Office Action 1: Notice of Allowance (2025-07-02)

CLAIMS:
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1\. A camshaft phaser assembly configured for phasing a camshaft and a crankshaft with respect to each other, the camshaft phaser assembly comprising: a sprocket for receiving torque from the crankshaft; an output gear configured for driving the camshaft; a flexible gear deformable into an elliptical orientation for engaging the output gear to transmit torque from the sprocket to the output gear; and a wave generator for deforming the flexible gear into the elliptical orientation; the flexible gear radially disposed about the wave generator and including an inner circumferential surface in contact with an outer race of the wave generator, the flexible gear including teeth for engaging the output gear in the elliptical orientation and a retainer at an axial end of the flexible gear, the output gear including a centering feature configured for contacting the retainer to center the flexible gear in the elliptical orientation inside of the output gear.
2\. The camshaft phaser assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the flexible gear includes a cylindrical section including the teeth and the retainer.
3\. The camshaft phaser assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the retainer forms a rim of a first end of the cylindrical section.
4\. The camshaft phaser assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the flexible gear further includes a disc section at a second end of the cylindrical section extending radially away from the cylindrical section.
5\. The camshaft phaser assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the centering feature is defined by walls of a groove formed in the output gear.
6\. The camshaft phaser assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein the groove is defined by an axially extending inner circumferential surface, an axially extending outer circumferential surface and a radially extending surface extending from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface.
7\. The camshaft phaser assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein an axial edge of the retainer directly faces the radially extending surface of the groove.
8\. The camshaft phaser assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein the flexible gear is configured such that, in the elliptical orientation, two portions of the outer circumferential surface of the retainer contact the outer circumferential surface of the groove and two portions of the inner circumferential surface of the retainer contact the inner circumferential surface of the groove.
9\. The camshaft phaser assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface taper radially away from each other while extending axially away from the radially extending surface.
10\. The camshaft phaser assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the output gear includes a cylindrical section including a plurality of teeth on an inner circumferential surface thereof, some of the teeth of the output gear engaging some of the teeth of the flexible gear in the elliptical orientation.
11\. The camshaft phaser assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the output gear includes a disc section extending radially inward from the cylindrical section, the centering feature being on the disc section.
12\. The camshaft phaser assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the centering feature is a groove is formed in a radially outer extent of the disc section.
13\. The camshaft phaser assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the retainer is ring-shaped.
14\. A method of constructing a camshaft phaser assembly configured for phasing a camshaft and a crankshaft with respect to each other, the method comprising: coupling an output gear to a sprocket; installing a flexible gear inside of the output gear with teeth of the flexible gear received inside of teeth of the output gear; and installing a wave generator inside of the output gear, the flexible gear being deformable by the wave generator into an elliptical orientation in which some of the teeth of the flexible gear engage some of the teeth of the output gear to transmit torque from the sprocket to the output gear, the flexible gear including a retainer extending axially away from the teeth, the installing of the flexible gear inside of the output gear including inserting a retainer defining a first axial end of the flexible gear into a centering feature of the output gear to center the flexible gear inside of the output gear in the elliptical orientation.
15\. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the coupling of the output gear to the sprocket includes inserting the output gear inside of the sprocket, the output gear configured for being connected to the camshaft.
16\. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising non-rotatably connecting the flexible gear to the sprocket.
17\. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the flexible gear includes a cylindrical section including the teeth and the retainer, and a disc section at a second axial end of the cylindrical section extending radially away from the cylindrical section, the non-rotatably connecting of the flexible gear to the output gear including fastening the disc section to the sprocket.
18\. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the centering feature is a groove formed in a radially extending surface of the output gear, the groove being defined by an axially extending inner circumferential surface, an axially extending outer circumferential surface and a radially extending surface extending from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface, the inserting of the retainer into the centering feature including moving the retainer toward the radially extending surface defining the groove.
19\. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the flexible gear includes a cylindrical section including the teeth and the retainer, and a disc section at a second end of the cylindrical section extending radially away from the cylindrical section, wherein the output gear includes a cylindrical section including the teeth on an inner circumferential surface thereof, and a disc section extending radially inward from the cylindrical section, the centering feature being on the disc section, the installing of the flexible gear inside of the output gear including installing the cylindrical section of the flexible gear inside of the cylindrical section of the output gear.
20\. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the centering feature is a groove formed in a radially outer extent of the disc section.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Prior art DE 102016222835 A1 substantially discloses claims 1 and 18 including a camshaft phaser assembly comprising a sprocket (14), a flexible spur gear (6), a ring gear (8) and a wave generator (3).  However, the prior art does not disclose the ring gear including a centering feature configured for contacting the retainer of the flexible spur gear to center the flexible spur gear in the elliptical orientation inside of the ring gear.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”



CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref DE10045054A1: Claims:
cam phase adjusting device for controlling the temporal sequence of a camshaft which is driven by a crankshaft of an associated engine, the phase adjusting device comprising: a ring gear which is drivably connected to one of the crankshaft and camshaft elements, the ring gear having a toothed side, a flexible element which has a toothed side and is drivably connected to the other of the crankshaft and camshaft elements, a piezoelectric wave generator that engages with the flexible element and deflects it into a non-round configuration that has at least one protrusion that occurs, teeth of the toothed side being engaged with teeth of the toothed side of the ring gear, the flexible element being a Difference number of teeth to the ring gear, which represents a multiple of the number of peaks that are formed on the flexible element and are in engagement with the ring gear, the shaft generator serving to rotate the circumferential position of the at least one cant relative to the flexible member in a shaft, thereby causing a change in the phase of the flexible member relative to the ring gear which is equal to the distance of the difference in the number of teeth for each Revolution of the shaft, which is formed by the shaft generator.
cam phase adjustment device according to claim 1,
wherein the wave generator with a second side of the flexible ele
is engaged, the radially opposite of the tooth
th side is arranged.
cam phase adjustment device according to claim 2,
where the toothed side of the ring gear is the inside that
serrated side of the flexible element is the outside and that
flexible element has fewer teeth than the ring gear where
by the phase change of the flexible element relative to that
Ring gear is done opposite to the direction of the shaft.
cam phase adjustment device according to claim 2,
where the toothed side of the ring gear is the outside that
serrated side of the flexible element is the inside and the fle
xible element which has more teeth than the ring gear
the phase change of the flexible element relative to the ring
gear in the direction of the shaft.
Â
cam phase adjustment device according to claim 2,
wherein the wave generator comprises a plurality of piezo element stacks which
radially between the second side of the flexible element and
an opposite side of a second ring element
ken, which is drivable with the other of the crankshaft and elements
Camshaft is connected.
cam phase adjustment device according to claim 5,
wherein the ring gear and the second ring element concentric
are inner and outer elements, the inner element on egg
nem of the elements crankshaft and camshaft for rotation with
this is attached and the outer element external teeth for connection
with the other of the crankshaft and camshaft elements
includes.
cam phase adjustment device according to claim 6,
wherein the inner element is connected to the camshaft.
cam phaser to control the timing of a camshaft driven by a crankshaft of an associated engine, the phaser comprising: an outer ring gear which is drivably connected to one of the elements of the shaft shaft and camshaft, the ring gear having a toothed inside, a flexible element which comprises a toothed outside and is drivably connected to the other of the crankshaft and camshaft elements, a piezoelectric wave generator which engages with the flexible element and deflects it into a non-round design, the toothed outside having at least one protrusion, teeth of the toothed outside being in engagement with teeth of the toothed inside of the outer ring gear, the flexible element has a difference in the number of teeth which is smaller than that of the ring gear and represents a multiple of the number of peaks which are formed on the flexible element and which are in engagement with the ring gear, the shaft generator being used to rotate the circumferential position of the at least one cant relative to the flexible member in a shaft, thereby causing a change opposite to the direction of the shaft in the phase of the flexible member relative to the outer ring gear which is equal to the distance is the difference number of teeth for each revolution of the shaft formed by the shaft generator.
cam phase adjustment device according to claim 8,
wherein the outer ring gear is connected to the crankshaft, the
flexible element connected to the camshaft, the shaft genes
rator two opposite peaks of the flexible element
forms that are engaged with the outer ring gear, and that
 flexible element two teeth less than the outer ring gear
points, causing a phase change of two teeth for each order
Rotation of the waves is caused, which ge in the flexible element
are formed and are opposite to the direction of rotation.
