Variable cam phasing device

A phase change device of the type wherein a phase change is effected between an input member and an output member in response to the axial movement of an advancing element interconnecting the input member and the output member, and wherein such axial movement is effected by retarding the rotation of a drum member engaged with the advancing element. A grooved thread is formed in the drum member, and a plurality of balls carried in slots formed in the output member are received in the thread and in helical grooves formed in the input member to effect the relative rotation between the input and output members as the balls advance axially along the thread in response to retardation of the drum member.

This invention relates to a device for varying the angular phase relation 
between two rotating shafts. More specifically, the invention relates to 
such a device adapted to vary the angular phase relation between the 
crankshaft and a camshaft of an internal combustion engine. 
Devices for varying or changing the angular phase relation or timing 
between an engine camshaft and crankshaft are well known, as may be seen 
by reference to U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,585 and U.S. patent application Ser. 
No. 775,671 filed Oct. 11, 1991, which are assigned to the assignee of 
this patent and which are incorporated herein by reference. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,585 to Muir et al discloses a device wherein an axially 
displaceable advancing plate drivingly interconnects input and output 
members through angled or helical surfaces formed on interfacing portions 
of such input and output members. The advancing plate is also threadably 
mounted on a drum for axial displacement along the drum in response to 
relative rotation between the drum and advancing plate. Relative rotation 
in one direction is provided by a spring reacting between the hub and 
drum, and in the other direction by selective actuation of a brake to 
retard the rotation of the drum counter to the spring force. In this 
device, the input member has a first set of lugs formed thereon which 
interfit with a first set of slots formed in the advancing member, and the 
output member has a second set of lugs formed thereon which interfit with 
a second set of slots formed in the advancing member. The first lugs and 
slots are formed with straight interfitting surfaces such that a constant 
angular relationship is maintained between the input and the advancing 
member as the advancing member moves axially with respect to the input. 
The second lugs and slots are formed with angled interfitting surfaces 
such that the angular relationship between the advancing member and the 
output member varies as the advancing member moves axially with respect to 
the output. In accordance with other prior art devices of similar type, 
both sets of lugs and slots can be formed with angled surfaces, which is 
effective to increase the degree of angular displacement between the input 
and output members. Also in accordance with the prior art, the angled 
interfitting surfaces of the lugs and slots can be helical. 
In the device disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 775,671, the 
lug and slot engagement surfaces of the above are replaced with 
interfitting balls and grooves wherein helical grooves are formed in the 
input and output members and interfit with a plurality of balls carried by 
the advancing member. In this device, as in the device disclosed in U.S. 
Pat. No. 5,031,585, the advancing plate is threadably mounted on the drum 
for axial displacement along the drum in response to relative rotation 
between the drum and the advancing plate. 
The present invention is an improvement to the above devices wherein the 
advancing plate is eliminated and replaced by forming a radially grooved 
thread in the drum member and forming angled or helical slots in the hub 
member, which slots receive a plurality of balls interfitting with the 
grooved thread in the drum member and with helical or angled grooves 
formed in the input member. Accordingly, when rotation of the drum 
relative to the hub is retarded, the balls are caused to move axially by 
virtue of their engagement with the thread, such axial movement resulting 
in relative angular movement between the input member and the hub (output 
member) thus effecting the required phase change between the input and 
output. 
The inventive design proves several advantages over prior art designs. In 
addition to the elimination of the advancing plate, the change from mating 
square-threaded members to a ball operating in a grooved thread reduces 
friction and thus reduces the actuation forces required. The elimination 
of the advancing plate permits the input member to be supported by the 
full width of the hub member, thus increasing stiffness, permitting higher 
loads and reducing lash between the input and the cam. 
Another advantage of the invention which is made possible by the above 
features is the addition of a brake disc member which is separate from the 
drum and which can be low carbon steel or other material having optimum 
magnetic properties. This improves the disengaging characteristics of the 
brake by reducing hysteresis, thus reducing the spring force required, and 
in turn reducing the braking torque required.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated an angular phase change 
device 10 adapted to be fixed to and rotate about a camshaft 12 of an 
internal combustion engine 13. As is well known in the art, the engine 
includes a crankshaft which rotates the device 10 and camshaft 12. The 
camshaft controls the opening and closing of the intake and/or exhaust 
valves of the engine in known manner. Device 10 includes a hub 14 mounted 
for rotation with the camshaft 12; a drive member 16 which is driven by 
the engine crankshaft, or by another camshaft in the case of a twin cam 
engine, and which is engaged with the hub 14 in a variable phase 
relationship therewith; a drum 18 mounted for rotation on the camshaft 12 
and having a grooved thread 20 formed therein; a plurality of balls 21 
carried by the hub and received in the thread 20 and in a groove 22 formed 
in the drive member 16; and a stationary brake assembly 24 which is 
supported on the camshaft on a bearing 24 and which is operable to apply a 
retarding force to the drum. 
