Driving force transmitter and valve timing controller using the same

Abstract

A driving force transmitter includes a housing rotating with the driving shaft, a transmitting member rotating with the driving shaft; and a torsion coil spring having a first end engaged with the housing and a second end engaged with the transmitting member. The spring biases the transmitting member in an advance direction or a retard direction relative to the housing. The housing includes an opening confronting the transmitting member. The transmitting member includes a projecting portion rotatably supported by the opening. An intersection point of a rotational center axis of the transmitting member and a line passing through an engaging point of the first end of the biasing member and substantially vertically intersecting the rotational center axis is positioned in a range corresponding to a width in which the projecting portion is supported by the opening.

1 . A driving force transmitter transmitting a driving force from a driving shaft to a driven shaft, comprising: 
 a housing rotating with the driving shaft or the driven shaft;    a transmitting member accommodated in the housing, the transmitting member rotating with the driven shaft or the driving shaft; and    a biasing member having a first end engaged with the housing and a second end engaged with the transmitting member, the biasing member biasing the transmitting member in an advance direction or a retard direction with respect to the housing; wherein    the housing includes an opening confronting the transmitting member,    the transmitting member includes a projecting portion rotatably supported by the opening, and    an intersection point of a rotational center axis of the transmitting member and a line passing through an engaging point of the first end of the biasing member and substantially vertically intersecting the rotational center axis of the transmitting member is positioned in such a manner as to be within a range corresponding to a width in which the projecting portion is supported by the opening.    
   
   
       2 . A driving force transmitter according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the housing and the transmitting member are made of aluminum or aluminum alloy.    
   
   
       3 . A driving force transmitter according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the biasing member is a torsion coil spring accommodated in the projecting portion,    the first end of the torsion coil spring is engaged with an outer surface of the housing,    the second end of the torsion coil spring is engaged with a bottom surface of the projecting portion,    the projecting portion projects by a specific projecting amount which is substantially the same as an axial length of the torsion coil spring, and    an axial length of the inner surface of the opening is equal to or longer than the specific projecting amount.    
   
   
       4 . A driving force transmitter according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 the housing is provided with a chamber accommodating the transmitting member,    the transmitting member is provided with a projection which is accommodated in the chamber, rotates keeping a touch with an inner surface of the housing, and circumferentially divides the chamber, and    a rotational phase between the housing and the transmitting member is adjusted by controlling pressure in the chamber.    
   
   
       5 . A valve timing controller for an internal combustion engine, comprising 
 a housing rotating with a crankshaft of the engine or a camshaft driving an intake valve and/or an exhaust valve;    a transmitting member accommodated in the housing, the transmitting member rotating with the crankshaft or the camshaft; and    a torsion coil spring having a first end engaged with the housing and a second end engaged with the transmitting member, the torsion coil spring biasing the transmitting member in an advance direction or a retard direction with respect to the housing; wherein    the housing includes an opening confronting the transmitting member, and a chamber accommodating the transmitting member,    the transmitting member includes a projecting portion rotatably supported by the opening, and a projection which is accommodated in the chamber, rotates keeping a touch with an inner surface of the housing, and circumferentially divides the chamber,    an intersection point of a rotational center axis of the transmitting member and a line passing through an engaging point of the first end of the biasing member and substantially vertically intersecting the rotational center axis of the transmitting member is positioned in such a manner as to be within a range corresponding to a width in which the projecting portion is supported by the opening, and    a valve timing of the intake valve and/or the exhaust valve is adjusted by controlling pressure in the chamber.