Engine oil control valve and cam phaser

Abstract

The present application relates to an oil control valve and a cam phase regulator. The oil control valve comprises a cylindrical valve body for being mounted in the center of a rotor of the cam phase regulator, the valve body having a first flow channel and a second flow channel for connecting two working chambers of the rotor respectively, the first flow channel and the second flow channel being aligned in the circumferential direction and staggered in the axial direction, wherein the valve body is an integral structure, and the first flow channel and the second flow channel respectively extend linearly in the radial direction and penetrate the side wall of the valve body. The oil control valve and the cam phase regulator of the present application are simple in structure and easy to produce and install.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of engines. In particular, the present application relates to an engine oil control valve and a cam phase adjuster comprising such an engine oil control valve. BACKGROUND

[0002] In modern internal combustion engines of vehicles, the phase relationship between the crankshaft and the camshaft is usually changed between an advanced position and a retarded position by means of a variable valve timing (VVT) system, so as to adjust the valve opening and closing time and the intake and exhaust volume of the internal combustion engine, thereby obtaining the best combustion efficiency. The main component of the VVT system is a cam phase adjuster, in which a plurality of hydraulic chambers are formed, and by means of which the phase relationship between the crankshaft and the camshaft can be changed by the inflow and outflow of hydraulic medium. In addition, in order to control the inflow or outflow of hydraulic medium into or out of the hydraulic chamber, an engine oil control valve also needs to be installed in the cam phase adjuster.

[0003] For example, CN 104989478 A discloses an in-line engine oil control valve with a typical structure. The engine oil control valve comprises a valve body, a valve sleeve and a valve core which are nested in sequence, the valve body is formed with a first oil flow passage and a second oil flow passage which are radially through, the valve sleeve is formed with a first oil groove which extends axially and a first oil hole and a second oil hole which are radially through, and in addition, the valve sleeve is also formed with a second oil groove which extends axially and a third oil hole which is radially through. The second oil groove and the third oil hole form an oil inlet passage to introduce the engine oil in an oil collecting chamber into a hydraulic chamber formed between the valve core and the valve sleeve. The first oil hole is in communication with the second oil passage, so as to introduce the engine oil in the hydraulic chamber into a space on one side of a rotor blade, while the second oil hole, the first oil groove and the first oil passage are in communication, so as to introduce the engine oil in the hydraulic chamber into a space on the other side of the rotor blade. The engine oil control valve has a large number of components, the oil passages are tortuous, and the overall structure is very complex, so the production and installation costs are very high. SUMMARY

[0004] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present application is to provide an engine oil control valve and a cam phase adjuster with a simple structure.

[0005] The above technical problem is solved by a valve according to the present application. The valve comprises a cylindrical valve body for being mounted at the center of a rotor of a cam phaser, and a valve core of the valve is mounted at the radially inner side of the valve body, the valve body has a first flow channel and a second flow channel for connecting two working chambers of the rotor respectively, the first flow channel and the second flow channel are aligned in the circumferential direction and staggered in the axial direction; wherein the valve body is an integrally formed structure, and the first flow channel and the second flow channel respectively extend linearly in the radial direction and penetrate the side wall of the valve body. This design greatly simplifies the structure of the valve, so that the flow channels in the valve body can be formed as a simple linear structure, and the valve body can be formed as a whole component, which significantly reduces the complexity and cost of production and assembly of the valve.

[0006] According to a preferred embodiment of the present application, the valve can comprise a ring-shaped sealing member mounted at the radially outer side of the valve body and located between the first flow channel and the second flow channel in the axial direction. The sealing member can form a seal between the openings of the first flow channel and the second flow channel radially outside, preventing the leakage of hydraulic fluid between them, thereby improving the working efficiency of the hydraulic fluid.

[0007] According to another preferred embodiment of the present application, the valve body can comprise a liquid inlet flow channel staggered with the first flow channel and the second flow channel in the circumferential direction, the liquid inlet flow channel has an axially extending first section and a radially extending second section, the first section and the second section are in communication with each other, and the second section penetrates the side wall of the valve body and is located between the first flow channel and the second flow channel in the axial direction. The liquid inlet flow channel is used to introduce hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic chamber of the valve, and further supply hydraulic fluid to the two working chambers of the rotor blades through the first flow channel and the second flow channel respectively, and the two sections of the liquid inlet flow channel of this structure can be machined by a general drilling method respectively, which can reduce the production cost.

[0008] According to another preferred embodiment of the present application, the sealing member can be aligned with the second section in the axial direction and seal the opening of the second section radially outside. The sealing member can also seal the liquid inlet flow channel while isolating the first flow channel and the second flow channel, preventing the leakage of hydraulic fluid due to the external opening of the second section caused by the machining method.

[0009] According to another preferred embodiment of the present application, the seal can be an elastic ring which is bent to one axial side and whose both ends of the bent part are used to abut against the valve body and the rotor, respectively, when the oil control valve is installed in the rotor, as viewed in an axial cross section. Such a seal in the form of an elastic ring is inexpensive and easy to install. Further preferably, the valve body can include an inclined surface section on the radially outer side, which is inclined with respect to the axial direction, as viewed in an axial cross section, at which the seal can be installed. The inclined surface section can function to position and clamp the seal, preventing the seal from sliding displacement. In this case, the second section is also aligned with the inclined surface section in the axial direction.

[0010] According to another preferred embodiment of the present application, the seal can also be a ring-shaped bushing having a crimped edge at one axial end for sealing between the first flow passage and the second flow passage. Preferably, the valve body can have a clamping boss on the radially outer side, the crimped edge being capable of being clamped in the axial direction between the clamping boss and the rotor when the oil control valve is installed in the rotor, thereby positioning the seal in the axial direction and achieving sealing by the clamping force. Further preferably, an interference fit can be formed between the seal and the valve body, thereby fixing the seal to the valve body. Further preferably, a radial gap can exist between the seal and the rotor when the oil control valve is installed in the rotor, so as to install the seal.

[0011] The above technical problem is also solved by a cam phase adjuster according to the present application, which includes the oil control valve having the above-described features. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] The present application will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Of which:

[0013] Figure 1 is a schematic view of an oil control valve according to a first embodiment of the present application;

[0014] Figures 2a to 2c is a schematic view of a valve body of the oil control valve according to the first embodiment of the present application;

[0015] Figure 3 is a schematic view of a seal of the oil control valve according to the first embodiment of the present application;

[0016] Figure 4 is a schematic view of an installation of the oil control valve according to a second embodiment of the present application; and

[0017] Figure 5 is a schematic view of a seal of the oil control valve according to the second embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The following describes specific embodiments of an oil control valve and a cam phase adjuster according to the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The following detailed description and accompanying drawings are intended to illustrate the principles of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the claims.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an oil control valve for a cam phaser is provided. The oil control valve is configured to be fixed coaxially with the rotation axis in a rotor of the cam phaser. Figure 1 FIG. 2 shows an axial cross-sectional view of an oil control valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the oil control valve includes a valve body 1 and a valve core 2, both of which are cylindrical structures. The valve body 1 has a cavity extending in the axial direction, with one end of the cavity open and the other end closed. The valve core 2 is installed in the cavity of the valve body 1 in a shape-fitting manner and can slide axially in the valve body 1. The valve core 2 also has an axially extending cavity, with one end of the cavity open and the other end closed. The open end of the valve core 2 faces the closed end inside the cavity of the valve body 1. The spring 3 is axially abutted between the valve core 2 and the valve body 1. A hydraulic chamber 4 is formed between the valve core 2 and the valve body 1, circumferentially surrounding the valve core 2. The two circumferential flanges of the valve core 2 close the axial ends of the hydraulic chamber 4. The valve body 1 is an integrally formed structure with a relatively thick wall. A liquid inlet channel 5 is formed in the side wall of the valve body 1. The liquid inlet channel 5 includes a first section 51 and a second section 52 that are interconnected. The first section 51 extends axially from the closed end of the sidewall toward the middle region, while the second section 52 radially penetrates the sidewall in the middle region. The second section 52 is axially aligned with the first section 51, perpendicularly penetrating the first section 51 near its end. In this configuration, the first and second sections 51, 52, can be formed separately using conventional drilling methods. The radially inner opening of the second section 52 opens into the hydraulic chamber 4, allowing hydraulic fluid to flow sequentially through the first and second sections 51, 52, into the hydraulic chamber 4. Also formed in the sidewall of the valve body 1 are radially extending first and second flow channels 6, 7. These first and second flow channels 6, 7 are axially aligned and extend through the sidewall of the valve body 1, respectively. However, they are circumferentially offset from the inlet channel 5, preventing them from intersecting with the first section 51 of the inlet channel 5.

