Valve timing adjusting apparatus

Abstract

A valve timing adjusting apparatus includes a driving-side rotor, a driven-side rotor, a sun gear, and a planet gear. The driving-side rotor is rotatable synchronously with the crankshaft. The driven-side rotor is received in the driving-side rotor and rotatable synchronously with a camshaft. The sun gear is rotatable integrally with the driving-side rotor. The planet gear moves epicyclically relative to the sun gear. The driving-side rotor includes a peripheral wall member and a bottom wall member. One of the sun gear and the bottom wall member is fitted with an inner peripheral side of one axial end portion of the peripheral wall member. The other one is fitted with an outer peripheral side of the other axial end portion of the peripheral wall member.

1 . A valve timing adjusting apparatus for adjusting timing of a valve that is opened and closed by a camshaft through transmission of an engine torque from a crankshaft of an the internal combustion engine, the valve timing adjusting apparatus comprising:
 a driving-side rotor that is rotatable synchronously with the crankshaft by transmission of the engine torque through an annular torque transmission member that extends between the crankshaft and the driving-side rotor, wherein:
 the driving-side rotor includes a peripheral wall member and a bottom wall member; and 
 the bottom wall member is fastened coaxially to the peripheral wall member and connected with the torque transmission member; 
   a driven-side rotor that is received in the driving-side rotor and rotatable synchronously with the camshaft;   a sun gear that is fastened coaxially to the peripheral wall member and rotatable integrally with the driving-side rotor; and   a planet gear that is in mesh with the sun gear and moves epicyclically with respect to the sun gear such that a relative phase between the driving-side rotor and the driven-side rotor is changed, wherein:   one of the sun gear and the bottom wall member is fitted with an inner peripheral side of one axial end portion of the peripheral wall member; and   the other one of the sun gear and the bottom wall member is fitted with an outer peripheral side of the other axial end portion of the peripheral wall member.   
   
   
       2 . The valve timing adjusting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one of the sun gear and the bottom wall member is press fitted with the inner peripheral side of the one axial end portion of the peripheral wall member such that the one of the sun gear and the bottom wall member is press fitted into the one axial end portion; and   the other one of the sun gear and the bottom wall member is press fitted with the outer peripheral side of the other axial end portion of the peripheral wall member such that the other axial end portion is press fitted into the other one of the sun gear and the bottom wall member.   
   
   
       3 . The valve timing adjusting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the driving-side rotor includes at least one fastening member that fastens the peripheral wall member with the bottom wall member; and   the at least one fastening member fastens the sun gear together with the peripheral wall member and the bottom wall member.   
   
   
       4 . The valve timing adjusting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the bottom wall member is a sprocket having a plurality of teeth that are engaged with the torque transmission member.   
   
   
       5 . The valve timing adjusting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the peripheral wall member includes a stopper surface at an inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall member; and   the stopper surface has a step surface shape that contacts the driven-side rotor in a rotational direction such that change of the relative phase is limited.   
   
   
       6 . The valve timing adjusting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the peripheral wall member has a tubular shape extending straight in a longitudinal direction of the peripheral wall member.   
   
   
       7 . The valve timing adjusting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the peripheral wall member and the bottom wall member is formed by cutting a corresponding near net shape molded body.   
   
   
       8 . A valve timing adjusting apparatus for adjusting timing of a valve that is opened and closed by a camshaft through transmission of an engine torque from a crankshaft of an the internal combustion engine, the valve timing adjusting apparatus comprising:
 a driving-side rotor that is rotatable synchronously with the crankshaft, wherein:
 the driving-side rotor includes a peripheral wall member and a bottom wall member that is fastened coaxially to the peripheral wall member; 
 the bottom wall member is coupled with a torque transmission member that extends between the crankshaft and the driving-side rotor; and 
 the bottom wall member receives the engine torque transmitted through the torque transmission member; 
   a driven-side rotor that is received in the driving-side rotor and rotatable synchronously with the camshaft;   a sun gear that is fastened coaxially to the peripheral wall member and rotatable integrally with the driving-side rotor; and   a planet gear that is in mesh with the sun gear and moves epicyclically with respect to the sun gear such that a relative phase between the driving-side rotor and the driven-side rotor is changed, wherein:   the peripheral wall member includes one axial end portion that extends in a longitudinal direction of the driving-side rotor, the one axial end portion defining a first fitting hole therein that has a radially inner contact surface;   one of the sun gear and the bottom wall member has a first fitting projection that extends in the longitudinal direction of the driving-side rotor, the first fitting projection having a radially outer contact surface;   the first fitting projection is fitted into the first fitting hole such that the radially inner contact surface of the first fitting hole is opposed to the radially outer contact surface of the first fitting projection in a radial direction of the driving-side rotor;   the peripheral wall member includes the other axial end portion that serves as a second fitting projection extending in the longitudinal direction of the driving-side rotor, the second fitting projection having a radially outer contact surface;   the other one of the sun gear and the bottom wall member defines a second fitting hole therein that has a radially inner contact surface; and   the second fitting projection is fitted into the second fitting hole such that the radially inner contact surface of the second fitting hole is opposed to the radially outer contact surface of the second fitting projection in the radial direction of the driving-side rotor.   
   
   
       9 . The valve timing adjusting apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first fitting projection is press fitted into the first fitting hole; and   the second fitting projection is press fitted into the second fitting hole.   
   
   
       10 . The valve timing adjusting apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the driving-side rotor includes at least one fastening member that fastens the peripheral wall member with the bottom wall member; and   the at least one fastening member fastens the sun gear together with the peripheral wall member and the bottom wall member.   
   
   
       11 . The valve timing adjusting apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the bottom wall member is a sprocket having a plurality of teeth that are engaged with the torque transmission member.   
   
   
       12 . The valve timing adjusting apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the peripheral wall member includes a stopper surface at an inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall member; and   the stopper surface has a step surface shape that contacts the driven-side rotor in a rotational direction such that change of the relative phase is limited.   
   
   
       13 . The valve timing adjusting apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the peripheral wall member has a tubular shape extending straight from the one axial end portion to the other axial end portion in a longitudinal direction of the peripheral wall member.   
   
   
       14 . The valve timing adjusting apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 each of the peripheral wall member and the bottom wall member is formed by cutting a corresponding near net shape molded body.