Camshaft Gear Train Intermediate Gear Mounting Positions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Internal combustion engines face challenges in maintaining smooth valve control and gear meshing conditions during repairs or overhauls, where changes in center distances between the crankshaft and camshaft disrupt the timing drive's performance.

Innovation Solution

The bearing journal for the intermediate gear can be fastened in multiple positions on the internal combustion engine's end face, allowing for adjustment to compensate for changed center distances, and the spur gear on the camshaft can be made adjustable or replaced with a phase-shifted tooth pattern to maintain optimal meshing conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the bearing journal for the intermediate gear is fixed in a single position, then the timing drive is simple and robust, but the center distances cannot be adjusted after repairs or overhauls

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability of center distancesVSAvoidcomplexity of timing drive
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing journal is designed with multiple fastening positions (at least two) on the end face of the internal combustion engine, allowing it to be repositioned from a fixed state to an adjustable state. This enables adaptation to changed center distances after repairs while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bearing journal is divided into multiple fastening positions with corresponding threaded bores and fastening elements, allowing selective positioning. This segmentation enables the journal to adapt to different center distance requirements without requiring a completely different design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the sealing surface is planed during repairs, then the sealing quality is improved, but the center distances between crankshaft and camshaft change adversely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing qualityVSAvoidcenter distance accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple threaded bores and fastening positions are pre-provided on the end face of the engine during manufacturing. When repairs require planing of the sealing surface, the bearing journal can be repositioned to a different pre-prepared fastening position to compensate for the changed center distances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The position parameters of the bearing journal are changed by selecting different fastening positions among the multiple threaded bores. This allows compensation for center distance changes caused by planing while maintaining proper gear meshing conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If the bearing journal is made adjustable to compensate for center distance changes, then the gear meshing conditions can be maintained, but additional adjustment efforts and complexity are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegear meshing conditionsVSAvoidadjustment effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing journal transitions from a completely fixed design to a selectively repositionable design with multiple fastening positions. This provides the necessary adjustability to maintain gear meshing conditions while keeping the adjustment process simple through pre-prepared fastening locations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

All possible fastening positions and corresponding threaded bores are pre-established during manufacturing. During repairs, the technician simply needs to relocate the bearing journal to an appropriate pre-prepared position rather than performing complex adjustments, significantly reducing adjustment effort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2664751B1Camshaft gear train for a valve-controlled internal combustion engine
Publication Date: 2014.12.10 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE
  • EP2664751B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2664751B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2664751B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a timing drive for a valve-controlled internal combustion engine, the at least one camshaft of which is mounted in the cylinder head of the engine and driven by spur gears, wherein a driving spur gear is provided on the crankshaft mounted in the cylinder crankcase of the engine, a driven spur gear is provided on the camshaft, and at least one movable intermediate gear is mounted on a bearing journal. To achieve a robust timing drive that is advantageous in terms of manufacturing and assembly, it is proposed that the bearing journal (13) for the intermediate gear (6) be attachable to the end face (9a) of the engine in at least two positions, which positions correspond to a new state of the engine and a defined repair state of the engine with specifically modified center distances between the crankshaft (10) and the camshaft (3).