Patent ID: 7753019

Claim:
A transmission assembly ( 34 ), for imparting a phase difference between an outer wheel ( 12 ) and an inner wheel ( 16 ) of a splined VVT ( 10 ), comprising: a tubular meshing member ( 36 ) having an inner surface ( 38 ) and an outer surface ( 40 ) with at least a portion of said inner surface ( 38 ) being provided with a first helical spline of said splined VVT ( 42 ) and at least a portion of said outer surface ( 40 ) being provided with a second helical spline of said splined VVT ( 44 ), said first and said second splines ( 42 , 44 ) having different pitches; an actuation member ( 48 ) proximate said tubular meshing member ( 36 ); a bearing arrangement ( 46 ) arranged between said meshing member ( 36 ) and said actuation member ( 48 ), said bearing arrangement ( 46 ) being a thrust bearing arrangement comprising a center washer ( 52 ), a first end washer ( 54 ) and a second end washer ( 56 ), said thrust bearing accommodating rolling members ( 58 ) between said first end washer ( 54 ) and said center washer ( 52 ) and between said second end washer ( 56 ) and said center washer ( 52 ), said actuation member ( 48 ) is associated with at least one of said first and second end washers ( 54 , 56 ) by a biasing member ( 60 ).