cam phaser for controlling the timing of a camshaft driven by a crankshaft of an associated engine, the phaser comprising: an inner ring gear which is drivably connected to one of the elements crankshaft and camshaft, the ring gear having a toothed outside, a flexible element which has a toothed inside and is drivably connected to the other of the crankshaft and camshaft elements, a piezoelectric wave generator which engages with the flexible element and deflects it into a non-round configuration, the toothed inside having at least one protrusion, teeth of the toothed inside being engaged with teeth of the toothed outside of the inner ring gear, the flexible element has a differential number of teeth that is greater than that of the ring gear and represents a multiple of the number of peaks that are formed on the flexible element and are in engagement with the ring gear, the shaft generator serving to rotate the circumferential position of the at least one cant relative to the flexible member in a shaft, thereby causing a change in the phase of the flexible member in the direction of the shaft relative to the inner ring gear wheel equal to the distance is the difference in the number of teeth for each revolution of the shaft formed by the shaft generator.
cam phase adjustment device according to claim 10,
wherein the inner ring gear is connected to the camshaft, the
flexible element connected to the crankshaft, the shaft genes
rator two opposite peaks of the flexible element
forms, which are in engagement with the inner ring gear, and that
flexible element two teeth more than the inner ring gear
points, causing a phase change of two teeth for each order
Rotation of the shafts is formed in the flexible element
are formed and present in the direction of rotation.
cam phase adjustment device for controlling the time sequence from a camshaft which is driven by a crankshaft of an associated engine, the phase adjustment device comprising: a ring element which is drivably connected to one of the crankshaft and camshaft elements, the ring element having a drive-transmitting side, a flexible element which has a drive-transmitting side and is drivably connected to the other of the crankshaft and camshaft elements, a piezoelectric wave generator which is in engagement with the flexible element and deflects it into a non-round configuration which has at least one protruding step, wherein the drive-transmitting side of the flexible element is in engagement with the drive-transmitting side of the ring element, the flexible element having a differential length to that of the ring element, the shaft generator serving to rotate the circumferential position of the at least one cant relative to the flexible member in a shaft, causing a change in the phase of the flexible member relative to the ring member which is equal to the extent of the differential length for each revolution of the shaft Wave is formed by the wave generator.
cam phase adjustment device according to claim 12,
the drive transmitting sides of the ring member and the
flexible elements are chamfered and the cam phase adjustment
leinrichtung comprises means which one of the elements ring element and
flexible element axially biased against the other to a game
to be able to record that in the drive interface of the ring
lementes and the flexible element occurs.
cam phase adjustment device according to claim 12,
 the drive transmitting sides engaging by friction
have stepping surfaces.
cam phase adjustment device according to claim 12,
wherein the drive transmitting sides are in engagement with each other
have toothed surfaces.
Cam phase adjustment device according to claim 12, comprising: a second ring element which is drivably connected to the other of the crankshaft and camshaft elements and has a drive-transmitting side, and a second flexible element which is drivably connected to one of the crankshaft and camshaft elements by the first-mentioned ring element and the first-mentioned flexible element, wherein the piezoelectric wave generator is also engaged with the second flexible element and deflects it into a non-round design that has at least one protrusion that occurs, the drive-transmitting side of the second flexible element being in engagement with the drive-transmitting side of the second ring element, wherein the second flexible element has a difference in length from that of the second ring element, wherein the shaft generator also serves to rotate the circumferential position of the at least one cant relative to the second flexible member in a shaft, causing a change in the phase of the second flexible member relative to the second ring member that is equal to the extent of the differential length for is every revolution of the shaft formed by the shaft generator.
cam phase adjustment device according to claim 16,
the former ring member and the former
flexible element concentric with the second ring element and
the second flexible element are arranged and the wave genes
rator is arranged radially between the flexible elements.
Ref DE102016220944A1: Claims:
Wave gear (2) for a shaft adjustment device (1), with a wave generator (3), wherein the wave generator (3) has an oval output, with a ring gear (8), wherein the ring gear (8) has an internal toothing (9) with a flexible Stirnradeinrichtung (6), wherein the Stirnradeinrichtung (6) has an outer toothing (7), wherein the wave generator (3) with the output of the flexible Stirnradeinrichtung (6) deformed so that the Stirnradeinrichtung (6) with the internal toothing (9) in two tooth engagement portions with the external toothing (7) is engaged, characterized by a damping ring (10), wherein the damping ring (10) between the Stirnradeinrichtung (6) and the ring gear portion (8) is arranged.
