US3633555A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable camshaft mechanism
Assignee: Associated Engineering Ltd
•
Filing: 1970-06-15
•
Granted: 1972-01-11
•
Expires: 1990-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A device, particularly for controlling the opening and closing of valves of an internal combustion engine, comprises a camshaft on which a plurality of cams are mounted for rotation relative to the shaft. Each cam is driven by the shaft through an intermediate member which rotates about an axis eccentric to the shaft axis. A drive member rotatable with the shaft has a pin which engages in a radial slot on one side of the intermediate member, and likewise the cam has a pin engaging in a radial slot on the other side of the intermediate member, these slots being preferably 180* spaced apart.
Inventors
- 👤 Lodovico Raggi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:04
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01L; F01L1/00; F01L1/34; F01L1/344; F01L1/356; F01L31/00; F01L31/08; F01L31/16; F02; F02D; F02D13/00; F02D13/02; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2101; Y10T74/2102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A device for use in controlling a valve of an internal combustion engine, said device comprising a shaft, a cam mounted for rotation on the shaft and drive means for moving the cam relative to the driving shaft, said drive means in combination, a drive member rotatable with the shaft, an intermediate member mounted for rotation eccentrically with respect to the shaft, a first drive coupling connecting the drive member to the intermediate member at a position on the drive member spaced a predetermined distance from the axis of the shaft, and a second drive coupling connecting the cam to the intermediate member at a position thereon spaced about the shaft from the first coupling, and means responsive to the pressure in the inlet manifold to vary a parameter of the eccentricity of the intermediate member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
A device for use in controlling a valve of an internal combustion engine, said device comprising a shaft, a cam mounted for rotation on the shaft and drive means for moving the cam relative to the driving shaft, said drive means in combination, a drive member rotatable with the shaft, an intermediate member mounted for rotation eccentrically with respect to the shaft, a first drive coupling connecting the drive member to the intermediate member at a position on the drive member spaced a predetermined distance from the axis of the shaft, and a second drive coupling connecting the cam to the intermediate member at a position thereon spaced about the shaft from the first coupling, and means responsive to the pressure in the inlet manifold to vary a parameter of the eccentricity of the intermediate member.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
135 words
A device, for use in controlling a valve of an internal combustion engine, said device comprising a shaft, a cam mounted for rotation on the shaft and drive means for moving the cam relative to the driving shaft, said drive means comprising in combination, a drive member rotatable with the shaft, an intermediate member mounted for rotation eccentrically with respect to the shaft, a first drive coupling connecting the drive member to the intermediate member at a position on the drive member spaced a predetermined distance from the axis of the shaft, a second drive coupling connecting the cam to the intermediate member at a position thereon spaced about the shaft from the first coupling, and means responsive to the speed of the engine to vary a parameter of the eccentricity of the intermediate member.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
135 words
A device, for use in controlling a valve of an internal combustion engine, said device comprising a shaft, a cam mounted for rotation on the shaft and drive means for moving the cam relative to the driving shaft, said drive means comprising in combination, a drive member rotatable with the shaft, an intermediate member mounted for rotation eccentrically with respect to the shaft, a first drive coupling connecting the drive member to the intermediate member at a position on the drive member spaced a predetermined distance from the axis of the shaft, a second drive coupling connecting the cam to the intermediate member at a position thereon spaced about the shaft from the first coupling, and means responsive to the speed of the engine to vary a parameter of the eccentricity of the intermediate member.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
215 words
A device for use in an internal combustion engine to control the opening and closing of the inlet and exhaust valves thereof, the device comprising a camshaft, a plurality of cams mounted on said shaft for rotation relative to the shaft, a drive connection between the shaft and each cam, each drive connection including drive means operative over one part of the cam revolution to drive the cam faster and over another part of the same revolution to drive the cam slower, than the rotational speed of the camshaft, the said drive means comprising a drive member rotatable with the shaft, an intermediate member rotatable eccentrically with respect to said shaft, control means movable to move the intermediate member in a sense to vary the eccentricity of its rotation, a first connection, at a point spaced from the shaft axis, from the drive member to the intermediate member, a second connection, at a point spaced from the shaft axis but angularly spaced about the shaft axis from said first connection, from the intermediate member to said cam, the two connections being on axially opposite sides of the intermediate member and having freedom to permit relative movement between said drive member, said cam and said intermediate member sufficient to accommodate the eccentricity of the intermediate member.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
215 words
A device for use in an internal combustion engine to control the opening and closing of the inlet and exhaust valves thereof, the device comprising a camshaft, a plurality of cams mounted on said shaft for rotation relative to the shaft, a drive connection between the shaft and each cam, each drive connection including drive means operative over one part of the cam revolution to drive the cam faster and over another part of the same revolution to drive the cam slower, than the rotational speed of the camshaft, the said drive means comprising a drive member rotatable with the shaft, an intermediate member rotatable eccentrically with respect to said shaft, control means movable to move the intermediate member in a sense to vary the eccentricity of its rotation, a first connection, at a point spaced from the shaft axis, from the drive member to the intermediate member, a second connection, at a point spaced from the shaft axis but angularly spaced about the shaft axis from said first connection, from the intermediate member to said cam, the two connections being on axially opposite sides of the intermediate member and having freedom to permit relative movement between said drive member, said cam and said intermediate member sufficient to accommodate the eccentricity of the intermediate member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein said second connection is at the same radial distance from the camshaft as but diametrically opposite to said first connection.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device according to claim 3 including means responsive to variations in a parameter of the engine performance, such for example as engine speed or manifold pressure, to move said control means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-10 | 1975-07-12 | 1976-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-10 | 1979-07-12 | 1980-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-10 | 1983-07-12 | 1984-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |