IP Library Granted Patent US 7,404,383
Granted Patent B2
US 7,404,383 · App. 10/598,128 · Granted Jul 29, 2008

Valve train with cam switching for the gas exchange valves of a four-cycle internal combustion engine

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,404,383
App. No.
10/598,128
Granted
Jul 29, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A valve train with cam switching used for intermittent control of a four-cycle internal combustion engine. The valve train comprises a splined shaft, one cam block per cylinder, and a housing-mounted actuator pin. On each end of the cam block is a cylindrical end piece and a mirror-symmetric displacing groove. A housing-mounting actuator pin inserts radially into each displacing groove. The cam block reciprocates axially through the cooperation of the actuator pins and the displacing grooves when the engine is running. Low wear of the valve train and a high switching speed are achieved due to the fact that the displacing grooves possess an accelerating flank with an impact ramp that results in a constant, low initial axial speed of the cam block and a feeble impact force of the actuator pins.

Claims (12)

1. A valve train comprising cam switching for an intermittent control of a four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising following features and components:

a splined shaft comprising an axial outer gearing and one cam block per cylinder, said cam block comprising an inner gearing through which the cam block can be axially displaced and connected rotationally fast to the splined shaft;

the cam block comprising per gas exchange valve two cams arranged adjacent to each other and having identical base circle diameters and unequal lifts;

on each end of the cam block is arranged a cylindrical end piece, and a mirror-symmetrical displacing groove is made radially in the periphery of each cylindrical end piece;

a housing-mounted actuator pin for radial insertion into each displacing groove, the cam block being able to reciprocate axially through a cooperation of the actuator pins and the displacing grooves when the engine is running,

wherein

the displacing groove possesses an accelerating flank comprising an impact ramp whose constant, gentle ascending gradient causes a correspondingly constant, low initial axial speed of the cam block and a feeble impact force of the actuator pins.

2. A valve train of claim 1 , wherein the ascending gradient of the impact ramp is situated between 5 and 50 μm per degree.

3. A valve train of claim 2 , wherein an axial clearance of the actuator pins in the displacing grooves is 1.2 mm in a run-in region, decreases to 0.1 mm up to a change-over point between the accelerating flank and a braking flank, and increases up to a run-out region to, 0.2 mm.

4. A valve train of claim 3 , wherein a base circle region of the cams extends from a beginning of the impact ramp to an end of a braking region.

5. A valve train of claim 4 , wherein the displacing grooves on the periphery of the cylindrical end pieces start with a depth run-in region and end with a depth run-out region and that a depth region having a constant depth is situated between said depth run-in and run-out regions.

6. A valve train of claim 5 , wherein the depth region begins before an impact region of the accelerating flank and extends up to the end of the braking region.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 11, 2012
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 028533/0036 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2012
From: SCHAEFFLER KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 028523/0790 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2006
From: ELENDT, HARALD
To: SCHAEFFLER KG
Reel/Frame 018135/0012 →