CAMSHAFT PHASER

摘要

An internal combustion includes a crankshaft and a camshaft rotatable by the crankshaft. The internal combustion engine also includes an oil source, an engine cover, and a drive member disposed within the engine cover for transferring rotational motion from the crankshaft to the camshaft. A camshaft phaser actuated by an electric motor is disposed within the engine cover for controllably varying the phase relationship between the crankshaft and the camshaft. A supply passage communicates oil from the oil source to the camshaft phaser in order to lubricate the camshaft phaser and a drain passage drains oil from the camshaft phaser to the oil source. A sealing arrangement defines a dry zone within the engine cover to isolate the drive member from oil used to lubricate the camshaft phaser. The sealing arrangement includes an electric motor to camshaft phaser seal to seal between the electric motor and the camshaft phaser.

主权项

1. An internal combustion engine having a crankshaft rotatable about a crankshaft axis and a camshaft rotatable by the crankshaft about a camshaft axis, said internal combustion engine comprising:
a) an oil source; b) an engine cover; c) a drive member disposed within said engine cover for transferring rotational motion from said crankshaft to said camshaft; d) a camshaft phaser disposed within said engine cover for controllably varying the phase relationship between said crankshaft and said camshaft, said camshaft phaser comprising:
i) an input member driven by said drive member;ii) an output member rotatable with said camshaft;iii) a gear drive unit connecting said input member to said output member; andiv) an electric motor connected to said gear drive unit to impart rotation on said gear drive unit such that rotation of said gear drive unit causes relative rotation between said input member and said output member; e) a supply passage for communicating oil, in use, from said oil source to said camshaft phaser in order to lubricate said camshaft phaser; f) a drain passage for draining oil, in use, from said camshaft phaser to said oil source; and g) a sealing arrangement defining a dry zone within said engine cover to isolate said drive member from oil used to lubricate said camshaft phaser, wherein said sealing arrangement comprises a seal to seal between said electric motor and said camshaft phaser.