[0020] Figures 2a to 2c The structure and processing of the valve body 1 are shown. Figure 2a As shown, the valve body 1 is first formed into a blank by forging, and the internal cavity of the valve body 1 is formed at one time during the process. Figure 2a As shown on the right, a hexagonal countersunk hole for connecting the camshaft is formed at one end of the valve body 1 opening. Figure 2b and2c The first flow passage 6, the second flow passage 7, the first section 51 and the second section 52 are formed by drilling holes in the blank, respectively. Figure 2b and Figure 2c The cross sections where the liquid inlet passage 5 and the first flow passage 6 (and the second flow passage 7) are located are shown, respectively. Then, positioning bosses 11, 12 can be formed on the valve body 1 by stamping (see Figure 1 These positioning bosses 11, 12 can be used to limit the sliding of the valve core 2 or to position the valve body 1 itself.

[0021] Figure 3 The installation of the oil control valve is shown. As Figure 3 shown, when the valve body 1 is installed in the rotor 8, the first flow passage 6 and the second flow passage 7 of the valve body 1 are aligned with the A cavity inlet and the B cavity inlet on the rotor 8, respectively. Similar to the prior art, there is a radial gap between the valve body 1 and the rotor 8. In order to prevent the leakage of hydraulic fluid between the first flow passage 6 and the second flow passage 7 through the gap, an annular seal 9 is installed between the first flow passage 6 and the second flow passage 7. The seal 9 is an elastic ring made of elastic material, which abuts between the valve body 1 and the rotor 8 in the radial direction and is bent to one side in the axial direction under the extrusion of the two, so that the two ends of the seal 9 are abutted on the surfaces of the valve body 1 and the rotor 8, respectively, when viewed in the axial cross section. In order to facilitate the positioning of the seal 9, an inclined surface section 13 can be formed on the radial outer side of the valve body 1, which is inclined with respect to the axial direction when viewed in the axial cross section, and the seal 9 is installed at the inclined surface section 13. A similar inclined surface section 81 can also be formed at the corresponding position in the axial direction of the rotor 8. The seal 9 is clamped in the radial direction and positioned in the axial direction by the inclined surface sections 13 and 81.

[0022] Functionally, the second section 52 only needs to extend from the radial inner wall of the valve body to the first section 51, but because the drilling process needs to start from the radial outer side of the valve body 1, the second section 52 in the form of a through hole is formed. In order to prevent the hydraulic fluid entering from the liquid inlet passage 5 from leaking from the radial outer opening of the second section 52, the seal 9 can be aligned with the position of the second section 52 in the axial direction, so that the radial outer opening of the second section 52 is sealed by the seal 9. At this time, the inclined surface section 13 is also correspondingly aligned with the second section 52 in the axial direction.

[0023] Figure 4 The schematic diagram of the oil control valve according to the second embodiment of the present application is shown. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is mainly that a different seal 9 is used. As Figure 5As shown, the seal 9 is in the form of a ring-shaped bushing, which can be made of sheet metal, for example, and is formed with a crimp at one axial end. The seal 9 is in interference fit with the valve body 1, while there is a radial gap between the seal 9 and the rotor 8. On the radially outer side of the valve body 1, a clamping boss 14 can be formed, and the crimped portion of the seal 9 can be clamped axially between the clamping boss 14 and the side wall of the A-cavity or B-cavity inlet of the rotor 8, thereby sealing between the first flow channel 6 and the second flow channel 7. In the second embodiment, the inclined surface section 13 in the first embodiment can not be provided, but the seal 9 is still axially aligned with the second section 52, thereby sealing the radially outer opening of the second section 52.

