Borgwarner Inc.

Marty Gardner

Roger T Simpson

Michael C Duffield

Franklin R Smith

Braman C Wing

Philip J Mott

Mark M Wigsten

Timothy K White

Christopher Van Loon

Frank R Smith

Mike Marsh

Mike Duffield

A bicycle chain which includes internal links which are formed to act as both a rotating joint for the pin and a supporting surface for the roller. Two internal links together form an internal link assembly, along with rollers and bushings.

Bicycle chain with bushing link

A variable camshaft timing phaser for an internal combustion engine having at least one camshaft comprising a plurality of vanes in chambers defined by a housing and a spool valve. The vanes define an advance and a retard chamber. At least one of the vanes is cam torque actuated (CTA) and at least one of the other vanes is oil pressure actuated (OPA). The spool valve is coupled to the advance and retard chamber defined by the CTA vane and the advance chamber defined by the OPA vane. When the phaser is in the advance position, fluid is routed from the retard chamber defined by the OPA vane to the retard chamber defined the CTA vane. When the phaser is in the retard position, fluid is routed from the retard chamber defined by the CTA vane to the advance chamber defined by the CTA vane.

CTA phaser with proportional oil pressure for actuation at engine condition with low cam torsionals

A variable cam timing phaser for an internal combustion engine having at least one camshaft comprising a housing, a rotor, a spool valve, and a recirculation check valve. The housing and the rotor define at least one vane which separate chambers, advanced and retard. The spool valve comprises a spool having a plurality of lands mounted within a bore in the rotor. The spool is slidable from an advance position through a holding position to a retard position. The phaser also has an advance exhaust passage, a retard exhaust passage, and a return passage to route operating fluid to the chambers. The recirculation check valve is in the return passage and only allows flow of fluid from the advance chamber into the return passage when the spool is in the retard position and fluid from the retard chamber into the return passage when the spool is in the advance position.

Phaser with a single recirculation check valve and inlet valve

An infinitely variable cam indexer utilizes engine oil pressure to actuate a cam and preferably uses an inlet check valve in the oil source to minimize back flow during a torque reversal. The control system is in the center of the rotor and uses an electromechanical actuator, preferably a variable force solenoid, acting directly on the spool to control oil flow. This design reduces leakage and improves the response of the phaser. There are shorter oil passages as compared to a control system mounted at the cam bearing.

Torsional assisted multi-position cam indexer having controls located in rotor

A variable camshaft timing system having a camshaft with a vane-type rotor, where oscillation of the housing relative to the vane is actuated by pressurized engine oil, derived in part from a torque pulse in the camshaft. An annular locking plate is positioned coaxially with the camshaft and the housing. It is moveable relative to the housing along the longitudinal central axis of the camshaft between two positions, the teeth on the locking plate engaging the teeth on the housing and where the teeth on the locking plate are disengaged from the teeth on the housing, each position preventing circumferential movement of the housing relative to the rotor. The locking plate is biased by a plurality of metallic straps towards engagement of the teeth on locking plate with the teeth on the housing. The straps have one end secured to the locking plate and another end secured to the rotor.

Variable camshaft timing for internal combustion engine with actuator locking

A phaser for maintaining an angular relationship between a crank shaft and a cam shaft or among more than one cam shafts is provided. The phaser includes a rotor having a plurality of vanes integral to the rotor and protruding from the rotor body. The plurality of vanes is disposed to oscillate within their respective chambers formed by the rotor and a housing, thereby maintaining the angular relationship. The phaser also includes a shoulder integral to the rotor and interposed between one of the pluralities of vanes and the rotor body, thereby ensuring that the rotor face is always covering a locking pin hole regardless of vane position. The phaser further includes an inlet check valve located within the phaser structure or in very close proximity to the phaser, thereby reducing control fluid leakage.

Torsional assist cam phaser for cam in block engines

A variable camshaft timing phaser having a locking pin directly influenced by engine oil, which is not impacted by any intervening valves. The locking pin is comprised of a tapered pin, which fits into a tapered recess. The locking pin is biased towards engaging by a spring, and is retracted by oil from the engine oil supply. The locking pin remains disengaged from the tapered recess as long as the oil pump is on.

