Dual Camshaft Phase Control Assembly

Abstract

The present disclosure employs a pair of camshafts for intake valves. A first phase controller is installed at a first end of the first intake camshaft connecting to the crankshaft. A second phase controller is installed at a second end of the first intake camshaft connecting to the second intake camshaft. Each phase controller can adjust phase angle accordingly to modify intake valve timing and intake valve lift. This set up is duplicated for the exhaust valves to modulate exhaust valve timing and exhaust valve lift. First and second camshafts are connected via a series of levers, which merges the rotations of both camshafts into one. The phase controllers can be differential gear sets, epicyclical gear sets, or a combination thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dual camshaft phase control assembly comprising:
 a first phase controller connecting a crankshaft and a first end of a first camshaft, wherein the first phase controller comprises a first gear system to modulate phase relations between the crankshaft and the first camshaft;   a second phase controller connecting a second end of the first camshaft and a second end of a second camshaft, wherein the second phase controller comprises a second gear system to modulate phase relations between the first and second camshafts; and   means to combine rotational output of the first and the second camshafts.   
     
     
         2 . The dual camshaft phase control assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first gear system further comprises a first set of differential bevel gears with:
 a pair of input and output gears to receive and to transmit torque from the crankshaft which in turn drive the first camshaft;   a pair of control and spider gears in meshed relations with the input and output gears; and   an actuator, driven by a first control module in communication with a vehicle's central computing system, to rotate the control gear to modulate phase relations between the crankshaft and the first camshaft.   
     
     
         3 . The first gear system of  claim 2 , wherein the input gears, the output gears, the actuator, and the first control module are arranged in a serial fashion sharing a common rotational axis with the first camshaft. 
     
     
         4 . The first gear system of  claim 2 , wherein the first control module drives the output gear via a spur gear. 
     
     
         5 . The dual camshaft phase control assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second gear system further comprises a second set of differential bevel gears with:
 a pair of input and output gears to receive and to transmit torque from the first camshaft which in turn drive the second camshaft;   a pair of control and spider gears in meshed relations with the input and output gears; and   an actuator, driven by a second control module in communication with the vehicle's central computing system, to rotate the control gear to modulate phase relations between the first and second camshafts.   
     
     
         6 . The second gear system of  claim 5 , wherein the input gears, the output gears, the actuator, and the second control module are arranged in a serial fashion sharing a common rotational axis with the second camshaft. 
     
     
         7 . The second gear system of  claim 5 , wherein the second control module drives the output gear via a spur gear. 
     
     
         8 . The dual camshaft phase control assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first gear system further comprises a first set of epicyclical gears with:
 a sun gear, in gear mesh with a plurality of planet gears, to receive and to transmit torque from the crankshaft which in turn drives the first camshaft;   a ring gear to encapsulate the planet gears via gear mesh; and   a spur gear to drive the ring gear to modulate phase relations between the crankshaft and the first camshaft as instructed by a first control module, which is in communication with a vehicle's central computing system.   
     
     
         9 . The first gear system of  claim 8 , wherein the sun gear shares a common rotational axis with the first camshaft. 
     
     
         10 . The dual camshaft phase control assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second gear system further comprises a second set of epicyclical gears with:
 a sun gear, surrounded by a plurality of planet gears via gear mesh, to receive and to transmit torque from the first camshaft which in turn drive the second camshaft;   a ring gear to encapsulate the planet gears via gear mesh; and   a spur gear to drive the ring gear to modulate phase relations between the first and the second camshafts as instructed by a second control module, which is in communication with a vehicle's central computing system.   
     
     
         11 . The second gear system of  claim 10 , wherein the sun gear shares a common rotational axis with the second camshaft. 
     
     
         12 . The dual camshaft phase control assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the crankshaft and the first camshaft are connected via a belt. 
     
     
         13 . The dual camshaft phase control assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the means to combine rotational output of the first and the second camshafts further comprises:
 a plurality of levers each with a first section configured to be in contact with a first camshaft lobe,   a second section in connection with the first section and configured to be in contact with a second camshaft lobe; and   a cam prominent which drives an engine valve.   
     
     
         14 . The means to combine rotational output of the first and the second camshafts of  claim 1  further employs a plurality of levers, arranged at a pre-determined interval apart from one another, operating in conjunction with the first and the second camshafts lobes to drive a plurality of engine valves via corresponding cam prominents. 
     
     
         15 . The dual camshaft phase control assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second camshafts are substantially parallel lengthwise.