A method for reducing noise in an engine is disclosed whereby a camshaft phaser is modified by a lockout to limit the movement of the phaser during operation. The lockout is inserted into the phaser's gear without removing the front engine cover using a novel method.

A valve opening/closing timing control apparatus includes: a driving side rotating body rotating synchronously with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; a driven side rotating body included in the driving side rotating body and rotating integrally with a camshaft on a same axis as a rotation axis of the driving side rotating body; a hydraulic fluid control mechanism displacing a relative rotation phase between the driving side rotating body and the driven side rotating body by supplying a hydraulic fluid to one of an advance angle chamber and a retardation angle chamber; a lock mechanism; and first and second unlocking flow paths configured to communicate with the first pressure receiving surface. The lock mechanism includes a lock member including an engaging portion, a main body portion, and a first pressure receiving surface a biasing member, and a lock recess.

A valve opening/closing timing control device includes a driving rotating body that rotates in synchronization with a crankshaft, a driven rotating body that rotates integrally with a camshaft, a phase detection mechanism that detects the relative rotation phase of the driving rotating body and the driven rotating body, a retarding chamber and an advancing chamber between the driving rotating body and the driven rotating body, a lock mechanism capable of constraining the relative rotation phase to a lock phase, a supply/discharge mechanism that supplies/discharges working fluid to/from the advancing chamber, the retarding chamber, and the lock mechanism, and a control unit that controls operation of the supply/discharge mechanism. At startup of the engine, if the detected relative rotation phase is not at the lock phase, the control unit controls the supply/discharge mechanism so as to stop successive supply of working fluid to the retarding and advancing chambers.

A camshaft phase adjuster, which includes first and second oil holes and a locking pin hole formed in the rotor inner core, the first oil hole connecting an engine fluid passage and the first chamber, the second oil hole connecting the first and second chambers, and the first and second oil holes both passing through the locking pin hole. The locking pin is switchable between first and second positions. A one-way valve is provided at the second oil hole; when the locking pin is in the first position, the first oil hole is unblocked, the one-way valve is switched off and the second oil hole is blocked; and in the second position, the first oil hole is blocked, the one-way valve is switched on, and the second oil hole is unblocked. This allows an intermediate locking function.

A camshaft phase adjuster, which includes first and second oil holes and a locking pin hole formed in the rotor inner core, the first oil hole connecting an engine fluid passage and the first chamber, the second oil hole connecting the first and second chambers, and the first and second oil holes both passing through the locking pin hole. The locking pin is switchable between first and second positions. A one-way valve is provided at the second oil hole; when the locking pin is in the first position, the first oil hole is unblocked, the one-way valve is switched off and the second oil hole is blocked; and in the second position, the first oil hole is blocked, the one-way valve is switched on, and the second oil hole is unblocked. This allows an intermediate locking function.

The disclosure relates to a hydraulic camshaft adjuster for the variable adjustment of the control times of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, having a stator and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator. Radially inwardly projecting webs are formed on the stator and radially outwardly projecting vanes are formed on the rotor. Between the stator and the rotor are formed several hydraulic working chambers, each of which is divided into a first working chamber and a second working chamber by a vane of the rotor. Two locking elements are inserted into the rotor for the temporary, reversibly detachable fixing of the rotor relative to the stator in a middle position. The first locking element and the second locking element can be locked in a common locking slotted guide. The disclosure also relates to a method for locking of the rotor in such a hydraulic camshaft adjuster.

The disclosure relates to a hydraulic camshaft adjuster for the variable adjustment of the control times of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, having a stator and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator. Radially inwardly projecting webs are formed on the stator and radially outwardly projecting vanes are formed on the rotor. Between the stator and the rotor are formed several hydraulic working chambers, each of which is divided into a first working chamber and a second working chamber by a vane of the rotor. Two locking elements are inserted into the rotor for the temporary, reversibly detachable fixing of the rotor relative to the stator in a middle position. The first locking element and the second locking element can be locked in a common locking slotted guide. The disclosure also relates to a method for locking of the rotor in such a hydraulic camshaft adjuster.

The present disclosure provides a locking structure of a valve timing adjustment apparatus for an internal combustion engine, using torque from a camshaft and the pressure of working fluid. The locking structure includes an anti-rotation mechanism for inhibiting or preventing a position change between a rotor and a housing by preventing relative rotation of the rotor to the housing. The anti-rotation mechanism further includes: a plurality of locking grooves which are formed on the ratchet plate with different depths and connected to each other; and a locking pin member. In particular, the locking pin member has: a hollow outer pin elastically disposed in a fitting hole formed in vanes, an inner pin elastically disposed inside the outer pin, and a lifter ring coupled to the upper portion of the outer pin to slide on the inner side of the fitting hole.

In a valve timing control system, a control command unit includes: a first stage setting block and a next stage setting block. The first stage setting block sets a retard holding command value as a control command value to introduce hydraulic fluid to each retard operation chamber under a state where a rotation phase is locked, to start applying an operation pressure more than or equal to an unlock pressure to a lock component. The next stage setting block sets an advance holding command value as a control command value to introduce hydraulic fluid to each advance operation chamber, after setting the retard holding command value, to maintain the applying of the operation pressure more than or equal to the unlock pressure to the lock component.

A valve timing controller includes: a driving side rotation member synchronously rotating with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; a driven side rotation member contained in the driving side rotation member and rotating integrally with a cam shaft for opening and closing a valve coaxially with a rotating axis of the driving side rotation member; an electromagnetic valve displacing a relative rotation phase between the driving side and driven side rotation members by supplying a working fluid to advancing and retarding chambers defined between the driving side and driven side rotation members; an intermediate locking mechanism holding the relative rotation phase in an intermediate locking phase; a phase detection section detecting the relative rotation phase; and a control section controlling the electromagnetic valve based on a detection signal of the phase detection section.