Abstract: A strut including a housing, a plunger within a space in the housing and including a tapered outer circumferential surface, a primary spring engaged with the housing, a wedge element within the space and including a tapered inner circumferential surface engageable with the outer circumferential surface, and a secondary spring engaged with the wedge element and the plunger to urge the plunger in an axial direction. The primary spring urges the plunger in the axial direction with a first force. In a fully extended mode, the plunger is maximally displaced in the axial direction. In a contracted mode, the plunger is displaced in an opposite axial direction in response to application of a second force, sufficiently greater than the first force, on the plunger in the opposite axial direction. When the second force is sufficiently decreased, the plunger displaces with respect to the housing in the axial direction.

Abstract: A rocker shaft for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, including: a substantially cylindrical outer circumferential surface; and a layer of amorphous hydrocarbon deposited on the substantially cylindrical outer circumferential surface. The rocker shaft is arranged to engage a rocker arm such that the rocker arm is at least partially rotatable about the rocker shaft. A method of forming rocker shaft for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, including: forming a substantially cylindrical outer circumferential surface; and depositing a layer of amorphous hydrocarbon on the substantially cylindrical outer circumferential surface. The rocker shaft is arranged to engage a rocker arm such that the rocker arm is at least partially rotatable about the rocker shaft.

Abstract: A strut including a housing, a plunger within a space in the housing and including a tapered outer circumferential surface, a primary spring engaged with the housing, a wedge element within the space and including a tapered inner circumferential surface engageable with the outer circumferential surface, and a secondary spring engaged with the wedge element and the plunger to urge the plunger in an axial direction. The primary spring urges the plunger in the axial direction with a first force. In a fully extended mode, the plunger is maximally displaced in the axial direction. In a contracted mode, the plunger is displaced in an opposite axial direction in response to application of a second force, sufficiently greater than the first force, on the plunger in the opposite axial direction. When the second force is sufficiently decreased, the plunger displaces with respect to the housing in the axial direction.

Abstract: The invention proposes a valve train of an internal combustion engine comprising a cam (1) and a directly driven cam follower (2), such as a roller tappet. This valve train is additionally designed for effecting an internal exhaust gas recirculation at an exhaust valve. A housing (4) of the cam follower (2) comprises two relatively displaceable elements (8, 9). The cam (1) is configured as a high lift cam (1a) for the inner element (8), and at least one low lift cam (1b) configured out-of-phase to the high lift cam (1a) is provided for the outer element (9). When it is desired to carry out an internal exhaust gas recirculation, the two elements (8, 9) are coupled to each other by a coupling element (10), so that, at the end of the base circle of the high lift cam (1a), the low lift cam (1b) protruding thereinto enables a slight post-opening of the gas exchange valve concerned and, thus also, an exhaust gas recirculation.

Abstract: The invention proposes a valve train of an internal combustion engine comprising a cam (1) and a directly driven cam follower (2), such as a roller tappet. This valve train is additionally designed for effecting an internal exhaust gas recirculation at an exhaust valve. A housing (4) of the cam follower (2) comprises two relatively displaceable elements (8, 9). The cam (1) is configured as a high lift cam (1a) for the inner element (8), and at least one low lift cam (1b) configured out-of-phase to the high lift cam (1a) is provided for the outer element (9). When it is desired to carry out an internal exhaust gas recirculation, the two elements (8, 9) are coupled to each other by a coupling element (10), so that, at the end of the base circle of the high lift cam (1a), the low lift cam (1b) protruding thereinto enables a slight post-opening of the gas exchange valve concerned and, thus also, an exhaust gas recirculation.