Hydraulic camshaft adjuster with centre locking and adjustable locking play

Abstract

A hydraulic camshaft adjuster-having a stator drivable by the internal combustion engine and having a rotor connectable to a camshaft, wherein the rotor is fixed releasably to the stator via at least one first pin-like locking pin in a rotationally fixed manner in a centre position counter to a first rotational direction. The locking pin is designed for moving into and moving out of a first slotted guide in a first axial direction defined by the rotational axis of the stator and/or of the rotor. A second locking pin can be moved in a second axial direction parallel to the first axial direction but in a different direction, into a second slotted guide, so as to secure the rotor relative to the stator in a centre position counter to a second rotational direction in a different direction to the first rotational direction, and can be moved out of the second slotted guide.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A hydraulic camshaft adjuster comprising:
 a stator; and   a rotor connectable to a camshaft, the rotor being detachably fixed to the stator with the aid of at least one first locking pin in a center position rotatably fixedly counter to a first direction of rotation, the first locking pin being designed to retract into and extend out of a slotted gate in a first axial direction defined by a rotation axis of the stator or the rotor,   a second locking pin being retractable into a second slotted gate in a second axial direction parallel to the first axial direction but in a different direction, so as to secure the rotor relative to the stator in the center position counter to a second direction of rotation in a different direction from the first direction of rotation, and is extendable out of the second slotted gate.   
     
     
         11 . The camshaft adjuster as recited in  claim 10  wherein the rotor is rotatably supported relative to the stator in at least the first direction of rotation when the first locking pin is not in a form-locked fit with the first slotted gate, or the rotor is rotatably supported relative to the stator in at least the second direction of rotation when the second locking pin is not in a form-locked fit with the second slotted gate. 
     
     
         12 . The camshaft adjuster as recited in  claim 10  wherein the first locking pin and the second locking pin are extendably supported in the rotor. 
     
     
         13 . The camshaft adjuster as recited in  claim 10  wherein the first locking pin is extendable from a first front surface of the rotor, and the second locking pin is extendable from a second front surface of the rotor situated on an other side of the rotor. 
     
     
         14 . The camshaft adjuster as recited in  claim 10  wherein the first slotted gate is formed in a rotatably securable first cover on the stator, or the second slotted gate is formed in a rotatably securable second cover on the stator. 
     
     
         15 . The camshaft adjuster as recited in  claim 14  wherein the stator is situated axially between the first cover and the second cover. 
     
     
         16 . The camshaft adjuster as recited in  claim 10  wherein the first or second locking pin is separated from a cartridge by a spring, and the cartridge, the spring and the locking pin are at least partially situated in a hole oriented in the axial direction. 
     
     
         17 . The camshaft adjuster as recited in  claim 16  wherein the hole is a blind hole or a through-hole. 
     
     
         18 . The camshaft adjuster as recited in  claim 14  wherein the first cover or the second cover is fixable to the stator with the aid of at least one screw. 
     
     
         19 . The camshaft adjuster as recited in  claim 18  wherein one of the first and second covers has a threaded section for fastening the screw. 
     
     
         20 . The camshaft adjuster as recited in  claim 19  wherein the threaded section is designed as a threaded cover rotatably fixedly mountable on the first or second cover. 
     
     
         21 . The camshaft adjuster as recited in  claim 20  wherein the threaded cover is a ring or an integral part of the first or second cover. 
     
     
         22 . The camshaft adjuster as recited in  claim 18  wherein the screw projects through a kidney-shaped or fan-shaped recess. 
     
     
         23 . The camshaft adjuster as recited in  claim 22  wherein the recess is an elongated hole in the first or second cover.