Preloaded torsional biasing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10648376-B2
Application number	US-201916357514-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2019
Priority date	Mar 21, 2018
Publication date	May 12, 2020
Grant date	May 12, 2020

Abstract

A biasing assembly used with a VCT device includes a torsional biasing element that is elongated and configured to engage and receive rotational motion from one of a rotor or stator of the VCT device; a rigid element that is configured to engage the other of the rotor of the stator of the VCT device and be inserted within a cavity of a camshaft with the torsional biasing element; a receiving feature that couples the rigid element to the torsional biasing element and inhibits angular movement of the rotor and the stator away from a default angular position, wherein the torsional biasing element and the rigid element are angularly displaced from a resting position to a pre-loaded position when the torsional biasing element and the rigid element engage the rotor and the stator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A biasing assembly used with a variable camshaft timing (VCT) device, the biasing assembly comprising:
a torsional biasing wire that is elongated and configured to engage and receive rotational motion from one of a rotor or stator of the VCT device;
a torque tube that is configured to engage a remaining one of the rotor or the stator and be inserted within a cavity of a camshaft with the torsional biasing wire;
an aperture that couples the torque tube rigid-element to the torsional biasing wire and inhibits angular movement of the rotor and the stator away from a default angular position,
wherein the torsional biasing wire and the torque tube are angularly displaced from a resting position to a pre-loaded position when the torsional biasing wire and the torque tube engage the rotor and the stator.

2. The biasing assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein angular movement of the rotor in a first direction and angular movement of the stator in a second direction torques the torsional biasing wire one of the first direction or the second direction.

3. The biasing assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein the rotor is coupled to the camshaft and the stator comprises a sprocket.

4. The biasing assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein the aperture permits axial movement of the torsional biasing wire relative to the aperture and inhibits rotational movement of the torsional biasing wire relative to the aperture.

5. The biasing assembly recited in claim 1 , further comprising curved wire portions configured to engage the rotor and the stator.

6. The biasing assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein the VCT device is hydraulically-actuated.

7. The biasing assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein the VCT device is electrically-actuated.

8. A biasing assembly used with a variable camshaft timing (VCT) device, the biasing assembly comprising:
a torsional biasing wire that is elongated and configured to engage and receive rotational motion from one of a rotor or stator of a VCT device;
a torque tube, having an inner surface and an outer surface, that is configured to: engage a remaining one of the rotor or the stator, receive the torsional biasing wire radially inwardly from the inner surface, and be inserted within a cavity of a camshaft;
an aperture, carried by the torque tube, that engages a portion of the torsional biasing wire and inhibits angular movement of the rotor or the stator away from a default angular position,
wherein the torsional biasing wire element and the torque tube are angularly displaced relative to each other from a resting position to a pre-loaded position when the torsional biasing wire and the torque tube engage the rotor and the stator.

9. The biasing assembly recited in claim 8 , wherein angular movement of the rotor in a first direction and angular movement of the stator in a second direction torques the torsional biasing element in one of the first direction or the second direction.

10. The biasing assembly recited in claim 8 , wherein the rotor is coupled to the camshaft and the stator comprises a sprocket.

11. The biasing assembly recited in claim 8 , wherein the aperture permits axial movement of the torsional biasing wire relative to the aperture and inhibits the rotational movement of the torsional biasing wire relative to the aperture.

12. The biasing assembly recited in claim 8 , further comprising curved wire portions configured to engage the rotor and the stator.

13. The biasing assembly recited in claim 8 , wherein the VCT device is hydraulically-actuated.

14. The biasing assembly recited in claim 8 , wherein the VCT device is electrically-actuated.

15. A biasing assembly used with a variable camshaft timing (VCT) device, the biasing assembly comprising:
a torsional biasing wire including:
a first elongated torsional biasing member including a first camshaft end and a first distal end;
a second elongated torsional biasing member, spaced apart from the first elongated torsional biasing member, including a second camshaft end and a second distal end, wherein the first elongated torsional biasing member is coupled with the second elongated torsional biasing member;
a first input member coupled to the first camshaft end of the first elongated torsional biasing member; and
a second input member coupled to the second camshaft end of the second elongated torsional biasing member,

wherein the first input member and the second input member are angularly displaced relative to each other from a resting position to a pre-loaded position when the first input member and the second input member engage a rotor and a stator of the VCT device.

16. The biasing assembly recited in claim 15 , wherein the first elongated torsional biasing member, the second elongated torsional biasing member, the first input member, and the second input member are formed from a unitary structure.

17. The biasing assembly recited in claim 16 , wherein the unitary structure is a solid metal wire.

18. The biasing assembly recited in claim 15 , wherein the first input member and the second input member include curved wire portions configured to engage the rotor and the stator.

19. The biasing assembly recited in claim 15 , further comprising a link that limits movement of the first elongated torsional biasing member relative to the second elongated torsional biasing member.

20. The biasing assembly recited in claim 15 , wherein the VCT device is electrically-actuated.

Assignees

• Borgwarner Inc

Inventors

• Mccloy Chad
• Plumeau Joshua D

Classifications

• F01L1/3442 Primary

  using hydraulic chambers with variable volume to transmit the rotating force · CPC title

• F16F1/14

  Torsion springs consisting of bars or tubes · CPC title

• F16F2236/08

  Torsion · CPC title

• F01L2001/34483

  Phaser return springs · CPC title

• F01L2250/02

  the camshaft being driven by chains · CPC title