The invention relates to control of fluid flow between phaser chambers allowing cam shaft control and manipulation, and more particularly where the porting structure is located within the housing and the bearing to control oil flow.
Control valves for variable camshaft timing (VCT) systems are generally known. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 7,841,310; U.S. Pat. No. 7,584,728; U.S. Pat. No. 6,941,913; U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,787; U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,434; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,738. Due to smaller engines and stricter fuel economy requirements as an impending reality, weight is now considered hyper-sensitive by many automobile manufacturers, requiring the development of new and promising technologies. To meet these requirements, it would be desirable to provide a control valve with a shorter package length and reduced weight.
The five-way Oil Control Valve (OCV) with an integrated venting spool valve is a hydraulic control device. While the technology is fundamental in nature and applicable across multiple disciplines, it is principally used in automotive applications.
An OCV controls oil between phaser chambers, allowing for cam shaft control and manipulation. This particular five-way OCV accomplishes by means of one valve, what would otherwise be required of multiple valves, due to the unique porting structure of venting through the spool valve. This structure allows for practical and feasible manufacturability and assembly, while making it possible for integration into current automotive sub-systems. Without the unique porting structure of venting through the spool valve, the valve would be exceptionally long by comparison.
The venting spool valve concept has distinct advantages over others in that the disclosed structure results in a shorter package and reduced weight. Due to the impending reality of smaller engines and stricter fuel economy requirements, weight is now considered hyper-sensitive by many automobile manufacturers, requiring the development of new and promising technologies.
Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
A variable camshaft timing (VCT) phaser of an internal combustion engine includes a plurality of expandable fluid chambers defining a fluid coupling between a driving stator and driven rotor for adjusting an angular orientation of a driven camshaft relative to a driving crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. An oil control valve (OCV) 10 controls the pressurized fluid flow, such as hydraulic oil, into and out of the expandable fluid chambers in response to a longitudinal position of the valve spool 12 with respect to the valve body 14. The valve spool 12 is driven by an actuator, such as a solenoid operated actuator 16, in response to signals from an engine control unit (ECU).
Referring now to
The undercut portion 14c of the valve body 14 allows venting of fluid through the longitudinally extending passage 12c of the valve spool 12 when the valve spool 12 is positioned longitudinally in fluid communication with respect to one of the adjacent radially extending ports 14b of the valve body 14. The land 12a of the valve spool 12 has a longitudinal length of sufficient size to allow the at least one radially extending passage 12d terminating in the land 12a to be in fluid communication with either one of the adjacent two radially extending ports 14b of the valve body 14 depending on the longitudinal position of the valve spool 12 within the valve body 14. The longitudinally extending passage 12c of the valve spool 12 can include an open longitudinal end 12e and a radially extending passage 12f terminating at a reduced diameter portion 12b of the valve spool 12.
A spring 20 biases the valve spool 12 toward one of the first and second end limits of travel with respect to the valve body 14. A solenoid actuator 16 drives the valve spool 12 in longitudinal movement within the valve body 14 against the urgings of the spring 20.
In operation, the valve body 14 and valve spool 12 define a five-way control valve 10 with integrated venting spool 12. The valve spool 12 can be placed in three positions relative to the undercut portion 14c of the valve body as best seen in
Referring now to
It should be recognized that the invention has been disclosed with respect to a control valve for a variable camshaft timing phaser. However the control valve configuration disclosed may be applied to other applications and other fluid control systems without being limited to the variable camshaft timing phaser configuration disclosed. The control valve configuration provides a reduced longitudinal dimension for the required function from that previously available by incorporating the venting passages integrally within the valve spool of the control valve. The control valve configuration disclosed provides reduced weight for the required function from that previously available by incorporating the venting passages integrally within the valve spool of the control valve.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2013/049237 | 7/3/2013 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2014/011472 | 1/16/2014 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5497738 | Siemon et al. | Mar 1996 | A |
6247434 | Simpson et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6374787 | Simpson et al. | Apr 2002 | B2 |
6681806 | Isobe | Jan 2004 | B2 |
6941913 | Smith | Sep 2005 | B2 |
7131410 | Kondo et al. | Nov 2006 | B2 |
7584728 | Berndorfer | Sep 2009 | B2 |
7841310 | Child | Nov 2010 | B2 |
8166937 | Yamaguchi et al. | May 2012 | B2 |
8464675 | Waters et al. | Jun 2013 | B2 |
20090178635 | Takenaka | Jul 2009 | A1 |
20090230337 | Hoppe | Sep 2009 | A1 |
20100313835 | Yamaguchi | Dec 2010 | A1 |
Entry |
---|
International Search Report. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20150192042 A1 | Jul 2015 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61671175 | Jul 2012 | US |