Wave gear (2) after Claim 1 , characterized by a receiving groove (12) for receiving the damping ring (10), wherein the receiving groove (12) in the ring gear section (8) is introduced.
Wave gear (2) after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the receiving groove (12) in the internal toothing (9) is introduced.
Corrugated transmission (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the damping ring (10) has a ring toothing (11), wherein the ring toothing (11) engages in the internal toothing (9) of the Stirnradeinrichtung (6).
Wave gear (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an outer rotor (13) and an inner rotor (21), wherein the outer rotor (13) with the Stirnradeinrichtung (6) is rotatably coupled and the inner rotor (21) and / or the outer rotor the ring gear (8) carries.
Wave gear (2) after Claim 5 , characterized in that between the inner rotor (21) and the outer rotor (13) a Axialgleitfläche (22) is formed in a radial plane, wherein the receiving groove (12) on the one hand by the outer rotor (13) and on the other hand by the inner rotor (21) limited is and is intersected by the radial plane.
Wave gear (2) after Claim 5 characterized by a second damping ring (20), wherein the damping ring (10) between the Stirnradeinrichtung (6) and the inner rotor (21) and the second damping ring (20) between the Stirnradeinrichtung (6) and the outer rotor (13) is arranged.
Wave gear (2) after Claim 6 or 7 , characterized in that in the outer rotor (13) has a second receiving groove (19) for receiving the second damping ring (20) is arranged.
Wave gear (2) after Claim 7 or 8th , characterized in that the outer rotor (13) has a second internal toothing (18), wherein the second internal toothing (18) meshes with the external toothing (7) and wherein the second receiving groove (19) in the second internal toothing (18) is introduced.
Shaft adjusting device (1) for adjusting the phase position between a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine and a camshaft of the internal combustion engine, characterized by a corrugated transmission (2) according to one of the preceding claims.
Ref DE102016222835A1: Claims:
Wave gear (2) for a shaft adjustment device (1), - with a flexible spur gear (6) having an external toothing (7), - with a ring gear (8) having an internal toothing (9), - with a wave generator (3 ), which deforms with an oval output, the flexible spur gear (6) so that the spur gear (6) with the internal toothing (9) in two tooth engagement areas with the external toothing (7) into engagement, characterized in that - a damping ring (10 ) in the ring gear (8) radially offset from the internal toothing (9) is arranged.
Wave gear (2) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the ring gear (8) has a receiving groove for receiving the damping ring (10).
Wave gear (2) after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the damping ring (10) has a first toothing (11), wherein the toothing (11) engages in a first counter-toothing of the ring gear (8).
Wave gear (2) after Claim 3 , characterized in that the damping ring (10) has a second, back-toothing (31), wherein the second toothing (31) engages in a second counter-toothing of the ring gear (8).
Wave gear (2) after Claim 4 , characterized in that the teeth of both gears (11, 31) are arranged offset from each other in the circumferential direction.
Wave gear (2) according to one of Claims 3 to 5 , characterized in that one or both teeth (11, 31) are formed as ring gears or as Teilringverzahnungen.
Wave gear (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an outer rotor (13) and an inner rotor (21), wherein the outer rotor (13) with the spur gear (6) is rotatably coupled and the inner rotor (21) and / or the outer rotor the ring gear (8) carries.
Shaft adjusting device (1) for adjusting the phase position between a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine and a camshaft of the internal combustion engine, characterized by a corrugated transmission (2) according to one of the preceding claims.
Shaft adjusting device (1) for adjusting the compression ratio of an internal combustion engine, characterized by a wave gear (2) according to one of the preceding claims.
