Cam drive apparatus having a magnetic gear

1. A cam drive apparatus comprising a magnetic gear adapted to communicate rotational movement between a crankshaft and a camshaft, wherein said magnetic gear comprises an outer member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced magnet means, said outer member being mounted for rotation with one of said crankshaft and camshaft, an inner member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced magnet means, said inner member being concentrically arranged within said outer member to define an annular gap therebetween, and an intermediate member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced ferromagnetic pole pieces located within said annular gap between said inner and outer members and being mounted for rotation with the other of said crankshaft and camshaft.

2. A cam drive apparatus comprising a magnetic gear adapted to communicate rotational movement between a crankshaft and a camshaft;

wherein said magnetic gear comprises an outer member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced magnet means, said outer member being mounted for rotation with one of said crankshaft and camshaft, an inner member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced magnet means, said inner member being concentrically arranged within said outer member to define an annular gap therebetween, and an intermediate member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced ferromagnetic pole pieces located within said annular gap between said inner and outer members and being mounted for rotation with the other of said crankshaft and camshaft; wherein the number of magnet means of the outer member is greater than the number of magnet means of the inner member.

3. A cam drive apparatus as in claim 2 , wherein the magnet means of at least one of said inner and outer members comprises electromagnets.

4. A cam drive apparatus as in claim 2 , wherein the magnet means of at least one of said inner and outer members comprises permanent magnets.

5. A cam drive apparatus as in claim 2 , wherein said outer member is connected to said camshaft for rotation therewith, whereby the outer member comprises a driven member, and the intermediate member is connected to means for rotation therewith, said means for rotation being driven by said crankshaft, whereby the intermediate member comprises a drive member, the inner member being connected to an actuating means for adjusting the angular relationship between the drive and driven members to adjust the cam phase.

6. A cam drive apparatus as in claim 5 , wherein the inner member is held stationary with respect to the drive and driven members, and further includes a cam phase adjusting means being adapted to adjust the angular position of the inner member to adjust the cam timing.

7. A cam drive apparatus as in claim 5 , wherein the inner member is rotatably driven by a drive means having an actuating means, the velocity of the drive means being controlled by the actuating means to adjust the cam timing.

8. A cam drive apparatus as claim 2 , wherein the intermediate member is connected to the camshaft to comprise a driven member and the outer member is connected to means for rotation therewith to comprise a drive member, the inner member being connected to an actuating means for adjusting the cam phase.

9. A cam drive apparatus as in claim 8 , wherein the inner member is held stationary with respect to the drive and driven members, and further includes a cam phase adjusting means being adapted to adjust the angular position of the inner member to adjust the cam timing.

10. A cam drive apparatus as in claim 8 , wherein the inner member is rotatably driven by a drive means having the actuating means, the velocity of the drive means being controlled by the actuating means to adjust the cam timing.

11. A cam drive apparatus comprising a magnetic gear adapted to communicate rotational movement between a crankshaft and a camshaft;

wherein said magnetic gear comprises an outer member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced magnet means, said outer member being mounted for rotation with one of said crankshaft and camshaft, an inner member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced magnet means, said inner member being concentrically arranged within said outer member to define an annular gap therebetween, and an intermediate member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced ferromagnetic pole pieces located within said annular gap between said inner and outer members and being mounted for rotation with the other of said crankshaft and camshaft; wherein said outer member is connected to said camshaft for rotation therewith, whereby the outer member comprises a driven member, and the intermediate member is connected to means for rotation therewith, said means for rotation being driven by said crankshaft, whereby the intermediate member comprises a drive member, the inner member being connected to an actuating means for adjusting the angular relationship between the drive and driven members to adjust the cam phase.

12. A cam drive apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the inner member is held stationary with respect to the drive and driven members, and further includes a cam phase adjusting means being adapted to adjust the angular position of the inner member to adjust the cam timing.

13. A cam drive apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the inner member is rotatably driven by a drive means having an actuating means, the velocity of the drive means being controlled by the actuating means to adjust the cam timing.

14. A cam drive apparatus comprising a magnetic gear adapted to communicate rotational movement between a crankshaft and a camshaft, wherein said magnetic gear comprises an outer member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced magnet means, said outer member being mounted for rotation with one of said crankshaft and camshaft, an inner member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced magnet means, said inner member being concentrically arranged within said outer member to define an annular gap therebetween, and an intermediate member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced ferromagnetic pole pieces located within said annular gap between said inner and outer members and being mounted for rotation with the other of said crankshaft and camshaft,

wherein the intermediate member is connected to the camshaft to comprise a driven member and the outer member is connected to means for rotation therewith to comprise a drive member, the inner member being connected to an actuating means for adjusting the cam phase.

15. A cam drive apparatus as in claim 14 , wherein the inner member is held stationary with respect to the drive and driven members, and further includes a cam phase adjusting means being adapted to adjust the angular position of the inner member to adjust the cam timing.

16. A cam drive apparatus as in claim 14 , wherein the inner member is rotatably driven by a drive means having the actuating means, the velocity of the drive means being controlled by the actuating means to adjust the cam timing.