Systems and methods for variable compression ratio phaser

1. A variable compression ratio (VCR) phasing system for varying a rotational relationship between a crank shaft and an eccentric shaft, the system comprising:

a gear hub configured to be in rotational communication with a crank shaft;

a cradle rotor configured to be in rotational communication with an eccentric shaft;

a spider rotor arranged between the gear hub and the cradle rotor and configured to selectively lock and unlock relative rotation between the gear hub and the cradle rotor;

a planetary actuator coupled to the gear hub and the spider rotor,

the planetary actuator configured to receive a rotary input to provide an output to the spider rotor to unlock relative rotation between the cradle rotor and the gear hub; and

a torsion spring coupled between the gear hub and the cradle rotor, wherein the torsion spring is configured to apply a torque load in a first direction between the gear hub and the cradle rotor to offset a torque load applied in a second direction by either one of the eccentric shaft or the crank shaft.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the torque load is between about 5 Nm and about 200 Nm.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a spring sleeve coupled to the gear hub, wherein the spring sleeve extends axially away from the gear hub and defines an interior cavity.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein a coil portion of the torsion spring circumferentially extends around an outside of the spring sleeve.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the planetary actuator is received within the interior cavity of the spring sleeve.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the torsion spring includes a first coil end and a second coil end opposite the first coil end,

wherein the first coil end of the torsion spring is in engagement with the cradle rotor and the second coil end is in engagement with a spring seat coupled to the spring sleeve.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the cradle rotor includes at least one protrusion extending axially into the interior cavity of the spring sleeve, the at least one protrusion including a recess configured to receive the first coil end of the torsion spring.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the spring seat can be rotationally locked with the spring sleeve in a plurality of distinct positions, such that each position among the plurality of distinct position defines a unique torque load from the torsion spring.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the spring sleeve includes a plurality of first slots and the spring seat includes a plurality of second slots,

such that selective alignment between at least one first slot among the plurality of first slots and at least one second slot among the plurality of second slots rotationally lock the spring sleeve to the spring seat.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of first slots and the plurality of second slots are configured as splines configured to mesh with each other.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein only one slot among the plurality of first slots is in alignment with only one of the plurality of second slots.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one first slot and the at least one second slot, when aligned, together form a keyway configured to receive a key.

13. A phasing system for varying a rotational relationship between a first rotary component and a second rotary component, the phasing system comprising:

a gear hub;

a cradle rotor;

a spider rotor arranged between the gear hub and the cradle rotor and configured to selectively lock and unlock relative rotation between the gear hub and the cradle rotor;

a torsion spring coupled between the gear hub and the cradle rotor, wherein the torsion spring is configured to apply a torque load between the gear hub and the cradle rotor; and

a planetary actuator coupled to the gear hub and the spider rotor, the planetary actuator being operable between a steady-state mode where relative rotation between the gear hub and the cradle rotor is inhibited, and a phasing mode where the planetary actuator receives a rotary input at a predetermined magnitude to selectively provide a relative rotation between the gear hub and the cradle rotor.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a spring sleeve coupled to the gear hub, wherein the spring sleeve extends axially away from the gear hub.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the torsion spring includes a first coil end and a second coil end opposite the first coil end,

wherein the first coil end of the torsion spring is in engagement with the cradle rotor and the second coil end is in engagement with a spring seat coupled to the spring sleeve.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the spring seat can be rotationally locked with the spring sleeve in a plurality of distinct positions, such that each position among the plurality of distinct position defines a unique torque load from the torsion spring.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the spring sleeve includes a plurality of first slots and the spring seat includes a plurality of second slots,

such that selective alignment between at least one first slot among the plurality of first slots and at least one second slot among the plurality of second slots rotationally lock the spring sleeve to the spring seat.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one first slot and the at least one second slot, when aligned, together form a keyway configured to receive a key.

19. A variable compression ratio (VCR) phasing system for varying a rotational relationship between a crank shaft and an eccentric shaft, the VCR phasing system comprising:

a gear hub configured to be in rotational communication with a crank shaft;

a cradle rotor configured to be in rotational communication with an eccentric shaft;

a spider rotor arranged between the gear hub and the cradle rotor and configured to receive an input to selectively lock and unlock relative rotation between the gear hub and the cradle rotor;

a spring sleeve coupled to and rotationally fixed with the gear hub; and

a torsion spring coupled between the gear hub and the cradle rotor, wherein the torsion spring is configured to apply a torque load between the gear hub and the cradle rotor,

wherein a preload of the torsion spring is set by:

coupling a first end of the torsion spring to the cradle rotor;

coupling an opposing second end of the torsion spring to a spring seat; and

rotating the spring seat relative to the spring sleeve to selectively align at least one first slot among a plurality of first slots arranged on the spring sleeve with at least one second slot among a plurality of second slots arranged on the spring seat,

wherein the selective alignment of the at least one first slot and the at least one second slot is configured to rotationally lock the spring sleeve to the spring seat.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein when a phase angle between the gear hub and the cradle rotor is at a minimum phase angle, the torque load provided by the torsion spring is at a minimum torque load; and

wherein as phase angle increases between the gear hub and the cradle rotor, the torque load provided by the torsion spring increases.