Borgwarner Inc.

Michael Marsh

Christopher J Pluta

Mark M Wigsten

David C White

Kevin B Todd

Randy J McDonald

Michael Grieb

A planetary gear assembly () and method of assembly in an electric camshaft phaser () with a split ring gear including a drive-side ring gear portion () rotatable by an engine crankshaft and an output-side ring gear portion () that can be connected to a camshaft (). A plurality of rotatable planetary gears () can be interposed between the split ring gear and the sun gear (). The output-side ring gear portion () can have a different number of teeth than the drive-side ring gear portion () by a value corresponding to a multiple of the number of planetary gears (). A compliant planetary gear carrier () can support the plurality of planetary gears () allowing variance of a normally equidistant distance between separate spaced rotational axes of at least two of the planetary gears () to selectively compensate for mechanical tolerances of the drive-side ring gear portion () and the output-side ring gear portion () of the split ring gear.

Planetary gear carrier with compliance

An engine variable camshaft timing phaser () includes a sprocket (), three ring gears (), multiple planet gears (), and a sun gear (). The sprocket () receives rotational drive input from an engine crankshaft. One or more of the three ring gear(s) () receives rotational drive input from the sprocket () and rotates with the sprocket (), and the remaining ring gear(s) () transmit rotational drive output to an engine camshaft (). All three of the ring gears () engage with the planet gears (). And the sun gear () also engages with the planet gears (). In operation, relative rotational speeds between the sprocket () and the sun gear () causes the engine camshaft () to advance or retard engine valve opening and closing.

Engine variable camshaft timing phaser with planetary gear set

A cam phaser () dynamically adjusts a rotational relationship of a camshaft () of an internal combustion engine with respect to an engine crankshaft operably connected with a phaser sprocket (). The cam phaser () can include a planetary gear assembly having a ring gear () driven by the phaser sprocket (), a planetary gear carrier () connected to the camshaft (), a sun gear (), and at least one rotatable planetary gear (). The cam phaser () can include a sprocket housing () connected with the phaser sprocket () and operable for connection with the ring gear (), a cover plate () secured to the carrier (), and a adapter () connected between the sun gear () and an electric motor () for changing an angular position of the sun gear () and adjustably varying a cam phase position of the camshaft () relative to the crankshaft.

Electric cam phaser with fixed sun planetary

A variable cam timing phaser () includes a fluid transfer assembly with at least one of a fluid transfer sleeve () having a plurality of pressurized fluid passages (), and a fluid transfer plate () having a plurality of pressurized fluid passages (). Each passage () extends in fluid communication with a corresponding circumferentially spaced annular groove segment portion () for selective communication with first and second vane-type hydraulic couplings () depending on an angular orientation of the fluid transfer sleeve () during rotation. Each passage () extending from a corresponding centrally located port () in fluid communication with a radially extending passage portion () and with an arcuately extending passage portion ().

Oil passage design for a phaser or dual phaser

A flexible coupling linkage () anchors a housing () that at least partially encloses a rotor () of an actuator () against rotation, while allowing free movement of the housing () in two other planes relative to the rotor () to match an angular rotational plane orientation of the rotor () to prevent binding between the housing () and the rotor () due to misalignment. The flexible coupling linkage () can be selected from a group of pivot joints () including at least one of a pivot pin joint (), a ball-and-socket joint (), and any combination thereof. The pivot joint () defines a restrained point () associated with the housing () radially spaced from an axis of rotation of the rotor () preventing rotation of the housing () about the axis of rotation of the rotor (), while allowing angular displacement of the housing () about the restrained point () permitting the housing () to match an angle of the rotor () to prevent binding between the housing () and the rotor ().

Flexible coupling/linkage for an actuator

A variable cam timing phaser for an internal combustion engine having a concentric camshaft can include a stator () having an axis of rotation. An outer rotor () can rotate independently relative to the axis of rotation of the stator (). A combination of an outer vane () and cavity () can be associated with the outer rotor () to define first and second outer variable volume working chambers (). A radially inner located rotor () can rotate relative to the axis of rotation and independently of both the stator () and the outer rotor (). A combination of an inner vane () and a cavity () can be associated with the inner rotor () to define first and second inner variable volume working chambers (). When the first and second, outer and inner chambers () selectively communicate with a source of pressurized fluid, phase orientation of the outer and inner rotors () with respect to one another and with respect to the stator () is facilitated.

Dual phasers assembled concentrically on a concentric camshaft system

A chain tensioner system having a hydraulic tensioner and a tensioner arm with a spring blade. A hydraulic tensioner applies force against the end of the tensioner arm. The arm is pivotally supported at one end and supported by the tensioner piston at the other end. A blade spring into inserted into the plastic shoe to provide tension to the arm.

Hydraulic tensioner having flexible blade arm

Hydraulic tensioner having a flexible blade arm

A chain tensioning system includes a pair of tensioners located one on each side of a driving sprocket, such as a crankshaft sprocket, between the driving sprocket and each of two driven sprockets, such as balance shaft sprockets. The dual tensioning system provides a tensioner to absorb torsional vibrations from the driving shaft in each of the two relative rotational directions of the driving shaft.

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Dryden, NY, United States of America

Michael Marsh