Internal-combustion engines – Accessories – Covers – trays – vibrators – corrosion inhibitors – air filters
Patent
1994-08-24
1996-07-09
Kamen, Noah P.
Internal-combustion engines
Accessories
Covers, trays, vibrators, corrosion inhibitors, air filters
123 9015, F02B 7700
Patent
active
055334750
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an engine and gear drive combination.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In internal combustion engines a variety of components including auxiliaries are driven from the crankshaft, the drive nowadays usually being via a belt or chain (both referred to as a belt for convenience) from a crankshaft sprocket or drive wheel. Some of these components, such as the camshafts and fuel injection pumps (for a diesel or fuel injection engine) are termed low-speed components as they are driven at less than crankshaft speed, specifically half-speed for a 4-stroke engine, while others, for example the water pump and alternator are high-speed components being driven above crankshaft speed. These different speed requirements have necessitated the provision of two separate drive belt systems, one for the low-speed components and the other for the high-speed components, as the crankshaft sprocket or wheel for the low-speed system, having to be relatively small, would not be suitable for the high speed system.
The use of two timing systems causes an increase in the length of the engine making it less compact, and additionally there are increased maintenance requirements as the tension in each belt system will have to be adjusted individually and eventual replacement of both belts may be needed. The slow speed belt can have a tensioner device while the alternator of the high speed belt can be movable for belt tensioning.
Further, the speed reduction at the engine camshaft has meant that relatively large camshaft drive wheels (or sprockets) are needed, leading to an increased height of the engine (for an overhead camshaft design) thereby causing possible problems in installing the engine below an engine head or bonnet. The problem may be mitigated by altering the valve angles but this may adversely affect engine performance.
Additionally, in engine designs up until now, it has been customary to operate with set (fixed) valve timing and fuel injection timing relative to a crankshaft datum. This, however, is not conducive to optimum engine performance for running over a range of different operating and load conditions on the engine. There have been proposals previously for phase adjustment in these timings during engine running but these have proved over complex and/or ineffective.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an engine and gear drive combination which will obviate the above problems.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an engine and gear drive combination including a gear device for an engine component driven by a drive system from the engine drive shaft, said gear device being adapted for location in said drive system and means being provided to locate the gear device close to said component, the gear device comprises an input element driven from the engine drive shaft and an output element coupled to a driven shaft of the component. The gear device serves to step the drive speed between the input and output elements, and one of said input or output elements comprises a sunwheel assembly while the other comprises an annulus gear. The sunwheel assembly and the annulus gear ar connected by planet gears mounted on a planet carrier, the planet carrier having a control means including a lever for providing angular adjustment between the sunwheel assembly and annulus gear. The the lever is connected to the planet carrier and angular adjustment between the sunwheel assembly and annulus gear is effected by movement of the lever in a direction normal to the axis of rotation of the planet carrier.
Preferably, the gear drive operates in a step-down mode.
In a preferred embodiment, the planet carrier is mounted on a sleeve extending concentrically with the driven shaft of the component and away from the component.
Preferably, operation of the lever is effected by sensing means sensing operating parameters of the engine.
Preferably, the annulus gear comprises a
REFERENCES:
patent: 4305352 (1981-12-01), Oshima et al.
patent: 4747375 (1988-05-01), Williams
patent: 5174253 (1992-12-01), Yamazaki et al.
Kamen Noah P.
Perkins Limited
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