The present disclosure relates to a camshaft connector of an electric camshaft phaser of an electric-hydraulic camshaft phaser assembly.
For a known electric-hydraulic camshaft phaser assembly is it known to thread a relatively large bolt into a camshaft to connect an output gear of an electric camshaft phaser to the camshaft.
According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided an electric-hydraulic camshaft phaser assembly, including a hydraulic camshaft phaser and an electric camshaft phaser. The hydraulic camshaft phaser includes: a stator arranged to receive rotational torque and including a plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions; a rotor arranged to be non-rotatably connected to a first camshaft and including a plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions circumferentially interleaved with the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions; and a plurality of chambers bounded at least in part by the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions and the plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions. The electric camshaft phaser includes: an input non-rotatably connected to the stator; an output gear; and at least one protrusion fixed to the output gear and arranged to be inserted into at least one slot of a second camshaft. The at least one protrusion is arranged to transmit rotational torque from the output gear to the second camshaft.
According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided dual camshaft phaser assembly, including a hydraulic camshaft phaser and an electric camshaft phaser. The hydraulic camshaft phaser includes: a stator arranged to receive rotational torque and including a plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions; a rotor arranged to be non-rotatably connected to a second camshaft and including a plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions circumferentially interleaved with the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions; and a plurality of chambers bounded at least in part by the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions and the plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions. The electric camshaft phaser includes: an input non-rotatably connected to the stator; an output gear; a phase adjustment element arranged to receive rotational torque from an electric motor and arranged to rotate the output gear with respect to the input; a first non-threaded protrusion fixedly connected to the output gear and extending from the output gear in an axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the electric-hydraulic camshaft phaser assembly; and a second non-threaded protrusion fixedly connected to the output gear and extending from the output gear in the axial direction. The first non-threaded protrusion and the second non-threaded protrusion are arranged to be inserted into a first slot and a second slot, respectively of a second camshaft to transmit rotational torque from the output gear to the second camshaft.
According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided dual camshaft phaser assembly, including a hydraulic camshaft phaser and an electric camshaft phaser. The hydraulic camshaft phaser includes: a stator arranged to receive rotational torque and including a plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions; a rotor arranged to be non-rotatably connected to a first camshaft and including a plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions circumferentially interleaved with the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions; and a plurality of chambers bounded at least in part by the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions and the plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions. The electric camshaft phaser includes: an input non-rotatably connected to the stator; an output gear; a phase adjustment element arranged to receive rotational torque from an electric motor and arranged to rotate the output gear with respect to the input; a first protrusion integral to the output gear and extending from the output gear in an axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the electric-hydraulic camshaft phaser assembly; and a second protrusion integral to the output gear and extending from the output gear in the axial direction. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are arranged to be inserted into a first slot and a second slot, respectively, of a second camshaft to transmit rotational torque from the output gear to the second camshaft.
Various embodiments are disclosed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, in which:
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the disclosure. It is to be understood that the disclosure as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.
Furthermore, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It should be understood that any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the disclosure.
By “non-rotatably connected” components, we mean that components are connected so that whenever one of the components rotates, all the components rotate; and relative rotation between the components is precluded. Radial and/or axial movement of non-rotatably connected components with respect to each other is possible. Components connected by tabs, gears, teeth, or splines are considered as non-rotatably connected despite possible lash inherent in the connection. The input and output elements of a closed clutch are considered non-rotatably connected despite possible slip in the clutch. The input and output parts of a vibration damper, engaged with springs for the vibration damper, are not considered non-rotatably connected due to the compression and unwinding of the springs.
As is known in the art, pressurized fluid is transmitted into and out of chambers 116, via channels 122 in rotor 114 to rotate rotor 114, with respect to stator 112 in opposite circumferential directions CD1 and CD2. Input 106 is non-rotatably connected to stator 112, for example by bolts 123. Protrusions 110 are fixedly secured to output gear 108. In the example of
In an example embodiment, electric-hydraulic camshaft phaser assembly 100 includes electric motor M. In an example embodiment, electric-hydraulic camshaft phaser assembly 100 is arranged to connect to electric motor M. Drive shaft DS of motor M connects to phase adjustment element 126 of electric camshaft phaser 102. Thus, electric camshaft phaser 102 is axially disposed between motor M and hydraulic camshaft phaser 104. In an example embodiment, element 126 is a harmonic drive. Motor M is arranged to input rotational torque to element 126 to rotate (circumferentially shift) output gear 108 with respect to input 106 about axis AR of assembly 100. Protrusions 110 are arranged to be inserted into slots S of camshaft CS2 to transmit rotational torque (transmitted to input 106 from stator 112) from output gear 108 to camshaft CS2.
In an example embodiment, protrusions 110 are the only component of electric camshaft phaser 102 arranged to directly connect to, or contact, camshaft CS2. In an example embodiment, protrusions 110 include components, or portions, of electric camshaft phaser 102 extending furthest in axial direction AD1 parallel to axis of rotation AR. That is, protrusions 110 are the components of electric camshaft phaser 102 extending furthest in direction AD1. As seen in
The following should be viewed in light of
In an example embodiment, output gear 108 includes through-bore 130, through which axis AR passes. Through-bore 130 provides a path for lubricating oil (not shown) to reach phase adjustment element 126 via camshaft CS2. Protrusions 110 are off-set from through-bore 130 in radial direction RD.
As seen in the example of
In the example of
As seen in the example of
In an example embodiment (not shown), protrusions 110 are mechanically fixed to output gear 108, for example by welding or a threaded connection.
In an example embodiment, hydraulic camshaft phaser 104 includes hollow bolt 146 used to non-rotatably connect rotor 114 and camshaft CS1. Bolt 146 threads into camshaft CS1 and includes through-bore 148, through which camshaft CS2 passes.
Protrusions 110 simplify and reduce the cost of providing a connection between electric camshaft phaser 102 and camshaft CS2, replacing the relatively large bolt used for the connection in known electric-hydraulic camshaft phaser assemblies. In particular, protrusions 110, in any of the examples discussed above, and slots S require less material and machining than the connection using the relatively large bolt. For example: assembly 100 is free of a threaded connection between output gear 108 and camshaft CS2; and protrusions 110, whether discrete or integral to gear 108 are much smaller than the bolt. Further, the machining and/or fabricating operations for forming: through-bores 124 or indentations 134; protrusions 110 integral to output gear 108; and slots S are simpler than threading the bolt and camshaft as required for known an electric-hydraulic camshaft phaser assemblies.
It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
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Number | Date | Country |
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102009041755 | Apr 2010 | DE |