Valve timing controller

Abstract

A valve timing controller is provided with a first rotary element that rotates in response to a crankshaft, a second rotary element that rotates in response to a camshaft. Multiple link mechanisms are arranged adjacently in the rotational direction of the first rotary element to change a relative rotation phase between the first and second rotary elements. The link mechanism in each group is constituted by combining the first link linked to the first rotary element by a revolute pair with the second link linked to the second rotary element and the first link. The second link of the link mechanism in each group retains the first link of each of the link mechanisms in the same group and the other group in the rotational axis direction of the first rotary element between the second link and the first rotary element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numbers and in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I of FIG. 2 showing a valve timing controller according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line of IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an operating condition different from that in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line of VI-VI of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of FIG. 2.

Claims

1. A valve timing controller for an internal combustion engine that adjusts opening/closing timing of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve opened/closed by a camshaft with torque transmission from a crankshaft, comprising: a first rotary element rotating in response to the movement of one of the crankshaft and the camshaft;a second rotary element including a common rotational axis with the first rotary element, and rotating in response to the movement of the other of the crankshaft and the camshaft; anda plurality of link mechanisms arranged adjacently in a rotational direction of the first rotary element to change a relative rotation phase between the first rotary element and the second rotary element, wherein:the link mechanism in each group is constituted by combining a first link linked to the first rotary element by a revolute pair with a second link linked to the second rotary element and the first link by a revolute pair; andthe second link of the link mechanism in each group retains the first link of the link mechanism in the same group and the first link of the link mechanism in the other group between the second link and the first rotary element in the rotational axis direction of the first rotary element.

2. A valve timing controller according to claim 1, wherein: the second link of the link mechanism in each group includes a first pairing element constituting a revolute pair with the second rotary element, a second pairing element constituting a revolute pair with the first link of the link mechanism in the same group, and an extending part extending in the opposite side to the second pairing element from the first pairing element in the rotational direction, andthe extending part retains the first link of the link mechanism in the other group between the extending part and the first rotary element.

3. A valve timing controller according to claim 2, wherein: the second link of the link mechanism in each group includes a first extending portion and a second extending portion extending in the opposite side to the first pairing element from the second pairing element in the rotational direction, andthe second extending portion retains the first link of the link mechanism in the same group between the second extending portion and the first rotary element.

4. A valve timing controller according to claim 1, wherein: the first link of the link mechanism in each group is linked to the first rotary element by a revolute pair via a shaft; andthe second link of the link mechanism in each group contacts with the shaft at the opposite side to the first rotary element, wherein the shaft is fitted so as to relatively rotate into the first link of the link mechanism in the other group retained between the second link and the first rotary element in the rotational axis direction.

5. A valve timing controller according to claim 1, further comprising a driving means which drives the link mechanism in each group by using rotational torque generated by an electric motor.