阅读说明：本技术 凸轮相位器总成 (Cam phaser assembly ) 是由 雷纳托·德·奥利维拉·吉拉蒂 亚历山大·卡米尔 于 2019-07-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明公开了一种凸轮相位器,该凸轮相位器包括定子、定位在定子中并且包括锁定销的转子以及包括用于接收锁定销的接收元件的锁定盖。盖板位于定子的与锁定盖相反的一侧上。止回阀板定位在定子与锁定盖或盖板中的一者之间,并且包括多个阀元件。多个紧固件开口限定在定子、锁定盖和止回阀板中的每一者中。紧固件延伸穿过紧固件开口。在一个实施例中,在止回阀板中的紧固件开口与紧固件之间限定径向间隙。在一个实施例中,围绕形成在止回阀板中的紧固件开口中的至少一个紧固件开口形成至少一个轴向延伸的凸台。(A cam phaser includes a stator, a rotor positioned in the stator and including a lock pin, and a lock cover including a receiving element for receiving the lock pin. The cover plate is located on a side of the stator opposite the locking cover. The check valve plate is positioned between the stator and one of the locking cap or cover plate and includes a plurality of valve elements. A plurality of fastener openings are defined in each of the stator, the locking cap, and the check valve plate. The fastener extends through the fastener opening. In one embodiment, a radial gap is defined between the fastener opening in the check valve plate and the fastener. In one embodiment, at least one axially extending boss is formed around at least one of the fastener openings formed in the check valve plate.)

1. A cam phaser, comprising:

a stator;

a rotor positioned in the stator and including a locking pin;

a locking cover comprising a receiving element for receiving the locking pin;

a cover plate on an opposite side of the stator from the locking cover;

a check valve plate positioned between the stator and one of the locking cap or the cover plate and comprising a plurality of valve elements;

a plurality of fastener openings in each of the stator, the locking cap, and the check valve plate;

a plurality of fluid openings in the locking cap;

a lock opening formed in the check valve plate; and

at least one axially extending boss formed around at least one of the plurality of fastener openings formed in the check valve plate.

2. The cam phaser of claim 1, wherein the at least one axially extending boss comprises four axially extending bosses, each boss extending from a respective fastener opening of the plurality of fastener openings formed in the check valve plate.

3. The cam phaser of claim 1, wherein the axially extending boss extends axially into at least one of the plurality of fastener openings formed in the stator.

4. The cam phaser of claim 1, wherein the check valve plate comprises a uniform radially outer edge and a uniform radially inner edge.

5. The cam phaser of claim 1, wherein the axially extending boss has an axial extension of 0.020mm to 2.00 mm.

6. A cam phaser, comprising:

a stator;

a rotor positioned in the stator and including a locking pin;

a locking cover comprising a receiving element for receiving the locking pin;

a cover plate on an opposite side of the stator from the locking cover;

a check valve plate positioned between the stator and one of the locking cap or the cover plate and comprising a plurality of valve elements;

a plurality of fastener openings in each of the stator, the locking cap, and the check valve plate;

a plurality of fluid openings in the locking cap;

a lock opening formed in the check valve plate;

a plurality of fasteners extending through the plurality of fastener openings; and

a radial gap defined between the plurality of fastener openings in the check valve plate and the plurality of fasteners.

7. The cam phaser of claim 6, wherein the radial gap is 0.050mm to 0.500 mm.

8. The cam phaser of claim 6, wherein the radial gap is 0.25mm +/-0.10 mm.

9. The cam phaser of claim 6, wherein the check valve plate has a uniform flat profile.

10. The cam phaser of claim 6, wherein the check valve plate comprises a uniformly curved radially outer edge and a uniformly curved radially inner edge.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cam phaser.

