Device for changing the angle of rotation of a camshaft relative to a drive wheel of an internal combustion engine

Abstract

In a device for hydraulically changing the angle of rotation of a camshaft relative to a drive wheel of an internal combustion engine, including a hydraulic adjusting arrangement which is arranged between the drive wheel and the camshaft and is connected to a fluid circuit of the internal combustion engine, such that the fluid is admitted to the adjusting arrangement via an on/off valve, and the camshaft is mounted in camshaft bearings, an on/off valve for controlling the fluid supply to the adjusting arrangement is at least partially integrated in one of the camshaft bearings.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for changing the angle of rotation of a camshaft ( 3 ) relative to a drive wheel driving the camshaft ( 3 ) of an internal combustion engine, said device including a hydraulic adjusting arrangement which is effective between the drive wheel ( 10 ) and camshaft ( 3 ) and is connected to a fluid circuit of the internal combustion engine for admitting fluid to said adjusting arrangement ( 11 ) via an on/off valve ( 5 ), said camshaft ( 3 ) being mounted in camshaft bearings ( 2 ), and said on/off valve ( 5 ) being at least partially integrated in one of the camshaft bearings ( 2 ).  
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the camshaft bearing ( 2 ) comprises a bearing shell ( 2   a ) and a bearing cover ( 2   b ), and said on/off valve ( 5 ) is integrated in the bearing cover ( 2   b ).  
     
     
         3 . A device according to to  claim 1 , wherein the bearing cover ( 2   b ) is an integral part of a cylinder-head cover ( 4 ) of the internal combustion engine.  
     
     
         4 . A device according to to  claim 1 , wherein the bearing cover ( 2   b ) has a receiving bore ( 6 ) in which at least part of the on/off valve ( 5 ) is accommodated.  
     
     
         5 . A device according to to  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic adjusting arrangement is supplied with fluid via fluid-medium bores ( 7  to  9 ) arranged in the camshaft bearing ( 2 ).  
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the fluid bores ( 7  to  9 ) of the camshaft bearing ( 2 ) are cast in to said bearing cover ( 2   b ).  
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the camshaft bearing ( 2 ) has at least one fluid inlet ( 7 ) for supplying the on/off valve ( 5 ) with fluid, at least one fluid outlet ( 8 ) for supplying the hydraulic adjusting arrangement with fluid and at least one fluid return flow ( 9 ).  
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein the fluid is supplied to the inlet ( 7 ) from the cylinder head ( 1 ) in order to supply the on/off valve ( 5 ) with fluid.  
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein the fluid is supplied to the inlet ( 7 ) from the cylinder head cover ( 4 ) in order to supply the on/off valve ( 5 ) with fluid.  
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein the fluid is supplied to the inlet ( 7 ) from the camshaft ( 3 ) in order to supply the on/off valve ( 5 ) with fluid.