Patent US5803030A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5803030A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Phase adjustable cam drive
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1997-01-10
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Granted: 1998-09-08
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Expires: 2017-01-10
Abstract
Abstract A cam phase adjustor for an internal combustion engine includes a drive gear, an index gear, an actuator and a camshaft. Actuator is rotated and moves linearly to reciprocate the index gear in response to engine rpm changes. Linear movement of the index gear, which serves as the drive link between the drive gear and the camshaft, causes relative rotational motion between the spinning index gear and camshaft, thus changing the angular phase of the camshaft relative to the drive gear. This is used to advance or retard the opening and closing of the intake and/or exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine to improve engine performance over a wide range of operative engine speeds. Linear and rotational movements of the components are facilitated by cooperating grooves and balls in the respective components so there is rolling rather than sliding motion between the components.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Wade Cole
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:32
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01L; F01L1/00; F01L1/34; F01L1/344; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2101; Y10T74/2102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
Apparatus for changing the angular phase between a drive shaft and a driven shaft and comprising: an index gear operably disposed and interconnected between said drive shaft and said driven shaft and being rotatable about an axis of rotation and movable axially along said axis of rotation; a first coupling means comprising a plurality of balls disposed in respective cooperating grooves in said index gear and in said drive shaft respectively for coupling said index gear to said drive shaft for rotationally driving said index gear about said axis of rotation, said first coupling means permitting motion of said index gear in an axial direction along said axis of rotation, and a second coupling means comprising a plurality of balls disposed in respective cooperating grooves in said index gear and in said driven shaft respectively for coupling said index gear to said driven shaft for rotationally driving said driven shaft, and for rotating said driven shaft with respect to said index gear when said index gear is moved in said axial direction; said second coupling means being separate and independent from said first coupling means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
Apparatus for changing the angular phase between a drive shaft and a driven shaft and comprising: an index gear operably disposed and interconnected between said drive shaft and said driven shaft and being rotatable about an axis of rotation and movable axially along said axis of rotation; a first coupling means comprising a plurality of balls disposed in respective cooperating grooves in said index gear and in said drive shaft respectively for coupling said index gear to said drive shaft for rotationally driving said index gear about said axis of rotation, said first coupling means permitting motion of said index gear in an axial direction along said axis of rotation, and a second coupling means comprising a plurality of balls disposed in respective cooperating grooves in said index gear and in said driven shaft respectively for coupling said index gear to said driven shaft for rotationally driving said driven shaft, and for rotating said driven shaft with respect to said index gear when said index gear is moved in said axial direction; said second coupling means being separate and independent from said first coupling means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for adjusting the phase of a rotatable driven shaft with respect to a driveshaft, said apparatus being operatively interposed between the shafts and comprising: an index gear interconnected directly to the drive shaft and interconnected directly to the driven shaft, and driving the driven shaft as the drive shaft turns; an actuator disposed radially outwardly of the index gear for moving the index gear linearly; a coupling directly interconnecting the index gear with the driven shaft independently of the interconnection between the drive shaft and the index gear such that linear motion of the index gear changes the angular phase of the driven shaft with respect to the index gear and with respect to the drive shaft; wherein said coupling includes elongated grooves in the index gear in cooperative alignment with elongated grooves in the driven shaft and balls disposed in said respective cooperating grooves for driving said driven shaft and for rotating said driven shaft relative to said index gear when said index gear is moved linearly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for adjusting the phase of a rotatable driven shaft with respect to a driveshaft, said apparatus being operatively interposed between the shafts and comprising: an index gear interconnected directly to the drive shaft and interconnected directly to the driven shaft, and driving the driven shaft as the drive shaft turns; an actuator disposed radially outwardly of the index gear for moving the index gear linearly; a coupling directly interconnecting the index gear with the driven shaft independently of the interconnection between the drive shaft and the index gear such that linear motion of the index gear changes the angular phase of the driven shaft with respect to the index gear and with respect to the drive shaft; wherein said coupling includes elongated grooves in the index gear in cooperative alignment with elongated grooves in the driven shaft and balls disposed in said respective cooperating grooves for driving said driven shaft and for rotating said driven shaft relative to said index gear when said index gear is moved linearly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said grooves in said driven shaft and said grooves in said index gear are spirally oriented.