Camshaft phaser and actuator for the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9617878-B2
Application number	US-201514613630-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2015
Priority date	Feb 4, 2015
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

A camshaft phaser includes a camshaft phaser input member connectable to a crankshaft; a camshaft phaser output member connectable to a camshaft; an intermediate member rotatable relative to the camshaft phaser input member such that rotation of the intermediate member relative to the camshaft phaser input member causes the camshaft phaser output member to rotate relative to the camshaft phaser input member; and a rotational actuator configured to selectively rotate the intermediate member relative to the camshaft phaser input member, the rotational actuator comprising. The rotational actuator includes a compound planetary gear set having an input planetary gear set driven by the camshaft phaser input member and an output planetary gear set driven by the input planetary gear set; and an adjusting actuator connected to the compound planetary gear set.

First claim

I claim:

1. A camshaft phaser for use with an internal combustion engine for controllably varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in said internal combustion engine, said camshaft phaser comprising:
a camshaft phaser input member connectable to said crankshaft of said internal combustion engine to provide a fixed ratio of rotation between said camshaft phaser input member and said crankshaft;
a camshaft phaser output member connectable to said camshaft of said internal combustion engine;
an intermediate member rotatable relative to said camshaft phaser input member such that rotation of said intermediate member relative to said camshaft phaser input member causes said camshaft phaser output member to rotate relative to said camshaft phaser input member; and
a rotational actuator configured to selectively rotate said intermediate member relative to said camshaft phaser input member, said rotational actuator comprising:
a compound planetary gear set centered about a planetary gear set axis and having an input planetary gear set driven by said camshaft phaser input member and an output planetary gear set driven by said input planetary gear set;
and an adjusting actuator connected to said compound planetary gear set and being switchable between an idling state and an adjusting state, wherein said idling state causes said intermediate member to be rotated together with said camshaft phaser input member in a one-to-one relationship through said compound planetary gear set and wherein said adjusting state causes said intermediate member to rotate relative to said camshaft phaser input member through said compound planetary gear set.

2. A camshaft phaser as in claim 1 wherein:
said input planetary gear set has an input sun gear; a plurality of input planet gears radially surrounding and meshing with said input sun gear, said plurality of input planet gears being mounted on an input carrier that is rotatable relative to said input sun gear, and an input ring gear coaxial with said input sun gear and radially surrounding and meshing with said plurality of input planet gears;
said output planetary gear set has an output sun gear coaxial with said input sun gear; a plurality of output planet gears radially surrounding and meshing with said output sun gear, said plurality of output planet gears being mounted on an output carrier that is rotatable relative to said output sun gear; and an output ring gear coaxial with said output sun gear and radially surrounding and meshing with said plurality of output planet gears;
said input planetary gear set has an input planetary gear set input member selected from the group consisting of said input sun gear, said input carrier, and said input ring gear, said camshaft phaser input member being coupled to said input planetary gear set input member such that said camshaft phaser input member rotates together with said input planetary gear set input member in a one-to-one relationship;
said output planetary gear set has an output planetary gear set output member coupled to said intermediate member such that said intermediate member rotates together with said output planetary gear set output member in a one-to-one relationship, said output planetary gear set output member being said output sun gear if said input planetary gear set input member is said input sun gear, said output planetary gear set output member being said output carrier if said input planetary gear set input member is said input carrier, and said output planetary gear set output member being said output ring gear if said input planetary gear set input member is said input ring gear;
said rotational actuator has a rotational actuator grounded member selected from the group consisting of said input sun gear, said input carrier, said input ring gear, said output sun gear, said output carrier, and said output ring gear such that said rotational actuator grounded member is not said input planetary gear set input member and said rotational actuator grounded member is not said output planetary gear set output member, said rotational actuator grounded member being grounded, thereby preventing rotation of said rotational actuator grounded member;
said rotational actuator has a rotational actuator adjusting member selected from the group consisting of said input sun gear, said input carrier, said input ring gear, said output sun gear, and said output carrier, and said output ring gear, said rotational actuator adjusting member being said input sun gear if said rotational actuator grounded member is said output sun gear, said rotational actuator adjusting member being said input carrier if said rotational actuator grounded member is said output carrier, said rotational actuator adjusting member being said input ring gear if said rotational actuator grounded member is said output ring gear, said rotational actuator adjusting member being said output sun gear if said rotational actuator grounded member is said input sun gear, said rotational actuator adjusting member being said output carrier if said rotational actuator grounded member is said input carrier, and said rotational actuator adjusting member being said output ring gear if said rotational actuator grounded member is said input ring gear;
said input planetary gear set has an input planetary gear set coupled member selected from the group consisting of said input sun gear, said input carrier, and said input ring gear such that said input planetary gear set coupled member is not said input planetary gear set input member, said input planetary gear set coupled member is not said rotational actuator grounded member, and said input planetary gear set coupled member is not said rotational actuator adjusting member;
said output planetary gear set has an output planetary gear set coupled member that is coupled to said input planetary gear set coupled member such that said output planetary gear set coupled member rotates together with said input planetary gear set coupled member in a one-to-one relationship, said output planetary gear set coupled member being selected from the group consisting of said output sun gear, said output carrier, and said output ring gear such that said output planetary gear set coupled member is not said output planetary gear set output member, said output planetary gear set coupled member is not said rotational actuator grounded member, and said output planetary gear set coupled member is not said rotational actuator adjusting member; and
said adjusting actuator is connected to said rotational actuator adjusting member and is configured to selectively rotate said rotational actuator adjusting member relative to said camshaft phaser input member, thereby rotating said intermediate member relative to said camshaft phaser input member through said input planetary gear set and said output planetary gear set.

3. A camshaft phaser as in claim 2 wherein the gear ratio of said input planetary gear set is equal to the gear ratio of said output planetary gear set.

4. A camshaft phaser as in claim 2 wherein said input carrier is coupled to said output carrier such that said input carrier rotates together with said output carrier in a one-to-one relationship.

5. A camshaft phaser as in claim 2 wherein said rotational actuator further comprises an actuator housing grounded to said internal combustion engine and defining a gear compartment wherein said compound planetary gear set is located within said gear compartment.

6. A camshaft phaser as in claim 5 wherein said rotational actuator grounded member is grounded to said actuator housing.

7. A camshaft phaser as in claim 6 wherein said rotational actuator grounded member is said input ring gear.

8. A camshaft phaser as in claim 7 wher

Assignees

• Delphi Tech Inc

Inventors

• Haltiner Jr Karl J

Classifications

• F16H37/04

  Combinations of toothed gearings only (F16H37/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F01L1/3442 Primary

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

• F16H57/082

  Planet carriers · CPC title

• F01L1/352

  using bevel or epicyclic gear · CPC title

• F01L1/047

  Camshafts · CPC title