IP Library Granted Patent US 7,841,311
Granted Patent B2
US 7,841,311 · App. 12/006,828 · Granted Nov 30, 2010

Variable valve timing device

Assignee: Hilite International Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,841,311
App. No.
12/006,828
Granted
Nov 30, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides a variable valve timing device for an internal combustion engine having a double camshaft. A gas exchange valve control shaft is provided which has first and second concentrically arranged cam shafts that are adjustable in a rotatable manner with respect to each other, by which a cam of the first cam shaft is adjusted in terms of its angle towards a cam of the second cam shaft. A cam phasing device is provided which operates by rotatable vanes provoking a swivelling relative movement between a driven member and an output member. The cam phasing device comprises at least two pivotable vane adjusters. Each pivotable vane adjuster is assigned to one of the two cam shafts. The pivotable vane adjusters are arranged axially one after the other in a direction of a valve control shaft. Each pivotable vane adjuster may be designed as a rotor-type vane adjuster.

Claims (26)

1. A variable valve timing device for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a gas exchange valve control shaft which has first and second concentrically arranged cam shafts that are adjustable in a rotatable manner with respect to each other, by which a cam of said first cam shaft is adjusted in terms of its angle towards a cam of said second cam shaft;

a cam phasing device which operates by rotatable vanes provoking a swivelling relative movement between a driven member and an output member, the cam phasing device comprising at least two pivotable vane adjusters, each pivotable vane adjuster is assigned to one of the two cam shafts, and said pivotable vane adjusters are arranged axially one after the other in a direction of the gas exchange valve control shaft;

said cam phasing device having only one drive pulley, said drive pulley comprising a sprocket adapted to be driven by a chain which can surround a crank shaft of said internal combustion engine; and

said variable valve timing device having a side which is a near side of said first and second concentrically arranged cam shafts and a side which is a far side from said first and second concentrically arranged cam shafts and having a communication collar on said near side which bears conduits for intake and piping of a hydraulic fluid to each of two sets of hydraulic chambers of said first and said second pivotable vane adjuster;

wherein said communication collar moves synchronously along with said drive pulley.

2. The variable valve timing device of claim 1 , wherein:

each pivotable vane adjuster is designed as a rotor type vane adjuster which can be changed in respect of its phase by hydraulic pressure in said two sets of hydraulic chambers;

said two sets of hydraulic chambers form counter moving chambers to each other and said pivotable vane adjusters each constitute an output member of one of said cam shafts;

each output member comprises a vane rim; and

said vane rims are attached to rotor cores being movable between a first position and a second position limited by division bars of a surrounding stator housing.

3. The variable valve timing device of claim 2 , further comprising:

an oil distribution adapter centered in the cam phasing device, said cam phasing device being penetrated by at least four longitudinal fluid passages each one of a different length so that each fluid passage opens out into one of said sets of hydraulic chambers.

4. The variable valve timing device of claim 2 , wherein:

one of said output members is located farther away from said gas exchange valve control shaft and operates said second cam shaft which is an inner cam shaft in comparison to said first cam shaft;

one of said output members is located nearer to said gas exchange valve control shaft and operates said first cam shaft which is an outer cam shaft and encloses said inner cam shaft;

said output member which is farther away is screwed to said inner cam shaft; and said output member which is located nearer to said gas exchange valve control shaft is shrunken onto said outer cam shaft.

5. The variable valve timing device of claim 1 , wherein:

said gas exchange valve control shaft is a coaxially arranged double cam shaft of which said first cam shaft is formed as a hollow body and in said hollow body said second cam shaft is aligned and placed in a manner so that through at least one recess a cam of said second cam shaft pokes out to an outside of said first cam shaft.

6. The variable valve timing device of claim 1 , further comprising:

two conduits which are located in a vicinity of an axis of said first and second concentrically arranged cam shafts which channel said fluid from said communication collar to said pivotable vane adjuster which is located farther away from said communication collar than said second pivotable vane adjuster; and

two conduits which are located remotely to said axis of said first and second concentrically arranged cam shafts which channel from said communication collar to said second pivotable vane adjuster which is located nearer to said communication collar.

7. The variable valve timing device of claim 1 , further comprising:

four hydraulic ports which are placed in said communication collar to form channels from a stationary part of said internal combustion engine to each of said two sets of hydraulic chambers so that said communication collar forms part of a bearing ring and by which said hydraulic fluid is tuneable in each channel.

8. The variable valve timing device of claim 7 , further comprising:

at least one spring which is placed at said driven member and which props on one side against said pulley to push at least one of said pivotable vane adjusters in a pre-selected state.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Jul 7, 2011
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK N.A.
To: HYDRAULIK-RING GMBH; ACUTEX, INC.; HILITE INDUSTRIES AUTOMOTIVE, LP; HILITE INTERNATIONAL INC.
Reel/Frame 026553/0713 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 11, 2009
From: ACUTEX, INC.; HILITE INDUSTRIES AUTOMOTIVE, LP; HILITE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 023498/0359 →
SECOND LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 11, 2009
From: ACUTEX, INC.; HILITE INDUSTRIES AUTOMOTIVE, LP; HILITE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 023498/0378 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2008
From: HUTCHESON, JACK D.; KNECHT, ANDREAS; POHL, DIRK; BARTON, GLENN A.; NANCE, STEPHEN L.; COLE, JOE S.
To: HILITE INTERNATIONAL INC.
Reel/Frame 020835/0945 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090173297A1 · Jul 9, 2009