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said actuator is mounted on a cover and including: a spiral groove in said cover; a spiral groove in said actuator; balls disposed in cooperating ones of said spiral cover and actuator grooves for urging said actuator linearly when it is rotated on said cover.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said index gear has a radial flange oriented for movement linearly by said actuator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 including a drive gear and drive hub rotated by said drive shaft, said index gear disposed within said drive hub.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as in claim 6 including linearly extending grooves in said hub, linearly extending grooves in an exterior surface of said index gear, balls residing in cooperatively oriented, linearly extending grooves in said hub and index gear for rotating said index gear about an axis and for accommodating linear reciprocating motion of said index gear.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 including an arm on said actuator for rotating said actuator on said cover.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as in claim 8 including a part in said actuator for loading balls into the spiral grooves disposed between the cover of the actuator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said spirally oriented grooves in said index gear are open at one end of said index gear and are blind at opposite ends of said grooves.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
122 words
Apparatus for adjusting the phase of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine with respect to a crankshaft operated drive gear thereon and comprising: a drive gear having a hub, an index gear disposed for operative connection to the hub, and being driven thereby, a camshaft rotatably disposed within said index gear and being driven thereby, and a plurality of cooperating groove sets in said drive gear, said index gear and said camshaft with driving balls operably disposed in respective cooperating groove sets for rotating said index gear and said camshaft with said drive gear hub, for accommodating linear motion of said index gear and for rotating said camshaft with respect to said index gear upon linear motion of said index gear.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
122 words
Apparatus for adjusting the phase of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine with respect to a crankshaft operated drive gear thereon and comprising: a drive gear having a hub, an index gear disposed for operative connection to the hub, and being driven thereby, a camshaft rotatably disposed within said index gear and being driven thereby, and a plurality of cooperating groove sets in said drive gear, said index gear and said camshaft with driving balls operably disposed in respective cooperating groove sets for rotating said index gear and said camshaft with said drive gear hub, for accommodating linear motion of said index gear and for rotating said camshaft with respect to said index gear upon linear motion of said index gear.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein a first set of cooperating grooves extends linearly and axially in each of said drive gear hub and said index gear.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein a second set of cooperating grooves is oriented spirally in opposed surfaces of said index gear and said camshaft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as in claim 13 further including an index gear actuator, an outer cover, another set of cooperating grooves disposed between said cover and said actuator, said other set being spirally oriented, and a plurality of balls in said other set of grooves for moving said index gear actuator linearly when it is rotated on said outer cover to move said index gear linearly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as in claim 14 wherein said balls and said grooves are oriented to cooperate to retard said camshaft in angular phase relative to said drive gear when speed of said drive gear is increased, and to advance said camshaft in angular phase relative to said drive gear when speed of said drive gear is reduced.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said spirally oriented grooves in said index gear are blind at one end and open at another.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said spirally oriented grooves in said camshaft are blind at one end and open at another.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said linearly extending grooves in said index gear are blind grooves.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said linearly extending grooves in said drive gear are open at least at one end thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as in claim 15 including a ball loading port in said actuator for loading balls between said actuator and said cover.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
162 words
