Valve timing adjusting system for internal combustion engine

Claim 2

A valve timing adjusting system comprising: an engine revolution synchronous rotary element driven by an output of an internal combustion engine; a camshaft assembly including a driven member secured to a camshaft by means of a fastening bolt engaged with an axial bore formed in said camshaft; an intermediate member disposed between the rotary element and said driven member for transmitting rotating torque from said rotary element to said driven member with a given phase relationship between said rotary element and said driven member, said intermediate member being thrustingly movable for adjusting said phase relationship; first and second pressure chambers formed at one and the other side of said intermediate member, respectively, for positioning said intermediate member at a position where pressure balance is established; a first fluid path defined through said fastening bolt for fluid communication between said first pressure chamber and a pressure source; a second fluid path defined between said fastening bolt and the inner periphery of said axial bore for establishing fluid communication between said second pressure chamber and said pressure source; and a flow control valve means responsive to a control signal commanding desired phase relationship between said rotary element and said driven member establishing and blocking said first and second fluid paths.

Claim 3

A valve timing adjusting system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flow control valve means is disposed between a common supply line supplying pressurized fluid, a common drain line draining the pressurized fluid, wherein one of said first and second fluid paths is communicated to said supply line, the other is communicated with said drain line.

Claim 4

A valve timing adjusting system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said flow control valve means comprises a common valve.

Claim 5

A valve timing adjusting system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first pressure chamber selectively communicated with a first supply line supplying pressurized fluid and a first drain line draining pressurized fluid across a first flow control valve means, and said second pressure chamber is selectively communicated with a second supply line and a second drain line across a second flow control valve means, and said first and second flow control valve means are operated in alternative fashion so that when one of said first and second pressure chambers is communicated to associated one of said first and second supply lines, the other is communicated with associated one of said first and second drain lines.

Claim 6

A valve timing adjusting system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first flow control valve means comprises a flow restriction orifice disposed between said first supply line and said first fluid path and an ON/OFF valve selectively establishing and blocking fluid communication between said first pressure chamber and said first drain line.

Claim 7

A valve timing adjusting system for an automotive internal combustion engine for adjusting open and close timing of intake and exhaust valves depending upon engine driving condition, the system comprising: a rotary input element associated with a crankshaft for synchronous rotation with said crankshaft, said input element having a first gear teeth; a camshaft assembly including a driven element secured to camshaft by means of a fastening bolt engaged with an axial bore formed in said camshaft for rotation therewith, said driven element being formed with a second gear teeth, said second gear teeth being oriented in spaced apart relationship with said first gear teeth defining therebetween a given clearance; an intermediate ring gear element disposed within said clearance defined between said input element and said driven element, said ring gear element having a third gear meshing with said first gear teeth and a fourth gear meshing with said second gear teeth, said ring gear element being axially movable relative to said input element and said driven element and incorporating means for converting magnitude of axial shifting of said ring gear element into phase shift between said input element and said driven element for establishing desired phase relationship between said crankshaft and said camshaft; first and second pressure chambers defined at one and the other side of said ring gear element, respectively, for positioning the latter at a position where force balance therebetween is established; a first fluid path having a first section extending externally of said camshaft, a second section extending along the axis of said fastening bolt and a third section communicated with said first pressure chamber; a second fluid path having a fourth section extending externally of said camshaft; a fifth section defined between said fastening bolt and the inner periphery of said axial bore and extending in parallel relationship with said second section of said first fluid path, and a sixth section communicated with said second pressure chamber; and a flow control valve means responsive to an engine driving condition dependent control signal commanding desired phase relationship between said crankshaft and said camshaft for selectively establishing and blocking said first and second fluid paths for adjusting axial position of said ring gear at a position where said desired phase relationship is established.

Claim 8

A valve timing adjusting system for an automotive internal combustion engine for adjusting open and close timing of intake and exhaust valves depending upon engine driving condition, the system comprising: a rotary input element associated with a crankshaft for synchronous rotation with said crankshaft, said input element having a first gear teeth; a camshaft assembly including a driven element secured to camshaft by means of a fastening bolt engaged with an axial bore formed in said camshaft for rotation therewith, said driven element being formed with a second gear teeth, said second gear teeth being oriented in spaced apart relationship with said first gear teeth defining therebetween a given clearance; an intermediate ring gear element disposed within said clearance defined between said input element and said driven element, said ring gear element having a third gear meshing with said first gear teeth and a fourth gear meshing with said second gear teeth, said ring gear element being axially movable relative to said input element and said driven element and incorporating means for converting magnitude of axial shifting of said ring gear element into phase shift between said input element and said driven element for establishing desired phase relationship between said crankshaft and said camshaft; first and second pressure chambers defined at one and the other side of said ring gear element, respectively, for positioning the latter at a position where force balance therebetween is established; a first fluid path having a first section extending externally of said camshaft, a second section extending along the axis of said fastening bolt and a third section communicated with said first pressure chamber; a second fluid path having a fourth section extending externally of said camshaft; a fifth section defined between said fastening bolt and the inner periphery of said axial bore and extending in parallel relationship with said second section of said first fluid path, and a sixth section communicated with said second pressure chamber; and a flow control valve means responsive to an engine driving condition dependent control signal commanding desired phase relationship between said crankshaft and said camshaft for selectively establishing and blocking said first and second fluid paths for adjusting axial position of said ring gear at a position where said desired phase relationship is established.

Claim 9

A valve timing adjusting system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said axial bore formed through said camshaft having a first larger diameter section oriented in the vicinity of axial end thereof and a second smaller diameter section oriented remote from said axial end and having threaded inner periphery for engaging with the front end portion of said fastening bolt which has an intermediate plain shaft section to be oriented within said first larger diameter section, and a threaded axial end engaging with said threaded inner periphery of said smaller diameter section, said intermediate plain shaft section having smaller diameter than the internal diameter of said larger diameter section of said axial bore for defining therebetween said second section of said second fluid path.

Claim 10

A valve timing control system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said fastening bolt has a length shorter than the axial length of said axial bore for defining a first communication chamber therebetween, said first section and second section of said first fluid path being communicated across said first communication chamber.

Claim 11

A valve timing control system as set forth in claim 8, wherein a second communication chamber is defined at the axial end of said fastening bolt remote from said first communication chamber, and said second and third sections of said first fluid path are communicated across said second communication chamber.

Claim 12

A valve timing adjusting system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said flow control valve means is disposed between a common supply line supplying pressurized fluid, a common drain line draining the pressurized fluid, wherein one of said first and second fluid paths is communicated to said supply line, the other is communicated with said drain line.

Claim 13

A valve timing adjusting system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said flow control valve means comprises a common valve.

Claim 14

A valve timing adjusting system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said first pressure chamber selectively communicated with a first supply line supplying pressurized fluid and a first drain line draining pressurized fluid across a first flow control valve means, and said second pressure chamber is selectively communicated with a second supply line and a second drain line across a second flow control valve means, and said first and second flow control valve means are operated in alternative fashion so that when one of said first and second pressure chambers is communicated to associated one of said first and second supply lines, the other is communicated with associated one of said first and second drain lines.

Claim 15

A valve timing adjusting system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said first flow control valve means comprises a flow restriction orifice disposed between said first supply line and said first fluid path and an ON/OFF valve selectively establishing and blocking fluid communication between said second communication chamber and said first drain line.