US20190003349A1 - Internal-combustion engine valve timing control device - Google Patents
Internal-combustion engine valve timing control device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20190003349A1 US20190003349A1 US16/066,897 US201616066897A US2019003349A1 US 20190003349 A1 US20190003349 A1 US 20190003349A1 US 201616066897 A US201616066897 A US 201616066897A US 2019003349 A1 US2019003349 A1 US 2019003349A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- housing body
- peripheral surface
- outer peripheral
- control device
- timing control
- 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
- F01L1/3442—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
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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
- F01L1/024—Belt drive
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
- F02B67/00—Engines characterised by the arrangement of auxiliary apparatus not being otherwise provided for, e.g. the apparatus having different functions; Driving auxiliary apparatus from engines, not otherwise provided for
- F02B67/04—Engines characterised by the arrangement of auxiliary apparatus not being otherwise provided for, e.g. the apparatus having different functions; Driving auxiliary apparatus from engines, not otherwise provided for of mechanically-driven auxiliary apparatus
- F02B67/06—Engines characterised by the arrangement of auxiliary apparatus not being otherwise provided for, e.g. the apparatus having different functions; Driving auxiliary apparatus from engines, not otherwise provided for of mechanically-driven auxiliary apparatus driven by means of chains, belts, or like endless members
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16H—GEARING
- F16H55/00—Elements with teeth or friction surfaces for conveying motion; Worms, pulleys or sheaves for gearing mechanisms
- F16H55/02—Toothed members; Worms
- F16H55/30—Chain-wheels
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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
- F01L2001/34426—Oil control valves
- F01L2001/3443—Solenoid driven oil control valves
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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
- F01L2001/3445—Details relating to the hydraulic means for changing the angular relationship
- F01L2001/34453—Locking means between driving and driven members
- F01L2001/34469—Lock movement parallel to camshaft axis
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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
- F01L2001/3445—Details relating to the hydraulic means for changing the angular relationship
- F01L2001/34479—Sealing of phaser devices
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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
- F01L2001/3445—Details relating to the hydraulic means for changing the angular relationship
- F01L2001/34483—Phaser return springs
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- F01L2103/00—
-
- 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
- F01L2303/00—Manufacturing of components used in valve arrangements
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an internal combustion engine valve timing control device for controlling opening and closing timings of an intake valve set and/or an exhaust valve set variably depending on a state of operation of an internal combustion engine.
- a patent document 1 discloses a publicly known conventional internal combustion engine valve timing control device.
- This valve timing control device includes: a housing including a housing body, a front plate, and a rear plate, wherein the housing body has a cylindrical tubular shape and includes a gear part (sprocket), and wherein the gear part is formed integrally with an outer peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein a timing chain is wound around the gear part for crankshaft torque transmission, and wherein the front plate encloses a front end opening of the housing body, and wherein the rear plate encloses a rear end opening of the housing body; and a vane member mounted rotatably in the housing body, wherein the vane member is formed integrally with a plurality of vanes configured to define a plurality of retard hydraulic chambers and a plurality of advance hydraulic chambers in cooperation with a plurality of shoes formed to project from an inner peripheral surface of the housing body.
- a housing including a housing body, a front plate, and a rear plate, wherein the housing body has a cylindrical tubular shape and includes a gear part (sprocket
- the vane member is fixed to an axial end portion of an intake-side camshaft by a cam bolt, and configured to control, via the camshaft, opening and closing timings of an intake valve set depending on a state of operation of an engine, by being rotated by working oil to a retard side or to an advance side with respect to the housing, wherein the working oil is selectively supplied from a hydraulic circuit to the retard hydraulic chambers and the advance hydraulic chambers and drained from the retard hydraulic chambers and the advance hydraulic chambers to the hydraulic circuit.
- the configuration that the vane member and the housing are cantilevered by the end portion of the camshaft, may cause the housing to be inclined via the gear part of the sprocket when a load is applied to the gear part from the timing chain.
- the present invention is made with attention to the technical problem about the conventional valve timing control device described above, and is targeted for providing a valve timing control device where endurance of a housing body can be enhanced by enhancement of rigidity of a proximal end portion of a gear part by a raised portion.
- the present invention is characterized by comprising: a housing body having a cylindrical tubular shape, and including a plurality of shoes, wherein the shoes project from an inner peripheral side of the housing body; a plurality of gear parts, wherein each of the gear parts includes a proximal end portion formed integrally with an outer peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein a transmission member is wound around the gear parts for crankshaft torque transmission; a vane member configured to be fixed to a first axial end portion of a camshaft, and mounted rotatably in the housing body, wherein the vane member includes a plurality of vanes, and wherein each of the vanes is configured to separate a space between corresponding adjacent two of the shoes into a retard hydraulic chamber and an advance hydraulic chamber; a rear plate enclosing a first axial end opening of the housing body, wherein the first axial end opening faces the camshaft; a front plate enclosing a second axial end opening of the housing body, wherein the second axial end opening is opposite
- the provision of the raised portion serves to enhance the rigidity of the proximal end portion of the gear part, and thereby enhance the endurance of the housing body.
- FIG. 1 is a sectional view of whole configuration of a valve timing control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a related part of the valve timing control device according to the first embodiment.
- FIG. 3 is an operation illustration diagram showing a state where a vane member is caused to rotate relatively to a most retarded side according to the first embodiment.
- FIG. 4 is a down view of the valve timing control device according to the first embodiment from a front side.
- FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a related part of the valve timing control device according to the first embodiment.
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a related part of a valve timing control device according to a conventional example.
- FIG. 7 is a front view showing a state where a front plate is removed according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a related part according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a related part according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
- the valve timing control device includes: a sprocket 1 as a drive rotator configured to be driven rotationally via a timing chain 42 by a crankshaft not shown, wherein timing chain 42 is an endless transmission member; an intake-side camshaft 2 configured to rotate with respect to sprocket 1 ; a phase-varying mechanism 3 disposed between sprocket 1 and camshaft 2 , and configured to vary a relative rotational phase between sprocket 1 and camshaft 2 ; and a hydraulic circuit 4 configured to operate phase-varying mechanism 3 .
- Sprocket 1 is formed integrally with a housing body 8 of a housing 5 described below of phase-varying mechanism 3 , and is described below in detail in description of housing 5 .
- Camshaft 2 is rotatably supported via a cam bearing with respect to a cylinder head not shown, and includes a pair of drive cams not shown per cylinder for opening and closing two intake valves per cylinder, wherein each drive cam is fixed to an outer peripheral surface of camshaft 2 in a predetermined axial position, and has an identical profile.
- Camshaft 2 includes a bolt insertion hole 2 b formed closer to a first end portion 2 a, wherein bolt insertion hole 2 b extends in an axial direction of camshaft 2 , and wherein a shaft part 6 a of a cam bolt 6 is inserted in bolt insertion hole 2 b to extend in the axial direction and fix a vane member 7 .
- Bolt insertion hole 2 b includes a distal end portion including an internal thread 2 c to which an external thread 6 c is screwed, wherein external thread 6 c is formed at a distal end portion of cam bolt 6 .
- phase-varying mechanism 3 includes: housing 5 including an operation chamber therein; and vane member 7 fixed to a first end portion of camshaft 2 by cam bolt 6 , and mounted rotatably in housing 5 .
- Housing 5 includes: housing body 8 formed of sintered metal to have a cylindrical tubular shape; a front plate 11 enclosing a front end opening of housing body 8 farther from camshaft 2 ; and a rear plate 12 enclosing a rear end opening of housing body 8 facing the rear plate 12 .
- Housing body 8 is integrally formed of sintered alloy to have a cylindrical tubular shape, and is formed integrally with sprocket 1 and four shoes 8 c - 8 f, wherein sprocket 1 is located at a portion of an outer peripheral surface 8 a of housing body 8 somewhat closer to rear plate 12 than a center in an axial direction of housing body 8 , wherein shoes 8 c - 8 f are formed at and project from an inner peripheral surface 8 b of housing body 8 , and substantially evenly spaced in a circumferential direction of housing body 8 .
- Sprocket 1 which is formed integrally with housing body 8 , is formed integrally with a plurality of gear parts 1 a around which the timing chain is wound.
- Housing body 8 , front plate 11 , and sprocket 1 are fixed to each other by four bolts 13 , wherein each bolt 13 is inserted in a bolt insertion hole 8 g formed in a corresponding one of shoes 8 c - 8 f, wherein bolt insertion hole 8 g extends through the corresponding shoe 8 c - 8 f.
- Housing body 8 includes two thinning portions 8 h, 8 i, wherein each thinning portion 8 h, 8 i is formed at a base portion of a corresponding one of first shoe 8 c and second shoe 8 d having a relatively large width.
- Each thinning portion 8 h, 8 i is formed to have an arc shape along the cylindrical shape of housing body 8 , for reduction of weight of housing body 8 and overall weight balance of housing body 8 with different shapes of shoes 8 c - 8 f.
- first shoe 8 c of housing body 8 is formed with a positioning groove 8 j for positioning with respect to rear plate 12 as described below, wherein positioning groove 8 j extends through the base portion of first shoe 8 c in the axial direction.
- Front plate 11 is formed of carbon steel to have a dis c -shape, and includes a relatively large through hole 11 a at a central portion of front plate 11 , wherein through hole 11 a passes through the front plate 11 .
- Front plate 11 further includes four bolt insertion holes 11 b arranged at its outer peripheral part and substantially evenly spaced in the circumferential direction, wherein each bolt insertion hole 11 b extends through the front plate 11 , and wherein bolts 13 are inserted in bolt insertion holes 11 b.
- Front plate 11 includes an outer end surface 11 c that is flat and is configured to be in contact with an inside edge of a spiral spring 33 described below. Namely, outer end surface 11 c serves as a spring seat for spiral spring 33 . Accordingly, in order to prevent a head part 13 a of each bolt 13 , which is screwed in bolt insertion hole 11 b, from obstructing contact of spiral spring 33 with outer end surface 11 c, a hole edge of bolt insertion hole 11 b at the outer end surface 11 c is provided with a countersunk portion 11 d that has a thin groove shape where a root portion of a shaft part of each bolt 13 .
- a hooded pin 14 is press-fitted and fixed in the axial direction to an outer peripheral part of outer end surface 11 c of front plate 11 .
- Hooded pin 14 includes a pin body 14 a and a hood part 14 b, wherein pin body 14 a is formed to have a cylindrical shape, and wherein hood part 14 b has a disc-shape, and is formed at an end surface of pin body 14 a opposite to the end press-fitted and fixed.
- a second engaging end portion 33 c described below of spiral spring 33 is wound around the pin body 14 a and thereby engaged with pin body 14 a.
- Hood part 14 b is formed to have a diameter such that hood part 14 b covers substantially entire part of an axial end surface of second engaging end portion 33 c wound around the pin body 14 a, to prevent the second engaging end portion 33 c of spiral spring 33 from being released from outer end surface 11 c of front plate 11 .
- Rear plate 12 includes four internally threaded holes 12 a arranged at the outer peripheral part and substantially evenly spaced in the circumferential direction, wherein external thread portion 13 c formed at the distal end portion of shaft part 13 b of bolt 13 is inserted in a corresponding one of internally threaded holes 12 a.
- the outer peripheral part of rear plate 12 includes a positioning hole 12 b in which an end portion of positioning pin 36 is press-fitted, wherein positioning pin 36 is inserted and fitted in positioning groove 8 j of housing body 8 in the axial direction, for positioning with respect to the housing body in the circumferential direction and the radial direction during assembling of components.
- Vane member 7 is integrally formed of sintered metal material, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , includes a rotor 15 and first to fourth vanes 16 a - 16 d, wherein rotor 15 is formed with a bolt insertion hole 15 a at its center, wherein bolt insertion hole 15 a extends in the axial direction, and wherein first to fourth vanes 16 a - 16 d are formed at the outer peripheral surface of rotor 15 , and arranged at intervals of the same interval, namely, about 90 degrees, in the circumferential direction, and project radially.
- Rotor 15 of vane member 7 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is fixed to camshaft 2 by cam bolt 6 while being positioned with respect to camshaft 2 by second positioning pin 37 , wherein cam bolt 6 is inserted in bolt insertion hole 15 a.
- Vane member 7 is fixed to and cantilevered by first end portion 2 a of camshaft 2 .
- tubular projecting part 17 is formed integrally in a central portion of the front end surface of rotor 15 facing the front plate 11 , and is arranged coaxially with rotor 15 .
- tubular projecting part 17 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is formed to project from the front end surface of rotor 15 , and has an outside diameter that is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of through hole 11 a of front plate 11 , and has a predetermined axial length that is longer than thickness of front plate 11 and a spring width W 1 of spiral spring 33 described below in the axial direction. Accordingly, when the device is assembled, a distal end portion 17 a of tubular projecting part 17 extends through the through hole 11 a and projects forward from front plate 11 .
- Tubular projecting part 17 has an inside diameter that is larger than the outside diameter of head part 6 b of cam bolt 6 such that when the device is assembled, the head part 6 b of cam bolt 6 is placed and accommodated inside the tubular projecting part 17 .
- the end surface of distal end portion 17 a of tubular projecting part 17 is provided with an engaging groove 18 with which first engaging end portion 33 b described below of spiral spring 33 is engaged.
- engaging groove 18 is located at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction of tubular projecting part 17 , and is formed to have a thin substantially rectangular shape from the proximal end side to the distal end side in the axial direction.
- a facing surface 18 a has an arc shape, wherein first engaging end portion 33 b is engaged with the facing surface 18 a.
- Rotor 15 includes a circular fitting recess 15 b on its rear end surface, wherein first end portion 2 a of camshaft 2 is fitted in fitting recess 15 b, and wherein the rear end surface of rotor 15 is in sliding contact with the inner end surface of rear plate 12 facing the rotor 15 , with a slight side clearance.
- the front end surface of rotor 15 is in sliding contact with the inner end surface of front plate 11 facing the rotor 15 , with a slight side clearance.
- each of first to fourth vanes 16 a - 16 d is disposed between corresponding two of shoes 8 c - 8 f, and has an outer peripheral surface having an arc shape, wherein the outer peripheral surface is formed with a seal groove in which a seal member 38 is fitted, wherein seal member 38 is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface 8 b of housing body 8 for sealing.
- each shoe 8 c - 8 f includes a seal groove at its distal end inner surface, wherein a seal member 39 is fitted in the seal groove, and is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of rotor 15 for sealing.
- Each seal member 38 , 39 is biased toward the inner peripheral surface of housing body 8 or the outer peripheral surface of rotor 15 by an arc-shaped spring 38 a, 39 a that is mounted inside of seal member 38 , 39 , and is made of metal.
- Each vane 16 a - 16 d has end surfaces in the thickness direction (in the rotor axial direction) which are in sliding contact with the inner end surface of rear plate 12 and the inner end surface of front plate 11 with slight side clearances, and serves for similar sealing functioning at the inner end surface of front plate 11 and the inner end surface of rear plate 12 .
- the first vane 16 a has a sector shape having the largest width and has the heaviest weight, while each of the second to fourth vanes 16 b - 16 d except for first vane 16 a has substantially the same width that is smaller than that of first vane 16 a.
- first lateral surface of first vane 16 a is brought into contact with the lateral surface of first shoe 8 c facing the first vane 16 a in the circumferential direction, so that the rotational position of vane member 7 is restricted within the most retarded side.
- second lateral surface of first vane 16 a is brought into contact with the lateral surface of second shoe 8 d facing the first vane 16 a in the circumferential direction, so that the rotational position of vane member 7 is restricted within the most advanced side.
- First vane 16 a, first shoe 8 c, and second shoe 8 d serve as a stopper to stop movement of vane member 7 at the most retarded side and at the most advanced side.
- lateral surfaces of the other second to fourth vanes 16 b - 16 d are out of contact with the corresponding lateral surfaces of shoes 8 c, 8 d facing in the circumferential direction. This serves to enhance the precision of contact of first vane 16 a with first shoe 8 c and second shoe 8 d, and further enhance the speed of oil pressure supply to retard hydraulic chambers 9 and advance hydraulic chambers 10 , and thereby enhance the response of rotation of vane member 7 in normal and reverse directions.
- Each retard hydraulic chamber 9 and each advance hydraulic chamber 10 are hydraulically connected to hydraulic circuit 4 via a first communication hole 9 a and a second communication hole 10 a respectively, wherein first communication hole 9 a and second communication hole 10 a are formed inside of rotor 15 and extend radially.
- Hydraulic circuit 4 is configured to selectively supply and drain working oil (hydraulic pressure) to and from retard hydraulic chambers 9 and advance hydraulic chambers 10 .
- hydraulic circuit 4 includes: a retard oil passage 19 configured to supply and drain hydraulic pressure to and from each retard hydraulic chamber 9 via the first communication hole 9 a; an advance oil passage 20 configured to supply and drain hydraulic pressure to and from each advance hydraulic chamber 10 via the second communication hole 10 a; an oil pump 21 configured to supply working oil to oil passages 19 , 20 ; and an electromagnetic switching valve 22 configured to switch flow paths of retard oil passage 19 and advance oil passage 20 depending on the operating state of the engine.
- Oil pump 21 is of a common type such as a trochoid pump driven rotationally by the crankshaft of the engine.
- each of retard oil passage 19 and advance oil passage 20 is connected to a passage port of electromagnetic switching valve 22 , whereas the other end of each of retard oil passage 19 and advance oil passage 20 is hydraulically connected to first communication hole 9 a or second communication hole 10 a via the cylinder head not shown and a cylinder block not shown and via a retard passage section 19 a or an advance passage section 20 a, wherein retard passage section 19 a is formed between the outer peripheral surface of shaft part 6 a of cam bolt 6 and bolt insertion hole 2 b, and wherein advance passage section 20 a is formed inside of first end portion 2 a of camshaft 2 and extends in the axial direction.
- Retard passage section 19 a communicates with retard hydraulic chambers 9 via first communication holes 9 a, whereas advance passage section 20 a communicates with advance hydraulic chambers 10 via second communication holes 10 a.
- electromagnetic switching valve 22 is a four-port three-position valve, and is controlled by an electronic controller 24 to cause a spool valve not shown to travel longitudinally of a valve body, wherein the spool valve is mounted in the valve body for sliding in the longitudinal direction, and thereby cause a discharge passage 21 a of oil pump 21 to communicate with one of oil passages 19 , 20 , and simultaneously cause a drain passage 23 to communicate with the other of oil passages 19 , 20 , or shut off the oil passages 19 , 20 .
- Oil pump 21 includes a suction passage 21 b and drain passage 23 which communicate with an inside of an oil pan.
- a filter not shown is provided at a downstream side of discharge passage 21 a of oil pump 21 , wherein the downstream side is hydraulically connected to a main oil gallery M/G for supplying lubricating oil to sliding parts of the internal combustion engine.
- Oil pump 21 is further provided with a flow control valve not shown for controlling a flow rate of working oil suitably by draining an excessive quantity of working oil, which is discharged from discharge passage 21 a, to the oil pan.
- Electronic controller 24 includes an internal computer configured to: receive input of informational signals from various sensors not shown, such as a crank angle sensor, an airflow meter, an engine water temperature sensor, a throttle valve opening sensor, and a cam angle sensor for sensing the current rotational phase of camshaft 2 ; determine the current operating state of the engine; control the spool valve to travel to set positions, by outputting a control pulse current to a coil of electromagnetic switching valve 22 ; and thereby perform a switching control for the passages.
- sensors not shown such as a crank angle sensor, an airflow meter, an engine water temperature sensor, a throttle valve opening sensor, and a cam angle sensor for sensing the current rotational phase of camshaft 2 ; determine the current operating state of the engine; control the spool valve to travel to set positions, by outputting a control pulse current to a coil of electromagnetic switching valve 22 ; and thereby perform a switching control for the passages.
- a lock mechanism 27 is provided between first vane 16 a and rear plate 12 for locking the vane member 7 to the most advanced position with respect to housing 5 .
- lock mechanism 27 includes: a lock pin 29 slidably mounted in a slide hole 28 , wherein slide hole 28 is formed inside of first vane 16 a to extend through in the axial direction, and configured to travel forward and backward with respect to rear plate 12 ; a lock hole 30 formed in a substantially central portion of rear plate 12 in the radial direction, and configured to engage with a distal end portion 29 a of lock pin 29 , and thereby lock the vane member 7 ; and an engaging-releasing mechanism configured to cause and release engagement between distal end portion 29 a of lock pin 29 and lock hole 30 , depending on starting state of the engine.
- lock pin 29 The most part of lock pin 29 including the distal end portion 29 a is cylindrically shaped.
- Lock pin 29 is biased in the forward direction (in the direction for engagement) by a coil spring 31 , wherein coil spring 31 is mounted in compressed state between an inner surface of front plate 11 and a bottom surface of a recess of lock pin 29 , wherein the recess is formed to extend in the axial direction from the rear end side of lock pin 29 .
- Lock pin 29 has an annular larger diameter portion at the outer periphery of the rear end part, wherein the larger diameter portion is in sliding contact with a larger diameter hole of slide hole 28 .
- An annular first pressure receiving chamber 32 a is formed at a gap between the larger diameter portion of lock pin 29 and the larger diameter hole of slide hole 28 .
- Lock hole 30 is formed larger than the outside diameter of the distal end portion of lock pin 29 , and is located in a part of rear plate 12 closer to retard hydraulic chamber 9 in the circumferential direction, and is set such that with engagement of lock pin 29 , the relative conversion angle of vane member 7 with respect to housing 5 is at the most retarded side.
- Lock hole 30 has an inner peripheral surface to which an anti-wear ring 30 a is press-fitted and fixed. Ring 30 a is formed by carburizing to have a high hardness, so that ring 30 a can bear repeated engagement and release of lock pin 29 which accompanies sliding contact of the outer peripheral surface of lock pin 29 with the inner peripheral surface of lock hole 30 .
- the engaging-releasing mechanism includes: coil spring 31 configured to bias the lock pin 29 in the forward direction; first pressure receiving chamber 32 a; a second pressure receiving chamber 32 b formed at a bottom side of lock hole 30 ; a releasing hydraulic circuit configured to supply hydraulic pressure to pressure receiving chambers 32 a, 32 b, and thereby cause lock pin 29 to travel backward.
- the releasing hydraulic circuit includes: a first oil hole 32 c formed in the head part of first vane 16 a to extend in an inclined direction in first vane 16 a, and configured to allow communication between retard hydraulic chamber 9 and first pressure receiving chamber 32 a; and a second oil hole 32 d formed in the inner end surface of rear plate 12 , and configured to allow communication between second communication hole 10 a and second pressure receiving chamber 32 b.
- Hydraulic pressures which are supplied selectively to retard hydraulic chambers 9 and advance hydraulic chambers 10 , are supplied to first and second pressure receiving chambers 32 a, 32 b via first and second oil holes 32 c, 32 d, causing the lock pin 29 to travel backward.
- first vane 16 a includes an air vent groove 50 that extends radially and allows air to be vented from a back pressure chamber to the outside, wherein the back pressure chamber is formed at the rear end side of slide hole 28 .
- spiral spring 33 is attached to the outer end surface 11 c of front plate 11 , wherein spiral spring 33 biases the vane member 7 in the advance direction with respect to housing 5 .
- Spiral spring 33 includes: a body 33 a formed by winding a flat rectangular wire, which has a substantially rectangular cross-section, substantially in a plane, such that surfaces in the longitudinal direction face each other, the body 33 a having a shape whose diameter gradually increases from its inside peripheral part to its outside peripheral part; first engaging end portion 33 b formed to have a curved shape, by bending an innermost peripheral portion of body 33 a inwardly in the radial direction; and second engaging end portion 33 c curved to have a semicircular hook shape, by bending an outermost peripheral part of body 33 a outwardly in the radial direction.
- First engaging end portion 33 b is engaged with and fixed to an arc-shaped surface 18 a of engaging groove 18 of tubular projecting part 17 facing the first engaging end portion 33 b, whereas second engaging end portion 33 c is engaged with and fixed to an outer peripheral surface of hooded pin 14 provided at outer end surface 11 c of front plate 11 .
- This spiral spring 33 generates a spring force to constantly assist rotation of vane member 7 toward the advance side. Specifically, when vane member 7 rotates toward the retard side with respect to housing 5 , spiral spring 33 is deformed with decreasing diameter, to bias the vane member 7 toward the advance side.
- This biasing force is not so large, but is comparable to a negative component of an alternating torque occurring in camshaft 2 , wherein the negative component causes vane member 7 to move toward the retard side. Accordingly, when vane member 7 is released from locking of lock mechanism 27 , combination of the biasing force of spiral spring 33 and the negative component of the alternating torque serves to place the vane member 7 in balance in an intermediate position between the most retarded position and the most advanced position.
- the outer end surface 11 c of front plate 11 is provided with a support pin 34 that assists the biasing function of spiral spring 33 by enhancing the torque occurring in spiral spring 33 .
- Support pin 34 is press-fitted and fixed to a place distant by a predetermined angle from hooded pin 14 , and includes an outer peripheral surface in contact with an outermost peripheral part of spiral spring 33 . This serves to enhance a torque occurring between second engaging end portion 33 c and a portion of spiral spring 33 in contact with support pin 34 , when spiral spring 33 is deformed with decreasing diameter.
- the outer peripheral surface of tubular projecting part 17 includes an annular groove 35 configured to accommodate an innermost peripheral portion 33 d of spiral spring 33 .
- Annular groove 35 has a predetermined width greater than spring width W 1 of spiral spring 33 such that spiral spring 33 can be engaged in annular groove 35 .
- annular groove 35 has a depth less than thickness of spiral spring 33 such that when the innermost peripheral part of spiral spring 33 engages with annular groove 35 , an outside of the innermost peripheral part of spiral spring 33 in the radial direction is constantly out of contact with annular groove 35 (namely, exposed out of annular groove 35 ).
- spiral spring 33 Since spiral spring 33 has the shape whose diameter gradually increases from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side, the part of spiral spring 33 close to first engaging end portion 33 b is in contact with the bottom surface of annular groove 35 , whereas spiral spring 33 gradually gets out of contact with the bottom surface of annular groove 35 as followed toward the outer peripheral side.
- the present embodiment includes a raised portion 40 formed integrally between outer peripheral surface 8 a of housing body 8 and a first lateral surface 1 c of a proximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a, wherein first lateral surface 1 c faces and is closer to front plate 11 .
- the proximal end portion 1 b is a portion of gear part 1 a except for a distal end portion of a tooth in mesh with timing chain 42 .
- Raised portion 40 is formed simultaneously with formation of housing body 8 by sintering. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 , raised portion 40 is formed only at first lateral surface 1 c of proximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a of sprocket 1 facing the front plate 11 , and extends over the entire circumference of housing body 8 including the thinning portions 8 h, 8 i. For thinning portions 8 h, 8 i, raised portion 40 is formed to extend in the entire part of the bottom surface and the inner lateral surface of thinning portion 8 h, 8 i.
- Raised portion 40 includes an outer surface 40 a that has a downward inclination from first lateral surface 1 c of sprocket 1 , namely, first lateral surface 1 c of proximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a, toward the outer peripheral surface 8 a of housing body 8 , so that raised portion 40 has a tapering shape.
- the angle of inclination of outer surface 40 a of raised portion 40 with respect to outer peripheral surface 8 a is an acute angle.
- Raised portion 40 has a height H at first lateral surface 1 c, wherein height H is set not to obstruct winding of timing chain 42 .
- the angle of inclination of outer surface 40 a is set such that an extension line X of outer surface 40 a toward housing body 8 is not directed to inner peripheral surface 8 b of housing body 8 , namely, does not cross the inner peripheral surface 8 b of housing body 8 , but is directed toward front plate 11 .
- electronic controller 24 When the ignition switch is turned on for engine start, electronic controller 24 maintains the coil of electromagnetic switching valve 22 de-energized. This allows communication between discharge passage 21 a of oil pump 21 and retard oil passage 19 , and simultaneously allows communication between advance oil passage 20 and drain passage 23 .
- each retard hydraulic chamber 9 flows also through the releasing hydraulic circuit to pressure receiving chamber 32 and lock hole 30 to set their pressures high, thereby causing the lock pin 29 to travel backward, and causing the distal end portion 29 a to get out of lock hole 30 , and ensuring free rotation of vane member 7 .
- electronic controller 24 When the engine enters a low speed and low load region after engine start, electronic controller 24 outputs a control current to electromagnetic switching valve 22 , to allow communication between discharge passage 21 a and advance oil passage 20 , and communication between retard oil passage 19 and drain passage 23 simultaneously.
- This causes the working oil in retard hydraulic chambers 9 to be drained to depressurize retard hydraulic chambers 9 , and causes the working oil to be supplied to advance hydraulic chambers 10 to pressurize advance hydraulic chambers 10 . Since hydraulic pressure is supplied from advance hydraulic chambers 10 via the releasing hydraulic circuit to pressure receiving chamber 32 under this condition, the supplied hydraulic pressure serves to maintain the lock pin 29 out of lock hole 30 .
- vane member 7 is caused to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3 (to the advance side) by a force resulting from the hydraulic pressures in advance hydraulic chambers 10 and the spring force of spiral spring 33 due to expanding deformation of spiral spring 33 , and the rotational position of vane member 7 is restricted within the most advanced side by contact of the second lateral surface of first vane 16 a with the lateral surface of second shoe 8 d facing the first vane 16 a.
- raised portion 40 is provided between the outer peripheral surface 8 a of housing body 8 and the first lateral surface 1 c of sprocket 1 , namely, the first lateral surface 1 c of proximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a facing the front plate 11 , serves to enhance the flexural rigidity of proximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a.
- the gear part 1 a ′ when a pulling load (indicated by an arrow in FIG. 6 ) is applied from timing chain 42 ′ to gear part 1 a ′ toward the crankshaft, the gear part 1 a ′ may be inclined toward the crankshaft (in the downward direction) about a fulcrum that is the part (first lateral surface) of proximal end portion 1 b ′ of gear part 1 a ′ facing the front plate 11 ′, so that the part of housing body 8 ′ facing the rear plate 12 ′ may be also deformed to rise, as indicated by a long dashed short dashed line.
- housing body 8 ′ when a moment acts on housing body 8 ′ in the direction to incline the gear part 1 a ′ so that housing body 8 ′ is deformed in the same direction, it is possible that the part of inner peripheral is surface 8 b ′ of housing body 8 ′ closer to front plate 11 is brought into hard press contact with seal member 38 ′ of each vane 16 a ′- 16 d ′, causing a factor for uneven wear, and also causing a clearance C of several micrometers or so between inner peripheral surface 8 b ′ of housing body 8 ′ and seal member 38 ′ at the side closer to rear plate 12 , thereby adversely affecting the sealing function.
- the rising deformation of the part of housing body 8 ′ closer to rear plate 12 ′ may also adversely affect the sealing function of the place between the axial end surface of housing body 8 ′ and the part of rear plate 12 ′ in contact with the axial end surface of housing body 8 ′.
- raised portion 40 is provided at first lateral surface 1 c of proximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a closer to front plate 11 , serves to suppress the occurrence of stress concentration at proximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a, and sufficiently suppress inclination of gear part 1 a toward front plate 11 and deformation of housing body 8 , and thereby suppress the endurance of housing body 8 from being adversely affected, and suppress uneven wear of seal member 38 at the side closer to front plate 11 , and degrading of the sealing function of seal member 38 at the side closer to rear plate 12 .
- outer surface 40 a of raised portion 40 is formed to be inclined downward from gear part 1 a to outer peripheral surface 8 a of housing body 8 , serves to ensure the rigidity, and cause the gear part 1 a to serve as a support beam, and thereby effectively suppress gear part 1 a from being inclined toward front plate 11 .
- the extension line X having the angle of inclination of outer surface 40 a of raised portion 40 extends without crossing with inner peripheral surface 8 b of housing body 8 .
- the extension line X is within a range of wall thickness of housing body 8 except for outer peripheral surface 8 a of the end surface of housing body 8 in contact with the inner end surface of front plate 11 . Accordingly, the functioning of raised portion 40 as a support beam is further enhanced to further suppress deformation of housing body 8 .
- extension line X having the angle of inclination of outer surface 40 a of raised portion 40 crosses the inner peripheral surface 8 b, the load applied to gear part 1 a causes a moment to cause the raised portion 40 to be inclined toward the inner peripheral surface of housing body 8 , so that the support beam function of raised portion 40 becomes insufficient to suppress deformation of housing body 8 .
- the extension line X is set to extend without crossing with inner peripheral surface 8 b, the support beam function is enhanced to further suppress deformation of housing body 8 .
- raised portion 40 is formed to extend over the entire circumference of housing body 8 including the thinning portions 8 h, 8 i, serves to enhance the rigidity of the whole of proximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a and housing body 8 , and thereby effectively suppress housing body 8 at the entire circumference from being deformed by constant stress concentration.
- gear part 1 a of sprocket 1 is located not at the center of outer peripheral surface 8 a of housing body 8 in the axial direction, but located at the place closer to rear plate 12 , serves to allow raised portion 40 to be formed to have a large size at the place closer to front plate 11 , and thereby further enhance the rigidity.
- the part of outer peripheral surface 8 a of housing body 8 opposite, through the gear part 1 a, to the part provided with raised portion 40 has the cylindrical shape having the outside diameter that is smaller than that of the largest outside diameter portion of raised portion 40 , namely, the root portion of raised portion 40 at gear part 1 a, makes it possible to enhance the capability of filling of powder metal at the opposite part of outer peripheral surface 8 a of housing body 8 during sintering formation, and thereby enhance the precision of forming.
- the outside diameter of outer peripheral surface 8 a of housing body 8 is uniform except for the gear part 1 a and raised portion 40 .
- distal end portion 17 a of tubular projecting part 17 formed integrally with the front end surface of rotor 15 includes the annular groove 35 in which part of the innermost peripheral part of spiral spring 33 is fitted, serves to cause the end surface of spiral spring 33 farther from front plate 11 to be in contact with lateral wall surface 35 b of annular groove 35 , and thereby prevent spiral spring 33 from being released from the front side of the device, when spiral spring 33 starts to move in the forward direction of the device from outer end surface 11 c of front plate 11 while spiral spring 33 is being deformed with increasing or decreasing diameter.
- vane member 7 itself includes annular groove 35 in which the innermost peripheral part of spiral spring 33 engages, serves to reduce the number of parts and make it easy to manufacture and assemble the device, as compared to a case where additional parts are provided. This also serves to achieve cost reduction.
- second engaging end portion 33 c of spiral spring 33 engages with hooded pin 14 , serves to prevent spiral spring 33 from being released from the front side of the device also by hood part 14 b.
- annular groove 35 is configured to receive engagement of only part of the innermost peripheral part of spiral spring 33 inside of annular groove 35 , serves to significantly reduce a friction that may occur between spiral spring 33 and the first lateral wall surface of annular groove 35 , even when spiral spring 33 moves forward into contact with the first lateral wall surface of annular groove 35 , because the area of contact is small.
