Lubrication and camshaft control system for engine
First Claim
1. An internal combustion engine having an engine cylinder head upon which a camshaft is journaled at least in part, a cam cover affixed to said cylinder head and enclosing at least in part said camshaft, a timing drive at one end of said cylinder head for driving said camshaft from an engine crankshaft, a timing drive chamber formed at said one end of said at least in part by said cylinder head and said cam cover and containing at least in part said timing drive, a hydraulically operated variable valve timing mechanism for coupling said timing drive to said camshaft and for varying the timing of said camshaft relative to said crankshaft, said hydraulically operated variable valve timing mechanism extending at least in part between said cam cover and said cylinder head at said one end thereof, a timing drive cover affixed to said one end of said cylinder head and said cam cover and enclosing said variable valve timing mechanism and said timing drive chamber, a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, and a valve assembly mounted upon said timing drive cover for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid from said source to said variable valve timing mechanism for operating said variable valve timing mechanism.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An internal combustion engine having a variable valve timing mechanism with a hydraulic control that is mounted on the front of the cylinder head for ease of accessibility and for ease of conversion of the existing engine. The engine includes an oil filter, oil cooler, and coolant pump, which are disposed and driven in a way so as to maintain short flow paths and permit internal conduits to be formed in the engine so as to avoid the possibility of leakage. The variable valve timing mechanism is controlled by hydraulic pressure supplied by the lubricating system, and a control valve assembly is mounted on the cover for the variable valve timing mechanism with the control passages being formed integrally in this cover. In addition, one of the timing chains may be easily accessed for adjustment without removing the cover through the removal of a bolt that holds an accessory mounting bracket to the engine.
-
Citations
30 Claims
- 1. An internal combustion engine having an engine cylinder head upon which a camshaft is journaled at least in part, a cam cover affixed to said cylinder head and enclosing at least in part said camshaft, a timing drive at one end of said cylinder head for driving said camshaft from an engine crankshaft, a timing drive chamber formed at said one end of said at least in part by said cylinder head and said cam cover and containing at least in part said timing drive, a hydraulically operated variable valve timing mechanism for coupling said timing drive to said camshaft and for varying the timing of said camshaft relative to said crankshaft, said hydraulically operated variable valve timing mechanism extending at least in part between said cam cover and said cylinder head at said one end thereof, a timing drive cover affixed to said one end of said cylinder head and said cam cover and enclosing said variable valve timing mechanism and said timing drive chamber, a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, and a valve assembly mounted upon said timing drive cover for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid from said source to said variable valve timing mechanism for operating said variable valve timing mechanism.
- 13. An internal combustion engine having an engine member upon which a camshaft is journaled at least in part, a timing drive comprised of a flexible transmitter at one end of said engine member for driving said camshaft from an engine crankshaft, a timing drive cover formed at said one end of said engine member at least in part by said engine member and containing at least in part said timing drive, a hydraulically operated variable valve timing mechanism for coupling said timing drive to said camshaft and for varying the timing of said camshaft relative to said crankshaft, a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, a valve assembly mounted upon said timing drive cover for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid from said source to said variable valve timing mechanism for operating said variable valve timing mechanism, a tensioner device engaged with said flexible transmitter and contained within said timing drive cover and mounted on a pivot bolt affixed to said engine member, said timing drive cover having an opening formed therein through which said pivot bolt is accessible, and further including an accessory bracket mounted to said timing drive cover by a fastener having a threaded connection to said opening for accessing said pivot bolt by removal of said threaded fastener.
- 17. An internal combustion engine having an engine member upon which a camshaft is journaled at least in part, a timing drive comprised of a flexible transmitter at one end of said engine member for driving said camshaft from an engine crankshaft, a timing drive cover formed at said one end of said engine member at least in part by said engine member and containing at least in part said timing drive, a hydraulically operated variable valve timing mechanism for coupling said timing drive to said camshaft and for varying the timing of said camshaft relative to said crankshaft, a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure comprised of lubricant pumped by an engine oil pump, a valve assembly mounted upon said timing drive cover for controlling the supply of lubricant from said oil pump to said variable valve timing mechanism for operating said variable valve timing mechanism, said oil pump being disposed on one side of the axis of rotation of said crankshaft and further including a coolant pump disposed on the other side of said crankshaft axis from said oil pump and closer to said camshaft than said oil pump, an oil filter mounted on said engine on the same side of said crankshaft axis as said oil pump and an oil cooler juxtaposed to said oil filter and receiving coolant from said coolant pump for cooling the lubricant, and a pair of fluid passages supplying coolant from said coolant pump to said oil cooler and wherein the inlet and outlets to said oil cooler are disposed at a point transversely between said oil pump and said coolant pump.
- 19. An internal combustion engine having a camshaft journaled therein, a flexible transmitter driven by an engine crankshaft for driving said camshaft, said flexible transmitter being enclosed at least in part within a timing case, a transmitter tensioner associated with said flexible transmitter and supported on a pivot bolt for engaging said flexible transmitter and maintaining the tension therein, said pivot bolt being contained within said timing case, an outer surface of said timing case having a threaded opening aligned with said pivot bolt and through which said pivot bolt may be accessed, and an attachment bolt affixing an attachment to said timing case and having a threaded portion received within and closing said timing case opening, as well as affixing said attachment to said timing case.
- 28. An internal combustion engine comprised of a cylinder block closed at its lower end by a crankcase in which a crankshaft rotates, an oil pump driven from said crankshaft and disposed on the side of a plane containing the axis of said crankshaft opposite to said cylinder block, an oil filter for said engine mounted on a lower portion of said cylinder block and through which oil is circulated by said oil pump, said engine having a cooling jacket, a cooling pump driven by said crankshaft and positioned on the side of said plane on which said cylinder block lies, said oil filter being mounted on said engine on the same side of said crankshaft axis as said oil pump, an oil cooler juxtaposed to said oil filter, and means for circulating coolant from said cooling pump through said oil cooler.
Specification