Background

Cam phasers include nested and adjacent components that must be aligned at certain relative radial positions during assembly. Proper alignment is required, for example, to ensure that oil passages are formed through corresponding openings in these components. During assembly, some components (such as the check valve plate) are loosely positioned while other components are moved into position. These loose parts may inadvertently move and rotate as other parts are added, thereby complicating the assembly process, making handling of the parts difficult, and possibly resulting in the assembled device having misaligned parts.

Known arrangements for addressing the alignment problem are disclosed in U.S. patent applications 15/406,185 and 16/050,419.

The present disclosure is directed to overcoming these and other problems of the prior art.

Disclosure of Invention

In one embodiment, a cam phaser is disclosed. The cam phaser includes a stator, a rotor positioned in the stator and including a lock pin, and a lock cover including a receiving element for receiving the lock pin. The cover plate is located on a side of the stator opposite the locking cover. The check valve plate is positioned between the stator and one of the locking cap or cover plate and includes a plurality of valve elements. A plurality of fastener openings are defined in each of the stator, the locking cap, and the check valve plate. A plurality of valve elements are defined in the locking cap. A locking opening is formed in the check valve plate. A plurality of fasteners extend through the plurality of fastener openings.

In one embodiment, a radial gap is defined between the plurality of fastener openings in the check valve plate and the plurality of fasteners.

In one embodiment, the radial gap is 0.050mm to 0.500 mm.

In one embodiment, the check valve plate has a uniform flat profile.

In another embodiment, at least one axially extending boss is formed around at least one of the plurality of fastener openings formed in the check valve plate.

In one embodiment, the at least one axially extending boss includes four axially extending bosses, each boss extending from a respective fastener opening of a plurality of fastener openings formed in the check valve plate.

In one embodiment, the axially extending boss extends axially into at least one of a plurality of fastener openings formed in the stator.

In one embodiment, the check valve plate includes a uniform radially outer edge and a uniform radially inner edge.

In another embodiment, a method of assembling a cam phaser is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: positioning the stator, rotor, locking cap and check valve plate relative to one another such that: aligning a plurality of fastener openings in the stator, the locking cap, and the check valve plate for receiving fasteners, wherein at least one fastener opening formed in the check valve plate includes at least one axially extending boss. The plurality of fluid openings in the locking cap are aligned with the plurality of valve elements of the check valve plate. The locking feature is configured to be received in the receiving feature of the locking cover such that the locking pin on the rotor is configured to extend through the locking opening into the receiving feature. Positioning the check valve plate and at least one of the stator or the locking cap includes at least one of: inserting at least one axially extending boss formed around at least one fastener opening of the check valve plate into a corresponding fastener opening formed in the stator or locking cap or providing radial clearance defined between the plurality of fastener openings and the plurality of fasteners in the check valve plate.

Drawings

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:

fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a cam phaser assembly including a first embodiment of a check valve plate.

Fig. 2A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the cam phaser assembly of fig. 1.

FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of the radial clearance between the fastener and the check valve plate of FIGS. 1 and 2A.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a check valve plate.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the check valve plate of fig. 3 installed in a cam phaser assembly.

Detailed Description

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words "front", "rear", "upper" and "lower" designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words "inwardly" and "outwardly" refer to directions toward and away from the parts referenced in the drawings. Reference to a list of items referenced as "at least one of a, b or c (where a, b and c represent listed items)" means any single one or combination of the items a, b or c. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a cam phaser 10. The cam phaser 10 is preferably used in conjunction with an engine, such as an internal combustion engine, to vary valve timing (e.g., hydraulically) in a manner known in the art. The cam phaser 10 includes at least a stator 12, a rotor 14, a check valve plate 16A, and a locking cap 18. In some embodiments, the cam phaser 10 further includes a front cover plate 20 and a back cover plate 21. Depending on the application, the cam phaser 10 may include additional components not described herein. For example, some configurations may include components such as a solenoid, one or more springs, a locking pin, a housing part, a cam part, a shaft, and so forth.

