments, similar components will be indicated by the same reference numerals and will not be repeatedly described.
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FIGS. 1 to 7 show a valve timing control apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The valve timing control apparatus 1 is installed in a vehicle and is placed in a transmission system, which transmits an engine torque from a crankshaft (not shown) of an internal combustion engine to acamshaft 2. In the present embodiment, thecamshaft 2 drives intake valves (not shown) of the internal combustion engine, and the valve timing control apparatus 1 adjusts the valve timing of the intake valves. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , the valve timing control apparatus 1 includes anelectric motor unit 4 and a phase adjustingmechanical unit 8. - The
motor unit 4 includes anelectric motor 5 and an electric power supply control unit (control circuit unit) 60. Theelectric motor 5 is, for example, a brushless motor and includes arotatable shaft 7. Theelectric motor 5 applies a control torque to therotatable shaft 7 upon energization thereof to drive therotatable shaft 7 in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction inFIG. 2 . The electric powersupply control unit 60 includes, for example, a control computer and a power supply driver and may be placed outside and/or inside of theelectric motor 5. The electric powersupply control unit 60 is electrically connected to theelectric motor 5. The electric powersupply control unit 60 controls electric power supply to theelectric motor 5 to control a rotational state of therotatable shaft 7. - The phase adjusting
mechanical unit 8 includes a driving-side rotator (serving as a first rotator) 10, a driven-side rotator (serving as a second rotator) 20, aplanetary carrier 40 and aplanetary gear 50. - As shown in
FIGS. 1 to 3 , the driving-side rotator 10 is configured into a cylindrical tubular body and receives the otherconstituent components mechanical unit 8. The driving-side rotator 10 includes a cup-shapedgear member 12 and a cup-shapedsprocket 13, which are coaxially connected together with screws. - A driving-
side gear portion 14 is formed in a peripheral wall of thegear member 12 and has an addendum circle, which is placed radially inward of a deddendum circle thereof. A plurality ofteeth 16 is formed in a peripheral wall of thesprocket 13. Theteeth 16 project radially outwardly and are arranged one after another in a rotational direction of thesprocket 13. An annular timing chain is placed around theteeth 16 of thesprocket 13 and teeth of the crankshaft to rotate synchronously with the crankshaft. Thus, when the engine torque is supplied from the crankshaft to thesprocket 13 through the timing chain, the driving-side rotator 10 is rotated synchronously with the crankshaft. At this time, a rotational direction of the driving-side rotator 10 is a counterclockwise direction inFIG. 2 and is a clockwise direction inFIG. 3 . - As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3 , the driven-side rotator 20 is configured into a generally cylindrical cup shape and is coaxially received in the driving-side rotator 10. A bottom wall of the driven-side rotator 20 forms a connectingportion 21, which is coaxially connected to thecamshaft 2 with screws. Through this connection, the driven-side rotator 20 is rotated together with thecamshaft 2 relative to the driving-side rotator 10 in an advancing direction X or a retarding direction Y. - The peripheral wall of the driven-
side rotator 20 forms a driven-sideinternal gear portion 22, which has an addendum circle on a radially inner side of a deddendum circle thereof. Here, an inner diameter of the driven-sideinternal gear portion 22 is smaller than an inner diameter of the driving-sideinternal gear portion 14. Furthermore, the number of teeth of the driven-sideinternal gear portion 22 is smaller than the number of teeth of the driving-sideinternal gear portion 14. The driven-sideinternal gear portion 22 is displaced from the driving-sideinternal gear portion 14 in the axial direction. - As shown in
FIGS. 1 to 3 , theplanetary carrier 40 is configured into a cylindrical tubular body and has aninput portion 41 at an inner peripheral surface of theplanetary carrier 40. Theinput portion 41 is coaxial with respect to the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20 and is connected to therotatable shaft 7. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 2 , two engaginggrooves 42 are formed in theinput portion 41. A joint 43 is securely fixed to therotatable shaft 7 through, for example, a pin (not shown). Two radial projections of the joint 43 are fitted into the engaginggrooves 42, respectively, to conned between therotatable shaft 7 and theinput portion 41 and thereby to rotate together with theinput portion 41. In this way, theplanetary carrier 40 can rotate integrally with therotatable shaft 7 in response to the generation of the drive torque and can rotate relative to the driving-sideinternal gear portion 14 in the advancing direction X or the retarding direction Y. - Furthermore, an
eccentric portion 44, which is eccentric to theinput portion 41, is formed by an outer peripheral part of theplanetary carrier 40. Theeccentric portion 44 is installed to the inner peripheral side of thecenter hole 51 of theplanetary gear 50 through abearing 45. Theplanetary gear 50 is supported by theeccentric portion 44 in such a manner that theplanetary gear 50 makes planetary motion in response to the relative rotation of theplanetary carrier 40 relative to the driving-sideinternal gear portion 14. Here, the planetary motion of theplanetary gear 50 is made such that theplanetary gear 50 revolves in the rotational direction of theplanetary carrier 40 while theplanetary gear 50 rotates about the eccentric axis of theeccentric portion 44. - The