Apparatus for adjusting the phase of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine with respect to a crankshaft operated drive gear thereon and comprising: a drive gear having a hub, an index gear disposed for operative connection to the hub, and being driven thereby, a camshaft rotatably disposed within said index gear and being driven thereby, and a plurality of cooperating groove sets in said drive gear, said index gear and said camshaft, a plurality of sets of driving balls operably disposed in respective cooperating groove sets for rotating said index gear and said camshaft with said drive gear hub, for accommodating linear motion of said index gear and for rotating said camshaft with respect to said index gear upon linear motion of said index gear, one set of driving balls being operably disposed between and coupling said drive gear and said index gear and another set of drive balls being operably disposed between and coupling said index gear to said camshaft.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
162 words
Apparatus for adjusting the phase of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine with respect to a crankshaft operated drive gear thereon and comprising: a drive gear having a hub, an index gear disposed for operative connection to the hub, and being driven thereby, a camshaft rotatably disposed within said index gear and being driven thereby, and a plurality of cooperating groove sets in said drive gear, said index gear and said camshaft, a plurality of sets of driving balls operably disposed in respective cooperating groove sets for rotating said index gear and said camshaft with said drive gear hub, for accommodating linear motion of said index gear and for rotating said camshaft with respect to said index gear upon linear motion of said index gear, one set of driving balls being operably disposed between and coupling said drive gear and said index gear and another set of drive balls being operably disposed between and coupling said index gear to said camshaft.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for adjusting the phase of a camshaft, rotating on an axis, of an internal combustion engine with respect to a crankshaft operated drive gear thereon and comprising: a hub on said drive gear; an index gear operably disposed between said hub and said camshaft; a set of cooperating grooves in said hub and a set of cooperating grooves in said index gear; a set of balls disposed in said groove sets coupling said hub to said index gear; another set of grooves in said index gear and another set of grooves in said camshaft; another set of balls disposed in said other groove sets for coupling said index gear to said camshaft; at least one of said other sets of grooves being disposed in a non-axial direction with respect to an axis of rotation of said camshaft; and an actuator for moving said index gear in an axial direction to adjust said phase.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for adjusting the phase of a camshaft, rotating on an axis, of an internal combustion engine with respect to a crankshaft operated drive gear thereon and comprising: a hub on said drive gear; an index gear operably disposed between said hub and said camshaft; a set of cooperating grooves in said hub and a set of cooperating grooves in said index gear; a set of balls disposed in said groove sets coupling said hub to said index gear; another set of grooves in said index gear and another set of grooves in said camshaft; another set of balls disposed in said other groove sets for coupling said index gear to said camshaft; at least one of said other sets of grooves being disposed in a non-axial direction with respect to an axis of rotation of said camshaft; and an actuator for moving said index gear in an axial direction to adjust said phase.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus for adjusting the angular phase of a driven shaft with respect to a drive shaft and comprising: an index gear; a drive gear connected to said drive shaft; a set of cooperating grooves in said drive gear and in said index gear, said grooves disposed in an axial direction with respect to an axis of rotation of said driven shaft; a plurality of balls in said grooves for imparting rotational motion between said index gear and said drive gear; a second set of cooperating grooves in said index gear and in said driven shaft; another plurality of balls in said second set of cooperating grooves for imparting rotational motion between said index gear and said driven shaft; said index gear being rotatable about its axis of rotation and being movable in an axial direction therealong; and an actuator for moving said index gear in an axial direction.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus for adjusting the angular phase of a driven shaft with respect to a drive shaft and comprising: an index gear; a drive gear connected to said drive shaft; a set of cooperating grooves in said drive gear and in said index gear, said grooves disposed in an axial direction with respect to an axis of rotation of said driven shaft; a plurality of balls in said grooves for imparting rotational motion between said index gear and said drive gear; a second set of cooperating grooves in said index gear and in said driven shaft; another plurality of balls in said second set of cooperating grooves for imparting rotational motion between said index gear and said driven shaft; said index gear being rotatable about its axis of rotation and being movable in an axial direction therealong; and an actuator for moving said index gear in an axial direction.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as in claim 23 wherein said second set of grooves extend in a non-axial direction.
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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) | 2001-09-07 | 2002-03-09 | 2002-09-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-07 | 2006-03-09 | 2006-09-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-07 | 2010-03-09 | 2010-09-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |