Two-piece vane seal

Abstract

A two piece vane seal for a variable cam timing phaser for an internal combustion engine that reduces leakage. The two piece vane seal having a first portion including a first end, a second end, and a flange extending axially from the first end. Also having a second portion including a first end, a second end, and a flange extending axially from the first end. The first portion is assembled relative to and connected to the second portion. Also having a spring having a first end and a second end and a length, extending over the curved ledge of the longitudinally extending wall of the first portion and the second portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A two piece vane seal comprising:
 a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being a mirror image of the first portion, the first portion and the second portion each comprising:
 a first end; 
 a second end connected to the first end; 
 a flange extending axially from the first end; 
 wherein the first end and the second end are connected by a longitudinally extending wall; 
 the longitudinally extending wall comprising:
 an inner surface; 
 a rectangular structure extending radially outward from and parallel to the inner surface of the longitudinally extending wall; 
 a flat surface extending parallel to and radially outward from the inner surface of the longitudinally extending wall; 
 a first longitudinal recess defined by the rectangular structure adjacent to at least the flat surface defining a second longitudinal recess between the flat surface and the rectangular structure and including a radially outward exposed surface; 
 at least one spring end retainer extending radially outward from the inner surface of the longitudinally extending wall; 
 an edge protruding radially outward from the inner surface of the longitudinally extending wall, projecting from the second end a length and aligned with the second longitudinal recess including a first end with a protrusion and a second end; 
 a curved ledge extending radially outward from and parallel to the inner surface of the longitudinally extending wall between the second end and the spring end retainer; 
 a ramp extending radially outward from and parallel to the inner surface of the longitudinally extending wall connecting the curved ledge to the flat surface; 
 
 the first portion assembled relative to and connected to the second portion with the inner surface of the longitudinally extending wall of the first portion opposite the inner surface of the longitudinally extending wall of the second portion, such that the second longitudinal recess of the second portion receives the edge extending from the longitudinally extending wall of the first portion; and 
 a spring comprising: a first end; a second end; and a length; the first end received by the spring end retainer on the inner surface of the longitudinally extending wall of the second portion, the second end received by the spring end retainer on the inner surface of the longitudinally extending wall of the first portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The two piece vane seal of  claim 1 , wherein the spring is selected from the group consisting of a leaf spring, an accordion spring, a blade spring, and a compression spring. 
     
     
         3 . The two piece vane seal of  claim 1 , wherein the vane seal is extendable to conform to geometric irregularities and manufacturing tolerances. 
     
     
         4 . The two piece vane seal of  claim 1 , wherein the vane seal is contractible to conform to geometric irregularities and manufacturing tolerances. 
     
     
         5 . The two piece vane seal of  claim 1 , wherein, the flat surface of the longitudinally extending wall of the second portion receives the ramp of the longitudinally extending wall of the first portion when the first portion is assembled relative to and connected to the second portion. 
     
     
         6 . A two piece vane seal comprising:
 a first portion comprising:
 a first end; 
 a second end connected to the first end; 
 a flange extending axially from the first end; 
 wherein the first end and the second end are connected by a first longitudinally extending wall including an inner surface with a rectangular structure extending radially outward therefrom and parallel to the inner surface of the first longitudinally extending wall defining a first longitudinal recess, the rectangular structure being adjacent to at least a flat surface defining a second longitudinal recess between the flat surface and the rectangular surface and having a radially outward exposed surface; 
 at least one spring end retainer extending radially outward from the inner surface of the first longitudinally extending wall; 
 an edge extending radially outward from the inner surface of the first longitudinally extending wall protruding from the second end a length, and aligned with the second longitudinal recess; 
   a second portion comprising:
 a first end; 
 a second end connected to the first end; 
 a flange extending axially from the first end; 
 wherein the first end and the second end are connected by a second longitudinally extending wall having an inner surface with a rectangular structure extending radially outward therefrom and parallel to the inner surface of the second longitudinally extending wall defining a first longitudinal recess, the rectangular structure being adjacent to at least a flat surface defining a second longitudinal recess of the second longitudinally extending wall between the flat surface and the rectangular surface and having a radially outward exposed surface; 
 at least one spring end retainer extending radially outward from the inner surface of the second longitudinally extending wall; 
 an edge extending radially outward from the inner surface of the second longitudinally extending wall protruding from the second end a length and aligned with the second longitudinal recess of the second longitudinally extending wall; 
   the first portion assembled relative to and connected to the second portion with the inner surface of the first longitudinal wall opposite the inner surface of the second longitudinal wall, such that the second longitudinal recess of the second longitudinally extending wall receives the edge extending from the first longitudinally extending wall and the second longitudinal recess of the first longitudinally extending wall receives the edge extending from the second longitudinally extending wall; and   a spring having: a first end; a second end; and a length, the first end received by the spring end retainer on the inner surface of the second longitudinally extending wall of the second portion, the second end received by the spring end retainer on the inner surface of the first longitudinally extending wall of the first portion.   
     
     
         7 . The two piece vane seal of  claim 6 , wherein the spring is selected from the group consisting of a leaf spring, an accordion spring, a blade spring, and a compression spring. 
     
     
         8 . The two piece vane seal of  claim 6 , wherein the second portion is smaller than the first portion. 
     
     
         9 . The two piece vane seal of  claim 6 , wherein the second longitudinal recess of the first longitudinally extending wall of the first portion has a first end with a protrusion and a second end. 
     
     
         10 . The two piece vane seal of  claim 6 , wherein the second longitudinal recess of the second longitudinally extending wall of the second portion has a first end with a protrusion and a second end. 
     
     
         11 . A variable cam timing phaser for an internal combustion engine comprising:
 a housing assembly;   a rotor assembly coaxially located within the housing assembly including vanes extending therefrom, the end of the vane defining a groove;   a vane seal received within the groove, the vane seal comprising:
 a first portion comprising:
 a first end; 
 a second end connected to the first end; 
 a flange extending axially from the first end; 
 wherein the first end and the second end are connected by a first longitudinally extending wall including an inner surface with a rectangular structure extending radially outward therefrom and parallel to the inner surface of the first longitudinally extending wall defining a first longitudinal recess, the rectangular structure being adjacent to at least a flat surface defining a second longitudinal recess between the flat surface and the rectangular surface and having a radially outward exposed surface; 
 at least one spring end retainer extending radially outward from the inner surface of the first longitudinally extending wall; 
 an edge extending radially outward from the inner surface of the first longitudinally extending wall extending from the second end a length and aligned with the second longitudinal recess; 
 
 a second portion comprising:
 a first end; 
 a second end connected to the first end; 
 a flange extending axially from the first end; 
 wherein the first end and the second end are connected by a second longitudinally extending wall having an inner surface with a rectangular structure extending radially outward therefrom and parallel to the inner surface of the second longitudinally extending wall defining a first longitudinal recess, the rectangular structure being adjacent to at least a flat surface defining a second longitudinal recess of the second longitudinally extending wall between the flat surface and the rectangular surface and having a radially outward exposed surface; 
 at least one spring end retainer extending radially outward from the inner surface of the second longitudinally extending wall; 
 an edge extending radially outward from the inner surface of the second longitudinally extending wall extending from the second end a length and aligned with the second longitudinal recess of the second longitudinally extending wall; 
 
   the first portion assembled relative to and connected to the second portion with the inner surface of the first longitudinal wall opposite the inner surface of the second longitudinal wall, such that the second longitudinal recess of the second longitudinally extending wall receives the edge extending from the first longitudinally extending wall;   the second longitudinal recess of the first longitudinally extending wall receives the edge extending from the second longitudinally extending wall; and   a spring having a first end; a second end; and a length, the first end received by the spring end retainer on the inner surface of the second longitudinally extending wall of the second portion, the second end received by the spring end retainer on the inner surface of the first longitudinally extending wall of the first portion.   
     
     
         12 . The variable cam timing phaser of  claim 11 , wherein the spring is selected from the group consisting of a leaf spring, an accordion spring, a blade spring, and a compression spring. 
     
     
         13 . The variable cam timing phaser of  claim 11 , wherein the vane seal is contractible to conform to geometric irregularities and manufacturing tolerances.