planetary gear 50 is formed into a stepped cylindrical body. Specifically, theplanetary gear 50 has a large diameter portion, which forms a driving-sideexternal gear portion 52, and a small diameter portion, which forms a driven-sideexternal gear portion 54. The driving-sideexternal gear portion 52 has an addendum circle on the radially outward of a deddendum circle thereof. Similarly, the driven-sideexternal gear portion 54 has an addendum circle on the radially outward of a deddendum circle thereof. The number of teeth of the driving-sideexternal gear portion 52 is smaller than that of the driving-sideinternal gear portion 14 by a predetermined number, and the number of teeth of the driven-sideexternal gear portion 54 is smaller than that of the driven-sideinternal gear portion 22 by the same predetermined number. The driving-sideexternal gear portion 52 is placed radially inward of the driving sideinternal gear portion 14 and is meshed with the driving sideinternal gear portion 14. The driven-sideexternal gear portion 54, which is located on the connectingportion 21 side of the driving-sideexternal gear portion 52, is placed radially inward of the driven-sideinternal gear portion 22 and is meshed with the driven-sideinternal gear portion 22. - As discussed above, the phase adjusting
mechanical unit 8 of the differential gear type, in which the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20 are interconnected, conducts the cam torque of thecamshaft 2 to therotatable shaft 7 and adjusts the relative phase between the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20 based on the rotational state of therotatable shaft 7. - Specifically, when the
rotatable shaft 7 is rotated in a normal rotational direction (the rotational direction of the crankshaft in this embodiment) at the same rotational speed as that of the driving-side rotator 10, theplanetary carrier 40 does not rotate relative to the driving-sideinternal gear portion 14. At that time, theplanetary carrier 40 does not make the planetary motion and is rotated together with the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20. That is, since the relative phase between the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20 does not change, the current valve timing is maintained. - In contrast, when the
rotatable shaft 7 is rotated in the normal rotational direction at the higher rotational speed, which is higher than that of the driving-side rotator 10, theplanetary carrier 40 is rotated relative to the driving-sideinternal gear portion 14 in the advancing direction X. At that time, the driven-side rotator 20 is rotated relative to the driving-side rotator 10 in the advancing direction X by the planetary motion of theplanetary gear 50. That is, since the relative phase between the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20 changes in the advancing direction X, the valve timing is advanced in response to the change in the relative phase. - In contrast, when the
rotatable shaft 7 is rotated in the normal rotational direction or the reverse rotational direction at the lower rotational speed, which is lower than that of the driving-side rotator 10, theplanetary carrier 40 is rotated relative to the driving-sideinternal gear portion 14 in the retarding direction Y. At that time, the driven-side rotator 20 is rotated relative to the driving-side rotator 10 in the retarding direction Y by the planetary motion of theplanetary gear 50. That is, since the relative phase between the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20 changes in the retarding direction Y, the valve timing is retarded in response to the change in the relative phase. - The basic structure of the first embodiment has been described above. Now, the characteristic structure of the first embodiment will be described.
- As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 6 , thesprocket 13 of the driving-side rotator 10 includes asupport hole 15. Thesupport hole 15 opens to an end surface of thesprocket 13, which is opposite from thegear member 12. Thesupport hole 15 is configured into cylindrical tubular body, which has an inner diameter that is smaller than the addendum circle of the driving-sideinternal gear portion 14 and the addendum circle of the driven-sideinternal gear portion 22. Furthermore, thesupport hole 15 is displaced from the driving-sideinternal gear portion 14 and the driven-sideinternal gear portion 22 in the axial direction. In the present embodiment, thesupport hole 15 is placed on the opposite side of the driven-sideinternal gear portion 22, which is opposite from the driving-sideinternal gear portion 14 of thegear member 12 in the axial direction. - Furthermore, an inner peripheral wall of the
support hole 15 is rotatably supported by thecamshaft 2, and thesupport hole 15 is placed coaxial with the driven-side rotator 20, which is fixed to a connectingportion 6 of thecamshaft 2 with screws. Specifically, thecamshaft 2 supports the inner peripheral wall of thesupport hole 15 from a radially inner side of thesupport hole 15 such that a relatively high radial positioning accuracy between the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20 is maintained while enabling the relative rotation between the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20. - Specifically, an axial
outer end surface 24 of the connectingportion 21 of the driven-side rotator 20 is securely fixed to the connectingportion 6 of thecamshaft 2 with screws such that the connectingportion 21 of the driven-side rotator 20 is positioned coaxial to the connectingportion 6 of thecamshaft 2. Theouter end surface 24 of the connectingportion 21 integrally contacts a camshaft-side contact surface 61 of the connectingportion 6 and is placed adjacent to an axialinner end surface 18 of thesprocket 13 in a manner that enables rotation of theouter end surface 24 relative to theinner end surface 18 of thesprocket 13. - In the driving-
side rotator 10, thesprocket 13 includes a driving-side steppedportion 17, which connects between thesupport hole 15 and the driving-sideinternal gear portion 14 of thegear member 12. The driving-side steppedportion 17 includes theinner end surface 18 of an annular shape and an innerperipheral surface 11 of a cylindrical shape. Theinner end surface 18 is axially opposed to theouter end surface 24 of the driven-side rotator 20. The innerperipheral surface 11 is radially opposed to an outerperipheral surface 25 of the driven-side rotator 20. - The
