Abstract: An engine balance shaft (20) for an internal combustion engine (24) is provided having reduced total mass and rotational inertia while having sufficient bending stiffness and sufficient unbalance mass. The balance shaft (20) is formed by fixedly coupling a counterweight (56), a front bearing journal (68), a rear bearing journal (60), a tail piece (40), and a nose piece (44) to a hollow tube (52). The hollow tube (52) is hydroformed to expand the diameter of the tube and fasten the desired components to the tube (52).

Abstract: A method of joining a functional module comprises the steps of providing a frame structure that defines a bearing channel with at least one circumferentially closed bearing seat; providing at least two attachment parts; providing a hollow shaft that comprises at least one support section for the at least two attachment parts, wherein the attachment parts comprise a mounting seat that is adapted to a support section; feeding the attachment parts in the bearing channel in a first feeding direction; feeding the hollow shaft in the bearing channel in a second feeding direction, wherein the hollow shaft is inserted into the respective mounting seat of the at least two attachment parts; and, subsequent to the feeding of the attachment parts and the hollow shaft in the bearing channel, at least sectionally widening the hollow shaft for a torsionally rigid fixation of the at least two attachment parts with their mounting seats at the respective support section of the hollow shaft.

Abstract: A method concerns producing a cam profile of a cam pack with at least two cam elements that can be adjusted relative to each other. The camshaft may comprise an outer shaft, a rotatable inner shaft, a fixed cam element connected to the outer shaft, and an adjustment cam element connected to the inner shaft. The method may comprise processing an adjustment cam contour by a continuous diameter reduction of a segment of the adjustment cam base circle, wherein the adjustment cam base circle is reduced to a diameter that is smaller than a fixed cam nominal circle diameter minus a doubled adjustment cam base circle tolerance. The method may comprise processing a fixed cam contour by reducing a fixed cam contour protrusion in a region between a transition point and a processing point. Upon reaching the transition point a tapping element for converting a revolving motion of the cam elements into a linear motion of the valves is transferred from the fixed cam element to the adjustment cam element.

Abstract: A processing machine system has at least one mobile control unit. At least one substance-related feature of the processing machine system can be detected by the mobile control unit. Upon detection of the substance-related feature by the mobile control unit, data which is associated with the feature can be made available to a user by the mobile control unit. A method is provided for operating such a processing machine system. The invention provides an alternative processing machine system or an alternative method for operating a processing machine system. The data associated with the feature contains data concerning at least one consumable of the processing machine system.

Abstract: A bearing apparatus for mounting a camshaft in a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine may include a bearing element that surrounds a bearing ring in which the camshaft is rotatably mounted or mountable. The bearing element may be made of a first material whose expansion coefficient is greater than an expansion coefficient of a second material of which the bearing ring is made. An outer surface of the bearing ring may include a contour that engages in a form-fitting manner with a mating contour formed on an inner surface of the bearing element that surrounds the bearing ring. The contouring formed by the contour and the mating contour may form retaining structures that brace against one another in instances of thermal expansion.

Abstract: A method concerns producing a cam profile of a cam pack with at least two cam elements that can be adjusted relative to each other. The camshaft may comprise an outer shaft, a rotatable inner shaft, a fixed cam element connected to the outer shaft, and an adjustment cam element connected to the inner shaft. The method may comprise processing an adjustment cam contour by a continuous diameter reduction of a segment of the adjustment cam base circle, wherein the adjustment cam base circle is reduced to a diameter that is smaller than a fixed cam nominal circle diameter minus a doubled adjustment cam base circle tolerance. The method may comprise processing a fixed cam contour by reducing a fixed cam contour protrusion in a region between a transition point and a processing point. Upon reaching the transition point a tapping element for converting a revolving motion of the cam elements into a linear motion of the valves is transferred from the fixed cam element to the adjustment cam element.

Abstract: A method of joining a functional module comprises the steps of providing a frame structure that defines a bearing channel with at least one circumferentially closed bearing seat; providing at least two attachment parts; providing a hollow shaft that comprises at least one support section for the at least two attachment parts, wherein the attachment parts comprise a mounting seat that is adapted to a support section; feeding the attachment parts in the bearing channel in a first feeding direction; feeding the hollow shaft in the bearing channel in a second feeding direction, wherein the hollow shaft is inserted into the respective mounting seat of the at least two attachment parts; and, subsequent to the feeding of the attachment parts and the hollow shaft in the bearing channel, at least sectionally widening the hollow shaft for a torsionally rigid fixation of the at least two attachment parts with their mounting seats at the respective support section of the hollow shaft.

Abstract: A bearing apparatus for mounting a camshaft in a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine may include a bearing element that surrounds a bearing ring in which the camshaft is rotatably mounted or mountable. The bearing element may be made of a first material whose expansion coefficient is greater than an expansion coefficient of a second material of which the bearing ring is made. An outer surface of the bearing ring may include a contour that engages in a form-fitting manner with a mating contour formed on an inner surface of the bearing element that surrounds the bearing ring. The contouring formed by the contour and the mating contour may form retaining structures that brace against one another in instances of thermal expansion.

Abstract: A camshaft for actuating the gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine. The camshaft includes a camshaft tube, a hydraulic camshaft adjuster, a valve for controlling the hydraulic fluid supplied to the camshaft adjuster and an actuation device, arranged in the interior of the camshaft tube, for actuating the valve. The actuation device is secured against displacement in the axial direction. The camshaft is light-weight and functional elements in addition to the actuation device and optionally the valve can be integrated into the interior of the camshaft. It should furthermore be possible to arrange an oil or vacuum pump at the end of the camshaft opposite the camshaft adjuster, the pump being drivable by the camshaft. The actuation device is designed as an electromagnetic, piezoelectric or electrical actuator and is connected to the camshaft tube such that they rotate together.

Abstract: A camshaft for actuating the gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine. The camshaft includes a camshaft tube, a hydraulic camshaft adjuster, a valve for controlling the hydraulic fluid supplied to the camshaft adjuster and an actuation device, arranged in the interior of the camshaft tube, for actuating the valve. The actuation device is secured against displacement in the axial direction. The camshaft is light-weight and functional elements in addition to the actuation device and optionally the valve can be integrated into the interior of the camshaft. It should furthermore be possible to arrange an oil or vacuum pump at the end of the camshaft opposite the camshaft adjuster, the pump being drivable by the camshaft. The actuation device is designed as an electromagnetic, piezoelectric or electrical actuator and is connected to the camshaft tube such that they rotate together.

Abstract: A camshaft arrangement having two shafts disposed coaxially, one inside the other. A connecting element is inserted into a receptacle in the inner shaft, such that a part of the connecting element protrudes out of the receptacle, and that the protruding part is inserted at least partially in a recess, the recess is designed to be open at least toward an end face of the inner shaft cam, and that the protruding part has at least two opposite side surfaces contacting two corresponding inner surfaces of the recess of each inner shaft cam with a force fit. The further connecting element is designed as a radial pin pressed through a hole in the inner shaft cam element into a receptacle of the inner shaft.

Abstract: A camshaft arrangement having two shafts disposed coaxially, one inside the other. A connecting element is inserted into a receptacle in the inner shaft, such that a part of the connecting element protrudes out of the receptacle, and that the protruding part is inserted at least partially in a recess, the recess is designed to be open at least toward an end face of the inner shaft cam, and that the protruding part has at least two opposite side surfaces contacting two corresponding inner surfaces of the recess of each inner shaft cam with a force fit. The further connecting element is designed as a radial pin pressed through a hole in the inner shaft cam element into a receptacle of the inner shaft.