A device for effecting an axial shift of a rotary shaft for use in a variable camshaft drive mechanism

摘要

A device for effecting an axial shift of a rotary shaft such as the camshaft of a vehicle comprising a first component 42 having a shaft 48 and a head, a second component 44 having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, the shaft of the first component being inserted into the bore, a detent couples the components together. The first end of the second component is countersunk so as to define inclined ramps in walls and one or more rollers 40 are disposed between the head of the first component and the inclined ramps, wherein as the second component is rotated about a longitudinal axis the rollers move along the inclined ramps due to centrifugal or centripetal force and act upon the first component to move it axially with respect to the second component which may rotate the first component with respect to the second component. In this way the timing of the valves of a combustion engine can be varied with rotational speed of the crankshaft of the engine.