inner end surface 18 and the innerperipheral surface 11 of thesprocket 13 of the driving-side rotator 10 collectively serve as a surface portion of a first rotator of the present invention. Furthermore, theouter end surface 24 and the outerperipheral surface 25 of the driven-side rotator 20 collectively serve as a surface portion of a second rotator of the present invention. - Furthermore, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 4 , thesprocket 13 includes a plurality of stopper grooves 70-72, which are formed as engaging recesses along the innerperipheral surface 11 of thesprocket 13 and are arranged one after another at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. Thegear member 12 is installed into thesprocket 13 in the axial direction and is fixed to thesprocket 13 with the screws, so that stopper recesses 76-78 are formed in the stopper grooves 70-72, respectively. - Also, the driven-
side rotator 20 includes a plurality of stopper projections 73-75, which project radially outward from the driven-side rotator 20 and are arranged one after another at predetermined intervals to serve as engaging projections. The stopper projections 73-75 are received in the stopper grooves 70-72, respectively, at the radially outer side of the driving-side rotator 10 in a manner that allows a swing motion between the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20 in the circumferential direction. In the state where the stopper projections 73-75 are received in the stopper grooves 70-72, respectively, a stopper surface of at least one of the stopper grooves 70-72 abuts against, i.e., is circumferentially engaged with a stopper surface of the corresponding stopper projection 73-75 to limit the relative phase between the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20. In the present embodiment, only the stopper surface of thestopper groove 70 is circumferentially engaged with the stopper surface of thestopper projection 73 while the stopper surface of each of the other remaining grooves 71-72 is not circumferentially engaged with the stopper surface of the corresponding stopper projection 74-75. - Here, the
stopper groove 71 and thecorresponding stopper projection 74 as well as thestopper groove 72 and thestopper projection 75 are redundant and are provided for fail-safe purpose in the case of failure of thestopper groove 70 and thestopper projection 73. - As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 6 , aguide passage 80 is defined between the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20 to guide lubricating oil (serving as lubricating fluid) into the interior of the driving-side rotator 10. The lubricating oil is supplied to theguide passage 80 from a lubricating oil supply source (lubricating fluid supply source) of the internal combustion engine to lubricate thegear portions side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20. Theguide passage 80 includes aguide hole arrangement 81 and acontaminant capturing space 82. - The
guide hole arrangement 81, which includes a plurality of communicating holes as throttlingportions 81 a (described below in detail), is provided in the connection between the connectingportion 21 of the driven-side rotator 20 and the connectingportion 6 of thecamshaft 2 and. The throttlingportions 81 a are always communicated with supply holes 3 (only one is shown inFIG. 6 ), respectively, of thecamshaft 2. Specifically, theguide hole arrangement 81 includes a plurality of recesses, which form the throttlingportions 81 a, respectively, and are recessed in a part theouter end surface 24 of the connectingportion 21 of the driven-side rotator 20, which is axially opposed to the camshaft-side contact surface 61 of thecamshaft 2. - Here, each
supply hole 3 forms a passage, to which the lubricating oil is supplied from a pump 9 (serving as the lubricant fluid supply source) of the internal combustion engine. Thepump 9 is a mechanical pump, which is mechanically driven by the engine torque that is outputted from the internal combustion engine. Thepump 9 should not be limited to the mechanical pump. For example, thepump 9 may be a variable displacement pump, which can vary a discharge volume of the lubricating oil regardless of the operational state of the internal combustion engine. Further alternatively, thepump 9 may be an electric pump. - As shown in
FIGS. 1 , 5 and 6, the guide hole arrangement 81 (more specifically, the throttlingportions 81 a) opens in theouter end surface 24, which is opposed to the camshaft-side contact surface 61 of thecamshaft 2 and theinner end surface 18 of the driving-side rotator 10. As described above, theguide hole arrangement 81 includes the throttlingportions 81 a, each of which is formed as the recess that is axially recessed in theouter end surface 24 of the connectingportion 21 of the driven-side rotator 20 to create the communicating hole or passage. The throttlingportions 81 a limit a flow quantity of the lubricating oil, which is supplied into to the interior of the driving-side rotator 10, to a predetermined flow quantity. When the lubricating oil passes the throttlingportions 81 a, the flow quantity of the lubricating oil is limited by the action of the throttlingportions 81 a. Thus, the flow quantity of the lubricating oil (hereinafter, referred to as a lubricating oil quantity) is minimized to limit the influence on the lubrication of other devices of the internal combustion engine, which is other than the valve timing control apparatus 1. Here, the action of each of the throttlingportions 81 a is to reduce a flow passage cross sectional area, through which the lubricating oil flows, in comparison to a flow passage cross sectional area at an upstream side of the throttlingportion 81 a. Thus, the lubricating oil quantity, which is supplied on the downstream side of the throttlingportions 81 a, is adjusted by the throttlingportions 81 a. - The