The hub 14 is an essentially annular member having a radially extending 
portion located against a shoulder formed on the camshaft 12 and is fixed 
for rotation with the camshaft by an elongated bolt 26. A dowel pin 27 
received through a hole in the end of the camshaft and in a slot in the 
hub 14 maintains timing between the camshaft and the hub. 
The drive member 16 is the input to the phase change device 10, and is 
illustrated herein as a toothed pulley, although it can be appreciated 
that the input can also be a gear or a sprocket. 
The drum 18 comprises an axially extending portion 28 mounted for rotation 
on the camshaft, a radially extending portion 29, and a drum portion 30 on 
which the threads 20 are formed. The axial position of the drum 18 
relative to the hub 14 is maintained by the dimension between the hub and 
a shoulder 32 formed on the camshaft. 
The brake assembly 23 comprises a housing 34 in the form of an annular 
channel member, a coil 36, a backing plate 38 formed of a non-magnetic 
material and press-fit or staked into the open end of the housing, 
friction member 40 adhered to the plate 38, and a mounting bracket 42 
welded or otherwise fixed to the housing and attached (not shown) in known 
manner to the engine. 
In accordance, with one aspect of the invention, a brake disc 44 engageable 
by the friction member 40 is fixed to the radial portion 29 of the drum by 
means of rivets 46. The disc 44 is preferably made of low carbon steel, 
the magnetic properties of which significantly improve the efficiency of 
the brake assembly as compared with prior art units. 
The brake assembly operates in a wet mode and receives engine oil via an 
oil port 35 in the engine 13, radial ports 37 formed in the camshaft 12, 
an annular channel defined by a clearance space 39 between the shank 
portion of the bolt 26 and the camshaft, and a radial port 41 in the 
vicinity of the brake. 
In accordance with the known operation of the phase change device, axial 
movement of the balls 21 which results in relative angular rotation 
between the drive member 16 and the hub 14 is produced by retarding the 
rotation of the drum 18 with respect to the hub 14 by the brake assembly 
23. The drum 18 and the hub 14 are interconnected by a clockspring 48 
which is hooked over a pin 49 received in the hub and which is attached at 
its other end to a second pin (not shown) received in the drum. Stop 
member 50 is mounted on the drum 18 for rotation therewith and limits 
rotation of the drum with respect to the hub. Details of the operation of 
a stop member such as that shown here are described in U.S. Pat. No 
5,031,585, which is incorporated herein by reference. The clockspring 
biases the drum relative to the hub in the position illustrated wherein 
the balls 21 are advanced along the threads 20 to their rightwardmost 
position relative to the drum 18, the drive member 16 and the hub 14. In 
the preferred embodiment, there are three balls 21, one each retained in 
helical slots 51 formed in the hub 14. 
The phase change assembly 10 is mounted on the front of the engine block on 
an extended portion of the camshaft and is effectively enclosed within the 
drive member 16. The enclosure is defined by a first end cap assembly 52 
including an end plate 54 which is threaded or otherwise fixed to the 
front of the drive member, and a cap 56 which is pressed onto an 
axially-extending portion of the plate 54; and a second end cap assembly 
58 including end plate 60 threaded or otherwise fixed to the rear of the 
drive member and a dynamic seal element 62 received between an 
axially-extending portion of the plate 60 and the engine 13. 
For purposes of illustration the relative positions of the various elements 
shown in the drawing are considered to represent a base or first phase 
relationship between the drive member 16 and the hub 14, and thus between 
the crankshaft and the camshaft 12. When a change in the phase 
relationship between the crankshaft and camshaft is desired, the brake 
assembly 23 is energized to retard the rotation of the drum 20 relative to 
the hub 14 and against the force of spring 48, such retardation causing 
the balls 21 to move axially leftward along the thread 20. By virtue of 
the engagement of the balls 21 with helical slot 51 and helical groove 22, 
the axial movement of the balls 21 cause the drive member to rotate 
relative to the hub, thus effectively changing the phase relationship 
between the crankshaft and the camshaft.