As shown in fig. 1, the check valve plate 16A may generally be positioned between the locking cap 18 and the stator 12. The back cover plate 21 is positioned on the opposite side of the stator 12 from the locking cover 18. In an alternative embodiment, the check valve plate 16A may be positioned between the stator 12 and the back cover plate 21 depending on the configuration of the cam phaser 10.

In one embodiment, the cam phaser 10 also includes a plurality of fasteners 22. The plurality of fasteners 22 are preferably bolts that hold at least some of the components of the cam phaser 10 together. In one embodiment, at least the stator 12, the check valve plate 16A, and the locking cap 18 include a plurality of fastener openings 24A, 24B, 24C, respectively, for receiving the fasteners 22. During assembly, the fastener openings 24A, 24B, 24C must be aligned in order to allow the fastener 22 to pass through all components.

As shown in fig. 1, the stator 12 includes an interior space for receiving the rotor 14. When the rotor 14 is positioned in the stator 12, cavities are formed between respective lobes 26 of the stator 12 and blades 28 of the rotor 14. The cam phaser 10 also includes components (e.g., fluid supplies, solenoid valves, etc.) that allow fluid to be selectively introduced into the cavity to rotate the rotor 14 within the stator 12, in a manner known in the art, to adjust the phase of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft.

To introduce fluid into the cavity, one or more axial passages are formed within the cam phaser 10. The axial passages are at least partially formed by a plurality of cutouts 30A in the check valve plate 16A and a plurality of fluid openings 30B in the locking cap 18. The slits 30A form a plurality of one-way valve elements 32. In embodiments where the check valve plate 16A is positioned between the stator 12 and the back cover plate 21, the back cover plate 21 may include openings that align with the cutouts 30A in the check valve plate 16A.

To control the flow of fluid from the cavity, the one-way valve element 32 in the cutout 30A must be properly aligned with the opening 30B during assembly of the cam phaser 10. Additionally, if the same valve plate 16A is to be used as a common piece of a different cam phaser (such as an intake phaser or an exhaust phaser), the check valve plate 16A must face in the correct axial direction to properly align the check valve element 32.

The cam phaser 10 also includes a lock pin 34 positioned in the vane 28 of the rotor 14. The locking pin 34 selectively locks the rotor 14 to the locking cover 18 to secure the rotor 14 relative to the stator 12. For example, the locking pin 34 is spring urged through a locking opening 36 in the check valve plate 16A and into a receiving feature 38 in the locking cap 18. To allow the locking pin 34 to function properly, during assembly, the check valve plate 16A and the locking cap 18 must be aligned such that the locking opening 36 and the receiving feature 38 are aligned with each other.

The receiving feature 38 may be any integral or separate component part of the locking cover 18 configured to receive the end of the locking pin 34. For example, the receiving feature 38 may be a bushing that is inserted into an opening, hole, or aperture in the body of the locking cap 18. The bushing may be cylindrical, cup-shaped, open-ended, etc. In another embodiment, the receiving feature 38 may be a fine-blanked hole or recess formed in the body of the locking cap 18. The bore may be heat treated to achieve a hardness suitable for receiving the locking pin 34. In yet another embodiment, the receiving feature 38 may be a hardened insert placed in a receiving aperture formed in the locking cover 18 to serve as a receiving area for the locking pin 34.

Proper assembly of the cam phaser 10 requires alignment of the fastener openings 24A, 24B, 24C, the plurality of cutouts 30A, and the valve element 32 with the plurality of fluid openings 30B and the lock opening 36 and the receiving feature 38. During assembly, particularly during manual assembly, it may be difficult to hold all of the components of the cam phaser 10 in their proper relative positions and install the fastener 22.

In the embodiment of fig. 1, 2A, and 2B, to ensure proper alignment during assembly, the check valve plate 16A provides radial clearance between the plurality of fastener openings 24B and the plurality of fasteners 22 in the check valve plate 16A. Fig. 2B more clearly shows that the radial clearance C is 0.050mm to 0.500 mm. In one embodiment, the radial clearance C is 0.25mm +/-0.10 mm. In one embodiment, the radial clearance C is at least 0.050 mm. In one embodiment, the radial clearance C is 0.275 mm.

