Oil chamber sealing unit of a hydraulic camshaft adjuster of an internal combustion engine

Abstract

In an oil chamber sealing unit of a swing-wing camshaft adjuster of an internal combustion engine, comprising a seal member with an outer sealing surface and with an inner cavity partly surrounded by a wall, and also a separate spring element which is arranged partially in the inner cavity so as to project beyond the wall opposite the sealing surface thereof, the spring element is held in the seal body by means of a holding element extending from the seal member which consists of a deformable metal sheet.

1 . An oil chamber sealing unit ( 16 ,  40 ,  72 ,  100 ) of a hydraulic swing-wing camshaft adjuster ( 2 ) an internal combustion engine, comprising a seal member ( 18 ,  42 ,  74 ,  102 ) with an outer sealing face ( 30 ,  66 ) and with an inner cavity ( 28 ,  52 ,  88 ,  110 ) and a separate spring element ( 20 ,  44 ,  76 ,  104 ) disposed partially in the inner cavity ( 28 ,  52 ,  88 ,  110 ) so as to project from the seal member opposite the sealing face ( 30 ,  66 ), thereof, said spring element ( 20 ,  40 ,  76 ,  104 ) being retained in the seal member ( 18 ,  42 ,  74 ,  102 ) by means of holding elements ( 36 ,  38 ,  62 ,  64 ,  80   106 ), the seal member ( 18 ,  42 ,  74 ,  102 ) consisting of a deformable metal sheet bent so as to form the seal member.  
     
     
         2 . The oil chamber sealing unit ( 16 ,  40 ,  72 ,  100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the wall comprises cover wall portions ( 32 ,  34 ,  58 ,  60 ) which are arranged at least essentially parallel to, and opposite, the sealing face ( 30 ,  66 ) at opposite longitudinal ends of the seal member.  
     
     
         3 . The oil chamber sealing unit ( 16 ,  40 ,  72 ,  100 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the holding element ( 36 ,  38 ,  62 ,  64 ,  80 ,  106 ) are arranged on the cover wall portions ( 32 ,  34 ,  58 ,  60 ,  78 ).  
     
     
         4 . The oil chamber sealing unit ( 16 ,  40 ,  72 ,  100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the holding element ( 36 ,  38 ,  62 ,  64 ,  106 ) is formed by sheet metal element sections of which, during installation of the spring element ( 20 ,  44 ,  76 ,  104 ), at least one is bent into the inner cavity ( 28 ,  52 ,  110 ) after at least partial insertion of the spring element ( 20 ,  44 ,  104 ).  
     
     
         5 . The oil chamber sealing unit ( 40 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spring element ( 44 ) has an opening ( 54 ,  56 ) for accommodating the holding element ( 62 ,  64 ).  
     
     
         6 . The oil chamber sealing unit ( 40 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spring element ( 44 ) comprises a planar bearing face ( 68 ), facing away from the sealing face ( 30 ,  66 ), for support on a support structure of the swing-wing adjuster ( 2 ).  
     
     
         7 . The oil chamber sealing unit ( 40 ) as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein a bead ( 70 ) is integrally formed in the bearing face ( 68 ).  
     
     
         8 . The oil chamber sealing unit ( 72 ,  100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spring element ( 76 ,  104 ) has embossed into it a support projection ( 96 ,  98 ), facing away from the sealing face, for bearing against a support structure of the swing-wing adjuster ( 2 ).  
     
     
         9 . The oil chamber sealing unit ( 72 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the holding element ( 80 ) is one of a welded, soldered, adhesively bonded or pressed joint.  
     
     
         10 . The oil chamber sealing unit ( 72 ,  100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spring element ( 76 ,  104 ) comprises a center region ( 82 ) and two lateral outer regions ( 84 ,  86 ), the center region ( 82 ) being held in the inner cavity ( 88 ,  110 ) by the holding element ( 80 ,  106 ), and the outer regions ( 84 ,  86 ) projecting beyond the walls of the seal member.  
     
     
         11 . The oil chamber sealing unit ( 72 ,  100 ) as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the outer regions ( 84 ,  86 ) comprise end sections ( 90 ,  92 ) which project into the inner cavity ( 88 ,  110 ).  
     
     
         12 . A swing-wing camshaft adjuster ( 2 ) having an inner wheel ( 4 ) with wings ( 12 ) extending into cavities ( 14 ) formed in an outer wheel ( 4 ) so as to form oil chambers ( 14 ) at opposite sides of the wings ( 12 ), and seal units for sealing the oil chambers, said seal units ( 16 ,  40 ,  72 ,  100 ) comprising each a seal member ( 18 ,  42 ,  74 ,  102 ) with an outer sealing face ( 30 ,  66 ) and with an inner cavity ( 28 ,  52 ,  88 ,  110 ) and a separate spring element ( 20 ,  44 ,  76 ,  104 ) disposed partially in the inner cavity ( 28 ,  52 ,  88 ,  110 ) so as to project from the seal member opposite the sealing face ( 30 ,  66 ), thereof, said spring element ( 20 ,  40 ,  76 ,  104 ) being retained in the seal body ( 18 ,  42 ,  74 ,  102 ) by means of holding elements ( 36 ,  38 ,  62 ,  64 ,  80   106 ), the seal member ( 18 ,  42 ,  74 ,  102 ) consisting of a deformable metal sheet bent to form the seal member.