Output element of a camshaft adjuster having a partial structuring on the contact surface to the camshaft

Abstract

An output element (1) of a camshaft adjuster (8) is described, in which the output element (1) has a contact surface (2) for rotatably fixed connection to a camshaft; the contact surface (2) has at least one outlet port (3) of an oil channel (4) of the output element (1), which may be situated opposite an outlet port of an oil channel of the camshaft in order to conduct hydraulic medium from the camshaft into the output element (1); the contact surface (2) has a structuring (6) in order to increase the torque transmission between the output element (1) and the camshaft; this structuring (6) is structure-free in the area (5) around the outlet port (3) and this area (5) is designed for sealing the outlet port (3) with respect to the surrounding environment.

Claims

1. An output element of a camshaft adjuster comprising: a contact surface for rotatably fixed connection to a camshaft, the contact surface having at least one outlet port of an oil channel of the output element, the at least one outlet port of the oil channel of the output element situatable opposite at least one camshaft outlet port of a camshaft oil channel of the camshaft in order to conduct hydraulic medium from the camshaft into the output element; the contact surface having a first area including a pattern of elevations configured for engaging the camshaft for torque transmission between the output element and the camshaft, the contact surface having a second area not including the pattern of elevations and surrounding the at least one outlet port of the oil channel of the output element, and the second area being designed for contacting a further part for forming a seal around the at least one outlet port of the oil channel of the output element.

2. The output element as recited in claim 1 wherein the pattern of elevations is a laser structuring.

3. The output element as recited in claim 1 wherein the second area borders the at least one outlet port of the oil channel of the output element.

4. The output element as recited in claim 1 wherein one individual elevation of the pattern of elevations completely borders the at least one outlet port of the oil channel of the output element.

5. The output element as recited in claim 1 wherein the second area is set back axially with respect to the pattern of elevations.

6. The output element as recited in claim 1 wherein the second area is planar.

7. The output element as recited in claim 1 wherein the second area is conical.

8. The output element as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one outlet port of the oil channel of the output element is multiple outlet ports and the second area borders the multiple outlet ports.

9. The output element as recited in claim 8 wherein the second area includes a multiple rings, each of the multiple rings surrounding a different one of the multiple ports.

10. The output element as recited in claim 9 wherein the first area surrounds all of the multiple rings.

11. The output element as recited in claim 8 wherein the second area includes a first ring surrounding all of the multiple ports.

12. The output element as recited in claim 11 wherein the first area includes a second ring radially outside of the first ring and a third ring radially inside of the first ring.

13. The output element as recited in claim 12 wherein the second area includes a fourth ring radially inside of the third ring, the fourth ring surrounding a central opening of the contact surface.

14. The output element as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least outlet port of the oil channel of the output element includes a first outlet port, the first area including a ring surrounding the first outlet port.

15. An output element of a camshaft adjuster comprising: a contact surface for rotatably fixed connection to a camshaft, the contact surface having a central opening and an axial outlet port of an oil channel of the output element, the axial outlet port of the oil channel of the output element configured to be situated opposite a camshaft outlet port of a camshaft oil channel of the camshaft in order to conduct hydraulic medium from the camshaft into the output element; the contact surface having a first area including a pattern of elevations configured for engaging the camshaft for torque transmission between the output element and the camshaft, and the contact surface further having a second area not including the pattern of elevations surrounding the axial outlet port of the oil channel of the output element, the second area being designed for contacting the camshaft for forming a seal around the outlet port of the oil channel of the output element; and a third area not including the pattern of elevations in the shape of a circular ring adjacent to the central opening and configured to contact the camshaft for forming a seal around a radial outlet port arranged in the central opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the figures.

(2) FIG. 1a shows a sectional view of a camshaft adjuster including an output element according to a first specific embodiment of the present invention,

(3) FIG. 1b shows a sectional view of a camshaft adjuster including an output element according to a second specific embodiment of the present invention,

(4) FIG. 2 shows the first specific embodiment of the output element according to the present invention, with view toward the contact surface,

(5) FIG. 3 shows the second specific embodiment of the output element according to the present invention, with view toward the contact surface,

(6) FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the camshaft adjuster attached to the camshaft; and

(7) FIGS. 5a and 5b show an alternate embodiment with an individual elevation and a structure-free area surrounding the outlet port.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIGS. 1a and 1b show sectional views of a camshaft adjuster 8 including an output element 1 according to first and second embodiments, respectively, of the present invention. The basic structure and the mode of operation of camshaft adjuster 8 are known from the prior art. Camshaft adjuster 8 and its output element 1 have an axially oriented contact surface 2 which may come in contact with an axial surface of the camshaft 100, shown in FIG. 4. Contact surface 2 has the shape of a circular ring and is penetrated centrally by a central opening 7. An oil channel 4, which extends at least partially radially within output element 1, opens with its outlet port 3 into axial contact surface 2. Outlet port 3 is circular since oil channel 4 is a bore. Axial contact surface 2 has first areas including a structuring 6 which may be in the form of a pattern of elevations and cooperates with the axial surface of the camshaft in such a way that a micro-form-fit is formed and a torque that is higher than in the prior art may be transmitted. The particular design of the structuring is described in various embodiments in the following figures. Second areas 5 that do not include structuring are also shown.

(9) FIG. 2 shows the first specific embodiment of output element 1 according to the present invention, with view toward contact surface 2. Contact surface 2 has a structuring 6 (shown as a hatched area here), which advantageously has been produced by a laser. Circular ring-shaped areas 5, which are free of the additionally applied structuring, are arranged concentrically to each outlet port 3. A tool or a surface of the camshaft may thus be placed sealingly against these exposed areas 5 and a medium (for example compressed air for testing purposes or hydraulic medium during operation of the engine) may be transmitted, the transmission being almost free of losses through the gap between the two surfaces abutting against each other.

(10) FIG. 3 shows the second specific embodiment of output element 1 according to the present invention, with view toward contact surface 2. In contrast to the first specific embodiment shown in FIG. 2, structure-free area 5 borders multiple outlet ports 3 at the same time. Structure-free area 5 has the shape of a circular ring which is arranged concentrically to the axis of rotation of output element 1. A circular ring formed by structuring 6 completely encompasses structure-free area 5 and thus includes all outlet ports 3 so that a seal radially to the outside is also formed by structuring 6 in the outer area of the contact surface. In contrast, structure-free area 5 completely encompasses a smaller circular ring having a structuring 6.

(11) FIGS. 2 and 3 have a structure-free area 5 in the shape of a circular ring adjacent to central opening 7, in order to jointly seal outlet ports 9 of radial oil channels 10 which are arranged in central opening 7.

(12) FIGS. 5a and 5b show an alternate embodiment with an individual elevation 90 and a structure-free area surrounding the outlet port. FIG. 5b is a cross-sectional view of A-A of FIG. 5a.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(13) 1) output element 2) contact surface 3) outlet port (axial oil channel) 4) axial oil channel of the output element 5) structure-free area 6) structuring 7) central opening 8) camshaft adjuster 9) outlet port (radial oil channel) 10) radial oil channel of the output element 90) elevation 100) camshaft