Abstract
A camshaft adjusting device of a drive, such as a motor vehicle drive, for example, for adjusting a phase position of a cam segment may include a camshaft and a phase shifter that is operatively connected to the camshaft. The camshaft may comprise a shaft segment including an inner shaft and an outer shaft at least partially surrounding the inner shaft. The camshaft adjusting device may further comprise a drive segment for driving the shaft segment and a cam segment that is connected in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner to the outer shaft. The phase shifter may comprise a rotor element and a stator element. A compensating element for compensating for part tolerances between the camshaft and the phase shifter can be disposed at least in sections between the rotor element and the drive segment.”
Claims
1.-14. (canceled)
15. A camshaft adjusting device of a drive for adjusting a phase position of a cam segment, the camshaft adjusting device comprising: a camshaft that comprises a shaft segment having an inner shaft and an outer shaft that at least partially surrounds the inner shaft; a phase shifter that is operatively connected to the camshaft, the phase shifter comprising a rotor element and a stator element; a drive segment for driving the shaft segment; a cam segment connected in a form-fitting manner and/or in a force-fitting manner to the outer shaft; and a compensating element for compensating for component part tolerances, the compensating element disposed at least in sections between the rotor element and the drive segment, wherein the compensating element is spring-loaded by a spring element.
16. The camshaft adjusting device of claim 15 wherein the compensating element is a sealing element.
17. The camshaft adjusting device of claim 15 wherein the compensating element is a sealing ring.
18. The camshaft adjusting device of claim 15 wherein the compensating element is compression-spring-loaded by the spring element.
19. The camshaft adjusting device of claim 18 wherein the spring element extends between the rotor element and the compensating element starting from a recess of the rotor element, wherein the spring element applies a compressive force to the compensating element.
20. The camshaft adjusting device of claim 15 wherein the stator element is at least partially surrounded by the rotor element.
21. The camshaft adjusting device of claim 15 wherein the stator element extends at least in sections between the compensating element and the drive segment.
22. The camshaft adjusting device of claim 15 wherein the inner shaft is mounted axially by way of the phase shifter.
23. The camshaft adjusting device of claim 15 wherein the inner shaft is mounted axially by way of the stator element of the phase shifter.
24. The camshaft adjusting device of claim 15 wherein the inner shaft is mounted radially by way of the phase shifter.
25. The camshaft adjusting device of claim 15 wherein the inner shaft is mounted radially by way of the stator element of the phase shifter.
26. The camshaft adjusting device of claim 15 further comprising a transmission element for transmitting a torque from the rotor element to the inner shaft.
27. The camshaft adjusting device of claim 15 wherein the rotor element is connected directly to the inner shaft in a form-fitting manner, a force-fitting manner, and/or an integrally bonded manner.
28. The camshaft adjusting device of claim 15 further comprising a connecting element for connecting the rotor element to the inner shaft.
29. The camshaft adjusting device of claim 28 wherein the connecting element is configured to regulate oil flow.
30. The camshaft adjusting device of claim 15 further comprising a housing, wherein the rotor element is at least one part of the housing.
31. The camshaft adjusting device of claim 15 wherein the stator element is integral with the drive segment.
32. A camshaft adjusting device comprising: a camshaft that comprises a shaft segment having an inner shaft and an outer shaft that at least partially surrounds the inner shaft; a phase shifter that is operatively connected to the camshaft, the phase shifter comprising a rotor element; a drive segment for driving the shaft segment; a cam segment connected to the outer shaft; and a compensating element that compensates for part tolerances, the compensating element disposed at least in sections between the rotor element and the drive segment.
33. The camshaft adjusting device of claim 32 wherein the compensating element is spring-loaded by a spring element.
Description
[0029] Embodiments of a camshaft adjusting device according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings, in which, in each case schematically:
[0030] FIG. 1 shows, in a lateral sectional illustration, an embodiment of a camshaft adjusting device according to the invention,
[0031] FIG. 2 shows, in a lateral sectional illustration, a further embodiment of a camshaft adjusting device according to the invention,
[0032] FIG. 3 shows, in a lateral sectional illustration, a third embodiment of a camshaft adjusting device according to the invention, and
[0033] FIG. 4 shows, in a lateral sectional illustration, a fourth embodiment of a camshaft adjusting device according to the invention.
[0034] Elements with an identical function and manner of operation are each provided with the same reference signs in FIGS. 1 to 4.
[0035] FIG. 1 schematically shows, in a lateral sectional illustration, an embodiment of a camshaft adjusting device 1 according to the invention. The camshaft adjusting device comprises a camshaft 10 with a shaft segment 13 and at least one cam segment (not shown here) and also a phase shifter 20. The shaft segment 13 consists of an outer shaft 12 and an inner shaft 11 arranged concentrically with respect to the outer shaft 12, wherein the outer shaft 12 is configured in the form of a hollow shaft, while the inner shaft 11 is configured at least in sections as a solid shaft.
[0036] The phase shifter 20 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a rotor element 21 and a stator element 22, wherein the rotor element 21 is the driving element which applies a torque to the camshaft 10 and in particular to the inner shaft 11 of the shaft segment 12 of the camshaft 10. The stator element 22 is an inner element, as viewed with respect to the entirety of the phase shifter 20, which is virtually completely and advantageously fully circumferentially surrounded by the rotor element 21. Consequently, the rotor element 21 forms at least one part of a housing and in particular of a phase shifter housing.
[0037] Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows a drive segment 14 which is connected to the outer shaft 12 in order to drive the camshaft 10 or to set same into a rotational movement about its axis of rotation D. The drive segment 14 is advantageously configured in the form of a gearwheel, a belt wheel or else a chain wheel which interacts, for example, with a second gearwheel, belt element or else chain element (not shown here), and therefore, by the movement of a crankshaft (not shown here) via a corresponding element interacting with the drive segment, the camshaft 10 is also set into a rotational movement about its axis of rotation D.
[0038] As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 1, a compensating element 2 extends between the drive segment 14 and the rotor element 21, in particular in order to permit the component tolerances to be compensated for because of a flexible connection of the phase shifter 20 to the camshaft 10. The compensating element 2 is advantageously spring-loaded. This means that a spring element 3, which is advantageously a compression spring element, applies a defined compressive force to the compensating element 2 such that the compensating element 2 is pressed at least in sections against a wall of the drive segment 14. The spring element 3 is advantageously introduced at least in sections into a recess 4 of the rotor element 21, as a result of which slipping of the spring element 3 is avoided. The spring element 3 consequently extends starting from the recess 4 in the direction of the compensating element 2 which, accordingly, is arranged at the opening of the recess 4. It is furthermore conceivable for the drive segment 14 to comprise a cutout 8 which extends in the form of a material cutout starting from a surface of the drive segment 14 into the material thickness of the drive segment 14. For example, a portion of the rotor element 21, in particular that portion of the rotor element 21 on which the compensating element 2 is arranged, engages in said cutout 8. By means of the geometrical configuration of steps or supporting regions in the end region of the rotor element 21, a radial mounting between the rotor element 21 and the drive segment 14 is advantageously also made possible.
[0039] Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows a transmission element 5 which serves to transmit the torque generated by the rotor element 21 to the inner shaft 11 or to set the inner shaft 11 into a rotational movement or rotation about its axis of rotation D. The transmission element 5 consequently serves as an intermediate element between the rotor element 21 and the inner shaft 11. A connecting element 7 which is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a valve 7.1 advantageously serves for the connection of the phase shifter 20 to the camshaft 10. Accordingly, in particular the rotor element 21 is arranged so as to make contact with the transmission element 5 by means of the connecting element 7, and therefore, on that side of the transmission element 5 which lies opposite the side which the rotor element 21 makes contact with, a contact connection with the inner shaft 11 is made possible.
[0040] The bearing element or axial bearing element 6 is, as shown in FIG. 1, arranged between the inner shaft 11 and the stator element 22 in order to permit a mounting of the inner shaft 11 relative to the phase shifter 20 and in particular relative to the stator element 22 in the axial direction. For this purpose, the inner shaft 11 comprises a shoulder 11.1 or a bearing shoulder 11.1 with which the inner shaft 11 makes contact with the axial bearing element 6. Owing to the use of the axial bearing element 6, an axial mounting of the inner shaft 11 is advantageously avoided by means of corresponding geometrical configurations of the outer shaft 12, and therefore the shaft segment 13 can be constructed in a simple manner and can be produced cost-effectively.
[0041] The dashed line in FIG. 1, identified by the reference sign 23, clarifies the arrangement of a vane element of the rotor element concealed by the section here. The dimensions and/or the geometrical configuration of said vane element 23 are advantageously defined by the geometrical configuration, dimensions and/or composition of the compensating element and consequently of the sealing edge, which is to be sealed by the latter, in the region of the rotor element or of the drive segment, in order in particular to avoid a hydraulic short circuit.
[0042] FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of the camshaft adjusting device 1 according to the invention which substantially comprises the components mentioned in FIG. 1, and therefore the description previously cited with regard to FIG. 1 can be used virtually completely here. The embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, of a camshaft adjusting device 1 according to the invention differs from the embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, of a camshaft adjusting device 1 according to the invention to the extent that the stator element 22, as viewed in the axial direction, is no longer fully circumferentially surrounded or enclosed by the rotor element 21. In this connection, it is conceivable for the rotor element 21 to comprise a portion which has smaller dimensions in comparison to the embodiment in FIG. 1 and extends in the axial direction. Consequently, a distance or clearance is formed between the rotor element 21 and the drive segment 14. Accordingly, it is possible for at least one portion of the stator element 22 to extend at least in sections between the rotor element 21 and the drive segment 14, in particular between the compensating element 2 and the drive segment 14. Accordingly, the compensating element 2 is pressed against a wall of the stator element 22 by means of the spring element 3. Consequently, the configuration of the camshaft adjusting device 1 is advantageously not restricted to a stator element 22 merely located on the inside, and therefore use may also be made of differently configured stator elements 22 of the phase shifter 1, wherein compensation of component tolerances, as described above, can furthermore be realized. As already mentioned with regard to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 also shows the arrangement of a vane element 23 (not visible in the section here) of the rotor element by means of a dashed line.
[0043] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a camshaft adjusting device 1 according to the invention which comprises components which are substantially comparable or else identical to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and therefore the description specified for FIGS. 1 and 2 mentioned above can likewise be used for the explanation of FIG. 3. A substantial difference over the embodiments, which are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, of a camshaft adjusting device according to the invention consists in that the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 does not comprise any transmission element. On the contrary, according to the embodiment of FIG. 3, the torque introduced by the rotor element 21 is transmitted directly to the inner shaft 11 without having to be transmitted by means of a transmission element 5 arranged between rotor element 21 and inner shaft 11 (cf. FIGS. 1 and 2). The saving on the transmission element advantageously permits the construction of the camshaft adjusting device 1 in a simpler and more cost-effective manner.
[0044] Furthermore, it can be gathered from FIG. 3 that the inner shaft 11 can also be mounted radially and/or axially independently of the outer shaft 12. For this purpose, for example, use is made of a corresponding projection 22.1 of the stator element 22. Consequently, it is possible for a wall of a bearing shoulder 11.1 of the inner shaft 11 to make contact with a wall of the projection 22.1, wherein the two walls extend substantially parallel to each other in a radial direction starting from the central axis of rotation D. The wall lying opposite that wall of the bearing shoulder 11.1 which makes contact with the projection wall then primarily makes contact with an axial bearing element 6. Owing to the contact connection of the two walls, which extend in the radial direction, of the inner shaft 11 and in particular of the bearing shoulder of the inner shaft 11, axial mounting of the inner shaft 11 relative to the phase shifter 20 is made possible. On the basis of a contact connection of an end wall of the bearing shoulder 11.1 of the inner shaft 11 with a corresponding wall or surface of the stator element 22, a radial mounting of the inner shaft 11 relative to the phase shifter 20 is advantageously made possible. The end wall of the bearing shoulder 11.1 is advantageously a wall which extends in the axial direction and is bounded by side walls correspondingly extending in the radial direction.
[0045] FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the camshaft adjusting device 1 according to the invention, wherein this embodiment also comprises components which are substantially comparable to the embodiments, illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, of a camshaft adjusting device 1 according to the invention, and therefore reference is or can be made here to the explanations regarding these embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 4, of a camshaft adjusting device 1 differs from the abovementioned embodiments in particular to the effect that there is neither a transmission element nor an axial bearing element. This advantageously saves on fitting additional components and permits the production of a cost-effective camshaft adjusting device. The axial mounting of the inner shaft 11 advantageously takes place via a bearing shoulder 11.1 of the inner shaft 11. Said bearing shoulder 11.1 firstly makes contact with a corresponding recess or wall of a projection 22.1 of the stator element 22 of the phase shifter 20 and secondly with the drive segment 14 and in particular with a wall of the drive segment 14. Consequently, the bearing shoulder 11.1 of the inner shaft 11 is arranged between the stator element 22 and the drive segment 14 at least with little movement, and therefore a movement of the bearing shoulder 11.1 and consequently of the inner shaft 11 in the axial direction, that is to say in the direction along the axis of rotation D, is avoided.
[0046] The abovementioned embodiments of a camshaft adjusting device according to the invention should be understood merely by way of example and do not establish any completeness. Consequently, further configurations, not mentioned here, of the camshaft adjusting device and in particular of the individual components thereof that are not explicitly mentioned are conceivable. In addition, this also relates to the mounting of the inner shaft in the radial direction and also in the axial direction and also to the configuration of the stator element and/or of the rotor element and/or also of the drive segment and/or the arrangement or geometrical configuration of the compensating element.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0047] 1 Camshaft adjusting device [0048] 2 Compensating element [0049] 3 Spring element [0050] 4 Recess [0051] 5 Transmission element [0052] 6 Axial bearing element [0053] 7 Connecting element [0054] 7.1 Valve [0055] 8 Cutout [0056] 10 Camshaft [0057] 11 Inner shaft [0058] 11.1 Bearing shoulder [0059] 12 Outer shaft [0060] 13 Shaft segment [0061] 14 Drive segment [0062] 20 Phase shifter [0063] 21 Rotor element [0064] 22.1 Projection [0065] 22 Stator element [0066] 23 Vane element [0067] D Axis of rotation
