Variable valve timing control device

Abstract

A variable valve timing control device includes a rotating member, a rotation transmitting member and a retracting portion accommodating a lock member biased by a spring. The variable valve timing control device further includes a spring receiving bore connected to the retracting portion for accommodating the spring and including a guide portion for guiding the spring in the axial direction, a receiving portion into which a head portion of the lock member is inserted at a predetermined relative rotation phase. A length of the guide portion in the axial direction is larger than each distance formed between windings of the spring adjacent to each other in the axial direction.

1 . A variable valve timing control device comprising: 
 a rotating member integrally connected to a camshaft for opening and closing a valve and rotatably assembled to a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine;    a rotation transmitting member assembled to the rotating member so as to be rotatable relative thereto within a predetermined range and to which a rotation force from a crankshaft is transmitted;    a vane provided on either one of the rotating member and the rotation transmitting member;    a fluid pressure chamber formed between the rotating member and the rotation transmitting member and divided into an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber by the vane;    a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage through which an operation fluid is selectively supplied to or discharged from the advanced angle chamber and the retarded angle chamber respectively;    a retracting portion formed on either one of the rotation transmitting member and the rotating member and accommodating a lock member biased towards either one of the rotation transmitting member and the rotating member by a spring; the spring including a winding portion formed by a plurality of windings and both end portions in an axial direction of the spring;    a spring receiving bore connected to the retracting portion for accommodating the spring and including a guide portion for guiding the spring in the axial direction of the spring;    a receiving portion formed on either one of the rotating member and the rotation transmitting member and into which a head portion of the lock member is inserted when a relative rotation phase between the rotating member and the rotation transmitting member is positioned at a predetermined phase; and    a third fluid passage through which the operation fluid is supplied to or discharged from the receiving portion; wherein a length of the guide portion in the axial direction is larger than each distance formed between the windings of the spring adjacent to each other in the axial direction.    
   
   
       2 . A variable valve timing control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring receiving bore includes a concave corner at a connecting portion between an inner circumferential face of the guide portion and both end portions of the spring receiving bore in the radial direction thereof to which the both end portions of the spring contact respectively.  
   
   
       3 . A variable valve timing control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide portion is formed between an outer circumference of the winding portion and an inner circumference of the spring receiving bore.  
   
   
       4 . A variable valve timing control device according to  claim 2 , wherein the guide portion is formed between an outer circumference of the winding portion and an inner circumference of the spring receiving bore.  
   
   
       5 . A variable valve timing control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the both end portions of the spring in the axial direction are formed in parallel to a face defined perpendicular to the axial direction of the spring.  
   
   
       6 . A variable valve timing control device comprising: 
 a rotating member integrally connected to a camshaft for opening and closing a valve and rotatably assembled to a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine;    a rotation transmitting member assembled to the rotating member so as to be rotatable relative thereto within a predetermined range and to which a rotation force from a crankshaft is transmitted;    a retracting portion formed on either one of the rotation transmitting member and the rotating member and accommodating a lock member biased towards either one of the rotation transmitting member and the rotating member by a spring; the spring including a winding portion formed by a plurality of windings and both end portions in an axial direction of the spring;    a spring receiving bore connected to the retracting portion for accommodating the spring and including a guide portion for guiding the spring in the axial direction of the spring;    a receiving portion formed on either one of the rotating member and the rotation transmitting member and into which a head portion of the lock member is inserted when a relative rotation phase between the rotating member and the rotation transmitting member is positioned at a predetermined phase; wherein a length of the guide portion in the axial direction is larger than each distance formed between the windings of the spring adjacent to each other in the axial direction.    
   
   
       7 . A variable valve timing control device according to  claim 6 , wherein the spring receiving bore includes a concave corner at a connecting portion between an inner circumferential face of the guide portion and both end portions of the spring receiving bore in the radial direction thereof to which the both end portions of the spring contact respectively.  
   
   
       8 . A variable valve timing control device according to  claim 6 , wherein the guide portion is formed between an outer circumference of the winding portion and an inner circumference of the spring receiving bore.  
   
   
       9 . A variable valve timing control device according to  claim 7 , wherein the guide portion is formed between an outer circumference of the winding portion and an inner circumference of the spring receiving bore.  
   
   
       10 . A variable valve timing control device according to  claim 6 , wherein the both end portions of the spring in the axial direction are formed in parallel to a face defined perpendicular to the axial direction of the spring.