Patent ID: 8776745
Filing Date: 2014-07-15
Classification: F01L

Abstract:
1. A variable valve timing apparatus installed in a drive train, which is configured to transmit a driving force from a drive shaft to a driven shaft to drive at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve to adjust valve timing thereof, the variable valve timing apparatus comprising: a housing that defines an accommodation chamber therein and is rotatable with one of the drive shaft and the driven shaft; a vane rotor that is disposed in the accommodation chamber, wherein the vane rotor is rotatable with the other one of the drive shaft and the driven shaft within a predetermined angular range in response to a change in a pressure of fluid, which is supplied to the accommodation chamber and is applied to the vane rotor; and a restricting member that limits rotation of the vane rotor relative to the housing when the restricting member is placed into a predetermined position, wherein: one of the vane rotor and the housing forms a holding hole, in which the restricting member is slidable in a sliding direction thereof; the other one of the vane rotor and the housing forms an engaging hole, into which one end of the restricting member is engageable to limit the rotation of the vane rotor relative to the housing upon sliding of the restricting member into the predetermined position; and the restricting member defines a communication passage that always communicates between the engaging hole and the holding hole to enable flow of the fluid between the engaging hole and the holding hole at any location of the restricting member throughout an entire slidable range of the restricting member.