Patent ID: 6199522
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: F01L

Abstract:
A camshaft phase controlling device for an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft, said camshaft phase controlling device comprising:a timing drive assembly located at one end of said engine and a control assembly located at the other end of said engine, said timing drive assembly having a drive gear adapted to be driven by said crankshaft of said engine;a hollow camshaft extending between said timing drive assembly and said control assembly, a quill shaft coaxially mounted within said hollow camshaft and having a first portion located at said one end of said engine and being connected to said drive gear, said quill shaft having a second portion located at said other end of said engine and being formed with a plurality of helical splines, said hollow camshaft being formed with a cylindrical extension encircling said helical splines and having its inner cylindrical surface formed with straight splines extending along the longitudinal axis of said hollow camshaft;an axially movable sleeve member surrounding said cylindrical extension of said hollow camshaft and being formed with a cylindrical connector member located between said helical splines and said straight splines;a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced pins supported by said cylindrical connector member, each of said pins serving to interconnect said helical splines with said straight splines; anda nut member surrounding said sleeve member and being drivingly connected to said sleeve member through a plurality of circumferentially spaced non-recirculating balls encapsulated in said sleeve member and located in a helical groove formed in said nut member so that, upon rotation of said nut member, said sleeve member and said cylindrical connector member are moved axially to cause said pins to move axially along said helical splines and said straight splines to provide a phase change of said camshaft relative to said drive gear.