US3685499A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Emission control device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-09-16
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Granted: 1972-08-22
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Expires: 1990-09-16
Abstract
Abstract A mechanism for varying the phase relationship of a camshaft with respect to a crankshaft. A driven member is secured in fixed relationship to the camshaft and is connected through a helical ball spline to a piston member which is nonrotatably related to the crankshaft. The piston member and the driven member define a fluid chamber therebetween. A shiftable valve member permits flow of fluid to said chamber causing the piston to move axially relative to the driven member, whereby the helical ball spline causes the driven member to rotate relative to the piston, which in turn causes rotation of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft. The valve member may be controlled either manually or automatically in response to an engine operating condition.
Inventors
- 👤 George B K Meacham
- 👤 James L Oliver
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:47
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01L; F01L1/00; F01L1/34; F01L1/344; F01L1/34403; F01L1/34406
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
321 words
In an engine having a crankshaft and a camshaft laterally spaced from and substantially parallel to the crankshaft, a drive gear connected to the crankshaft adjacent one end thereof, and a timing gear connected to the camshaft adjacent one end thereof and drivingly interconnected to and driven by said drive gear, comprising the improvement wherein a compact phase-adjusting device is disposed between one of said gears and its respective shaft for accurately advancing or retarding the angular relationship of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft, said phase-adjusting device having an axial length substantially less than its radial width and including first and second relatively rotatable members disposed coaxial with said respective shaft, said first member being nonrotatably connected to said respective shaft and said second member being nonrotatably connected to said one gear, said first and second relatively rotatable members having walls disposed adjacent but axially spaced from one another tO define a substantially closed fluid pressure chamber therebetween, coupling means including a helical ball-spline device disposed within said closed fluid chamber and coacting between said first and second rotatable members for permitting relative axial and rotational movement therebetween whereby the angular relationship between said camshaft and said crankshaft can be accurately adjusted, mounting means coacting between one of said first and second members and one of said one gear and said respective shaft for permitting said one member to slide axially relative to said respective shaft in response to pressurized fluid being supplied to said chamber, and control means responsive to the load imposed on the engine for permitting pressurized fluid to be supplied to said chamber for causing relative axial and rotational movement between said first and second members, said control means including shiftable valve means for controlling flow of fluid to said chamber and motor means responsive to the load imposed on said engine for shifting said valve means in proportion to the load imposed on the engine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
321 words
In an engine having a crankshaft and a camshaft laterally spaced from and substantially parallel to the crankshaft, a drive gear connected to the crankshaft adjacent one end thereof, and a timing gear connected to the camshaft adjacent one end thereof and drivingly interconnected to and driven by said drive gear, comprising the improvement wherein a compact phase-adjusting device is disposed between one of said gears and its respective shaft for accurately advancing or retarding the angular relationship of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft, said phase-adjusting device having an axial length substantially less than its radial width and including first and second relatively rotatable members disposed coaxial with said respective shaft, said first member being nonrotatably connected to said respective shaft and said second member being nonrotatably connected to said one gear, said first and second relatively rotatable members having walls disposed adjacent but axially spaced from one another tO define a substantially closed fluid pressure chamber therebetween, coupling means including a helical ball-spline device disposed within said closed fluid chamber and coacting between said first and second rotatable members for permitting relative axial and rotational movement therebetween whereby the angular relationship between said camshaft and said crankshaft can be accurately adjusted, mounting means coacting between one of said first and second members and one of said one gear and said respective shaft for permitting said one member to slide axially relative to said respective shaft in response to pressurized fluid being supplied to said chamber, and control means responsive to the load imposed on the engine for permitting pressurized fluid to be supplied to said chamber for causing relative axial and rotational movement between said first and second members, said control means including shiftable valve means for controlling flow of fluid to said chamber and motor means responsive to the load imposed on said engine for shifting said valve means in proportion to the load imposed on the engine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination according to claim 1, wherein said first and second rotatable members each have an annular axially extending flange secured thereto with the flanges on said first and second rotatable members extending axially toward one another in concentric and surrounding relationship, and said helical ball spline device being disposed between and coacting with said flanges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said valve means includes a shiftable valve spool coaxially disposed relative to said respective shaft, and said fluid chamber having an annular ringlike configuration and being disposed radially outwardly from and in substantial surrounding relationship to said valve spool.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination according to claim 1, wherein said one gear is nonrotatably connected to said second member by axially elongated straight spline means for permitting relative axial movement therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The combination according to claim 1, wherein said valve means includes a shiftable valve spool coaxially aligned with said first and second rotatable members, and said control means including linkage means coacting between said motor means and said valve spool for causing shifting of said valve spool to respond to the load imposed on said engine, said motor means being fluid pressure actuated and including a reciprocable piston means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
194 words
A mechanism for advancing or retarding an engine camshaft with respect to an engine crankshaft, said mechanism comprising: driving means operatively connected for rotation with said crankshaft and driven means operatively and drivingly connected with said camshaft, said driving means and said driven means forming a fluid pressure chamber therebetween; coupling means including a helical ball-spline device disposed within said fluid chamber and coacting between portions of said driving means and said driven means for simultaneously permitting relative axial and rotational movement between at least said portions of said driving means and said driven means, the magnitude of rotational movement being determined by the magnitude of axial movement; and control means responsive to the load imposed on the engine for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid to said chamber for causing relative axial and rotational movement between said portions of said driving means and said driven means; said control means including shiftable valve means for controlling the flow of fluid to and from said chamber, fluid-actuated motor means for shifting said valve means in proportion to the load imposed on the engine, and linkage means coacting between said motor means and said valve means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
194 words
A mechanism for advancing or retarding an engine camshaft with respect to an engine crankshaft, said mechanism comprising: driving means operatively connected for rotation with said crankshaft and driven means operatively and drivingly connected with said camshaft, said driving means and said driven means forming a fluid pressure chamber therebetween; coupling means including a helical ball-spline device disposed within said fluid chamber and coacting between portions of said driving means and said driven means for simultaneously permitting relative axial and rotational movement between at least said portions of said driving means and said driven means, the magnitude of rotational movement being determined by the magnitude of axial movement; and control means responsive to the load imposed on the engine for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid to said chamber for causing relative axial and rotational movement between said portions of said driving means and said driven means; said control means including shiftable valve means for controlling the flow of fluid to and from said chamber, fluid-actuated motor means for shifting said valve means in proportion to the load imposed on the engine, and linkage means coacting between said motor means and said valve means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A mechanism according to claim 6, wherein said driving and driven means respectively include rotatable driving and driven members coaxially aligned with one of said shafts, said driving and driven members defining said fluid pressure chamber therebetwEen, and said helical ball spline device and said valve means also being coaxially aligned with said one shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A mechanism according to claim 7, wherein a timing gear is nonrotatably interconnected to one of said driving and driven members by substantially straight spline means for permitting relative axial movement therebetween.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
134 words
A mechanism according to claim 6, wherein said driven means includes a driven member coaxially aligned with said camshaft and nonrotatably and axially fixedly secured thereto, said driving means including a driving member coaxially aligned with said camshaft and mounted for rotation and axial sliding movement relative thereto, said driving member being disposed adjacent and axially spaced from said driven member for defining said fluid pressure chamber therebetween, said driving means further including a timing gear rotatably supported on said driven member and means coacting between said driven member and said timing gear for preventing relative axial movement therebetween, means coacting between said timing gear and said driving member for nonrotatably connecting same while permitting relative axial movement therebetween, and said helical ball spline device being operatively connected between said driving and driven members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
118 words
A mechanism according to claim 6, wherein said driving and driven means respectively include rotatable driving and driven members coaxially aligned with one another and coaxially aligned with one of said shafts, said driving and driven members being axially spaced from one another for defining said fluid pressure chamber therebetween, and means relatively mounting said driving and driven member for relative rotation and axial movement therebetween, means including passageway means communicating with said fluid pressure chamber for supplying pressurized engine lubricant to said chamber for permitting the axial spacing between said driving and driven members to be selectively varied, and said shiftable valve means being associated with said passageway means for controlling the flow of pressurized lubricant therethrough.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-22 | 1976-02-21 | 1976-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-22 | 1980-02-21 | 1980-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-22 | 1984-02-21 | 1984-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |