1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for providing either base lubrication, or additional oil to an internal combustion engine camshaft for the purpose of either lubricating the camshaft, or for controlling a device such as a camshaft timing phaser or camshaft profile switching mechanism.
2. Disclosure Information
The camshafts of reciprocating internal combustion engines are usually lubricated by means of oil brought up either through the cylinder block of the engine, as is the case of cam-in-block configurations, or with oil brought up through a cylinder head and then through the towers upon which the camshaft is mounted. The latter system generally works well, but presents an issue in the event that it is desired to build engines having non-adjustable valve timing, as well as engines having camshaft phasing, from a common supply of cylinder heads. A problem arises because if camshaft phasing is desired, it is usually necessary to provide an oil pressure signal to the camshaft phaser. This necessitates a provision such as a valve port and additional plumbing in the cylinder head to facilitate such an oil pressure signal. Unfortunately, it is an unnecessary expense to provide the basis for such valving in every engine built in a range, when only a fraction of the engines will be equipped with camshaft phasing.
The present invention allows the use of camshaft phasing with a common cylinder head having little if any additional cost built in to accommodate camshaft phasing, which in turn reduces the cost burden on engines which are not equipped with camshaft phasing.
An oil supply system for an internal combustion engine camshaft includes an oil distribution block configured for attachment to an engine structure adjacent a camshaft. At least one oil feed passage extends through the oil distribution block. A fixed ring segment is mounted to the oil distribution block. The fixed ring segment has an interior circumferential oil distribution groove in fluid communication with the oil feed passage. A movable ring segment is mounted to the oil distribution block, more specifically, to the fixed ring segment. The movable ring segment cooperates with the fixed ring segment to encircle a ported cylindrical surface of a camshaft so as to provide an interior portion of the camshaft with oil under pressure. The oil distribution block preferably has at least one solenoid valve for controlling oil flow to an auxiliary device such as a camshaft phase changer.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for utilizing a common cylinder head casting for a basic engine without a camshaft phaser and alternatively, an upgraded engine equipped with a camshaft phaser, includes machining a common cylinder head casting to include a mounting pad for an oil distribution block, and mounting at least one camshaft in the cylinder head casting. The method further includes mounting an oil distribution block to the mounting pad of selected engines, and installing a movable oil distribution ring segment to a fixed oil distribution ring segment incorporated in the oil distribution block such that the movable oil distribution ring and fixed oil distribution ring encircle a ported cylindrical portion of at least one camshaft so as to provide oil to a camshaft phaser mounted upon the camshaft.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a segmented oil distribution ring may either be partially incorporated in the distribution block or supported by a feed stem mounted to the distribution block, with the ring segment and feed stem being hingedly openable so as to permit installation of the segmented ring to the camshaft and to the oil distribution block after the camshaft and the oil distribution block have been mounted to a cylinder head casting.
Other advantages, as well as objects and features of the present invention will become apparent to the reader of this specification.
As shown in
The purpose of oil distribution block 14 is to provide an oil signal to phasers 60, via camshafts 18, by applying variable pressure oil at a cylindrical surface, 20, shown in
The fixed and movable ring segments according to the present invention may be formed from either metallic or non-metallic materials, such as plastics, or composites, or other materials known to those skilled in the art and suggested by this disclosure. The embodiment of
Although the present invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that various modifications, alterations, and adaptations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the following claims.
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