Radial Camshaft Pressure Medium Transfer via Annular Channel

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing camshaft assemblies face challenges in efficiently and space-efficiently transferring hydraulic pressure medium from stationary to rotating radial channels, particularly when the phase angle between the camshaft and crankshaft is adjustable, as they require complex alignment and additional components for pressure medium distribution.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of pressure medium transfer elements with annular and radial channels that facilitate direct or indirect communication between stationary and rotating components, allowing for pressure medium transfer without the need for angle-oriented alignment, integrated into the camshaft, cylinder head-affixed components, or rolling bearings, using annular channels and radial channels that connect seamlessly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a radial channel is used to transfer pressure medium from stationary to rotating components, then pressure medium transfer is enabled, but complex alignment and additional components are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure medium transfer reliabilityVSAvoidalignment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

An annular channel acts as an intermediary between the stationary pressure medium channel and the rotating radial channel. The annular channel opening communicates with the stationary channel, while the radial channel opening communicates with the rotating radial channel, mediating the pressure medium transfer without requiring direct alignment between stationary and rotating parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure medium transfer is achieved by transitioning from a direct radial transfer (requiring angular alignment) to a two-stage transfer via an annular channel. The annular channel provides an additional dimensional path (circumferential direction) that decouples the alignment requirements between stationary and rotating components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If complex alignment mechanisms are used for pressure medium transfer, then reliable pressure medium distribution is achieved, but installation space increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure medium distribution reliabilityVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The annular channel and radial channel are merged into a single integrated pressure medium transfer element. This combined structure achieves reliable pressure medium distribution from stationary to rotating components while occupying minimal installation space, as the annular and radial channels work together in a compact configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If traditional pressure medium transfer methods are used, then pressure medium can be supplied, but mounting process becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure medium supply capabilityVSAvoidmounting simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure medium transfer system is segmented into distinct functional elements: a stationary pressure medium channel, an annular channel with annular opening, and a rotating radial channel with radial opening. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and assembled independently, simplifying the mounting process while maintaining pressure medium supply capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables reliable, space-efficient, and simplified pressure medium transfer between stationary and rotating components, simplifying the mounting process and ensuring effective hydraulic phase setting without the need for complex alignment, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency of the camshaft assembly.

Implementation Method 1

The pressure medium channel communicates with the at least one radial channel of the camshaft via the annular channel opening and the at least one radial channel opening of the at least one annular channel of the at least one pressure medium transfer element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS9249694B2Radial camshaft pressure medium transfer

Publication Date: 2016.02.02 SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG

AI summary

A camshaft unit includes a camshaft having a radial channel, a hydraulic phase setting device communicating with the radial channel for adjusting the phase length of the camshaft with respect to a crankshaft via hydraulic pressure medium and a pressure medium channel embodied as a solid cylinder head component. To transfer a pressure medium, at least one pressure medium transfer element is formed between the pressure medium channel and the radial channel. The pressure medium transfer element includes a ring channel including a ring channel opening extending in the peripheral direction of the ring channel and including a radial channel opening leading into a radial channel and opposite the ring channel opening. The pressure medium channel communicates with the radial channel via the ring channel opening and the radial channel opening.