Camshaft phaser

Abstract

A camshaft phaser ( 1 ), including a drive element ( 2 ) and a driven element ( 3 ) that can be rotated relative to each other by hydraulic medium, and the drive element ( 2 ) or the driven element ( 3 ) has sealing elements ( 6 ) that are arranged in grooves ( 7 ) provided for this purpose, and the groove ( 7 ) has an undercut ( 8 ) that cooperates with a complementary geometry ( 12 ) of the sealing element ( 6 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A camshaft phaser comprising:
 a drive element; and   a driven element, the drive element and the driven element having several radially oriented vanes, the drive element and the driven element forming working chambers counteracting each other, each working chamber being defined by a pair of the vanes consisting of a vane of the drive element and a vane of the driven element, the working chambers pressurizable with hydraulic medium in order to achieve a relative rotation between the drive element and the driven element,   a radially oriented end face of one of the vanes having a sealing element, or a radially oriented end face of the vane being in contact with the sealing element, the sealing element being arranged in a groove of the vane, a cross section of the groove having an undercut, the sealing element extending behind the undercut.   
     
     
         12 . The camshaft phaser as recited in  claim 11  wherein the vane and the sealing element are configured in one piece. 
     
     
         13 . The camshaft phaser as recited in  claim 11  wherein the sealing element is spring-loaded. 
     
     
         14 . The camshaft phaser as recited in  claim 11  wherein the undercut is configured along an entire length of the groove. 
     
     
         15 . The camshaft phaser as recited in  claim 11  wherein the undercut is a stop in the radial direction. 
     
     
         16 . The camshaft phaser as recited in  claim 11  wherein the undercut is configured with a conical shape. 
     
     
         17 . The camshaft phaser as recited in  claim 11  wherein the undercut is configured symmetrically in the cross section of the groove. 
     
     
         18 . The camshaft phaser as recited in  claim 11  wherein the sealing element is spring-loaded and a pre-tensioning force of the spring element forces the sealing element against the undercut to limit the radial spring path. 
     
     
         19 . A drive element or a driven element comprising:
 a radially oriented vane, the drive element or the driven element forming with the other of the drive element or driven element working chambers counteracting each other, each working chamber being defined by a pair of the vanes consisting of a vane of the drive element and a vane of the driven element, the working chambers pressurizable with hydraulic medium in order to achieve a relative rotation between the drive element and the driven element,   a radially oriented end face of one of the vanes having a sealing element, or a radially oriented end face of the vane being in contact with the sealing element, the sealing element being arranged in a groove of the vane, a cross section of the groove having an undercut, the sealing element extending behind the undercut.   
     
     
         20 . A sealing element of a camshaft phaser, the sealing element comprising an extension, the sealing element being arranged in a groove of the vane, a cross section of the groove having an undercut, the extension extending behind the undercut, the vane being part of the drive or driven element as recited in  claim 19 .