Method to ensure robust operation of a pin lock in a vane style cam phaser

An infinitely variable camshaft timing device (phaser) has a control valve located in the rotor. Since the control valve is in the rotor, the camshaft need only provide a single passage for supplying engine oil or hydraulic fluid, and does not need multiple passageways for controlling the phaser, as in the prior art. Two check valves, an advance chamber check valve and a retard chamber check valve, are also located in the rotor. The check valves are located in the control passages for each chamber. The main advantage of putting the check valves in the advance and retard chambers instead of having a single check valve in the supply is to reduce leakage. This design also eliminates high pressure oil flow across the spool valve and improves the response time of the check valve to the torque reversals due to a shorter oil path. In addition, the phaser of the present invention outperforms an oil pressure actuated device and consumes less oil.

Cam phaser for engines having two check valves in rotor between chambers and spool valve

A variable camshaft timing apparatus ( ) includes a pulse actuating circuit ( A, R and R, A) for oscillating the variable camshaft timing apparatus in reaction to fluid under pulsation, and includes a pressure actuating circuit ( A, R, and R, A, ) for oscillating the variable camshaft timing device in reaction to fluid under pressure. Advance and retard valves ( ) are interconnected with the pulse and pressure actuating circuits for independently and simultaneously activating the pulse and pressure actuating circuits. Finally, an exhaust valve ( ) is positioned in fluid communication with the pulse and pressure actuating circuits, such that the variable camshaft timing device may be oscillated using one or both of the pulse actuating and pressure actuating circuits, and may be maintained in position using one or both of the pulse actuating and pressure actuating circuits.

Multi-mode control system for variable camshaft timing devices

A hub is secured to a camshaft for rotation synchronous with the camshaft, and a housing circumscribes the hub and is rotatable with the hub and the camshaft and is further oscillatable with respect to the hub and the camshaft within a predetermined angle of rotation. Driving vanes are radially disposed within the housing and cooperate with an external surface on the hub, while driven vanes are radially disposed in the hub and cooperate with an internal surface of the housing. A locking device, reactive to oil pressure, prevents relative motion between the housing and the hub. A controlling device controls the oscillation of the housing relative to the hub.

Multi-position variable camshaft timing system actuated by engine oil pressure

An internal combustion engine having a camshaft (,) and variable camshaft timing system, where a rotor (,) is secured to the camshaft (,) and is rotatable but non-oscillatable with respect to the camshaft (,). A housing (,) circumscribes the rotor (,), is rotatable with both the rotor (,) and the camshaft (,), and is further oscillatable with respect to both the rotor (,) and the camshaft (,) between a fully retarded position and a fully advanced position. A locking configuration prevents relative motion between the rotor and the housing (,), and is mounted within either the rotor (,) or the housing (,), and is respectively and releasably engageable with the other of either the rotor (,) and the housing (,) in the fully retarded position, the fully advanced position, and in positions therebetween. The locking device includes a locking piston (,) having keys (,) terminating one end (,) thereof, and serrations (,) mounted opposite the keys (,) on the locking piston (,) for interlocking the rotor (,) to the housing (,). A controlling configuration controls oscillation of the rotor (,) relative to the housing (,).

Multi-position variable cam timing system having a vane-mounted locking-piston device

A hub is secured to a camshaft for rotation synchronous with the camshaft, and a housing circumscribes the hub and is rotatable with the hub and the camshaft and is further oscillatable with respect to the hub and the camshaft within a predetennined angle of rotation. Driving vanes are radially disposed within the housing and cooperate with an external surface on the hub, while driven vanes are radially disposed in the hub and cooperate with an internal surface of the housing. A locking device, reactive to oil pressure, prevents relative motion between the housing and the hub. A controlling device controls the oscillation of the housing relative to the hub.

Multi-position variable camshaft timing system actuated by engine oil

The present invention relates to a torsionally compliant sprocket system which absorbs crankshaft torsional vibrations and minimizes their transfer to other components in the engine system. In particular, the present system interposes resilient spring members between a crankshaft sprocket and an adjacent balance shaft drive sprocket which are interconnected. A damping mechanism provides damping of the system to reduce resonant oscillations.

Growing community of inventors

Ithaca, NY, United States of America

Marty Gardner