Patent ID: 7284517

Claim:
An engine having two groups of cams, a camshaft driven in operation by a crankshaft of the engine and formed of an inner shaft and an outer tube each of which rotates with a respective one of the two groups of cams, a phaser for enabling the phase of at least one of the groups of cams to be varied dynamically relative to the phase of the engine crankshaft, the phaser having a rear side coupled to the outer tube of the camshaft and also having a front side, and means for mounting the phaser to a front end of the camshaft, wherein the means for mounting the phaser to the front end of the camshaft comprises a tubular portion rigid with the outer tube of the camshaft, passing at least partly through the phaser, and having a front end accessible from the front side of the phaser and coupled to the outer tube of the camshaft to retain the phaser axially on the outer tube of the camshaft, and a driving member overlying the front end of said tubular portion and coupling the front side of the phaser for rotation with the inner shaft of the camshaft.