Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110030631 | Harmonic Drive Camshaft Phaser with Bias Spring - An eVCP camshaft phaser comprising a harmonic gear drive unit having a circular spline and a dynamic spline linked by a common flexspline, and a single wave generator disposed within the flexspline. The circular spline is connectable to either of a crankshaft-connectable sprocket or an engine camshaft, the dynamic spline being connectable to the other thereof. The wave generator is driven selectively by an eMotor to cause the dynamic spline to rotate past the circular spline, thereby changing the phase relationship between the crankshaft and the camshaft. A coaxial coil spring is connected to the sprocket and to the phaser hub and is positioned and tensioned to bias the phaser and camshaft to a stop position wherein the engine can run or be restarted after the eMotor is de-energized. Preferably, the spring comprises a spring cassette for easy assembly into the eVCP. | 02-10-2011 |
20110030632 | Harmonic Drive Camshaft Phaser with Improved Radial Stability - Improved stiffening and minimized distortion of a housing for an eVCP achieved by forming a plurality of radial housing stiffeners into the housing around the motor mount end and into the eVCP's hub. A back plate is press fit into the rear of the housing, and a straight axial knurl is applied to the surface of the back plate or housing, which knurl permits a larger tolerance-higher press fit class to be used without resulting in significant deformation of the housing. The knurled back plate is harder than the housing, causing the high points of the knurl to plastically deform or plow the housing material during assembly, resulting in less radial deformation of the bore and the journal bearing. An interface between the housing and the hub provides a journal bearing interface to improve axial stability between the hub and housing. | 02-10-2011 |
20110277713 | HARMONIC DRIVE CAMSHAFT PHASER WITH A COMPACT DRIVE SPROCKET - A camshaft phaser includes a housing with an array of internal splines formed within a bore. A harmonic gear drive unit is disposed within the housing and includes a circular spline and a dynamic spline, a flexspline disposed radially within the circular spline and the dynamic spline, a wave generator disposed radially within the flexspline, and a rotational actuator connectable to the wave generator. One of the circular spline and the dynamic spline is fixed to the housing. A hub is rotatably disposed radially within the housing and attachable to the camshaft and fixed to the other of the circular spline and the dynamic spline. A back plate has an array of external splines engaged in a sliding fit with the array of internal splines for transmitting torque from the back plate to said housing. The back plate also has an input sprocket for receiving rotational motion, in use. | 11-17-2011 |
20110315102 | HARMONIC DRIVE CAMSHAFT PHASER AND METHOD FOR USING - A camshaft phaser includes a housing with a harmonic gear drive unit disposed therein. The harmonic gear drive unit includes a circular spline and a dynamic spline, a flexspline disposed radially within the circular spline and the dynamic spline, a wave generator disposed radially within the flexspline, and a rotational actuator connectable to the wave generator. One of the circular spline and the dynamic spline is fixed to the housing. A hub is rotatably disposed radially within the housing and attachable to the camshaft and fixed to the other of the circular spline and the dynamic spline. An anti-rotation means is provided for temporarily fixing the circular spline to the dynamic spline in order to prevent relative rotation therebetween when the hub is being attached to the camshaft. The anti-rotation means prevents damage to the harmonic gear drive unit while the camshaft phaser is being installed onto the camshaft. | 12-29-2011 |
20120024247 | HARMONIC DRIVE CAMSHAFT PHASER WITH PHASE AUTHORITY STOPS - A camshaft phaser includes a housing with a harmonic gear drive unit disposed therein. The harmonic gear drive unit includes a circular spline and a dynamic spline, a flexspline disposed radially within the circular spline and the dynamic spline, a wave generator disposed radially within the flexspline, and a rotational actuator connectable to the wave generator. One of the circular spline and the dynamic spline is fixed to the housing. A hub is rotatably disposed radially within the housing and attachable to the camshaft and fixed to the other of the circular spline and the dynamic spline. A first arcuate input stop member is rotatable with one of the circular spline and the dynamic spline and is received within a first arcuate output opening defined by at least a first arcuate output stop member rotatable with the other of the circular spline and the dynamic spline. | 02-02-2012 |
20120145104 | ELECTRIC DRIVE CAMSHAFT PHASER WITH TORQUE RATE LIMIT AT TRAVEL STOPS - A camshaft phaser controllably varies the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an internal combustion engine. The camshaft phaser includes an input member rotatable by the crankshaft. The input member is connected through a gear drive to an output member which is fixed to the camshaft. A rotational actuator acting on the gear drive unit causes relative roation between the input member and the output member. A first stop member is rotatable with the input member in a one-to-one relationship. A second stop member is rotatable with the output member in a one-to-one relationship to limit relative angular travel between the input member and the output member. A torque absorption means is provided for limiting the rate at which torque is applied from the rotational actuator to the gear drive unit when the second stop member makes contact with the first stop member. | 06-14-2012 |
