US4577592A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self adjusting camshaft gear for internal combustion engines
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-06-27
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Granted: 1986-03-25
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Expires: 2004-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A self adjusting camshaft gear including an inner hub member and a coaxial outer gear-supporting member that is rotatably mounted to the periphery of the hub member. Weighted levers pivotally mounted to the side face of the outer gear member overlie a portion of the coplanar side face of the hub member and pivotally engage posts extending therefrom so that movement of the weighted levers around their gear member pivots will change the relative position of the hub with respect to the outer gear member and thereby advance or retard the camshaft. Springs between the levers and the hub member force the levers inward and into a normally advanced position for optimum power at low r.p.m. At some mid-range r.p.m. as determined by the spring modulus, the weighted levers are centrifugally forced outward to alter the rotational position of the hub with respect to the outer gear member to thereby retard the timing of the camshaft for optimum power at high r.p.m.
Inventors
- 👤 Henery G. K. Bosch
- 👤 Thomas W. Pouliot
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:31
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01L; F01L1/00; F01L1/34; F01L1/344
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A camshaft gear for an internal combustion engine, said gear comprising: a hub member having an axial bore for receiving a camshaft and having a circular periphery coaxial with said camshaft bore; a toroidal gear member coaxial with said hub member bore and having an inner surface in slideable contact with the periphery of said hub member, the periphery of said gear member being circular and having timing gear teeth thereon; a plurality of at least three centrifugal weights coupled to a side face of said gear member for pivotal movement in a plane parallel with said side face, each of said plurality being slideably coupled to a first post extending from a corresponding side face of said hub member for rotating said hub member with respect to said gear member upon pivotal movement of said plurality of weights; stop means including a plurality of discs, each disc adjustably connected by a screw through an off-center hole in said disc to said side face of said gear member and at a location overlying a portion of said hub member and adjacent the pivotal end of one of said weights for locking said hub against removal from said gear member and for adjusting the position of said weights when said camshaft is stationary; and resilient means coupled between said hub member and each of said plurality of weights for preventing said pivotal movement of said plurality of weights below a predetermined rotational velocity of said camshaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
A camshaft gear for an internal combustion engine, said gear comprising: a hub member having an axial bore for receiving a camshaft and having a circular periphery coaxial with said camshaft bore; a toroidal gear member coaxial with said hub member bore and having an inner surface in slideable contact with the periphery of said hub member, the periphery of said gear member being circular and having timing gear teeth thereon; a plurality of at least three centrifugal weights coupled to a side face of said gear member for pivotal movement in a plane parallel with said side face, each of said plurality being slideably coupled to a first post extending from a corresponding side face of said hub member for rotating said hub member with respect to said gear member upon pivotal movement of said plurality of weights; stop means including a plurality of discs, each disc adjustably connected by a screw through an off-center hole in said disc to said side face of said gear member and at a location overlying a portion of said hub member and adjacent the pivotal end of one of said weights for locking said hub against removal from said gear member and for adjusting the position of said weights when said camshaft is stationary; and resilient means coupled between said hub member and each of said plurality of weights for preventing said pivotal movement of said plurality of weights below a predetermined rotational velocity of said camshaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The camshaft gear claimed in claim 1 wherein the side faces of said hub member and said gear member are coplanar and normal to the axis of said axial bore through said hub member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The camshaft gear claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of centrifugal weights are elongated in shape and are pivotally mounted at a first end through a bearing to a pivot post extending from said side face of said gear member, the second end of each of said plurality being coupled to said resilient means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The camshaft gear claimed in claim 3 wherein said resilient means is an extension spring coupled between the second end of each of plurality of weights and second posts extending from the side face of said hub member, said spring extending substantially at right angles from the elongated axis of its respective centrifugal weight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The camshaft gear claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said first posts are substantially on a line between the center of said axial camshaft bore and the pivot posts extending from the side face of said gear member, and wherein each of said plurality of centrifugal weights have a width that extends over a portion of the side face of said hub member to engage a respective first post through a tubular bushing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The camshaft gear claimed in claim 5 wherein said tubular bushings have a tubular bore for engaging said first posts and a circular peripheral surface with parallel flat surfaces on opposite sides of said peripheral surfaces for slideably engaging flat side surfaces of a slot in the extended side surface of a weight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The camshaft gear claimed in claim 6 further including means for attaching a cover plate for covering and protecting said side faces of said gear member and said hub member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The camshaft gear claimed in FIG. 7 wherein the side faces of said gear member and of said hub member are recessed in the body of said camshaft gear, and wherein said cover plate may be secured to a rim on said gear member surrounding said recess in said body.
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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) | 1989-03-24 | 1989-09-23 | 1990-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-24 | 1993-09-23 | 1994-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-24 | 1997-09-23 | 1998-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |