HYDRAULIC CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER

Abstract

A hydraulic camshaft adjuster for adjusting the control times of gas exchange valves of an engine is provided. A stator is rotatable synchronously with a crankshaft of the engine. A rotor is arranged so as to be rotatable relative to the stator, and is rotatable synchronously with a camshaft. A plurality of ribs are provided on the stator, dividing an annular chamber between the stator and the rotor into a plurality of pressure chambers. A rotor hub and a plurality of blades extend radially outward from the rotor hub, dividing the pressure chambers into two working chambers having different effective directions. An additional connectable pressure booster is provided at least in an effective directly of the hydraulic camshaft adjuster. The pressure booster can boost the rotor when active.

Claims

1. A hydraulic camshaft adjuster for adjusting the timings of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, the hydraulic camshaft adjuster comprising: a stator, which is rotatable synchronously with a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, and a rotor, which is arranged so as to be rotatable relative to the stator and is rotatable synchronously with a camshaft, wherein a plurality of ribs is provided on the stator, in which the ribs divide an annular chamber between the stator and the rotor into a plurality of pressure chambers, wherein the rotor has a rotor hub and a plurality of vanes extending radially outwardly from the rotor hub, which vanes divide the pressure chambers into two respective groups of working chambers, which have a different effective direction and which can each be supplied with a pressure medium flowing in or out in a pressure medium circuit, and having a pressure medium accumulator for storing the hydraulic pressure medium, wherein: the hydraulic camshaft adjuster has an additional selectable pressure boost at least in one effective direction, in which pressure from the pressure boost rotates the rotor relative to the stator, wherein the selectable pressure boost is accomplished by the hydraulic connection of at least one further working chamber.

2. The hydraulic camshaft adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydraulic camshaft adjuster has a control valve for the joint control of the working chamber and of the selectable pressure boost.

3. The hydraulic camshaft adjuster as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control valve is a central valve, which is arranged in a central opening of the rotor.

4. The hydraulic camshaft adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure boost brings about an adjusting force in precisely one effective direction, wherein the precisely one effective direction of the pressure boost is oriented counter to the effective direction of drag torques of the camshaft.

5. The hydraulic camshaft adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein in a first operating state of the hydraulic camshaft adjuster, pressure medium is supplied to a first group of working chambers and, in a second operating state, which is different from the first operating state, pressure medium is supplied to the first group of working chambers and, in addition, pressure medium is supplied for the selectable pressure boost.

6. The hydraulic camshaft adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein a chamber which counteracts the selectable pressure boost is connected directly to a reservoir for the pressure medium.

7. The hydraulic camshaft adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein a volume flow of pressure medium made available by a pressure medium pump for supplying pressure medium is divided by the control valve into a first partial flow and a second partial flow, wherein the first partial flow of the pressure medium is supplied to the first group of working chambers, and the second partial flow is supplied for the selectable pressure boost.

8. The hydraulic camshaft adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydraulic camshaft adjuster is effectively connected to a fully variable valve train of an internal combustion engine.

9. (canceled)

10. A hydraulic camshaft adjuster comprising: a stator rotatable synchronously with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, the stator having a plurality of radially-extending ribs; and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator and rotatable synchronously with a camshaft, the rotor having a rotor hub and plurality of vanes extending radially therefrom, the rotor and stator cooperating to define an annular chamber therebetween, wherein the ribs divide the annular chamber into a plurality of pressure chambers, and the vanes divide the pressure chambers into a plurality of working chambers for selectively rotating the rotor relative to the stator when provided with hydraulic pressure via a pressure medium circuit, wherein one of the working chambers is a pressure boost working chamber; a control valve coupled to the pressure medium circuit, the control valve operable in (i) a first operating state in which the working chambers except for the pressure boost working chamber are provided with hydraulic pressure, and (ii) a second operating state in which the working chambers including the pressure boost working chamber are provided with hydraulic pressure.

11. The hydraulic camshaft adjuster of claim 10, further comprising a pump for supplying the hydraulic pressure to the working chambers except for the pressure boost working chamber in the first operating mode and for supplying the hydraulic pressure to the working chambers including the pressure boost working chamber in the second operating mode.

12. The hydraulic camshaft adjuster of claim 10, wherein the control valve is a central valve arranged in a central opening of the rotor.

13. The hydraulic camshaft adjuster of claim 10, wherein in the second operating state, additional pressure boost is provided to bring about an adjusting force in precisely one effective direction, wherein the precisely one effective direction of the pressure boost is oriented counter to the effective direction of drag torques of the camshaft.

14. A hydraulic camshaft adjuster comprising: a stator rotatable synchronously with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, the stator having a plurality of radially-extending ribs; and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator and rotatable synchronously with a camshaft; a plurality of pressure chambers between the stator and the rotor for selective rotational movement of the rotor relative to the stator; an additional pressure boost chamber between the stator and the rotor for selectively rotational movement of the rotor relative to the stator; a pump configured to supply hydraulic pressure to the pressure chambers and the additional pressure boost chamber; a control valve coupled to a pressure medium circuit, the control valve operable in (i) a first operating state in which the pump supplies hydraulic pressure to the plurality of pressure chambers but not the additional pressure boost chamber, and (ii) a second operating state in which the pump supplies hydraulic pressure to the plurality of pressure chambers and the additional pressure boost chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Various embodiments are explained in greater detail below and the associated drawings. In the figures, components that are the same or components with the same function are denoted by the same reference signs. In the drawings:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows an illustrative embodiment of a hydraulic camshaft adjuster in section;

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a hydraulic camshaft adjuster intended to illustrate the pressure medium supply to the working chambers;

[0025] FIG. 3 shows the hydraulic camshaft adjuster in a case of a rotation of the rotor in the retard direction;

[0026] FIG. 4 shows the hydraulic camshaft adjuster in a case of a rotation of the rotor in the advance direction without a pressure booster;

[0027] FIG. 5 shows the hydraulic camshaft adjuster in a case of a rotation of the rotor in the advance direction with the addition of the pressure booster.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates an illustrative embodiment of a hydraulic camshaft adjuster 1 according to an embodiment for adjusting the valve timings of an internal combustion engine. The hydraulic camshaft adjuster 1 illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 is designed as a vane-type adjuster and comprises a stator 2, which can be driven by a crankshaft (not illustrated) of an internal combustion engine, and a rotor 3, which can be connected for conjoint rotation to a camshaft (likewise not illustrated). The rotor 3 has a rotor hub 4, from which a plurality of vanes 5, 6, 7 extend in a radial direction. The stator 2 has a plurality of ribs 8, 9, 10, which divide an annular chamber 11 between the stator 2 and the rotor 3 into a plurality of pressure chambers 12, 13, 14. The pressure chambers 12, 13, 14 are divided by the vanes 5, 6, 7 of the rotor 3 into working chambers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. In addition to the working chambers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 known in the normal operation of the hydraulic camshaft adjuster 1, a working chamber 34 for the pressure boost 23 and a chamber 32 counteracting this additional working chamber 34 are formed between the rotor 3 and the stator. The working chamber 23 for the pressure boost 23 can therefore be referred to as a pressure boost working chamber. The rotor 3 has a pressure medium accumulator 21 for a pressure medium 22 for actuating the hydraulic camshaft adjuster 1, said accumulator being formed substantially in the rotor hub 4. The rotor 3 has a central opening 31, into which a central valve 24 for controlling the pressure medium supply to the working chambers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 34 can be inserted. The pressure medium accumulator 21 is connected hydraulically to the working chambers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. In this case, check valves 33, 35, 36 are arranged in the vanes 5, 6, 7 of the rotor 3 in order to allow additional pressure medium 22 to flow in from the pressure medium accumulator 21 when there is a reduced pressure in one of the working chambers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.

[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates a hydraulic camshaft adjuster 1 having a stator 2 and a rotor 3, which can be switched via actuator 29. Here, the rotor 3 is connected to a camshaft 30 for conjoint rotation therewith and is rotatable relative to the stator 2. In this arrangement, the central valve 24, as control valve 27, is moved in the central opening 31 of the rotor 3 in order in this way to control the pressure medium supply to the working chambers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Here, the pressure medium is supplied via a pressure medium pump P (not illustrated) from a reservoir T. In this case, the pressure medium 22, in particular an oil, is pumped through a feed bore 39 in the camshaft 30 and fed to the central valve 24 via another feed bore 40. Via the corresponding openings 41, 42 in the central valve 41, 42, the oil feed passages in the rotor 3 can then be supplied with pressure medium 22. During this process, both the pressure medium accumulator 21 and the working chambers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 can be filled. By means of an actuation of the actuator 29, the central valve 24 can be moved along a central axis 43 and thus open or close the oil feed passages.

[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates a hydraulic camshaft adjuster 1 in a developed view. The hydraulic camshaft adjuster 1 has a stator 2 and a rotor 3. Working chambers 15, 18 are formed between the stator 2 and the rotor. FIG. 3 illustrates an adjustment of a hydraulic camshaft adjuster 1 according to an embodiment in the retard direction. In principle, the angle of rotation of the camshaft 30 with respect to the crankshaft is adjusted in the normal operation of the hydraulic camshaft adjuster 1 by supplying a first group of working chambers 15, 16, 17 with pressure medium and thereby enlarging the volume thereof, while the pressure medium is simultaneously displaced from a second group of working chambers 18, 19, 20 and the volume thereof is reduced. The working chambers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, the volume of which is respectively increased as a group during this adjusting movement, are referred to in the sense as working chambers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 of one effective direction, while the working chambers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, the volume of which is simultaneously reduced, are referred to as working chambers of the opposite effective direction. The enlargement of the volume of working chambers 15, 16, 17 has the effect that the rotor 3 is rotated in the advance direction relative to the stator 2. An enlargement of the volume of working chambers 18, 19, 20 has the effect of adjusting the rotor 3 in the retard direction. In addition, the hydraulic camshaft adjuster 1 has a pressure boost 23, which comprises an additional working chamber 34 and a chamber 32 which counteracts the additional working chamber 34, said chambers likewise being separated by a vane 6 of the camshaft adjuster 1. In the case of an adjustment in the retard direction, this pressure boost 23 is not activated, and therefore the additional working chamber 34 and the oppositely acting chamber 32 are connected by oil supply lines 44, 45 to the reservoir 26. In this case, the central valve 24 is switched in such a way that the pressure medium 22 is delivered by the pressure medium pump 25 exclusively into the second group B of working chambers 18, 19, 20. A check valve 46 is provided between the pressure medium pump 25 and the central valve 24 in order to avoid a return flow of pressure medium 22 into the reservoir 26.

[0031] FIG. 4 illustrates an adjustment of a hydraulic camshaft adjuster according to the embodiment in the advance direction without the use of the pressure booster 23. In this case, the pressure medium pump 25 is connected to the first group A of working chambers 15, 16, 17 via the central valve 24 and delivers the pressure medium 22 into this first group A of working chambers 15, 16, 17. Here, the volume of the first group A of working chambers 15, 16, 17 is enlarged and, in parallel, the volume of the second group B of working chambers is reduced, as a result of which the rotor is adjusted in the advance direction. During this process, the additional working chamber 34 of the pressure boost 23 and the chamber 32 is switched to an unpressurized state, as with an adjustment in the retard direction, and is connected by the oil supply lines 44, 45 to the reservoir 26.

[0032] FIG. 5 illustrates an adjustment of the rotor 3 counter to the friction and drag torques of the camshaft 30. Here, the pressure boost 23 is configured in such a way that the maximum friction torque to be expected can be overcome to ensure an adjustment in the advance direction at the minimum pump pressure of the pressure medium pump 25. As described with respect to FIG. 3, the adjustment in the retard direction is generally uncritical since, in this case, the friction torques assist with the adjustment. However, an adjustment in the advance direction requires a higher adjusting torque since, in this case, the friction torque has to be overcome in addition. This is especially the case when the internal combustion engine is being operated with a reduced valve travel. For this purpose, a pressure boost 23 is implemented via the central valve 24, with an additional working chamber 34 being supplied with pressure and thus the hydraulically effective area at the vanes 5, 6 of the rotor being enlarged. During this process, the volume flow of the pressure medium 22 is divided by the central valve 24 into a first partial flow and a second partial flow, wherein the first partial flow is fed to the first group A of working chambers 15, 16, 17 via the oil supply passage 47, and the second partial flow is fed to the additional working chamber 34 of the pressure boost 23 via the oil supply passage 44. An additional vane 6 of the rotor 3 is thereby subjected to pressure, as a result of which the adjusting torque in the advance direction is increased. Alternatively, it is also possible for a plurality of additional working chambers 34 to be activated by the second partial flow, thereby making possible a corresponding adaptation of the boost ratio of the pressure boost 23.

[0033] The selection of the additional working chamber 34, which assists an adjustment in the advance direction, is made possible via an additional switching position at the central valve 24. For this purpose, one or more additional openings are required in the central valve. In principle, the counter chamber 32 associated with the additional working chamber 34 is switched to an unpressurized state and connected to the reservoir 26. It represents a compensating volume and does not exert any force on the rotor 3 in normal operation. It is assumed that the hydraulic camshaft adjuster 1 is designed in such a way that an additional pressure boost in the retard direction is not necessary and that this is accomplished solely by pressurization of the second group B of working chambers 18, 19, 20.

[0034] In the case of a hydraulic camshaft adjuster 1 according to the teachings herein, it is thus possible to adjust the rotor 3 in the advance direction counter to the friction and drag torques and using the selectable pressure boost 23, wherein the pressure medium throughput and the associated power dissipation is reduced as compared with the hydraulic camshaft adjusters 1 known from the prior art. It is thereby possible to increase the efficiency of the internal combustion engine and to reduce consumption.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0035] 1 hydraulic camshaft adjuster [0036] 2 stator [0037] 3 rotor [0038] 4 rotor hub [0039] 5 vane [0040] 6 vane [0041] 7 vane [0042] 8 rib [0043] 9 rib [0044] 10 rib [0045] 11 annular chamber [0046] 12 pressure chamber [0047] 13 pressure chamber [0048] 14 pressure chamber [0049] 15 working chamber [0050] 16 working chamber [0051] 17 working chamber [0052] 18 working chamber [0053] 19 working chamber [0054] 20 working chamber [0055] 21 pressure medium accumulator [0056] 22 pressure medium [0057] 23 selectable pressure boost [0058] 24 central valve [0059] 25 pressure medium pump [0060] 26 reservoir [0061] 27 control valve [0062] 28 drive toothing [0063] 29 actuator [0064] 30 camshaft [0065] 31 central opening [0066] 32 chamber [0067] 33 check valve [0068] 34 working chamber [0069] 35 check valve [0070] 36 check valve [0071] 37 valve spring [0072] 38 valve ball [0073] 39 feed bore [0074] 40 feed bore [0075] 41 opening (in the central valve) [0076] 42 opening (in the central valve) [0077] 43 central axis [0078] 44 oil supply passage [0079] 45 oil supply passage [0080] 46 check valve [0081] 47 oil supply passage [0082] 48 oil supply passage