Importance

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Abstract

A driving connection between a first and hollow shaft (1) and a second shaft (3) within it, the axes (19, 20) of the two shafts being parallel at all times. By relative radial displacement of the two axes, the first shaft rotates at a variable and fluctuating speed within each revolution in response to uniform rotation of the second shaft. The ball (36) or part-cylindrical (22) end of a radial arm (2), carried by the second shaft, engages rotatably with a recess (37, 31) in a block (4) movable in a radial slideway (23) formed on the first shaft. Axial compactness is promoted by the arm, block and slideway all lying in a common radial plane (30), and radial compactness by the manner of engagement between the arm end (36, 22) and the corresponding recess (37, 31). The invention finds particular use where the first shaft (1) is the camshaft of an internal combustion engine, and in which the relative movement of the shaft axes (19, 20) may therefore be used to vary the timing of the engine valves (7, 8).

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First Claim