Patent · US Expired

Internal combustion engine camshaft phaseshift control system

US5117784A · kind A · utility

27Cited by
16References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 3, 1991
Grant dateJun 2, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 3, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF01L1/34409
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A modular control mechanism for shifting the phase or angular position of a camshaft or camshafts relative to a crankshaft in an internal combustion engine, and utilizing the energy produced by the reaction torque pulses on the camshaft, and resultant pressure pulses in the cavities, to provide a self-actuating system. In one embodiment, e.g. for controlling a single camshaft, the mechanism comprises two hydraulic cylindrical housings attached to either the camshaft flange or the camshaft driving sprocket, and a respective piston within each cylindrical housing and attached to the other flange to form a rotational hydraulic coupling. The hydraulic cylinders provide a pair of fluid chambers varying in displacement as the two flanges are rotated relative to one another. A hydraulic control apparatus regulates the flow of fluid between the hydraulic cylinders, thus controlling the phase shift between the crankshaft and camshaft. In another embodiment, the two hydraulic cylindrical housings are replaced with a single housing including a double acting piston. The control mechanism of the foregoing embodiments being limited to controlling a single camshaft and utilizing a dual planetary …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.