- annular groove 35 is formed to extend over the substantially entire circumference of tubular projecting part 17 in the present embodiment, it is unnecessary. It is sufficient to form the annular groove 35 in a predetermined range of tubular projecting part 17 in the circumferential direction, which is required to prevent spiral spring 33 from being released from the front side of the device.
- FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which raised portion 40 is not formed at the entire circumference of the part of housing body 8 closer to front plate 11 , but four separate raised portions 40 are formed except for the outer peripheral part of the base portion of each of four shoes 8 c - 8 f.
- each raised portion 40 has the same configuration including the tapering outer surface 40 a as in the first embodiment, but four raised portions 40 each having an arc shape are formed separately in the circumferential direction, at relatively thin parts of housing body 8 out of the outer periphery of the base portion of each shoe 8 c - 8 f having higher rigidity.
- each raised portion 40 is provided at the corresponding relatively thin part of housing body 8 , serves to enhance the rigidity of the relatively thin part, and thereby suppress the whole of housing body 8 from being deformed by inclination of gear part 1 a due to a pulling load from timing chain 42 .
- Other operation and effects are produced as in the first embodiment.
- FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which basic configuration, such as the location of formation of gear part 1 a with respect to outer peripheral surface 8 a of housing body 8 , is the same, but the outer surface 40 a of raised portion 40 does not have a tapering shape, but has a step shape projecting.
- raised portion 40 is formed to have a rectangular cross-section, and have a step shape projecting toward front plate 11 .
- raised portion 40 serves to suppress inclination and deformation of gear part 1 a and housing body 8 toward front plate 11 as in the first embodiment, and further enhance the rigidity by the feature that raised portion 40 has the rectangular cross-section and thereby has a larger volume.
- raised portion 40 is formed to extend over the entire circumference of housing body 8 as in the first embodiment, raised portions 40 may be formed separately as in the second embodiment.
- FIG. 9 shows a fourth embodiment, in which the location of formation of sprocket 1 (gear part 1 a ) is a portion of outer peripheral surface 8 a of housing body 8 closer to front plate 11 than that in the first embodiment, and a second raised portion 41 is formed between outer peripheral surface 8 a of housing body 8 and a second lateral surface 1 d of proximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a, in addition to first raised portion 40 formed at first lateral surface 1 c of proximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a.
- first raised portion 40 basically has the substantially identical configuration as in the first embodiment, but second raised portion 41 has a smaller size than first raised portion 40 .
- first raised portion 40 and second raised portion 41 serves to enhance the rigidity of each side of proximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a. Therefore, it is possible to further effectively suppress inclination of gear part 1 a and deformation of housing body 8 caused by a pulling load from timing chain 42 .
- first raised portion 40 and second raised portion 41 are formed to extend over the entire circumference of housing body 8 , but may be separated alternatively as in the second embodiment.
- the present invention is not limited to the specific configurations of the embodiments described above, but may be also applied to valve systems for exhaust valves or valve systems for both intake valves and exhaust valves, in addition to valve systems for intake valves.
- the present invention may be applied to a timing pulley as well as the timing sprocket, wherein an endless timing belt is wound around the timing pulley.
- the internal combustion engine valve timing control device described above with reference to the embodiments may be implemented as follows.
- a valve timing control device includes: a housing body having a cylindrical tubular shape, and including a plurality of shoes, wherein the shoes project from an inner peripheral side of the housing body; a plurality of gear parts, wherein each of the gear parts includes a proximal end portion formed integrally with an outer peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein a transmission member is wound around the gear parts for crankshaft torque transmission; a vane member configured to be fixed to a first axial end portion of a camshaft, and mounted rotatably in the housing body, wherein the vane member includes a plurality of vanes, and wherein each of the vanes is configured to separate a space between corresponding adjacent two of the shoes into a retard hydraulic chamber and an advance hydraulic chamber; a rear plate enclosing a first axial end opening of the housing body, wherein the first axial end opening faces the camshaft; a front plate enclosing a second axial end opening of the housing body, wherein the second axial end opening is opposite to the first
- the raised portion has such an outer surface that the raised portion has a shape tapering from the first lateral surface of the proximal end portion of the each of the gear parts to the outer peripheral surface of the housing body.
- the gear parts are located closer to the rear plate than a central position of the housing body in an axial direction of the housing body.
- the raised portion is formed only between the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and the first lateral surface of the proximal end portion of each of the gear parts, wherein the first lateral surface faces the front plate.
- the housing body and the gear parts are formed integrally by sintering; and the part of the outer peripheral surface of the housing body between the rear plate and the gear parts has a cylindrical shape.
- an extension of an inclined surface of the outer surface of the raised portion having the tapering shape from the gear parts to the outer peripheral surface of the housing body is out of crossing with an inner peripheral surface of the housing body.
- the raised portion is formed to extend circumferentially entirely over the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and the proximal end portion of each of the gear parts.
- an angle between the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and the outer surface of the raised portion having the tapering shape is an acute angle.
- each of the vanes includes an outer peripheral part provided with a seal member in sliding contact with an inner peripheral surface of the housing body.
- a part of the outer peripheral surface of the housing body overlapping with the shoes in a circumferential direction of the housing body is formed with a thinning portion recessed inwardly in a radial direction of the housing body; and the raised portion is formed to extend at an outer surface of the thinning portion.
- the raised portion is formed to extend in a bottom surface and an inner lateral surface of the thinning portion.
- the housing body is positioned with respect to the rear plate by a positioning pin and a positioning groove; the positioning pin is provided at one of the housing body and the rear plate; and the positioning groove is provided at another one of the housing body and the rear plate, and is configured to engage with the positioning pin in an axial direction of the housing body.
- a second raised portion is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and a side of the proximal end portion of each of the gear parts facing the rear plate.
- a housing body having a cylindrical tubular shape, and including a plurality of shoes and a gear part, wherein the shoes project from an inner peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein the gear part is formed integrally with an outer peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein a transmission member is wound around the gear part for crankshaft torque transmission; a vane member configured to be fixed to a first axial end portion of a camshaft, and mounted rotatably in the housing body, wherein the vane member includes a plurality of vanes configured to separate an internal space of the housing body into a retard hydraulic chamber and an advance hydraulic chamber in cooperation with the shoes; and a raised portion formed at least between the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and a first lateral surface of a proximal end portion of the gear part, wherein the proximal end portion is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein the first lateral surface is farther from the camshaft than a second lateral surface of the proximal end portion closer
- the raised portion causes the housing body to have a higher rigidity at a first side, which is farther from the camshaft than the gear part, than at a second side closer to the camshaft than the gear part.
Abstract
A valve timing control device includes: a gear part whose proximal end portion is formed integrally with an outer peripheral surface of a housing body, and around which a timing chain is wound for crankshaft torque transmission; and a vane member fixed to one end portion of a camshaft and is configured to rotate relatively inside the housing body, and including vanes on an outer periphery of a rotor, wherein the vanes define a retard oil chamber and an advance oil chamber. A raised portion is formed in which an outer surface between the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and one side surface of the proximal end portion of the gear part facing a front plate is inclined downward toward the front plate.
Description
- The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine valve timing control device for controlling opening and closing timings of an intake valve set and/or an exhaust valve set variably depending on a state of operation of an internal combustion engine.
- A
patent document 1 discloses a publicly known conventional internal combustion engine valve timing control device. - This valve timing control device includes: a housing including a housing body, a front plate, and a rear plate, wherein the housing body has a cylindrical tubular shape and includes a gear part (sprocket), and wherein the gear part is formed integrally with an outer peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein a timing chain is wound around the gear part for crankshaft torque transmission, and wherein the front plate encloses a front end opening of the housing body, and wherein the rear plate encloses a rear end opening of the housing body; and a vane member mounted rotatably in the housing body, wherein the vane member is formed integrally with a plurality of vanes configured to define a plurality of retard hydraulic chambers and a plurality of advance hydraulic chambers in cooperation with a plurality of shoes formed to project from an inner peripheral surface of the housing body.
- The vane member is fixed to an axial end portion of an intake-side camshaft by a cam bolt, and configured to control, via the camshaft, opening and closing timings of an intake valve set depending on a state of operation of an engine, by being rotated by working oil to a retard side or to an advance side with respect to the housing, wherein the working oil is selectively supplied from a hydraulic circuit to the retard hydraulic chambers and the advance hydraulic chambers and drained from the retard hydraulic chambers and the advance hydraulic chambers to the hydraulic circuit.
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- Patent Document 1: JP 2011-220137 A
- The configuration that the vane member and the housing are cantilevered by the end portion of the camshaft, may cause the housing to be inclined via the gear part of the sprocket when a load is applied to the gear part from the timing chain.
- This tends to cause stress concentration continuously at a place where the gear part is connected to the housing body, namely, at a side of a root portion (proximal end portion) of the gear part facing the front plate, for example, by application of a moment at a part of the gear part around which the timing chain is wound, in a direction of inclination toward the front plate. This may adversely affect endurance of the housing body.
- The present invention is made with attention to the technical problem about the conventional valve timing control device described above, and is targeted for providing a valve timing control device where endurance of a housing body can be enhanced by enhancement of rigidity of a proximal end portion of a gear part by a raised portion.
- The present invention is characterized by comprising: a housing body having a cylindrical tubular shape, and including a plurality of shoes, wherein the shoes project from an inner peripheral side of the housing body; a plurality of gear parts, wherein each of the gear parts includes a proximal end portion formed integrally with an outer peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein a transmission member is wound around the gear parts for crankshaft torque transmission; a vane member configured to be fixed to a first axial end portion of a camshaft, and mounted rotatably in the housing body, wherein the vane member includes a plurality of vanes, and wherein each of the vanes is configured to separate a space between corresponding adjacent two of the shoes into a retard hydraulic chamber and an advance hydraulic chamber; a rear plate enclosing a first axial end opening of the housing body, wherein the first axial end opening faces the camshaft; a front plate enclosing a second axial end opening of the housing body, wherein the second axial end opening is opposite to the first axial end opening, and farther from the camshaft than the first axial end opening; and a raised portion formed at least between the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and a first lateral surface of the proximal end portion of each of the gear parts, wherein the first lateral surface faces the front plate.
- According to the present invention, the provision of the raised portion serves to enhance the rigidity of the proximal end portion of the gear part, and thereby enhance the endurance of the housing body.
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FIG. 1 is a sectional view of whole configuration of a valve timing control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a related part of the valve timing control device according to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 3 is an operation illustration diagram showing a state where a vane member is caused to rotate relatively to a most retarded side according to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 4 is a down view of the valve timing control device according to the first embodiment from a front side. -
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a related part of the valve timing control device according to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a related part of a valve timing control device according to a conventional example. -
FIG. 7 is a front view showing a state where a front plate is removed according to a second embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a related part according to a third embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a related part according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. - The following describes internal combustion engine valve timing control devices according to embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings, wherein the present invention is applied to an intake valve side of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine including two intake valves and two exhaust valves per cylinder.
