Rotational hydraulic logic device and variable cam timing phaser utilizing such a device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10844755-B2
Application number	US-201716306744-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2017
Priority date	Jun 8, 2016
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

A control valve for use in a cam timing phaser arrangement is disclosed comprising a cylindrical valve body, a rotational shuttle element coaxially located within a recess of the valve body, and a blocking pin. When using in a cam timing phaser arrangement having a first phasing chamber and a second phasing chamber, the control valve when non-actuated acts as a double check valve, preventing flow between chambers. Actuation of the blocking pin limits rotation of the rotational shuttle element and results in the control valve allowing flow in a single flow direction between phasing chambers. The allowed direction of flow can be controlled by controlling the timing of the deployment of the blocking pin. A cam timing phaser arrangement, internal combustion engine, and vehicle comprising such a control valve are also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A control valve for use in a cam timing phaser arrangement, the control valve comprising:
a cylindrical valve body comprising an outer wall, a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has a recess configured for receiving a rotational shuttle element and allowing rotational movement of the rotational shuttle element with respect to the valve body,
wherein the rotational shuttle element coaxially located within the recess of the valve body,
wherein the recess and rotational shuttle element together define a signalling chamber and a flow chamber,
wherein the recess comprises a vane dividing the signalling chamber into a first signalling chamber on a first side of the vane and a second signalling chamber on a second side of the vane,
wherein the rotational shuttle element is arranged to rotate between at least three positions in response to fluid pressure variations in the first and second signalling chambers; a first position fully rotated in a first rotational direction so that a size of the first signalling chamber relative to the second signalling chamber is maximized, a second position fully rotated in a second rotational direction so that a size of the second signalling chamber relative to the first signalling chamber is maximized, and an intermediate position wherein a size of the first and second signalling chambers are substantially equal,
wherein an actuable blocking pin is configured in the control valve and the rotational shuttle element is configured with two corresponding holes for receiving the actuable blocking pin, a first hole arranged to block the rotational shuttle element from moving to the first position upon receiving the actuable blocking pin and a second hole arranged to block the rotational shuttle element from moving to the second position upon receiving the actuable blocking pin,
wherein the recess comprises a first fluid groove arranged in fluid communication with the first signalling chamber at one end, and arranged to be in fluid communication with the flow chamber at an other end whenever the rotational shuttle element is in the second or intermediate positions, and arranged to be prevented from fluid communication with the flow chamber whenever the rotational shuttle element is in the first position,
wherein the recess comprises a second fluid groove arranged in fluid communication with the second signalling chamber at one end, and arranged to be in fluid communication with the flow chamber at an other end whenever the rotational shuttle element is in the first or intermediate positions, and arranged to be prevented from fluid communication with the flow chamber whenever the rotational shuttle element is in the second position,
wherein the valve body has a first trough running parallel to the first end and second end around a circumference of the outer wall at a position between the first end and the second end of the valve body, and a second trough running parallel to the first trough around the circumference of the outer wall at a position between the first trough and the second end of the valve body,
wherein a first channel through the valve body connects the first fluid groove to the first trough, and
wherein a second channel through the valve body connects the second fluid groove to the second trough.

2. The control valve according to claim 1 , wherein an oil refill channel runs through the valve body and wherein the recess of the valve body comprises a third fluid groove arranged to be in fluid communication with the oil refill channel and the flow chamber, regardless of a position of the rotational shuttle element.

3. The control valve according to claim 2 , wherein the first fluid groove, second fluid groove and third fluid groove run essentially parallel to each other.

4. The control valve according to claim 1 , wherein a fail-safe pin is configured in the control valve and a corresponding hole is configured in the rotational shuttle element for receiving the fail-safe pin, wherein when the fail-safe pin is deployed the rotational shuttle element is blocked from rotating to the first position.

5. The control valve according to claim 1 , wherein the rotational shuttle element shuttles between the first position and the intermediate position whenever the actuable blocking pin is engaged in the first hole, and the rotational shuttle element shuttles between the second position and a second intermediate position whenever the actuable blocking pin is engaged in the second hole.

6. A variable cam timing phaser arrangement for an internal combustion engine comprising:
a rotor having at least one rotor vane, the rotor arranged to be connected to a camshaft;
a stator co-axially surrounding the rotor, having at least one stator recess for receiving the at least one rotor vane and allowing rotational movement of the rotor with respect to the stator, the stator having an outer circumference arranged for accepting drive force,
wherein the at least one rotor vane divides the at least one stator recess into a first phasing chamber and a second phasing chamber, the first phasing chamber and the second phasing chamber being arranged to receive hydraulic fluid under pressure, wherein an introduction of the hydraulic fluid into the first phasing chamber causes the rotor to move in a first rotational direction relative to the stator and an introduction of the hydraulic fluid into the second phasing chamber causes the rotor to move in a second rotational direction relative to the stator, the second rotational direction being opposite the first rotational direction; and
a control assembly for regulating hydraulic fluid flow from the first phasing chamber to the second phasing chamber or vice-versa, wherein the control assembly comprises:
a control valve comprising:
a cylindrical valve body comprising an outer wall, a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has a recess configured for receiving a rotational shuttle element and allowing rotational movement of the rotational shuttle element with respect to the valve body,
wherein the rotational shuttle element coaxially located within the recess of the valve body,
wherein the recess and rotational shuttle element together define a signalling chamber and a flow chamber,
wherein the recess comprises a vane dividing the signalling chamber into a first signalling chamber on a first side of the vane and a second signalling chamber on a second side of the vane,
wherein the rotational shuttle element is arranged to rotate between at least three positions in response to fluid pressure variations in the first and second signalling chambers; a first position fully rotated in a first rotational direction so that a size of the first signalling chamber relative to the second signalling chamber is maximized, a second position fully rotated in a second rotational direction so that a size of the second signalling chamber relative to the first signalling chamber is maximized, and an intermediate position wherein a size of the first and second signalling chambers are substantially equal,
wherein an actuable blocking pin is configured in the control valve and the rotational shuttle element is configured with two corresponding holes for receiving the actuable blocking pin, a first hole arranged to block the rotational shuttle element from moving to the first position upon receiving the actuable blocking pin and a second hole arranged to block the rotational shuttle element from moving to the second position upon receiving the actuable blocking pin,
wherein the recess comprises a first fluid groove arranged in fluid communication with the first signalling chamber at one end, and arranged to be in fluid communication with the flow chamber at an other end whenever the rotational shuttle element is in

Assignees

• Scania Cv Ab

Inventors

• Olovsson Daniel
• Eriksson Mikael

Classifications

• F01L1/356

  making the angular relationship oscillate {, e.g. non-homokinetic drive} · CPC title

• F01L1/34409 Primary

  by torque-responsive means · CPC title

• F01L1/3442 Primary

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

• F01L2001/34426

  Oil control valves · CPC title

• F01L2001/34423

  Details relating to the hydraulic feeding circuit · CPC title