In one embodiment, the check valve plate 16A has a thickness of 0.25mm +/-0.05 mm. In one embodiment, the check valve plate 16A has a thickness of 500% of the radial clearance C. In one embodiment, the check valve plate 16A has a thickness of 50% of the radial clearance C.

The relatively tight radial clearance with the fastener 22 ensures that the locking cap 18 and check valve plate 16A are aligned during assembly/backlash adjustment.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2A, the check valve plate 16A has a uniform flat profile. The check valve plate 16A is contoured as a completely flat ring without any axial projections or features.

In one embodiment shown in fig. 3 and 4, to ensure proper alignment during assembly, at least one axially extending boss 25 is formed around at least one fastener opening 24B' formed in the check valve plate 16B.

As shown, the axially extending bosses 25 extend only in the axial direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the at least one axially extending boss 25 may include four axially extending bosses 25, each extending from a respective fastener opening 24B' in the check valve plate 16B. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that axially extending bosses 25 may be formed around any number of fastener openings 24B'.

In one embodiment, the axially extending boss 25 has an axial extension of at least 0.020 mm. In one embodiment, the axially extending boss 25 has an axial extension of 2.00 mm.

As shown in fig. 4, at least one axially extending boss 25 extends axially into the fastener opening 24A in the stator 12. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the axially extending bosses 25 may extend in opposite axial directions and into the fastener openings 24C of the locking cap 18.

The check valve plates 16A, 16B may include a uniform radially outer edge and a uniform radially inner edge. The radially inner edge and the radially outer edge are free of projections. The radially inner edge and the radially outer edge each have a smooth, continuously curved profile.

At least one axially extending boss 25 is inserted into the stator 12 so that the check valve plate 16B and the stator 12 are connected to each other and held in the proper angular position while the remaining components are moved into position.

In another embodiment, the check valve plates 16A, 16B may be connected to the stator 12 or the locking cap 18 (or the back cover plate 21) to prevent the check valve plates 16A, 16B from accidentally rotating during assembly.

During assembly, the rotor 14 is positioned in the stator 12, the check valve plate 16 and the locking cap 18 are positioned over the rotor 14, the front and back cover plates 20, 21 are moved into position, and the fasteners 22 are inserted through the aligned fastener openings 24A, 24B, 24C.

The plurality of fastener openings 24A, 24B, 24C in the stator 12, the locking cover 18, and the check valve plate 16 are aligned to receive the fasteners 22, the plurality of fluid openings 30B are aligned with the valve element 32 to form at least a portion of the pressure control fluid passage, and the locking openings 36 in the check valve plate 16 are aligned with the receiving features 38 in the locking cover 18 such that the locking pins 34 on the rotor 14 are configured to extend through the locking openings 36 into the receiving features 38.

Consistent with the disclosed embodiment, the radial clearance C or axial boss 25 simplifies the assembly process of the cam phaser 10. The radial clearance C or axial boss 25 allows the check valve plate 16 to be connected to an adjacent component (i.e., the stator 12 or the locking cap 18) at an angular position that aligns the fastener opening 24B of the check valve plate 16 with the fastener opening 24A of the stator 12 or the fastener opening 24C of the locking cap 18. The check valve plate 16 is prevented from rotating to the misaligned position when other assembly steps are performed, thereby providing a more efficient and effective assembly process of the cam phaser 10.

Parts list

10. Cam phaser

12. Stator

14. Rotor

Check valve plate 16A, 16B

18. Locking cover

20. Front cover plate

21. Back cover plate

22. Fastening piece

Fastener opening 24A

24b. fastener openings

24C. fastener openings

25. Axial boss

26. Convex angle

28. Blade

30A. incision

30B fluid opening

32. Valve element

34. Locking pin

36. Locking opening

38. Receive features

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