20120186548 | VALVE TRAIN WITH VARIABLE CAM PHASER - A valve train for an internal combustion engine includes a camshaft and a variable cam phaser connected to the camshaft for driving the camshaft. The variable cam phaser includes an input shaft rotationally coupled to a crankshaft drive member; and an output shaft rotationally coupled to the camshaft and coaxial with the input shaft. Electrically operated adjusting means drivingly connect the input and output shafts enabling the input and output shafts to be selectively, angularly adjusted while maintaining driving engagement therebetween. The input and output shafts are coupled to the drive member and camshaft via respective, rotationally stiff, flexible couplings. | 07-26-2012 |
20120291729 | AXIALLY COMPACT COUPLING FOR A CAMSHAFT PHASER ACTUATED BY ELECTRIC MOTOR - A camshaft phaser includes a housing with a harmonic gear drive unit disposed therein. The harmonic gear drive unit includes a circular spline and a dynamic spline, a flexspline disposed within the circular spline and the dynamic spline, a wave generator disposed within the flexspline, and a rotational actuator connectable to the wave generator. A coupling adapter is disposed coaxially within the housing bore and fixed to the wave generator and supported in the housing by a bearing which is press fit onto a bearing surface of the coupling adapter. The coupling adapter has a coupling adapter bore with opposing drive lugs extending radially inward therefrom which are axially coincident with the bearing surface. A coupling of the rotational actuator is disposed within the coupling adapter bore and has opposing drive slots which receive the opposing drive lugs, thereby transmitting motion from the coupling to the coupling adapter. | 11-22-2012 |
20120312258 | HARMONIC DRIVE CAMSHAFT PHASER USING OIL FOR LUBRICATION - A camshaft phaser includes a housing with an array of internal splines formed within a bore. A harmonic gear drive unit is disposed within the housing and includes a circular spline and a dynamic spline, a flexspline disposed within the circular spline and the dynamic spline, a wave generator disposed within the flexspline, and a rotational actuator connectable to the wave generator. One of the circular spline and the dynamic spline is fixed to the housing. A hub is rotatably disposed within the housing and attachable to the camshaft and fixed to the other of the circular spline and the dynamic spline. An oil passage is provided for receiving oil from an internal combustion engine for lubricating the harmonic gear drive unit. | 12-13-2012 |
20130032110 | SEALING COLLAR - A sealing collar is provided on a body in which the body has a cylindrical wall on which a hole emerges and a fluid situated in the body is able to escape through the hole. The sealing collar includes a fixing band entirely surrounding the cylindrical wall. The fixing band has a sealing portion to sealedly obturate the hole and a means for closing and tightening the fixing band. The fixing band is provided with at least one claw extending in the direction of the cylindrical wall so that on closing and tightening of the fixing band around the cylindrical wall, the hole is sealedly obturated and the claw is pressed against the cylindrical wall and contributes to immobilizing the sealing collar on the body. | 02-07-2013 |
20130081587 | Harmonic Drive Camshaft Phaser with a Harmonic Drive Ring to Prevent Ball Cage Deflection - A camshaft phaser includes a housing. A harmonic gear drive unit is disposed within the housing and includes a circular spline and a dynamic spline, a flexspline disposed within the circular spline and the dynamic spline, a wave generator disposed within the flexspline, and a rotational actuator connectable to the wave generator. A wave generator bearing includes an inner race with an inner race axial end, an outer race, a plurality of balls between the inner and outer races, and a ball cage. The ball cage includes an annular section disposed axial from the balls proximal to the inner race axial end and a plurality of ball separators such that consecutive balls are separated by one of the ball separators. A rigid support ring extends axially beyond the inner race axial end toward the annular section to limit axial distortion of the annular section. | 04-04-2013 |
20140366821 | CAMSHAFT PHASER - An internal combustion includes a crankshaft and a camshaft rotatable by the crankshaft. The internal combustion engine also includes an oil source, an engine cover, and a drive member disposed within the engine cover for transferring rotational motion from the crankshaft to the camshaft. A camshaft phaser actuated by an electric motor is disposed within the engine cover for controllably varying the phase relationship between the crankshaft and the camshaft. A supply passage communicates oil from the oil source to the camshaft phaser in order to lubricate the camshaft phaser and a drain passage drains oil from the camshaft phaser to the oil source. A sealing arrangement defines a dry zone within the engine cover to isolate the drive member from oil used to lubricate the camshaft phaser. | 12-18-2014 |
20150033906 | AXIALLY COMPACT ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN CAMSHAFT PHASER - A camshaft phaser for controllably varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft of an internal combustion engine includes a housing having a bore with an open and extending along a longitudinal axis. The camshaft phaser also includes a harmonic gear drive unit having an outer first spline, an outer second spline which is axially adjacent to the outer first spline and disposed within the housing, a flexspline disposed radially within the outer first spline and the outer second spline, a wave generator disposed radially within the flexspline, and a rotational actuator connectable to the wave generator such that rotation of the rotational actuator causes relative rotation between the outer first spline and the outer second spline. The outer first spline is fixed to the housing in order to prevent relative rotation therebetween and serves to close the open end of the housing. | 02-05-2015 |