[0024] According to a further embodiment of the present application, there is also provided a cam phase adjuster comprising an oil control valve according to the above-described embodiments.

[0025] Although the possible embodiments have been described in the above description, it is not the intention of the Applicant to limit the application to those described particular forms, as the same can be one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure would readily suggest modifications and / or substitutions. Further, the Applicant thinks that the claimed application is sufficiently enabled by the foregoing description such that others skilled in the art will be able to devise their own implementation that is informed by the present disclosure. As such, the scope of the application should be determined by the following claims.

[0026] List of reference signs

[0027] 1 valve body

[0028] 11 positioning boss

[0029] 12 positioning boss

[0030] 13 inclined surface section

[0031] 14 clamping boss

[0032] 2 valve core

[0033] 3 spring

[0034] 4 hydraulic cavity

[0035] 5 inlet flow channel

[0036] 51 first section

[0037] 52 second section

[0038] 6 first flow channel

[0039] 7 second flow channel

[0040] 8 rotor

[0041] 81 inclined surface section

[0042] 9 seal

[0043] A A-cavity inlet

[0044] B B-cavity inlet

Claims

1. An oil control valve comprising a cylindrical valve body (1) for mounting in the center of a rotor (8) of a cam phase adjuster, the valve body (1) having a first flow passage (6) and a second flow passage (7) for connecting two working chambers of the rotor (8), respectively, the first flow passage (6) and the second flow passage (7) being aligned in the circumferential direction and being axially offset, characterized in that the valve body (1) is a one-piece structure, and the first flow passage (6) and the second flow passage (7) extend linearly in the radial direction and penetrate the side wall of the valve body (1), respectively; the oil control valve comprises an annular seal (9) mounted on the radially outer side of the valve body (1) and axially between the first flow passage (6) and the second flow passage (7); the valve body (1) comprises a liquid inlet passage (5) axially offset from the first flow passage (6) and the second flow passage (7), the liquid inlet passage (5) having an axially extending first section (51) and a radially extending second section (52), the first section (51) and the second section (52) being in communication with each other, the second section (52) penetrating the side wall of the valve body (1) and being axially between the first flow passage (6) and the second flow passage (7), the seal (9) being axially aligned with the second section (52) and sealing the opening of the second section (52) on the radially outer side.

2. The oil control valve of claim 1, wherein The seal (9) is an elastic ring, which, when the oil control valve is mounted in the rotor (8), is bent to one axial side and the two ends of the bent seal (9) are used to abut against the valve body (1) and the rotor (8), respectively, as viewed in an axial cross section.

3. The oil control valve of claim 2, wherein The valve body (1) comprises an inclined surface section (13) on the radially outer side, which, as viewed in an axial cross section, is inclined with respect to the axial direction, and the seal (9) is mounted at the inclined surface section (13).

4. The oil control valve of claim 1, wherein The seal (9) is an annular bushing, which has a crimped edge at one axial end for sealing between the first flow passage (6) and the second flow passage (7).

5. The oil control valve of claim 4, wherein The valve body (1) has a clamping boss (14) on the radially outer side, and the crimped edge can be clamped axially between the clamping boss (14) and the rotor (8) when the oil control valve is mounted in the rotor (8).

6. The engine oil control valve of claim 4 or 5, wherein, An interference fit is formed between the seal (9) and the valve body (1).

7. The oil control valve of claim 4 or 5, wherein When the oil control valve is mounted in the rotor (8), there is a radial gap between the seal (9) and the rotor (8).

8. A cam phase adjuster comprising an oil control valve according to one of claims 1 to 7.

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