Valve timing control apparatus

Abstract

A valve timing control apparatus includes a driving-side rotation member, a driven-side rotation member, and a lock mechanism including a recess portion, a lock member engageable and disengageable relative to the recess portion, and a biasing member. The recess portion includes a lock groove portion with which the lock member is configured to engage to lock a relative rotation phase at a lock phase, and a restriction groove portion. The lock groove portion includes a lock bottom surface and the restriction groove portion includes a restriction bottom surface. A second depth from an opening position of the recess portion to the restriction bottom surface is smaller than a first depth from the opening position to the lock bottom surface. The second depth from the opening position to the restriction bottom surface is smaller than a third depth from the restriction bottom surface to the lock bottom surface.

1 . A valve timing control apparatus comprising:
 a driving-side rotation member receiving a rotation power from a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine;   a driven-side rotation member arranged at a radially inner side of the driving-side rotation member and forming a void including an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber relative to an inner side surface of the driving-side rotation member, the driven-side rotation member arranged coaxially with the driving-side rotation member and rotating integrally with a camshaft for opening and closing a valve of the internal combustion engine;   a lock mechanism including a recess portion formed at one of the driving-side rotation member and the driven-side rotation member, a lock member provided at the other of the driving-side rotation member and the driven-side rotation member to be engageable and disengageable relative to the recess portion, and a biasing member biasing the lock member in a direction in which the lock member engages with the recess portion;   the recess portion including a lock groove portion with which the lock member is configured to engage to lock a relative rotation phase between the driving-side rotation member and the driven-side rotation member at a lock phase, and a restriction groove portion formed at a position connected to the lock groove portion to allow the relative rotation phase to change in a direction approaching the lock phase and to prohibit the relative rotation phase to change in a direction away from the lock phase,   the lock groove portion including a lock bottom surface with which a projecting end portion of the lock member is configured to make contact, the restriction groove portion including a restriction bottom surface with which the projecting end portion of the lock member is configured to make contact, a second depth from an opening position of the recess portion to the restriction bottom surface being smaller than a first depth from the opening position to the lock bottom surface, the second depth from the opening position to the restriction bottom surface being smaller than a third depth from the restriction bottom surface to the lock bottom surface.   
     
     
         2 . The valve timing control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the lock groove portion of the recess portion includes vertical wall surfaces formed to extend along a depth direction of the recess portion, and one of the vertical wall surfaces which is positioned adjacent to the restriction groove portion and with which the lock member is contactable is formed at a portion of an area along the depth direction from an end portion of the lock groove portion at a side of the opening position of the recess portion.