Patent ID: 6032626
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: F01L,F15B

Abstract:
A device for varying valve timing of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, the device including a vane-type camshaft adjusting mechanism comprising:a drive pinion configured as an outer rotor and connected in driving relationship to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine by a traction means, said drive pinion having a hollow space defined by a circumferential wall and two side walls,a winged wheel configured as an inner rotor and fixedly connected to a camshaft of the internal combustion engine, which winged wheel is inserted into the hollow space of the drive pinion and has a wheel hub on whose periphery is radially arranged at least one wing,at least one hydraulic working chamber defined within the hollow space of the drive pinion by radial limiting walls extending from an inner surface of the circumferential wall towards a central longitudinal axis of the drive pinion, free end faces of the limiting walls being in sealing contact with the wheel hub of the winged wheel by sealing elements inserted in axial reception grooves, or alternatively by sealing gaps, said working chamber being divided into two hydraulic pressure chambers by one of the wings of the winged wheel, free end faces of the wings being in sealing contact in each working chamber with the inner surface of circumferential wall likewise by sealing elements inserted in axial reception grooves, or alternatively by sealing gaps, andat least one of a turning or fixing of the winged wheel relative to the drive pinion, and thus at least one of a relative rotation or a continuous hydraulic clamping of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft is obtained by an optional successive or simultaneous pressurizing of the pressure chambers by a hydraulic pressure medium, whereinthe free end face of at least one of each wing of the winged wheel or the free end face of each limiting wall of the drive pinion comprises an elastic sealing spring which is configured as a one-piece sealing element between two pressure chambers of the device and which can be pressed by the pressure of the hydraulic pressure medium against the inner surface of the circumferential wall of the drive pinion or against the wheel hub of the winged wheel, as the case may be, a pressure-receiving surface of the elastic spring for the hydraulic pressure medium corresponding approximately to the surface of the free end face of a wing of the winged wheel or to the surface of the free end face of a limiting wall of the drive pinion.