contaminant capturing space 82 is located on the downstream side of theguide hole arrangement 81 in theguide passage 80 at radially outward of theguide hole arrangement 81 to supply the lubricating oil toward thegear portions contaminant capturing space 82 extends radially outward to guide the lubricating oil from the radially inner side toward the radially outer side at the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20. Thus, the lubricating oil, which contains contaminants (e.g., debris, dust, dirt), is separated into the contaminants and the lubricating oil in thecontaminant capturing space 82 by the centrifugal force, which is generated upon rotation of the driving-side rotator 10 and the drivenside rotator 20. In thecontaminant capturing space 82, the separated contaminants tend to be accumulated at the inner wall side of thecontaminant capturing space 82 rather than the center side region of thecontaminant capturing space 82, through which the lubricating oil flows. Therefore, theguide passage 80 supplies the filtered lubricating oil (relatively clean lubricating oil), from which the contaminants are substantially removed at thecontaminant capturing space 82, to thegear portions - Particularly, in the present embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 6 , thecontaminant capturing space 82 is formed on the outer side of the driven-side rotator 20 and on the inner side of the driving-side rotator 10 upon installation of the drivenside rotator 20 into the driving-side rotator 10. Specifically, thecontaminant capturing space 82 is defined in the gap between the surface portion (hereinafter, referred to as a first surface portion) 11, 18 of the driving-side rotator 10 and the surface portion (hereinafter, referred to as a second surface portion) 24, 25 of the driven-side rotator 20. - The
contaminant capturing space 82 forms a generally annular space, i.e., gap between the inner peripheral surface 11 (the first surface portion) of the driving-side rotator 10 and the outer peripheral surface 25 (the second surface portion) of the driven-side rotator 20. The lubricating oil, which is supplied through theguide hole arrangement 81, flows into this generally annular gap of thecontaminant capturing space 82. Thus, the contaminants are forced toward the innerperipheral surface 11, which defines the one radial side of the generally annular space, by the centrifugal force to effectively accumulate the contaminants on the innerperipheral surface 11. - Furthermore, as shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7 , arecess 83, which is axially opposed to theguide hole arrangement 81 side of theouter end surface 24, is formed in theinner end surface 18 and extends to the innerperipheral surface 11. Specifically, in theinner end surface 18 and the innerperipheral surface 11, therecess 83 is defined between an inner peripheral side (inner peripheral edge) 83 a of theinner end surface 18, which overlaps with a radial extent of theguide hole arrangement 81 of theouter end surface 24 in the radial direction, and an upstream side (upstream side edge) 83 b of the respective stopper grooves 70-72. - In this way, in the area between the inner
peripheral side 83 a and theupstream side 83 b, thecontaminant capturing space 82 has the sufficient flow passage cross sectional area in the circumferential direction on the outer side of the outerperipheral surface 25 and theouter end surface 24 of the driven-side rotator 20. In thecontaminant capturing space 82, which has the sufficient flow passage cross sectional area for conducting the lubricating oil, even when the contaminants are accumulated in thecontaminant capturing space 82 to cause the reduction in the flow passage cross sectional area, the sufficient flow passage cross sectional area is still left. Therefore, it is possible to maintain the good state for lubricating thegear portions mechanical unit 8 with the relatively clean lubricating oil, from which the contaminants are removed in thecontaminant capturing space 82. - In the present embodiment, the
contaminant capturing space 82 is formed by the outer sidesecond surface portion second surface portion side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20. At the location between thefirst surface portion second surface portion contaminant capturing space 82. The lubricating oil, which flows out from thestopper gap 84, creates the flow against the centrifugal force from the location on the radially outer side of thegear portions gear portions stopper gap 84 guides the lubricating oil from the location on the radially outer side of thegear portions contaminant capturing space 82. Thereby, it is possible to limit the outflow of the contaminants from thecontaminant capturing space 82 toward thegear portions - In the present embodiment, the
guide hole arrangement 81 and thecontaminant capturing space 82 of theguide passage 80 are formed between thefirst surface portion second surface portion side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20. Specifically, theguide passage 80 of the present embodiment can be formed through a sintering process, a forging process or a press working process, which are other than a drilling process and a cutting process. For example, in the case of forming thesprocket 13 of the driving-side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20 through the forging process, therecess 83 in theinner end surface 18 and the innerperipheral surface 11 of thesprocket 13 as well as theouter end surface 24 and the outerperipheral surface 25 of the driven-side rotator 20 are simultaneously formed by the forging process without a need for performing any cutting process. - Here, the
contaminant capturing space 82 serves as a space of the present invention. Furthermore, thesprocket 13 and thegear member 12 of the driving-side rotator 10 serve as an assembled rotator of the present invention. Thesprocket 13 serves as a supporting body of the present invention, and thegear member 12 serves as a fixing body of the present invention. Furthermore, the stopper grooves 70-72 serve as support openings of the present invention. In addition, the stopper recesses 76-78 serve as engaging recesses of the present invention, and the stopper projections 73-75 serve as engaging projections of the present invention. - Furthermore, the
recess 83 formed in thefirst surface portion - In the present embodiment, as discussed above, the
guide passage 80 includes thecontaminant capturing space 82. Thecontaminant capturing space 82 guide the lubricating oil, which is supplied into theguide passage 80, toward the outer side of thegear portions gear portions contaminant capturing space 82 forms the contaminant accumulating portion, at which the contaminants contained in the lubricating oil are accumulated. In this way, the lubricating oil, which is supplied into theguide passage 80, flows through the foreigncontaminant capturing space 82, at which the foreign contaminants contained in the lubricating oil are removed. Thus, the relatively clean lubricating oil, from which the foreign contaminants are removed, is supplied to the meshed teeth of thegear portions contaminant capturing space 82, the contaminants can be removed from the lubricating oil through the application of the centrifugal force. Thereby, the contaminants, which are removed from the lubricating oil, are effectively accumulated and deposited in thecontaminant capturing space 82. - Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the driven-
side rotator 20 is received in the driving-side rotator 10. Thecontaminant capturing space 82 is formed between thefirst surface portion second surface portion side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20. That is, the gap, which is formed upon installation of the driven-side rotator 20 into the driving-side rotator 10, becomes thecontaminant capturing space 82. In other words, thecontaminant capturing space 82, which has the function of accumulating the contaminants of the lubricating oil, can be implemented by the relatively simple gap. Furthermore, at the time of manufacturing the valve timing control apparatus 1, thecontaminant capturing space 82 can be created by simply installing the driven-side rotator 20 into the driving-side rotator 10. - Furthermore, in the present embodiment, at the
first surface portion second surface portion contaminant capturing space 82 is placed at least between the innerperipheral surface 11 of the driving-side rotator 10 and the outerperipheral surface 25 of the driven-side rotator 20 to form the annular gap. When the lubricating oil, which is supplied into theguide passage 80, flows into this annular gap of thecontaminant capturing space 82, the contaminants are effectively accumulated at the innerperipheral surface 11 side of the annular gap through the application of the centrifugal force, and thereby the contaminants are deposited at the innerperipheral surface 11. - Furthermore, in the present embodiment, at the
guide passage 80, thecontaminant capturing space 82 and theguide hole arrangement 81 are formed between thefirst surface portion second surface portion first surface portion portions 81 a of theguide hole arrangement 81 are formed in theouter end surface 24, which contacts the camshaft-side contact surface 61 of thecamshaft 2, such that each of the throttlingportions 81 a is configured into the recess that is recessed in theouter end surface 24 and is opened toward the camshaft-side contact surface 61. - In the
guide passage 80, theguide hole arrangement 81 and thecontaminant capturing space 82 are provided between thefirst surface portion side rotator 10 and thesecond surface portion side rotator 20 to conduct the lubricating oil between thefirst surface portion second surface portion guide passage 80, which includes theguide hole arrangement 81 and thecontaminant capturing space 82, can be provided without requiring the mechanical process, such as the hole forming process (the drilling process) for forming the hole that penetrates through the driving-side rotator 10 and/or the driven-side rotator 20 unlike the prior art technique. Thus, the productivity of the valve timing control apparatus 1 can be improved. - Here, in the
guide passage 80, the lubricating oil, which is supplied through thecamshaft 2, flows into thecontaminant capturing space 82 through theguide hole arrangement 81. Since the flow passage cross sectional area of thecontaminant capturing space 82 becomes smaller as the amount of contaminants accumulated in thecontaminant capturing space 82 increases, it is desirable to set the relatively large flow passage cross sectional area of thecontaminant capturing space 82. - In the present embodiment, the throttling
portions 81 a, which reduce the flow passage cross sectional area for conducting the lubricating oil, are provided in theguide hole arrangement 81 located on the upstream side of thecontaminant capturing space 82. Thus, the flow passage cross sectional area of thecontaminant capturing space 82 can be relatively easily increased while limiting the influence on the lubrication of the internal combustion engine. Also, it is possible to implement the long lasting contaminant capturing function of thecontaminant capturing space 82. - Also, in the present embodiment, at the
guide passage 80, the lubricating oil is guided from the location on the radially outer side of thegear portions contaminant capturing space 82. The lubricating oil, which exits from thecontaminant capturing space 82, flows to thegear portions contaminant capturing space 82 toward thegear portions - Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the lubricating oil is guided from the location on the radially outer side of the
gear portions contaminant capturing space 82. Also, the stopper projections 73-75 are formed in the outerperipheral surface 25 of the driven-side rotator 20 at the downstream side end part of the outerperipheral surface 25 of the driven-side rotator 20, and the stopper recesses 76-78 are formed at the downstream side end part of the innerperipheral surface 11 of thesprocket 13 of the driving-side rotator 10. Furthermore, thestopper gap 84 is formed between each stopper projection 73-75 and the corresponding stopper recess 76-78. At thestopper gap 84, it is possible to reliably implement the structure for guiding the lubricating oil from the location on the radially outer side of thegear portions - Furthermore, when the lubricating oil passes through the
stopper gap 84, the contaminants are effectively accumulated and deposited in the stopper recesses 76-78. - Here, it is desirable to guide the lubricating oil to the stopper recesses 77, 78 of
FIG. 7 , which are redundantly provided for the fail-safe purpose among the stopper recesses 76-78 and the corresponding stopper projections 73-75. In this way, it is possible to limit the influence of the contaminants on the limiting function, which is implemented by thestopper recess 71 and thestopper projection 73 while implementing the lubricating oil guide function of the stopper recesses 77, 78 and thestopper projections - The stopper projections 73-75 and the stopper recesses 76-78 have the above-described limiting function to limit the variable range of the relative phase between the driving-
side rotator 10 and the driven-side rotator 20 upon installation of the stopper projections 73-75 into the stopper recesses 76-78, respectively, in a manner that allows the rotation (the swing motion) of the respective stopper projections 73-75 within the predetermined circumferential range (predetermined swing range). The redundant stopper recesses 77, 78 and thecorresponding stopper projections stopper recess 76 and thestopper projection 73. - Some previously proposed valve timing control apparatuses have the above limiting function to limit the variable range of the relative phase. In a case where the valve timing control apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is implemented in such an apparatus, the structure of limiting the outflow of the contaminants from the
contaminant capturing space 82 to thegear portions - Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the
recess 83 is formed in the innerperipheral surface 11 of the generally annular gap defined between thefirst surface portion second surface portion contaminant capturing space 82, which accumulates the contaminants contained in the lubricating oil, can be reliably formed. - A second embodiment of the present invention, which is a modification of the first embodiment, will be described with reference to
FIGS. 8 and 9 . In the second embodiment, a plurality ofprotrusions 85, each of which is configured into a generally cylindrical body, is provided in therecess 83, which is formed by theinner end surface 18 and the innerperipheral surface 11 in thecontaminant capturing space 82. - As shown in
FIG. 9 , therecess 83 is formed in theinner end surface 18 and the innerperipheral surface 11 of thesprocket 13 in the area between the innerperipheral side 83 a and theupstream side 83 b. Theprotrusions 85 radially inwardly project from the surface of therecess 83 in the range of the generally annular gap. Specifically, in the present embodiment, theprotrusions 85 contact the outerperipheral surface 25 of the driven-side rotator 20, and the radial size of the generally annular gap is defined by the amount of projection of therespective protrusions 85. As shown inFIG. 9 , theprotrusions 85 are arranged into multiple rows, which are placed one after another in the flow direction of the lubricating oil, i.e., in the axial direction. In each row, theprotrusions 85 are arranged at generally equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the driving-side rotator 10. Theprotrusions 85 of one of the rows are staggered relative to theprotrusions 85 of a next one of the rows. - The flow of the lubricating oil in the
recess 83 is directed in the upward direction inFIG. 9 through theguide hole arrangement 81. Theprotrusions 85, which are placed in therecess 83 in a manner shown inFIG. 9 , act as obstacles, which change the flow direction of the lubricating oil in therecess 83. - At the time of conducting the lubricating oil around the
protrusions 85, the flow of the contaminants is hindered while the flow of the lubricating oil itself is kept relatively smooth. Therefore, the contaminants can be effectively accumulated in thecontaminant capturing space 82. - A third embodiment of the present invention, which is a modification of the first embodiment, will be described with reference to
FIG. 10 . In the third embodiment, a plurality ofprotrusions 85, each of which is configured into a generally planar quadrangular prism body, is provided in therecess 83 that is formed by theinner end surface 18 and the innerperipheral surface 11 in thecontaminant capturing space 82. - As shown in
FIG. 10 , theprotrusions 85 are arranged in multiple rows, which are placed one after another in the flow direction of the lubricating oil, i.e., in the axial direction. In each row, theprotrusions 85 are arranged at generally equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the driving-side rotator 10. Theprotrusions 85 of one of the rows are staggered relative to theprotrusions 85 of a next one of the rows. Theprotrusions 85, each of which is configured into the generally planar quadrangular prism body, act as baffle plates that hinder the flow of the lubricating oil. In this way, the flow of the contaminants is hindered in the greater degree in comparison to the flow of the lubricating oil itself. Thus, the contaminants are accumulated at the upstream side wall surface of therespective protrusions 85, which act as the baffle plates, and thereby the contaminants are effectively deposited. - A fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is a modification of the first embodiment, will be described with reference to
FIG. 11 . In the fourth embodiment, theprotrusions 85 are provided in therecess 83, which is formed by theinner end surface 18 and the innerperipheral surface 11 in thecontaminant capturing space 82. The projecting amounts of theprotrusions 85 are not uniformly set. - As shown in
FIG. 11 , the generally annular gap is defined by theprotrusions protrusions 85 b, which have the smaller radial projecting amount in comparison to theprotrusions peripheral surface 25. The lubricating oil can smoothly flow through the minute gaps while the contaminants cannot flow through the minute gaps. Thus, the flow of the contaminants may be stopped on the upstream side of the minute gaps, or the contaminants may be held in the minute gaps. Therefore, the contaminants can be accumulated and deposited at theprotrusions 85 b. - A fifth embodiment of the present invention, which is a modification of the first embodiment, will be described with reference to
FIG. 12 . In the fifth embodiment, theprotrusions 85 are provided in therecess 83, which is formed in theinner end surface 18 and the innerperipheral surface 11 of the first surface portion, in thecontaminant capturing space 82. Furthermore,protrusions 86 are provided in the outerperipheral surface 25 of the second surface portion. - In the present embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 12 , the projecting amount of theprotrusions 86 on the outerperipheral surface 25 is made smaller than that of the projecting amount of theprotrusions 85 on the innerperipheral surface 11. That is, the radial size of the generally annular gap is defined by the projecting amount of theprotrusions 85, and the radial size of the respective minute gaps is defined by the projecting amount of therespective protrusions 86. In this way, theprotrusions contaminant capturing space 82. Therefore, the contaminants in the lubricating oil, which passes thecontaminant capturing space 82, can be further effectively accumulated, and thereby the cleanness of the lubricating oil, which exits from thecontaminant capturing space 82, is improved. - A sixth embodiment of the present invention, which is a modification of the first embodiment, will be described with reference to
FIG. 13 . In the sixth embodiment, arecess 83 is formed in theouter end surface 24 and the outerperipheral surface 25 of the second surface portion in thecontaminant capturing space 82. - As shown in
FIG. 13 , in theguide passage 80, therecess 83 of theguide hole arrangement 81 and of thecontaminant capturing space 82 is entirely formed in thesecond surface portion outer end surface 24 and the outerperipheral surface 25. - Even with this construction, advantages similar to those of the first embodiment can be achieved.
-
FIG. 14 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the seventh embodiment, abranch passage 89 is provided to guide a portion of the lubricating oil from thecontaminant capturing space 82 in a different guide direction, which is different from that of the above embodiments. - As shown in
FIG. 14 , thebranch passage 89 is provided in the driven-side rotator 20 to extend through the outerperipheral surface 25 at thecontaminant capturing space 82 and an inner end surface of the connectingportion 21. Thebranch passage 89 guides the lubricating oil toward thegear portions planetary carrier 40 and are axially displaced from one after another. - In this way, the portion of the lubricating oil is branched through the
branch passage 89 in the middle of thecontaminant capturing space 82. This branched lubricating oil flows through thecontaminant capturing space 82 and is thereby relatively clean. The branched lubricating oil is axially guided through thebranch passage 89 from thecontaminant capturing space 82 toward thegear portions - In the present embodiment, the lubricating oil, which is cleaned through the
contaminant capturing space 82 in theguide passage 80, is divided into the flow of the lubricating oil, which is guided from the location on the radially outer side of thegear portions gear portions - The present invention has been described with respect to the above embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the above embodiments may be modified within a spirit and scope of the present invention.
- The present invention is also applicable to any other type of valve timing control apparatus, which controls valve timing of exhaust valves or which controls both of the valve timing of the intake valves and the valve timing of the exhaust valves.
- Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader terms is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described.
Claims (16)
1. A valve timing control apparatus that controls valve timing of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine, which is driven by a camshaft through transmission of a torque from a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine to open and close the at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve, the valve timing control apparatus comprising:
a first rotator that is rotated synchronously with one of the crankshaft and the camshaft;
a second rotator that is received in the first rotator and is rotated synchronously with the other one of the crankshaft and the camshaft;
a guide passage that is provided in at least one of the first rotator and the second rotator to supply lubricating fluid, which is received from a lubricating fluid supply source of the internal combustion engine through the camshaft, into an interior of the first rotator;
at least one gear portion that is provided in at least one of the first rotator and the second rotator; and
a planetary gear that is received in the first rotator and is meshed with a corresponding one of the at least one gear portion to make a planetary motion and thereby to change a relative phase between the first rotator and the second rotator, wherein the guide passage guides the lubricating fluid toward a location on an outer side of the at least one gear portion and the planetary gear and has a space to accumulate contaminants contained in the lubricating fluid.
2. The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the space is provided between a surface portion of the first rotator and a surface portion of the second rotator, which are placed adjacent to each other.
3. The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the space is formed at least between an inner peripheral surface of the surface portion of the first rotator and an outer peripheral surface of the surface portion of the second rotator.
4. The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of a recess and a protrusion is formed in at least one of the surface portion of the first rotator and the surface portion of the second rotator.
5. The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the guide passage includes a guide hole arrangement that includes at least one communicating hole and opens on a radially inner side of the space at an end surface of the surface portion of at least one of the first rotator and the second rotator, which contacts the camshaft.
6. The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one communicating hole of the guide hole arrangement is formed as at least one throttling portion that has a reduced flow passage cross sectional area, which is smaller than a flow passage cross sectional area located on an upstream side of the throttling portion, to conduct the lubricating fluid in the guide passage.
7. The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the guide passage guides the lubricating fluid from the location on the outer side of the at least one gear portion and the planetary gear toward an inner side of the at least one gear portion and the planetary gear on a downstream side of the space.
8. The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first rotator is an assembled rotator that includes an engaging recess, which is connected with an engaging projection that radially projects from the second rotator;
the assembled rotator includes a fixing body and a supporting body, which are axially separable at the engaging recess;
the supporting body includes a support opening that opens at a dividing end surface of the supporting body, which contacts the fixing body, in the engaging recess and supports the engaging projection; and
the fixing body closes the support opening upon installation of the engaging projection in the support opening.
9. The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the engaging projection is received in the engaging recess in a rotatable manner within a predetermined circumferential range to limit a variable range of the relative phase between the first rotator and the second rotator.
10. The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the location on the outer side of the at least one gear portion and the planetary gear is placed radially outward of the at least one gear portion and the planetary gear.
11. The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the space is defined between an inner peripheral surface of the first rotator and an outer peripheral surface of the second rotator; and
a plurality of protrusions radially inwardly protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the first rotator toward the outer peripheral surface of the second rotator in the space.
12. The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of protrusions is configured into a generally cylindrical body.
13. The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of protrusions is configured into a generally planar quadrangular prism body.
14. The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein:
the plurality of protrusions includes:
a first row of protrusions, which are placed one after another at generally equal intervals in a circumferential direction of the first rotator; and
a second row of protrusions, which are placed one after another at generally equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the first rotator on a downstream side of the first row of protrusions.
15. The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the protrusions of the second row are staggered relative to the protrusions of the first row.
16. The valve timing control apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein a radial projecting amount of at least one of the plurality of protrusions is smaller than that of the rest of the plurality of protrusions.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
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JP2007303474A JP4453747B2 (en) | 2007-11-22 | 2007-11-22 | Valve timing adjustment device |
JP2007-303474 | 2007-11-22 |
Publications (1)
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US20090133650A1 true US20090133650A1 (en) | 2009-05-28 |
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US12/269,089 Abandoned US20090133650A1 (en) | 2007-11-22 | 2008-11-12 | Valve timing control apparatus |
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US (1) | US20090133650A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4453747B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE102008043987A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
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US20110197837A1 (en) * | 2010-02-15 | 2011-08-18 | Schaeffler Technologies Gmbh & Co. Kg | Cellular wheel |
CN106414924A (en) * | 2014-06-02 | 2017-02-15 | 舍弗勒技术股份两合公司 | Camshaft adjusting device |
US20210189923A1 (en) * | 2018-09-10 | 2021-06-24 | Denso Corporation | Valve timing adjustment device |
US11085337B2 (en) * | 2019-02-01 | 2021-08-10 | Denso Corporation | Valve timing adjustment device |
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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JP5652394B2 (en) | 2009-05-27 | 2015-01-14 | 日本電気株式会社 | Communication apparatus and communication method |
JP5402571B2 (en) * | 2009-11-26 | 2014-01-29 | 株式会社デンソー | Valve timing adjustment device |
WO2012150077A1 (en) * | 2011-05-02 | 2012-11-08 | Magna Powertrain Ag & Co Kg | Lubrication device |
JP6090059B2 (en) * | 2013-08-22 | 2017-03-08 | 株式会社デンソー | Valve timing adjustment device |
DE102013220221B4 (en) * | 2013-10-08 | 2020-12-03 | Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG | Camshaft adjustment device |
DE102014211518A1 (en) * | 2014-07-16 | 2016-01-21 | Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG | Phaser transmission component |
DE102016104287B3 (en) * | 2016-03-09 | 2017-02-16 | Pierburg Gmbh | Device for phase shifting a rotational angle of a drive part to a driven part |
JP2017172442A (en) * | 2016-03-23 | 2017-09-28 | トヨタ自動車株式会社 | Variable valve timing device |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP4419091B2 (en) | 2005-09-05 | 2010-02-24 | 株式会社デンソー | Valve timing adjustment device |
-
2007
- 2007-11-22 JP JP2007303474A patent/JP4453747B2/en active Active
-
2008
- 2008-11-12 US US12/269,089 patent/US20090133650A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2008-11-21 DE DE102008043987A patent/DE102008043987A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US20110197837A1 (en) * | 2010-02-15 | 2011-08-18 | Schaeffler Technologies Gmbh & Co. Kg | Cellular wheel |
US8656875B2 (en) * | 2010-02-15 | 2014-02-25 | Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG | Cellular wheel |
CN106414924A (en) * | 2014-06-02 | 2017-02-15 | 舍弗勒技术股份两合公司 | Camshaft adjusting device |
US20210189923A1 (en) * | 2018-09-10 | 2021-06-24 | Denso Corporation | Valve timing adjustment device |
US11939892B2 (en) * | 2018-09-10 | 2024-03-26 | Denso Corporation | Valve timing adjustment device |
US11085337B2 (en) * | 2019-02-01 | 2021-08-10 | Denso Corporation | Valve timing adjustment device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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JP4453747B2 (en) | 2010-04-21 |
DE102008043987A1 (en) | 2009-05-28 |
JP2009127527A (en) | 2009-06-11 |
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Owner name: DENSO CORPORATION, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MIZUTANI, SHUJI;REEL/FRAME:021819/0582 Effective date: 20081104 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: EXPRESSLY ABANDONED -- DURING EXAMINATION |