- As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 , the valve timing control device (VTC) includes: asprocket 1 as a drive rotator configured to be driven rotationally via atiming chain 42 by a crankshaft not shown, whereintiming chain 42 is an endless transmission member; an intake-side camshaft 2 configured to rotate with respect tosprocket 1; a phase-varying mechanism 3 disposed betweensprocket 1 andcamshaft 2, and configured to vary a relative rotational phase betweensprocket 1 andcamshaft 2; and a hydraulic circuit 4 configured to operate phase-varying mechanism 3. -
Sprocket 1 is formed integrally with ahousing body 8 of a housing 5 described below of phase-varying mechanism 3, and is described below in detail in description of housing 5. - Camshaft 2 is rotatably supported via a cam bearing with respect to a cylinder head not shown, and includes a pair of drive cams not shown per cylinder for opening and closing two intake valves per cylinder, wherein each drive cam is fixed to an outer peripheral surface of
camshaft 2 in a predetermined axial position, and has an identical profile. Camshaft 2 includes abolt insertion hole 2 b formed closer to afirst end portion 2 a, whereinbolt insertion hole 2 b extends in an axial direction ofcamshaft 2, and wherein ashaft part 6 a of acam bolt 6 is inserted inbolt insertion hole 2 b to extend in the axial direction and fix avane member 7.Bolt insertion hole 2 b includes a distal end portion including an internal thread 2 c to which an external thread 6 c is screwed, wherein external thread 6 c is formed at a distal end portion ofcam bolt 6. - As shown in
FIGS. 1 to 3 , phase-varying mechanism 3 includes: housing 5 including an operation chamber therein; andvane member 7 fixed to a first end portion ofcamshaft 2 bycam bolt 6, and mounted rotatably in housing 5. - Housing 5 includes:
housing body 8 formed of sintered metal to have a cylindrical tubular shape; afront plate 11 enclosing a front end opening ofhousing body 8 farther fromcamshaft 2; and arear plate 12 enclosing a rear end opening ofhousing body 8 facing therear plate 12. -
Housing body 8 is integrally formed of sintered alloy to have a cylindrical tubular shape, and is formed integrally withsprocket 1 and fourshoes 8 c-8 f, whereinsprocket 1 is located at a portion of an outerperipheral surface 8 a ofhousing body 8 somewhat closer torear plate 12 than a center in an axial direction ofhousing body 8, whereinshoes 8 c-8 f are formed at and project from an innerperipheral surface 8 b ofhousing body 8, and substantially evenly spaced in a circumferential direction ofhousing body 8. -
Sprocket 1, which is formed integrally withhousing body 8, is formed integrally with a plurality of gear parts 1 a around which the timing chain is wound. - These
shoes 8 c-8 f and fourvanes 16 a-16 d described below ofvane member 7 separate the operation chamber into four retardhydraulic chambers 9 and four advancehydraulic chambers 10. -
Housing body 8,front plate 11, andsprocket 1 are fixed to each other by fourbolts 13, wherein eachbolt 13 is inserted in abolt insertion hole 8 g formed in a corresponding one ofshoes 8 c-8 f, whereinbolt insertion hole 8 g extends through thecorresponding shoe 8 c-8 f. -
Housing body 8 includes two thinningportions 8 h, 8 i, wherein each thinningportion 8 h, 8 i is formed at a base portion of a corresponding one offirst shoe 8 c andsecond shoe 8 d having a relatively large width. Each thinningportion 8 h, 8 i is formed to have an arc shape along the cylindrical shape ofhousing body 8, for reduction of weight ofhousing body 8 and overall weight balance ofhousing body 8 with different shapes ofshoes 8 c-8 f. - The base portion of
first shoe 8 c ofhousing body 8 is formed with a positioning groove 8 j for positioning with respect torear plate 12 as described below, wherein positioning groove 8 j extends through the base portion offirst shoe 8 c in the axial direction. -
Front plate 11 is formed of carbon steel to have a disc-shape, and includes a relatively large throughhole 11 a at a central portion offront plate 11, wherein throughhole 11 a passes through thefront plate 11.Front plate 11 further includes fourbolt insertion holes 11 b arranged at its outer peripheral part and substantially evenly spaced in the circumferential direction, wherein eachbolt insertion hole 11 b extends through thefront plate 11, and whereinbolts 13 are inserted inbolt insertion holes 11 b. -
Front plate 11 includes anouter end surface 11 c that is flat and is configured to be in contact with an inside edge of aspiral spring 33 described below. Namely,outer end surface 11 c serves as a spring seat forspiral spring 33. Accordingly, in order to prevent ahead part 13 a of eachbolt 13, which is screwed inbolt insertion hole 11 b, from obstructing contact ofspiral spring 33 withouter end surface 11 c, a hole edge ofbolt insertion hole 11 b at theouter end surface 11 c is provided with acountersunk portion 11 d that has a thin groove shape where a root portion of a shaft part of eachbolt 13. - As shown in
FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 , ahooded pin 14 is press-fitted and fixed in the axial direction to an outer peripheral part ofouter end surface 11 c offront plate 11.Hooded pin 14 includes apin body 14 a and ahood part 14 b, whereinpin body 14 a is formed to have a cylindrical shape, and whereinhood part 14 b has a disc-shape, and is formed at an end surface ofpin body 14 a opposite to the end press-fitted and fixed. A secondengaging end portion 33 c described below ofspiral spring 33 is wound around thepin body 14 a and thereby engaged withpin body 14 a. -
Hood part 14 b is formed to have a diameter such thathood part 14 b covers substantially entire part of an axial end surface of secondengaging end portion 33 c wound around thepin body 14 a, to prevent the secondengaging end portion 33 c ofspiral spring 33 from being released fromouter end surface 11 c offront plate 11. -
Rear plate 12 includes four internally threadedholes 12 a arranged at the outer peripheral part and substantially evenly spaced in the circumferential direction, whereinexternal thread portion 13 c formed at the distal end portion ofshaft part 13 b ofbolt 13 is inserted in a corresponding one of internally threadedholes 12 a. The outer peripheral part ofrear plate 12 includes apositioning hole 12 b in which an end portion ofpositioning pin 36 is press-fitted, whereinpositioning pin 36 is inserted and fitted in positioning groove 8 j ofhousing body 8 in the axial direction, for positioning with respect to the housing body in the circumferential direction and the radial direction during assembling of components. - Vane
member 7 is integrally formed of sintered metal material, and as shown inFIGS. 1 to 3 , includes arotor 15 and first tofourth vanes 16 a-16 d, whereinrotor 15 is formed with abolt insertion hole 15 a at its center, whereinbolt insertion hole 15 a extends in the axial direction, and wherein first tofourth vanes 16 a-16 d are formed at the outer peripheral surface ofrotor 15, and arranged at intervals of the same interval, namely, about 90 degrees, in the circumferential direction, and project radially.Rotor 15 ofvane member 7 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is fixed tocamshaft 2 bycam bolt 6 while being positioned with respect tocamshaft 2 by second positioning pin 37, whereincam bolt 6 is inserted inbolt insertion hole 15 a. Vanemember 7 is fixed to and cantilevered byfirst end portion 2 a ofcamshaft 2. - A
tubular projecting part 17 is formed integrally in a central portion of the front end surface ofrotor 15 facing thefront plate 11, and is arranged coaxially withrotor 15. As shown inFIGS. 1 to 4 ,tubular projecting part 17 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is formed to project from the front end surface ofrotor 15, and has an outside diameter that is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of throughhole 11 a offront plate 11, and has a predetermined axial length that is longer than thickness offront plate 11 and a spring width W1 ofspiral spring 33 described below in the axial direction. Accordingly, when the device is assembled, adistal end portion 17 a oftubular projecting part 17 extends through the throughhole 11 a and projects forward fromfront plate 11. - Tubular projecting
part 17 has an inside diameter that is larger than the outside diameter ofhead part 6 b ofcam bolt 6 such that when the device is assembled, thehead part 6 b ofcam bolt 6 is placed and accommodated inside the tubular projectingpart 17. - The end surface of
distal end portion 17 a oftubular projecting part 17 is provided with anengaging groove 18 with which firstengaging end portion 33 b described below ofspiral spring 33 is engaged. - As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 4 ,engaging groove 18 is located at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction oftubular projecting part 17, and is formed to have a thin substantially rectangular shape from the proximal end side to the distal end side in the axial direction. Of surfaces ofengaging groove 18 facing each other in the circumferential direction, a facingsurface 18 a has an arc shape, wherein firstengaging end portion 33 b is engaged with the facingsurface 18 a. -
Rotor 15 includes a circular fitting recess 15 b on its rear end surface, whereinfirst end portion 2 a ofcamshaft 2 is fitted in fitting recess 15 b, and wherein the rear end surface ofrotor 15 is in sliding contact with the inner end surface ofrear plate 12 facing therotor 15, with a slight side clearance. On the other hand, the front end surface ofrotor 15 is in sliding contact with the inner end surface offront plate 11 facing therotor 15, with a slight side clearance. - As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3 , each of first tofourth vanes 16 a-16 d is disposed between corresponding two ofshoes 8 c-8 f, and has an outer peripheral surface having an arc shape, wherein the outer peripheral surface is formed with a seal groove in which aseal member 38 is fitted, whereinseal member 38 is in sliding contact with the innerperipheral surface 8 b ofhousing body 8 for sealing. On the other hand, eachshoe 8 c-8 f includes a seal groove at its distal end inner surface, wherein aseal member 39 is fitted in the seal groove, and is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface ofrotor 15 for sealing. Eachseal member housing body 8 or the outer peripheral surface ofrotor 15 by an arc-shapedspring seal member - Each
vane 16 a-16 d has end surfaces in the thickness direction (in the rotor axial direction) which are in sliding contact with the inner end surface ofrear plate 12 and the inner end surface offront plate 11 with slight side clearances, and serves for similar sealing functioning at the inner end surface offront plate 11 and the inner end surface ofrear plate 12. - Of
vanes 16 a-16 d, thefirst vane 16 a has a sector shape having the largest width and has the heaviest weight, while each of the second tofourth vanes 16 b-16 d except forfirst vane 16 a has substantially the same width that is smaller than that offirst vane 16 a. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , whenvane member 7 is relatively rotated toward the most retarded side, the first lateral surface offirst vane 16 a is brought into contact with the lateral surface offirst shoe 8 c facing thefirst vane 16 a in the circumferential direction, so that the rotational position ofvane member 7 is restricted within the most retarded side. On the other hand, whenvane member 7 is relatively rotated toward the most advanced side, the second lateral surface offirst vane 16 a is brought into contact with the lateral surface ofsecond shoe 8 d facing thefirst vane 16 a in the circumferential direction, so that the rotational position ofvane member 7 is restricted within the most advanced side.First vane 16 a,first shoe 8 c, andsecond shoe 8 d serve as a stopper to stop movement ofvane member 7 at the most retarded side and at the most advanced side. - On the other hand, lateral surfaces of the other second to
fourth vanes 16 b-16 d are out of contact with the corresponding lateral surfaces ofshoes first vane 16 a withfirst shoe 8 c andsecond shoe 8 d, and further enhance the speed of oil pressure supply to retardhydraulic chambers 9 and advancehydraulic chambers 10, and thereby enhance the response of rotation ofvane member 7 in normal and reverse directions. - Each retard
hydraulic chamber 9 and each advancehydraulic chamber 10 are hydraulically connected to hydraulic circuit 4 via afirst communication hole 9 a and asecond communication hole 10 a respectively, whereinfirst communication hole 9 a andsecond communication hole 10 a are formed inside ofrotor 15 and extend radially. - Hydraulic circuit 4 is configured to selectively supply and drain working oil (hydraulic pressure) to and from retard
hydraulic chambers 9 and advancehydraulic chambers 10. As shown inFIG. 1 , hydraulic circuit 4 includes: aretard oil passage 19 configured to supply and drain hydraulic pressure to and from each retardhydraulic chamber 9 via thefirst communication hole 9 a; anadvance oil passage 20 configured to supply and drain hydraulic pressure to and from each advancehydraulic chamber 10 via thesecond communication hole 10 a; anoil pump 21 configured to supply working oil tooil passages electromagnetic switching valve 22 configured to switch flow paths ofretard oil passage 19 andadvance oil passage 20 depending on the operating state of the engine.Oil pump 21 is of a common type such as a trochoid pump driven rotationally by the crankshaft of the engine. - One end of each of