Ref WO2005080757A1: Claims:
Electrical camshaft adjuster for adjusting and fixing the phase position of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine with respect to its crankshaft, - With a drive wheel (1) non-rotatably connected to the crankshaft, - A camshaft-fixed output part (4), and - a wave gear - with at least one ring gear pair, - Wherein one of the two components is rotatably connected to the drive wheel (1) and the other component is at least in a torque-transmitting connection to the driven part (4), - The spur gear as a flexible sleeve (18) and - is arranged at least partially within the first ring wheel (2, 5), with a wave generator (17, 17 ', 17 ") driven by an electric adjustment motor via a transmission-fixed adjustment shaft (10, 10', 10", 10 '"), - Has the means for elliptical deformation of the flexible sleeve (18), - whereby the sleeve (18) is deformed in such a way that a torque-transmitting connection is produced between the ring gear (2, 5) and the sleeve (18) at two opposite locations of the sleeve (18), characterized in that at least one of the wheels of the ring gear - The spur gear pair is formed in one piece with the drive wheel (1) or driven part (4).
Electrical camshaft adjuster for adjusting and fixing the phase position of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine with respect to its crankshaft,
- With a drive wheel (1) non-rotatably connected to the crankshaft,
- A camshaft-fixed output part (4), and - a wave gear
- with at least one ring gear pair,
- Wherein one of the two components is rotatably connected to the drive wheel (1) and the other component is at least in a torque-transmitting connection to the driven part (4), - The spur gear as a flexible sleeve (18) and
- is arranged at least partially within the first ring wheel (2, 5),
with a wave generator (17, 17 ', 17 ") driven by an electric adjustment motor via a transmission-fixed adjustment shaft (10, 10', 10", 10 '"),
- Has the means for elliptical deformation of the flexible sleeve (18),
- whereby the sleeve (18) is deformed in such a way that a torque-transmitting connection is produced between the ring gear (2, 5) and the sleeve (18) at two opposite locations of the sleeve (18), characterized in that at least one of the wheels of the ring gear - The spur gear pair is formed in one piece with the drive wheel (1) or driven part (4).
Electrical camshaft adjuster for adjusting and fixing the phase position of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine with respect to its crankshaft, - With a drive wheel (1) non-rotatably connected to the crankshaft, - A camshaft-fixed output part (4), and - a wave gear  - with at least one ring gear / spur gear pair, - Wherein one of the two components is rotatably connected to the drive wheel (1) and the other component is at least in a torque-transmitting connection to the driven part (4), - The spur gear as a flexible sleeve (18) and - is arranged at least partially within the first ring gear (2, 5), with a wave generator (17 ") driven by an electric adjustment motor via a transmission-fixed adjustment shaft (10", 10 '"), - Has the means for elliptical deformation of the flexible sleeve (18), - whereby the sleeve (18) is deformed in such a way that a torque-transmitting connection is produced between the ring gear (2, 5) and the sleeve (18) at two opposite locations of the sleeve (18), characterized in that - the means for the elliptical deformation the flexurally elastic sleeve (18) is attached to the adjusting shaft (10 ", 10 '") and bears on two opposite areas of the sleeve (18) bearing journals (29), on each of which a roller bearing (13' ") is arranged.
- A camshaft-fixed output part (4), and
- a wave gear  - with at least one ring gear / spur gear pair,
- is arranged at least partially within the first ring gear (2, 5),
with a wave generator (17 ") driven by an electric adjustment motor via a transmission-fixed adjustment shaft (10", 10 '"),
- whereby the sleeve (18) is deformed in such a way that a torque-transmitting connection is produced between the ring gear (2, 5) and the sleeve (18) at two opposite locations of the sleeve (18), characterized in that - the means for the elliptical deformation the flexurally elastic sleeve (18) is attached to the adjusting shaft (10 ", 10 '") and bears on two opposite areas of the sleeve (18) bearing journals (29), on each of which a roller bearing (13' ") is arranged.
Camshaft adjuster according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the sleeve (18) is cup-shaped.
Camshaft adjuster according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that in the axial direction next to and coaxial with the first ring gear (2) a second ring gear (5) is arranged, the sleeve (18) at least partially within the second ring gear (5th ) is arranged and a torque-transmitting connection with the second ring gear (5) is established at two opposite points.
Camshaft adjuster according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the torque-transmitting connection between the ring gear (2, 5) and the sleeve (18) engaging by an internal toothing (3, 6) of the ring gear (2, 5) External teeth (28) of the sleeve  (18) is realized and the number of teeth of the intern
[Truncated to input limit]