The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 18, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 04, 2000
Frank H. Speckhart, Knoxville, TN (US);
John C. McCracken, Knoxville, TN (US);
Other;
Abstract
An assembly for controlling the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft of an internal combustion engine with an outer ring member which is connectable to the crankshaft for receiving rotating torque therefrom and a hub which is connectable to the camshaft for transmitting torque from the outer ring member utilizes at least one elongated, centrifugally-responsive lever member which is pivotally connected to the ring member for pivotal movement relative thereto between radially inwardmost positions and radially outwardmost positions. Moreover, each lever member is connected to the hub so that movement of the lever member between the radially inwardmost and outwardmost positions effects a rotational shift of the hub relative to the outer ring member about the axis of rotation which alters the phase relationship between the crankshaft and the camshaft driven thereby. In addition, leaf spring arrangements are interposed between the outer ring member and the lever members for biasing the lever members from the radially outwardmost position toward the radially inwardmost position in opposition to the centrifugal forces generated by the rotation of the hub about the axis of rotation, and curved beam springs are interposed between the outer ring member and the hub for biasing the hub from one phase relationship relative to the hub toward another phase relationship relative to the hub in opposition to the backdriving torque exerted upon the hub through the camshaft.