Patent ID: 6155221
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: F01L,Y10T

Abstract:
A rotational or angular phase control apparatus interposed between first and second rotational shafts for varying a rotational or angular phase between said first and second rotation shafts, said apparatus comprising:a housing connected to said first rotational shaft and rotatable together with said first rotational shaft;a rotor connected to said second rotational shaft and accommodated in said housing so as to cause a rotation within a predetermined angle with respect to said housing;said rotor and said housing cooperatively defining a plurality of retard hydraulic chambers and a plurality of advance hydraulic chambers, said retard hydraulic chambers causing volume changes opposed to volume changes of said advance hydraulic chambers in accordance with a rotational position of said rotor with respect to said housing;a first hydraulic passage communicating with said plurality of retard hydraulic chambers;a second hydraulic passage communicating with said plurality of advance hydraulic chambers; anda hydraulic pressure supply member having structure constructed and arranged for supplying operational fluid to said plurality of retard hydraulic chambers via said first hydraulic passage and also for supplying operational fluid to said plurality of advance hydraulic chambers via said second hydraulic passage;wherein said first hydraulic passage and said second hydraulic passage are formed in said rotor via an inside space of said second rotational shaft; andat least one of said first hydraulic passage and said second hydraulic passage extends across a contact surface of said second rotational shaft and said rotor, said contact surface being in a plane substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of said second rotational shaft, and wherein at least one of said first hydraulic passage and said second hydraulic passage is formed as radial passages.