US5174253A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for shifting phase between shafts in internal combustion engine
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
•
Filing: 1991-12-13
•
Granted: 1992-12-29
•
Expires: 2011-12-13
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an apparatus for shifting a phase between shafts in an internal combustion engine. A phase shifting device for shifting a rotational phase of the driven shaft to the drive shaft and an amplifying gear mechanism having a plurality of gears are disposed between the drive shaft and driven shaft. The amplifying gear mechanism amplifies the amount of phase shifting when the phase shifting is made by the phase shifting device and rotates all the gears integrally when no phase shifting is made.
Inventors
- 👤 Masami Yamazaki
- 👤 Yukiharu Ichinose
- 👤 Atsushi Watanabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:51
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01L; F01L1/00; F01L1/34; F01L1/344; F01L1/352; F01L1/34403; F01L1/34406; F01L1/02; F01L1/026; F01L1/04; F01L1/047; F01L1/053; F01L2001/0537; F01L2250/00; F01L2250/06; F01L2820/00; F01L2820/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
An apparatus for shifting a phase between shafts in an internal combustion engine, comprising: a drive shaft; a driven shaft; a phase shifting means for shifting a rotational phase of the driven shaft to the drive shaft between the drive shaft and driven shaft; and an amplifying gear means having a plurality of gears, for amplifying an amount of a phase shift when the phase shift is made by the phase shifting means and rotating all the gears integrally when no phase shift is made.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
An apparatus for shifting a phase between shafts in an internal combustion engine, comprising: a drive shaft; a driven shaft; a phase shifting means for shifting a rotational phase of the driven shaft to the drive shaft between the drive shaft and driven shaft; and an amplifying gear means having a plurality of gears, for amplifying an amount of a phase shift when the phase shift is made by the phase shifting means and rotating all the gears integrally when no phase shift is made.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising first and second power transmitting means for transmitting power from the drive shaft to the driven shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first power transmitting means includes a pulley fixed on one of the drive shaft and the driven shaft, with a belt for transmitting the rotation of the drive shaft to the driven shaft being put around the pulley.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first power transmitting means further includes: a first gear secured on the one of the drive shaft and driven shaft; a second gear provided on an inner surface of the pulley; and a third gear, disposed between the first and second gears, for engaging with the first and second gears.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second power transmitting means includes a support member for supporting the third gear and a coupling member for coupling the support member to the pulley, the coupling member being coupled by means of a spline to the support member and the pulley so as to be movable only in an axial direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the phase shifting means is constituted by coupling the coupling member to at least one of the support member and the pulley by a helical spline.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the coupling member is moved by a hydraulic pressure corresponding to a running state of the engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the coupling member is moved by an electric motor to be driven in accordance with a running state of the engine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the amplifying gear means comprises the first gear and the third gear and amplifies an amount of a phase shift in accordance with a ratio of the diameter of the first gear to that of the third gear.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the amplifying gear means comprises four level gears arranged in a rectangular ring, those of the level gears on an output side having a smaller diameter than those on an input side.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
99 words
An apparatus for shifting a phase between shafts in an internal combustion engine, comprising: a drive shaft; a driven shaft; a power transmitting means for transmitting power from the drive shaft to the driven shaft; a phase shifting means for shifting a rotational phase of the driven shaft to the drive shaft between the drive shaft and driven shaft; and an amplifying gear means having a plurality of gears, for amplifying an amount of phase shifting when the phase shift is made by the phase shifting means and rotating all the gears integrally when no phase shift is made.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
99 words
An apparatus for shifting a phase between shafts in an internal combustion engine, comprising: a drive shaft; a driven shaft; a power transmitting means for transmitting power from the drive shaft to the driven shaft; a phase shifting means for shifting a rotational phase of the driven shaft to the drive shaft between the drive shaft and driven shaft; and an amplifying gear means having a plurality of gears, for amplifying an amount of phase shifting when the phase shift is made by the phase shifting means and rotating all the gears integrally when no phase shift is made.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the power transmitting means includes: a pulley fixed on one of the drive shaft and the driven shaft, with a belt for transmitting the rotation of the drive shaft to the driven shaft being put around the pulley; a first gear secured on the one of the drive shaft and driven shaft; a second gear provided on an inner surface of the pulley; and a third gear, disposed between the first and second gears, for engaging with the first and second gears.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the power transmitting means further includes a support member for supporting the third gear and a coupling member for coupling the support member to the pulley, the coupling member being coupled by means of a spline to the support member and the pulley so as to be movable only in an axial direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the phase shifting means is constituted by coupling the coupling member to at least one of the support member and the pulley by a helical spline.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the coupling member is moved by a hydraulic pressure corresponding to a running state of the engine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the coupling member is moved by an electric motor to be driven in accordance with a running state of the engine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the amplifying gear means comprises the first gear and the third gear and amplifies an amount of phase shifting in accordance with a ratio of the diameter of the first gear to that of the third gear.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the amplifying gear means comprises four level gears arranged in a rectangular ring, those of the level gears on an output side having a smaller diameter than those on an input side.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
186 words
An apparatus for shifting a phase between shafts in an internal combustion engine, comprising: a drive shaft; a driven shaft; a pulley fixed on one of the drive shaft and the driven shaft, with a belt for transmitting the rotation of the drive shaft to the driven shaft being put around the pulley; a first gear secured on the one of the drive shaft and driven shaft; a second gear provided on an inner surface of the pulley; a third gear, disposed between the first and second gears, for engaging with the first and second gears; a support member for supporting the third gear; and a coupling member for coupling the support member to the pulley, the coupling member being coupled by means of a spline to the support member and the pulley so as to be movable only in an axial direction, and being coupled by a helical spline to at least one of the support member and the pulley, an amount of phase shifting being amplified in accordance with a ratio of the diameter of the first gear to that of the third gear.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
186 words
An apparatus for shifting a phase between shafts in an internal combustion engine, comprising: a drive shaft; a driven shaft; a pulley fixed on one of the drive shaft and the driven shaft, with a belt for transmitting the rotation of the drive shaft to the driven shaft being put around the pulley; a first gear secured on the one of the drive shaft and driven shaft; a second gear provided on an inner surface of the pulley; a third gear, disposed between the first and second gears, for engaging with the first and second gears; a support member for supporting the third gear; and a coupling member for coupling the support member to the pulley, the coupling member being coupled by means of a spline to the support member and the pulley so as to be movable only in an axial direction, and being coupled by a helical spline to at least one of the support member and the pulley, an amount of phase shifting being amplified in accordance with a ratio of the diameter of the first gear to that of the third gear.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-12-29 | 1996-06-29 | 1996-12-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-12-29 | 2000-06-29 | 2000-12-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-12-29 | 2004-06-29 | 2004-12-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |