Valve bridge for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, especially of a motor vehicle, and internal combustion engine

Inventors: Patrick Rohde (Esslingen, DE); Matthias Lahr (Schwabisch Gmund, DE); Andreas Ruess (Leutenbach, DE)

Assignee: DAIMLER TRUCK AG

F01L1/181 F01L1/26 F01L2303/01

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12698731
App. No.: 18/686,317
Granted: Aug 4, 2026
Kind: B2

External Links

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Abstract

The invention pertains to a valve bridge ( 42 ) for a valve train ( 10 ) of an internal combustion engine, having a bridge actuation area ( 44 ), via which the valve bridge ( 42 ) can be actuated by means of a first rocker lever ( 32 ) of the valve train ( 10 ) and can thus be moved in translational motion in a first direction of movement ( 22 ), having a first valve actuation area ( 46 ), via which, by actuating the valve bridge ( 42 ), a first gas exchange valve ( 18 ) of the internal combustion engine can be actuated by means of the valve bridge ( 42 ), and with a second valve actuation area ( 48 ), via which, by actuating the valve bridge ( 42 ), a second gas exchange valve ( 20 ) of the internal combustion engine can be actuated by means of the valve bridge. The valve bridge ( 42 ) comprises a bridge center part ( 45 ) forming the bridge actuation area ( 44 ), a first bridge part ( 52 ) forming the first valve actuation area ( 46 ), a guide part ( 54 ) projecting from the bridge center part ( 45 ) and from the first bridge part ( 52 ) along a longitudinal extension direction ( 50 ) extending perpendicularly to the first direction of movement ( 22 ) and which is movable with the bridge center part ( 45 ) and with the first bridge part ( 52 ), and a second bridge part ( 58 ) formed separately from the bridge center part ( 45 ), separately from the first bridge part ( 52 ) and separately from the guide part ( 54 ), and forming the second valve actuation area ( 48 ), the second bridge part having a reception orifice ( 60 ) in which the guide part ( 54 ) engages.

Claims (33)

1 . Valve bridge ( 42 ) for a valve train ( 10 ) of an internal combustion engine, having a bridge actuation area ( 44 ) via which the valve bridge ( 42 ) can be actuated by means of a first rocker lever ( 32 ) of the valve train ( 10 ) and can thereby be moved in translational motion in a first direction of movement ( 22 ), having a first valve actuation area ( 46 ) via which, by actuating the valve bridge ( 42 ), a first gas exchange valve ( 18 ) of the internal combustion engine can be actuated by means of the valve bridge ( 42 ), and with a second valve actuation area ( 48 ), via which a second gas exchange valve ( 20 ) of the internal combustion engine can be actuated by means of the valve bridge ( 42 ) by actuating the valve bridge,

characterized in that

the valve bridge ( 42 ) has a bridge center part ( 45 ) forming the bridge actuation area ( 44 ), a first bridge part ( 52 ) forming the first valve actuation area ( 46 ), a guide part ( 54 ) which projects from the bridge center part ( 45 ) and from the first bridge part ( 52 ) along a longitudinal extension direction ( 50 ) extending perpendicularly to the first direction of movement ( 22 ) and which can be moved together with the bridge center part ( 45 ) and with the first bridge part ( 52 ), and a second bridge part ( 58 ) formed separately from the bridge center part ( 45 ), separately from the first bridge part ( 52 ) and separately from the guide part ( 54 ) and forming the second valve actuation area ( 48 ), which has a reception orifice ( 60 ) in which the guide part ( 54 ) engages, as a result of which the second bridge part ( 58 ) is held on the guide part ( 54 ) and, via the guide part ( 54 ), on the bridge center part ( 45 ) and on the first bridge part ( 52 ) so as to be movable at least along the longitudinal extension direction ( 50 ) relative to the bridge center part ( 45 ) and relative to the first bridge part ( 52 ) and relative to the guide part ( 54 ).

2 . Valve bridge ( 42 ) according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the second bridge part ( 58 ) is also held movably along the first direction of movement ( 22 ) relative to the bridge center part ( 45 ), relative to the first bridge part ( 52 ) and relative to the guide part ( 54 ) on the guide part ( 54 ) and via the guide part ( 54 ) on the bridge center part ( 45 ) and on the first bridge part ( 52 ).

3 . Valve bridge ( 42 ) according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the reception orifice ( 60 ) is designed as a through-hole-opening which is completely penetrated by the guide part ( 54 ) along the longitudinal extension direction ( 50 ).

4 . Valve bridge ( 42 ) according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the reception orifice ( 60 ) is completely closed circumferentially along its circumferential direction running around the longitudinal extension direction ( 50 ).

5 . Valve bridge ( 42 ) according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the second bridge part ( 58 ) is designed as a pin whose longitudinal extension direction runs parallel to the first direction of movement ( 22 ).

6 . Valve bridge ( 42 ) according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the bridge center part ( 45 ) and/or the first bridge part ( 52 ) and/or the guide part ( 54 ) is formed in one piece.

7 . Valve bridge ( 42 ) according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the guide part ( 54 ) is formed in one piece with the bridge center part ( 45 ) and with the first bridge part ( 52 ) as a structural unit ( 55 ) and is thereby connected to the bridge center part ( 45 ) and to the first bridge part ( 52 ) and can be moved along with the bridge actuation area ( 44 ) and with the first bridge part ( 52 ).

8 . Internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle, having a valve train ( 10 ) which has a first gas exchange valve ( 18 ), a second gas exchange valve ( 20 ), a first rocker lever ( 32 ) and a valve bridge ( 42 ) which is common to the gas exchange valves ( 18 , 20 ) and via which the gas exchange valves ( 18 , 20 ) can be actuated by means of the first rocker lever ( 32 ) and can thereby be moved in translational motion in a first direction of movement ( 22 ), the valve bridge ( 32 ) having

a bridge actuation area ( 44 ), via which the valve bridge ( 42 ) can be actuated by means of the first rocker lever ( 32 ) and can thereby be moved in translational motion parallel to the first direction of movement ( 22 ),

a first valve actuation area ( 46 ) via which the first gas exchange valve ( 18 ) can be actuated by means of the valve bridge ( 42 ) by actuating the valve bridge ( 42 ), and

a second valve actuation area ( 48 ), via which the second gas exchange valve ( 20 ) can be actuated by means of the valve bridge ( 42 ) by actuating the valve bridge ( 42 ),

characterized in that the

valve bridge ( 42 ) has a bridge center part ( 45 ) forming the bridge actuation area ( 44 ), a first bridge part ( 52 ) forming the first valve actuation area ( 46 ), a guide part ( 54 ) projecting from the bridge center part ( 45 ) and from the first bridge part ( 52 ) along a longitudinal extension direction ( 50 ) extending perpendicularly to the first direction of movement ( 22 ) from the bridge center part ( 45 ) and from the first bridge part ( 52 ) and movable with the bridge center part ( 45 ) and with the first bridge part ( 52 ), and a second bridge part ( 58 ) formed separately from the bridge center part ( 45 ), separately from the first bridge part ( 52 ) and separately from the guide part ( 54 ) and forming the second valve actuation area ( 48 ), which has a reception orifice ( 60 ) in which the guide part ( 54 ) engages, as a result of which the second bridge part ( 58 ) is held on the guide part ( 54 ) and, via the guide part ( 54 ), on the bridge center part ( 45 ) and on the first bridge part ( 52 ) so as to be movable at least along the longitudinal extension direction ( 50 ) relative to the bridge center part ( 45 ) and relative to the first bridge part ( 52 ) and relative to the guide part ( 54 ).

9 . Internal combustion engine according to claim 8 ,

characterized in that

the internal combustion engine can be operated in an engine braking mode by means of the valve train ( 10 ) and thereby as an engine brake.

10 . Internal combustion engine according to claim 9 ,

characterized by

a second rocker lever ( 62 ), wherein the second bridge part ( 58 ) is movably mounted such that in the engine braking mode the second bridge part ( 58 ) and thereby the second gas exchange valve ( 20 ) can be actuated by means of the second rocker lever ( 62 ), while the first gas exchange valve ( 18 ) is not actuated.