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:
Jul. 29, 2014
Filed:
Sep. 13, 2012
Atsushi Watanabe, Atsugi, JP;
Atsushi Watanabe, Atsugi, JP;
Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd., Hitachinaka-shi, JP;
Abstract
In a valve timing control apparatus configured to enable rotary motion of a vane rotor relative to a housing, a recessed-groove passage is formed in the inside end face of the housing. A circumferential length of the recessed-groove passage is dimensioned to be greater than a circumferential width of the associated vane. The recessed-groove passage permits fluid-communication between a phase-advance hydraulic chamber and a phase-retard hydraulic chamber by way of both circumferential ends of the recessed-groove passage at a maximum phase-retard position of the vane rotor relative to the housing. Even when an engine stall has occurred during a low-temperature engine operating condition with the vane rotor positioned nearer the maximum phase-retard position, the vane rotor can rapidly rotate to its lock position by a fluttering motion, caused by alternating torque and multiplied by fluid-communication between the phase-advance hydraulic chamber and the phase-retard hydraulic chamber through the recessed-groove passage.