The invention pertains to the field of variable cam timing. More particularly, the invention pertains to a camshaft driven pump for a hydraulic cam phaser.
Internal combustion engines have employed various mechanisms to vary the relative timing between the camshaft and the crankshaft for improved engine performance or reduced emissions. The majority of these variable camshaft timing (VCT) mechanisms use one or more “vane phasers” on the engine camshaft (or camshafts, in a multiple-camshaft engine). Vane phasers have a rotor assembly with one or more vanes, mounted to the end of the camshaft, surrounded by a housing assembly with the vane chambers into which the vanes fit. It is possible to have the vanes mounted to the housing assembly, and the chambers in the rotor assembly, as well. The housing's outer circumference forms the sprocket, pulley or gear accepting drive force through a chain, belt, or gears, usually from the crankshaft, or possibly from another camshaft in a multiple-cam engine.
Apart from the camshaft torque actuated (CTA) variable camshaft timing (VCT) systems, the majority of hydraulic VCT systems operate under two principles, oil pressure actuation (OPA) or torsional assist (TA). In the oil pressure actuated VCT systems, an oil control valve (OCV) directs engine oil pressure to one working chamber in the VCT phaser while simultaneously venting the opposing working chamber defined by the housing assembly, the rotor assembly, and the vane. This creates a pressure differential across one or more of the vanes to hydraulically push the VCT phaser in one direction or the other. Neutralizing or moving the oil control valve to a null position puts equal pressure on opposite sides of the vane and holds the phaser in any intermediate position. If the phaser is moving in a direction such that valves will open or close sooner, the phaser is said to be advancing and if the phaser is moving in a direction such that valves will open or close later, the phaser is said to be retarding.
The torsional assist (TA) system operates under a similar principle with the exception that it has one or more check valves to prevent the VCT phaser from moving in a direction opposite than being commanded, should it incur an opposing force such as a torque impulse caused by cam operation.
At engine startup there is a lack of engine oil pressure available to the vane phasers, delaying the time from engine startup in which the relative timing between the camshaft and the crankshaft can be altered by the vane phaser.
A mechanism provides high pressure fluid to a cam phaser on demand. The mechanism includes a positive displacement pump within the camshaft which is driven by a pin to compress and trigger fluid to be dispensed to the phaser.
The compressed fluid can be delivered to the phaser at the time of engine startup or at times other than engine startup.
Internal combustion engines have employed various mechanisms to vary the relative timing between the camshaft and the crankshaft for improved engine performance or reduced emissions. The majority of these variable camshaft timing (VCT) mechanisms use one or more “vane phasers” on the engine camshaft (or camshafts, in a multiple-camshaft engine). As shown in
To aid the phaser 100 during certain situations, for example at engine startup, a cam or camshaft driven pump 150 is present within the hollow camshaft 110.
In one embodiment, a cam or camshaft driven pump 150 provides a high pressure intake burst of oil to aid with an initial unlocking of a lock pin 108 of a cam torque actuated phaser 100, such that at engine startup, the initial unlocking of the lock pin 108 is conducted upon first rotation of the camshaft, allowing the phaser 100 to starting phasing instantly at engine startup. Referring to
In another embodiment, a cam driven pump 150 provides a high pressure intake burst of oil to phase the torsion assisted or oil pressure assisted phaser 100 faster at engine startup.
In yet another embodiment, a cam driven pump 150 provides high pressure oil to phase the torsion assisted or oil pressure actuated phaser 100 faster at times other than engine startup. For example, conditions can exist where engine oil pressure supply is too low to provide for phaser motion at the desired rate. This can occur at a low engine speeds, or when a variable output oil pump is used. The cam driven pump 150 can provide a solution to the low engine oil problem.
Referring to
The movement of the outer piston 153 and the inner piston 154 is controlled by a shift collar 160 present on the outer circumference 110b of the hollow camshaft 110 through a connecting pin 168 received in a connecting pin bore 167. Referring to
The inner piston 154 is spring biased away from the outer piston 153 by a first spring 156 which has a first end 156a connected to an end of the outer piston 153 and a second end 156b connected to an end of the inner piston 154. Another spring 157 is present between the check valve housing 180 and an end of the outer piston 153. Referring to
The check valve housing 180 has a pair of bores 181, 183 connected to passages 182, 184 as shown in
The check valves 185, 186 are situated within the check valve housing 180 of hollow camshaft 110 such that oil from an inlet 187 of the camshaft 110 is received within the hollow camshaft 110 and can flow through the first check valve 185 to the volume 155 formed between the check valve housing 180 and the inner piston 154 via passage 184. The first check valve 185 prevents fluid from flowing to the phaser from the inlet 187 to the volume 155 through the check valve 183. A second check valve 186 is placed within the check valve housing 180 such that when fluid pressure of the fluid is high enough in the volume 155 and higher than the pressure in the phaser, the fluid in the volume 155 can flow through the second check valve 186 to the control valve 107. The second check valve 186 prevents back flow of fluid from the phaser to the volume 155. It should be noted that when the cam driven pump is not activated, since the first and second check valves 185, 186 are in series, fluid flows from supply inlet 187 through the check valves 185, 186 to the phaser 100. When the cam driven pump is actuated, oil in volume 155 is blocked from going back to supply 187 of the engine and is allowed to flow from volume 155 through the second check valve 186 and to the phaser 100.
When the solenoid 165 is energized, the solenoid 165 drives the solenoid pin 164 into the helical groove 162 of the shift collar 160 at an end 162a. As the solenoid pin 164 rides in the helical groove 162 from the first end 162a to the second end 162b, the groove 162 is shaped such that movement of the solenoid pin 164 in the helical groove 162 moves the shift collar 160 towards the phaser 100 and the connecting pin 168 moves the outer piston 153 against the force of the second spring 157.
Movement of the outer piston 153 against the force of the second spring 157, causes the inner piston 154 and the first spring 156 to move with the outer piston 153 until an over pressure condition exists. The position of the inner piston 154 is determined by the stopper 159.
When the solenoid driven pin 164 has engaged the helical groove 162, and the pressure of the oil within the volume 155 is great enough to overcome the spring force of the check valve spring 192 of the second check valve 186, the oil pressure moves the ball 191 away from the valve seat 190, a high pressure dose of oil is sent to the phaser through the second check valve 186 via the second check valve passage 182 in communication with the phaser 100 from the volume 155. In a preferred embodiment, the oil pressure sent to the phaser is approximately 100 to 200 psi. It should be noted that normal pressure of the oil in the phaser is approximately 30 psi. The pressure of the oil sent to the phaser depends on the preset pressure relief valve formed by the inner piston 154 and first spring 156. This pressure can be set to a level much higher than the normal engine oil pressure of the supply system.
If the solenoid driven pin 164 has traveled within the helical groove 162 and the outer piston 153 is moved a distance prior to the control valve 107 of the phaser 100 being moved to receive oil, the pressurized dose of oil is vented through the inner piston 153 and annulus 154c of the outer piston 154.
It should be noted that the outer piston 153 can be moved the distance of the helical groove of the collar 160.
Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.
This application claims one or more inventions which were disclosed in Provisional Application No. 62/526,095, filed Jun. 28, 2017, entitled “CAMSHAFT DRIVEN PUMP FOR A HYDRAULIC CAM PHASER”. The benefit under 35 USC § 119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190003347 A1 | Jan 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62526095 | Jun 2017 | US |