retard oil passage 19 andadvance oil passage 20 is connected to a passage port ofelectromagnetic switching valve 22, whereas the other end of each ofretard oil passage 19 andadvance oil passage 20 is hydraulically connected tofirst communication hole 9 a orsecond communication hole 10 a via the cylinder head not shown and a cylinder block not shown and via aretard passage section 19 a or anadvance passage section 20 a, whereinretard passage section 19 a is formed between the outer peripheral surface ofshaft part 6 a ofcam bolt 6 and boltinsertion hole 2 b, and whereinadvance passage section 20 a is formed inside offirst end portion 2 a ofcamshaft 2 and extends in the axial direction. -
Retard passage section 19 a communicates with retardhydraulic chambers 9 viafirst communication holes 9 a, whereasadvance passage section 20 a communicates with advancehydraulic chambers 10 via second communication holes 10 a. - As shown in
FIG. 1 ,electromagnetic switching valve 22 is a four-port three-position valve, and is controlled by anelectronic controller 24 to cause a spool valve not shown to travel longitudinally of a valve body, wherein the spool valve is mounted in the valve body for sliding in the longitudinal direction, and thereby cause adischarge passage 21 a ofoil pump 21 to communicate with one ofoil passages drain passage 23 to communicate with the other ofoil passages oil passages -
Oil pump 21 includes asuction passage 21 b and drainpassage 23 which communicate with an inside of an oil pan. A filter not shown is provided at a downstream side ofdischarge passage 21 a ofoil pump 21, wherein the downstream side is hydraulically connected to a main oil gallery M/G for supplying lubricating oil to sliding parts of the internal combustion engine.Oil pump 21 is further provided with a flow control valve not shown for controlling a flow rate of working oil suitably by draining an excessive quantity of working oil, which is discharged fromdischarge passage 21 a, to the oil pan. -
Electronic controller 24 includes an internal computer configured to: receive input of informational signals from various sensors not shown, such as a crank angle sensor, an airflow meter, an engine water temperature sensor, a throttle valve opening sensor, and a cam angle sensor for sensing the current rotational phase ofcamshaft 2; determine the current operating state of the engine; control the spool valve to travel to set positions, by outputting a control pulse current to a coil ofelectromagnetic switching valve 22; and thereby perform a switching control for the passages. - A
lock mechanism 27 is provided betweenfirst vane 16 a andrear plate 12 for locking thevane member 7 to the most advanced position with respect to housing 5. - As shown in
FIGS. 1 to 3 ,lock mechanism 27 includes: alock pin 29 slidably mounted in aslide hole 28, whereinslide hole 28 is formed inside offirst vane 16 a to extend through in the axial direction, and configured to travel forward and backward with respect torear plate 12; alock hole 30 formed in a substantially central portion ofrear plate 12 in the radial direction, and configured to engage with adistal end portion 29 a oflock pin 29, and thereby lock thevane member 7; and an engaging-releasing mechanism configured to cause and release engagement betweendistal end portion 29 a oflock pin 29 andlock hole 30, depending on starting state of the engine. - The most part of
lock pin 29 including thedistal end portion 29 a is cylindrically shaped.Lock pin 29 is biased in the forward direction (in the direction for engagement) by acoil spring 31, whereincoil spring 31 is mounted in compressed state between an inner surface offront plate 11 and a bottom surface of a recess oflock pin 29, wherein the recess is formed to extend in the axial direction from the rear end side oflock pin 29.Lock pin 29 has an annular larger diameter portion at the outer periphery of the rear end part, wherein the larger diameter portion is in sliding contact with a larger diameter hole ofslide hole 28. An annular firstpressure receiving chamber 32 a is formed at a gap between the larger diameter portion oflock pin 29 and the larger diameter hole ofslide hole 28. -
Lock hole 30 is formed larger than the outside diameter of the distal end portion oflock pin 29, and is located in a part ofrear plate 12 closer to retardhydraulic chamber 9 in the circumferential direction, and is set such that with engagement oflock pin 29, the relative conversion angle ofvane member 7 with respect to housing 5 is at the most retarded side.Lock hole 30 has an inner peripheral surface to which ananti-wear ring 30 a is press-fitted and fixed.Ring 30 a is formed by carburizing to have a high hardness, so thatring 30 a can bear repeated engagement and release oflock pin 29 which accompanies sliding contact of the outer peripheral surface oflock pin 29 with the inner peripheral surface oflock hole 30. - The engaging-releasing mechanism includes:
coil spring 31 configured to bias thelock pin 29 in the forward direction; firstpressure receiving chamber 32 a; a secondpressure receiving chamber 32 b formed at a bottom side oflock hole 30; a releasing hydraulic circuit configured to supply hydraulic pressure to pressure receivingchambers lock pin 29 to travel backward. - As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3 , the releasing hydraulic circuit includes: afirst oil hole 32 c formed in the head part offirst vane 16 a to extend in an inclined direction infirst vane 16 a, and configured to allow communication between retardhydraulic chamber 9 and firstpressure receiving chamber 32 a; and asecond oil hole 32 d formed in the inner end surface ofrear plate 12, and configured to allow communication betweensecond communication hole 10 a and secondpressure receiving chamber 32 b. Hydraulic pressures, which are supplied selectively to retardhydraulic chambers 9 and advancehydraulic chambers 10, are supplied to first and secondpressure receiving chambers lock pin 29 to travel backward. - As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3 , the front end surface offirst vane 16 a includes anair vent groove 50 that extends radially and allows air to be vented from a back pressure chamber to the outside, wherein the back pressure chamber is formed at the rear end side ofslide hole 28. - As shown in
FIGS. 1 to 4 ,spiral spring 33 is attached to theouter end surface 11 c offront plate 11, whereinspiral spring 33 biases thevane member 7 in the advance direction with respect to housing 5. -
Spiral spring 33 includes: abody 33 a formed by winding a flat rectangular wire, which has a substantially rectangular cross-section, substantially in a plane, such that surfaces in the longitudinal direction face each other, thebody 33 a having a shape whose diameter gradually increases from its inside peripheral part to its outside peripheral part; firstengaging end portion 33 b formed to have a curved shape, by bending an innermost peripheral portion ofbody 33 a inwardly in the radial direction; and secondengaging end portion 33 c curved to have a semicircular hook shape, by bending an outermost peripheral part ofbody 33 a outwardly in the radial direction. - First
engaging end portion 33 b is engaged with and fixed to an arc-shapedsurface 18 a of engaginggroove 18 oftubular projecting part 17 facing the firstengaging end portion 33 b, whereas secondengaging end portion 33 c is engaged with and fixed to an outer peripheral surface ofhooded pin 14 provided atouter end surface 11 c offront plate 11. Thisspiral spring 33 generates a spring force to constantly assist rotation ofvane member 7 toward the advance side. Specifically, whenvane member 7 rotates toward the retard side with respect to housing 5,spiral spring 33 is deformed with decreasing diameter, to bias thevane member 7 toward the advance side. This biasing force is not so large, but is comparable to a negative component of an alternating torque occurring incamshaft 2, wherein the negative component causesvane member 7 to move toward the retard side. Accordingly, whenvane member 7 is released from locking oflock mechanism 27, combination of the biasing force ofspiral spring 33 and the negative component of the alternating torque serves to place thevane member 7 in balance in an intermediate position between the most retarded position and the most advanced position. - The
outer end surface 11 c offront plate 11 is provided with asupport pin 34 that assists the biasing function ofspiral spring 33 by enhancing the torque occurring inspiral spring 33. -
Support pin 34 is press-fitted and fixed to a place distant by a predetermined angle fromhooded pin 14, and includes an outer peripheral surface in contact with an outermost peripheral part ofspiral spring 33. This serves to enhance a torque occurring between secondengaging end portion 33 c and a portion ofspiral spring 33 in contact withsupport pin 34, whenspiral spring 33 is deformed with decreasing diameter. - The outer peripheral surface of tubular projecting
part 17 includes anannular groove 35 configured to accommodate an innermost peripheral portion 33 d ofspiral spring 33.Annular groove 35 has a predetermined width greater than spring width W1 ofspiral spring 33 such thatspiral spring 33 can be engaged inannular groove 35. - Moreover,
annular groove 35 has a depth less than thickness ofspiral spring 33 such that when the innermost peripheral part ofspiral spring 33 engages withannular groove 35, an outside of the innermost peripheral part ofspiral spring 33 in the radial direction is constantly out of contact with annular groove 35 (namely, exposed out of annular groove 35). - Since
spiral spring 33 has the shape whose diameter gradually increases from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side, the part ofspiral spring 33 close to firstengaging end portion 33 b is in contact with the bottom surface ofannular groove 35, whereasspiral spring 33 gradually gets out of contact with the bottom surface ofannular groove 35 as followed toward the outer peripheral side. - As shown in
FIGS. 2 to 5 , the present embodiment includes a raisedportion 40 formed integrally between outerperipheral surface 8 a ofhousing body 8 and a first lateral surface 1 c of aproximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a, wherein first lateral surface 1 c faces and is closer tofront plate 11. Theproximal end portion 1 b is a portion of gear part 1 a except for a distal end portion of a tooth in mesh withtiming chain 42. - Raised
portion 40 is formed simultaneously with formation ofhousing body 8 by sintering. As shown inFIGS. 2 to 5 , raisedportion 40 is formed only at first lateral surface 1 c ofproximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a ofsprocket 1 facing thefront plate 11, and extends over the entire circumference ofhousing body 8 including the thinningportions 8 h, 8 i. For thinningportions 8 h, 8 i, raisedportion 40 is formed to extend in the entire part of the bottom surface and the inner lateral surface of thinningportion 8 h, 8 i. - Raised
portion 40 includes anouter surface 40 a that has a downward inclination from first lateral surface 1 c ofsprocket 1, namely, first lateral surface 1 c ofproximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a, toward the outerperipheral surface 8 a ofhousing body 8, so that raisedportion 40 has a tapering shape. The angle of inclination ofouter surface 40 a of raisedportion 40 with respect to outerperipheral surface 8 a is an acute angle. Raisedportion 40 has a height H at first lateral surface 1 c, wherein height H is set not to obstruct winding oftiming chain 42. - As shown in
FIG. 5 , the angle of inclination ofouter surface 40 a is set such that an extension line X ofouter surface 40 a towardhousing body 8 is not directed to innerperipheral surface 8 b ofhousing body 8, namely, does not cross the innerperipheral surface 8 b ofhousing body 8, but is directed towardfront plate 11. - First, when an ignition switch is turned off for engine stop, a large negative component of the alternating torque of
camshaft 2 presses thevane member 7 to the most retarded position against the spring force ofspiral spring 33. Under this condition, thedistal end portion 29 a oflock pin 29 engages inlock hole 30, thereby restricting the relative rotational position ofvane member 7 in the retard side suitable for engine start. This causes the opening and closing timings of the intake valve set to be held stably at the most retarded side. - When the ignition switch is turned on for engine start,
electronic controller 24 maintains the coil ofelectromagnetic switching valve 22 de-energized. This allows communication betweendischarge passage 21 a ofoil pump 21 and retardoil passage 19, and simultaneously allows communication betweenadvance oil passage 20 anddrain passage 23. - As a result, the working oil discharged from
oil pump 21 flows into each retardhydraulic chamber 9 viaretard oil passage 19, to set the pressure in retardhydraulic chamber 9 high, while the working oil in each advancehydraulic chamber 10 is drained viaadvance oil passage 20 anddrain passage 23 into the oil pan, to set the pressure in advancehydraulic chamber 10 low. - Under this condition, the working oil flowing into each retard
hydraulic chamber 9 flows also through the releasing hydraulic circuit to pressure receiving chamber 32 andlock hole 30 to set their pressures high, thereby causing thelock pin 29 to travel backward, and causing thedistal end portion 29 a to get out oflock hole 30, and ensuring free rotation ofvane member 7. - Accordingly, as shown in
FIG. 3 , as the volume of each retardhydraulic chamber 9 expands, rotation ofvane member 7 in the counterclockwise direction inFIG. 3 (toward the retard side) against the spring force ofspiral spring 33 is maintained, and the rotational position ofvane member 7 is limited within the most retarded side defined by contact of the first lateral surface offirst vane 16 a with the lateral surface offirst shoe 8 c facing thefirst vane 16 a in the circumferential direction. This causes the relative rotational position ofvane member 7, namely,camshaft 2, with respect to housing 5, to be held at the most retarded side. - This serves to allow smooth cranking and preferable startability when the engine is started by turning on the ignition switch.
- In this state, the relative rotation of
vane member 7 to the retard side with respect to housing 5 causes thespiral spring 33 to be deformed with decreasing diameter. - When the engine enters a low speed and low load region after engine start,
electronic controller 24 outputs a control current toelectromagnetic switching valve 22, to allow communication betweendischarge passage 21 a andadvance oil passage 20, and communication betweenretard oil passage 19 anddrain passage 23 simultaneously. This causes the working oil in retardhydraulic chambers 9 to be drained to depressurize retardhydraulic chambers 9, and causes the working oil to be supplied to advancehydraulic chambers 10 to pressurize advancehydraulic chambers 10. Since hydraulic pressure is supplied from advancehydraulic chambers 10 via the releasing hydraulic circuit to pressure receiving chamber 32 under this condition, the supplied hydraulic pressure serves to maintain thelock pin 29 out oflock hole 30. - As a result,
vane member 7 is caused to rotate in the clockwise direction inFIG. 3 (to the advance side) by a force resulting from the hydraulic pressures in advancehydraulic chambers 10 and the spring force ofspiral spring 33 due to expanding deformation ofspiral spring 33, and the rotational position ofvane member 7 is restricted within the most advanced side by contact of the second lateral surface offirst vane 16 a with the lateral surface ofsecond shoe 8 d facing thefirst vane 16 a. - In this way, the relative rotational phase of
camshaft 2 with respect to housing 5 is changed to the most advanced side. This serves to control the opening and closing timings of the intake valve set, and thereby enhance the output of the engine under the low speed and low load condition. This effect can be obtained also in a high speed and high load region of the engine. - The feature of the present embodiment that raised
portion 40 is provided between the outerperipheral surface 8 a ofhousing body 8 and the first lateral surface 1 c ofsprocket 1, namely, the first lateral surface 1 c ofproximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a facing thefront plate 11, serves to enhance the flexural rigidity ofproximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a. - This serves to suppress the occurrence of stress concentration to the side of
proximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a facing thefront plate 11, even when timingchain 42 causes a moment to housing 5 toward the crankshaft by application of a pulling load to gear part 1 a from timingchain 42 toward the crankshaft along with rotation of the crankshaft while the engine is being driven because housing 5 andvane member 7 are cantilevered bycamshaft 2. - Specifically, as shown in
FIG. 6 , in the conventional valve timing control device described in the patent document described above, when a pulling load (indicated by an arrow inFIG. 6 ) is applied from timingchain 42′ to gear part 1 a′ toward the crankshaft, the gear part 1 a′ may be inclined toward the crankshaft (in the downward direction) about a fulcrum that is the part (first lateral surface) ofproximal end portion 1 b′ of gear part 1 a′ facing thefront plate 11′, so that the part ofhousing body 8′ facing therear plate 12′ may be also deformed to rise, as indicated by a long dashed short dashed line. - Namely, a moment is applied to a part of gear part 1 a′, where the timing chain is wound, in the direction to incline the
housing body 8′, so that it is likely that stress concentration occurs at the place of connection between gear part 1 a′ andhousing body 8′, namely, at the part ofproximal end portion 1 b′ of gear part 1 a′ facing thefront plate 11′. This may adversely affect the endurance ofhousing body 8′. - Furthermore, as described above, when a moment acts on
housing body 8′ in the direction to incline the gear part 1 a′ so thathousing body 8′ is deformed in the same direction, it is possible that the part of inner peripheral issurface 8 b′ ofhousing body 8′ closer tofront plate 11 is brought into hard press contact withseal member 38′ of eachvane 16 a′-16 d′, causing a factor for uneven wear, and also causing a clearance C of several micrometers or so between innerperipheral surface 8 b′ ofhousing body 8′ andseal member 38′ at the side closer torear plate 12, thereby adversely affecting the sealing function. - The rising deformation of the part of
housing body 8′ closer to rearplate 12′ may also adversely affect the sealing function of the place between the axial end surface ofhousing body 8′ and the part ofrear plate 12′ in contact with the axial end surface ofhousing body 8′. - In contrast, the feature of the present embodiment that raised
portion 40 is provided at first lateral surface 1 c ofproximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a closer tofront plate 11, serves to suppress the occurrence of stress concentration atproximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a, and sufficiently suppress inclination of gear part 1 a towardfront plate 11 and deformation ofhousing body 8, and thereby suppress the endurance ofhousing body 8 from being adversely affected, and suppress uneven wear ofseal member 38 at the side closer tofront plate 11, and degrading of the sealing function ofseal member 38 at the side closer torear plate 12. - Furthermore, the feature that
outer surface 40 a of raisedportion 40 is formed to be inclined downward from gear part 1 a to outerperipheral surface 8 a ofhousing body 8, serves to ensure the rigidity, and cause the gear part 1 a to serve as a support beam, and thereby effectively suppress gear part 1 a from being inclined towardfront plate 11. - Specifically, the extension line X having the angle of inclination of
outer surface 40 a of raisedportion 40 extends without crossing with innerperipheral surface 8 b ofhousing body 8. In other words, the extension line X is within a range of wall thickness ofhousing body 8 except for outerperipheral surface 8 a of the end surface ofhousing body 8 in contact with the inner end surface offront plate 11. Accordingly, the functioning of raisedportion 40 as a support beam is further enhanced to further suppress deformation ofhousing body 8. If the extension line X having the angle of inclination ofouter surface 40 a of raisedportion 40 crosses the innerperipheral surface 8 b, the load applied to gear part 1 a causes a moment to cause the raisedportion 40 to be inclined toward the inner peripheral surface ofhousing body 8, so that the support beam function of raisedportion 40 becomes insufficient to suppress deformation ofhousing body 8. On the other hand, if the extension line X is set to extend without crossing with innerperipheral surface 8 b, the support beam function is enhanced to further suppress deformation ofhousing body 8. - The feature that raised
portion 40 is formed to extend over the entire circumference ofhousing body 8 including the thinningportions 8 h, 8 i, serves to enhance the rigidity of the whole ofproximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a andhousing body 8, and thereby effectively suppresshousing body 8 at the entire circumference from being deformed by constant stress concentration. - The further feature that gear part 1 a of
sprocket 1 is located not at the center of outerperipheral surface 8 a ofhousing body 8 in the axial direction, but located at the place closer torear plate 12, serves to allow raisedportion 40 to be formed to have a large size at the place closer tofront plate 11, and thereby further enhance the rigidity. - The feature of the present embodiment that the part of outer
peripheral surface 8 a ofhousing body 8 opposite, through the gear part 1 a, to the part provided with raisedportion 40, has the cylindrical shape having the outside diameter that is smaller than that of the largest outside diameter portion of raisedportion 40, namely, the root portion of raisedportion 40 at gear part 1 a, makes it possible to enhance the capability of filling of powder metal at the opposite part of outerperipheral surface 8 a ofhousing body 8 during sintering formation, and thereby enhance the precision of forming. - As described above, when gear part 1 a is inclined toward the crankshaft (in the downward direction) about the fulcrum that is the part (first lateral surface) of
proximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a closer tofront plate 11, the part ofhousing body 8 closer torear plate 12 is also deformed to rise. However, since the rigidity of the part ofhousing body 8 closer torear plate 12 is lower, the effect of inclination of gear part 1 a becomes smaller, suppressing the part ofhousing body 8 closer torear plate 12 from being deformed to rise. Namely, this setting further suppresses the part ofhousing body 8 closer torear plate 12 from being deformed to rise. - Preferably, the outside diameter of outer
peripheral surface 8 a ofhousing body 8 is uniform except for the gear part 1 a and raisedportion 40. - The feature of the present embodiment that
distal end portion 17 a oftubular projecting part 17 formed integrally with the front end surface ofrotor 15 includes theannular groove 35 in which part of the innermost peripheral part ofspiral spring 33 is fitted, serves to cause the end surface ofspiral spring 33 farther fromfront plate 11 to be in contact with lateral wall surface 35 b ofannular groove 35, and thereby preventspiral spring 33 from being released from the front side of the device, whenspiral spring 33 starts to move in the forward direction of the device fromouter end surface 11 c offront plate 11 whilespiral spring 33 is being deformed with increasing or decreasing diameter. - This feature that vane
member 7 itself includesannular groove 35 in which the innermost peripheral part ofspiral spring 33 engages, serves to reduce the number of parts and make it easy to manufacture and assemble the device, as compared to a case where additional parts are provided. This also serves to achieve cost reduction. - The feature of the present embodiment that second
engaging end portion 33 c ofspiral spring 33 engages withhooded pin 14, serves to preventspiral spring 33 from being released from the front side of the device also byhood part 14 b. - The feature of the present embodiment that
annular groove 35 is configured to receive engagement of only part of the innermost peripheral part ofspiral spring 33 inside ofannular groove 35, serves to significantly reduce a friction that may occur betweenspiral spring 33 and the first lateral wall surface ofannular groove 35, even whenspiral spring 33 moves forward into contact with the first lateral wall surface ofannular groove 35, because the area of contact is small. - Although
annular groove 35 is formed to extend over the substantially entire circumference oftubular projecting part 17 in the present embodiment, it is unnecessary. It is sufficient to form theannular groove 35 in a predetermined range of tubular projectingpart 17 in the circumferential direction, which is required to preventspiral spring 33 from being released from the front side of the device. -
FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which raisedportion 40 is not formed at the entire circumference of the part ofhousing body 8 closer tofront plate 11, but four separate raisedportions 40 are formed except for the outer peripheral part of the base portion of each of fourshoes 8 c-8 f. - Specifically, each raised
portion 40 has the same configuration including the taperingouter surface 40 a as in the first embodiment, but four raisedportions 40 each having an arc shape are formed separately in the circumferential direction, at relatively thin parts ofhousing body 8 out of the outer periphery of the base portion of eachshoe 8 c-8 f having higher rigidity. - The feature of the present embodiment that four separate raised
portions 40 are provided, not extending over the entire circumference ofhousing body 8, serves to significantly suppress inclination and deformation of gear part 1 a andhousing body 8 towardfront plate 11, and also reduce the weight of the whole ofhousing body 8. - The feature that each raised
portion 40 is provided at the corresponding relatively thin part ofhousing body 8, serves to enhance the rigidity of the relatively thin part, and thereby suppress the whole ofhousing body 8 from being deformed by inclination of gear part 1 a due to a pulling load from timingchain 42. Other operation and effects are produced as in the first embodiment. -
FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which basic configuration, such as the location of formation of gear part 1 a with respect to outerperipheral surface 8 a ofhousing body 8, is the same, but theouter surface 40 a of raisedportion 40 does not have a tapering shape, but has a step shape projecting. Specifically, raisedportion 40 is formed to have a rectangular cross-section, and have a step shape projecting towardfront plate 11. - Also in this embodiment, raised
portion 40 serves to suppress inclination and deformation of gear part 1 a andhousing body 8 towardfront plate 11 as in the first embodiment, and further enhance the rigidity by the feature that raisedportion 40 has the rectangular cross-section and thereby has a larger volume. - This serves to cause the raised
portion 40 to further suppress inclination and deformation ofhousing body 8 and gear part 1 a. - Although raised
portion 40 is formed to extend over the entire circumference ofhousing body 8 as in the first embodiment, raisedportions 40 may be formed separately as in the second embodiment. -
FIG. 9 shows a fourth embodiment, in which the location of formation of sprocket 1 (gear part 1 a) is a portion of outerperipheral surface 8 a ofhousing body 8 closer tofront plate 11 than that in the first embodiment, and a second raised portion 41 is formed between outerperipheral surface 8 a ofhousing body 8 and a secondlateral surface 1 d ofproximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a, in addition to first raisedportion 40 formed at first lateral surface 1 c ofproximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a. - Specifically, first raised
portion 40 basically has the substantially identical configuration as in the first embodiment, but second raised portion 41 has a smaller size than first raisedportion 40. - In the present embodiment, the provision of first raised
portion 40 and second raised portion 41 serves to enhance the rigidity of each side ofproximal end portion 1 b of gear part 1 a. Therefore, it is possible to further effectively suppress inclination of gear part 1 a and deformation ofhousing body 8 caused by a pulling load from timingchain 42. - Also in the present embodiment, first raised
portion 40 and second raised portion 41 are formed to extend over the entire circumference ofhousing body 8, but may be separated alternatively as in the second embodiment. - The present invention is not limited to the specific configurations of the embodiments described above, but may be also applied to valve systems for exhaust valves or valve systems for both intake valves and exhaust valves, in addition to valve systems for intake valves.
- The present invention may be applied to a timing pulley as well as the timing sprocket, wherein an endless timing belt is wound around the timing pulley.
- The internal combustion engine valve timing control device described above with reference to the embodiments may be implemented as follows.
- A valve timing control device includes: a housing body having a cylindrical tubular shape, and including a plurality of shoes, wherein the shoes project from an inner peripheral side of the housing body; a plurality of gear parts, wherein each of the gear parts includes a proximal end portion formed integrally with an outer peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein a transmission member is wound around the gear parts for crankshaft torque transmission; a vane member configured to be fixed to a first axial end portion of a camshaft, and mounted rotatably in the housing body, wherein the vane member includes a plurality of vanes, and wherein each of the vanes is configured to separate a space between corresponding adjacent two of the shoes into a retard hydraulic chamber and an advance hydraulic chamber; a rear plate enclosing a first axial end opening of the housing body, wherein the first axial end opening faces the camshaft; a front plate enclosing a second axial end opening of the housing body, wherein the second axial end opening is opposite to the first axial end opening, and farther from the camshaft than the first axial end opening; and a raised portion formed at least between the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and a first lateral surface of the proximal end portion of each of the gear parts, wherein the first lateral surface faces the front plate.
- Preferably, the raised portion has such an outer surface that the raised portion has a shape tapering from the first lateral surface of the proximal end portion of the each of the gear parts to the outer peripheral surface of the housing body.
- More preferably, the gear parts are located closer to the rear plate than a central position of the housing body in an axial direction of the housing body.
- More preferably, the raised portion is formed only between the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and the first lateral surface of the proximal end portion of each of the gear parts, wherein the first lateral surface faces the front plate.
- More preferably, the housing body and the gear parts are formed integrally by sintering; and the part of the outer peripheral surface of the housing body between the rear plate and the gear parts has a cylindrical shape.
- More preferably, an extension of an inclined surface of the outer surface of the raised portion having the tapering shape from the gear parts to the outer peripheral surface of the housing body is out of crossing with an inner peripheral surface of the housing body.
- More preferably, the raised portion is formed to extend circumferentially entirely over the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and the proximal end portion of each of the gear parts.
- More preferably, an angle between the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and the outer surface of the raised portion having the tapering shape is an acute angle.
- More preferably, each of the vanes includes an outer peripheral part provided with a seal member in sliding contact with an inner peripheral surface of the housing body.
- More preferably, a part of the outer peripheral surface of the housing body overlapping with the shoes in a circumferential direction of the housing body is formed with a thinning portion recessed inwardly in a radial direction of the housing body; and the raised portion is formed to extend at an outer surface of the thinning portion.
- More preferably, the raised portion is formed to extend in a bottom surface and an inner lateral surface of the thinning portion.
- More preferably, the housing body is positioned with respect to the rear plate by a positioning pin and a positioning groove; the positioning pin is provided at one of the housing body and the rear plate; and the positioning groove is provided at another one of the housing body and the rear plate, and is configured to engage with the positioning pin in an axial direction of the housing body.
- More preferably, a second raised portion is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and a side of the proximal end portion of each of the gear parts facing the rear plate.
- According to another aspect, it includes: a housing body having a cylindrical tubular shape, and including a plurality of shoes and a gear part, wherein the shoes project from an inner peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein the gear part is formed integrally with an outer peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein a transmission member is wound around the gear part for crankshaft torque transmission; a vane member configured to be fixed to a first axial end portion of a camshaft, and mounted rotatably in the housing body, wherein the vane member includes a plurality of vanes configured to separate an internal space of the housing body into a retard hydraulic chamber and an advance hydraulic chamber in cooperation with the shoes; and a raised portion formed at least between the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and a first lateral surface of a proximal end portion of the gear part, wherein the proximal end portion is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein the first lateral surface is farther from the camshaft than a second lateral surface of the proximal end portion closer to the camshaft.
- More preferably, the raised portion causes the housing body to have a higher rigidity at a first side, which is farther from the camshaft than the gear part, than at a second side closer to the camshaft than the gear part.
Claims (15)
1. An internal combustion engine valve timing control device comprising:
a housing body having a cylindrical tubular shape, and including a plurality of shoes, wherein the shoes project from an inner peripheral side of the housing body;
a plurality of gear parts, wherein each of the gear parts includes a proximal end portion formed integrally with an outer peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein a transmission member is wound around the gear parts for crankshaft torque transmission;
a vane member configured to be fixed to a first axial end portion of a camshaft, and mounted rotatably in the housing body, wherein the vane member includes a plurality of vanes, and wherein each of the vanes is configured to separate a space between corresponding adjacent two of the shoes into a retard hydraulic chamber and an advance hydraulic chamber;
a rear plate enclosing a first axial end opening of the housing body, wherein the first axial end opening faces the camshaft;
a front plate enclosing a second axial end opening of the housing body, wherein the second axial end opening is opposite to the first axial end opening, and farther from the camshaft than the first axial end opening; and
a raised portion formed at least between the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and a first lateral surface of the proximal end portion of each of the gear parts, wherein the first lateral surface faces the front plate.
2. The internal combustion engine valve timing control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the raised portion has such an outer surface that the raised portion has a shape tapering from the first lateral surface of the proximal end portion of the each of the gear parts to the outer peripheral surface of the housing body.
3. The internal combustion engine valve timing control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gear parts are located closer to the rear plate than a central position of the housing body in an axial direction of the housing body.
4. The internal combustion engine valve timing control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a boundary of the housing body between the raised portion and the proximal end portion is larger in outside diameter than a part of the housing body between the rear plate and the gear parts.
5. The internal combustion engine valve timing control device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein:
the housing body and the gear parts are formed integrally by sintering; and
the part of the outer peripheral surface of the housing body between the rear plate and the gear parts has a cylindrical shape.
6. The internal combustion engine valve timing control device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein an extension of an inclined surface of the outer surface of the raised portion having the tapering shape from the gear parts to the outer peripheral surface of the housing body is out of crossing with an inner peripheral surface of the housing body.
7. The internal combustion engine valve timing control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the raised portion is formed to extend circumferentially entirely over the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and the proximal end portion of each of the gear parts.
8. The internal combustion engine valve timing control device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein an angle between the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and the outer surface of the raised portion having the tapering shape is an acute angle.
9. The internal combustion engine valve timing control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the vanes includes an outer peripheral part provided with a seal member in sliding contact with an inner peripheral surface of the housing body.
10. The internal combustion engine valve timing control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
a part of the outer peripheral surface of the housing body overlapping with the shoes in a circumferential direction of the housing body is formed with a thinning portion recessed inwardly in a radial direction of the housing body; and
the raised portion is formed to extend at an outer surface of the thinning portion.
11. The internal combustion engine valve timing control device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the raised portion is formed to extend in a bottom surface and an inner lateral surface of the thinning portion.
12. The internal combustion engine valve timing control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the housing body is positioned with respect to the rear plate by a positioning pin and a positioning groove;
the positioning pin is provided at one of the housing body and the rear plate; and
the positioning groove is provided at another one of the housing body and the rear plate, and is configured to engage with the positioning pin in an axial direction of the housing body.
13. The internal combustion engine valve timing control device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a second raised portion between the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and a side of the proximal end portion of each of the gear parts facing the rear plate.
14. An internal combustion engine valve timing control device comprising:
a housing body having a cylindrical tubular shape, and including a plurality of shoes and a gear part, wherein the shoes project from an inner peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein the gear part is formed integrally with an outer peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein a transmission member is wound around the gear part for crankshaft torque transmission;
a vane member configured to be fixed to a first axial end portion of a camshaft, and mounted rotatably in the housing body, wherein the vane member includes a plurality of vanes configured to separate an internal space of the housing body into a retard hydraulic chamber and an advance hydraulic chamber in cooperation with the shoes; and
a raised portion formed at least between the outer peripheral surface of the housing body and a first lateral surface of a proximal end portion of the gear part, wherein the proximal end portion is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the housing body, and wherein the first lateral surface is farther from the camshaft than a second lateral surface of the proximal end portion closer to the camshaft.
15. The internal combustion engine valve timing control device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the raised portion causes the housing body to have a higher rigidity at a first side, which is farther from the camshaft than the gear part, than at a second side closer to the camshaft than the gear part.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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JP2016-001412 | 2016-01-07 | ||
JP2016001412 | 2016-01-07 | ||
PCT/JP2016/086682 WO2017119234A1 (en) | 2016-01-07 | 2016-12-09 | Internal-combustion engine valve timing control device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20190003349A1 true US20190003349A1 (en) | 2019-01-03 |
Family
ID=59274301
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US16/066,897 Abandoned US20190003349A1 (en) | 2016-01-07 | 2016-12-09 | Internal-combustion engine valve timing control device |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20190003349A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPWO2017119234A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN108368754A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2017119234A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20180274651A1 (en) * | 2017-03-27 | 2018-09-27 | Christianson Systems, Inc. | Chainring |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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JP4423799B2 (en) * | 2001-03-22 | 2010-03-03 | アイシン精機株式会社 | Valve timing control device |
JP4506059B2 (en) * | 2001-09-14 | 2010-07-21 | アイシン精機株式会社 | Valve timing control device |
JP2006183631A (en) * | 2004-12-28 | 2006-07-13 | Denso Corp | Valve timing adjustment device |
JP4590392B2 (en) * | 2006-12-22 | 2010-12-01 | 本田技研工業株式会社 | Valve timing control device for internal combustion engine |
JP2007187171A (en) * | 2007-04-19 | 2007-07-26 | Hitachi Ltd | Valve timing-changing device of internal combustion engine |
JP5859751B2 (en) * | 2011-06-17 | 2016-02-16 | 日立オートモティブシステムズ株式会社 | Valve timing control device for internal combustion engine and method of manufacturing the device |
JP6084847B2 (en) * | 2013-01-21 | 2017-02-22 | 日立オートモティブシステムズ株式会社 | Valve timing control device for internal combustion engine and assembly method thereof |
-
2016
- 2016-12-09 CN CN201680071986.9A patent/CN108368754A/en active Pending
- 2016-12-09 JP JP2017560067A patent/JPWO2017119234A1/en active Pending
- 2016-12-09 WO PCT/JP2016/086682 patent/WO2017119234A1/en active Application Filing
- 2016-12-09 US US16/066,897 patent/US20190003349A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20180274651A1 (en) * | 2017-03-27 | 2018-09-27 | Christianson Systems, Inc. | Chainring |
Also Published As
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WO2017119234A1 (en) | 2017-07-13 |
CN108368754A (en) | 2018-08-03 |
JPWO2017119234A1 (en) | 2018-10-18 |
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