Abstract: A method for producing a reduced friction sliding surface on a machine element includes applying a coating comprising amorphous carbon to a surface of the machine element and locally heating the coating with a laser. The coating is heated to a temperature below an evaporation temperature of the coating to achieve a local volumetric increase in the coating and a local increase in a layer thickness of the coating. A surface structure of the coating includes a multiplicity of elevations resulting from a local phase transformation of the coating from amorphous carbon into graphite due to the locally heating.

Abstract: A method for producing a reduced friction sliding surface on a machine element includes applying a coating comprising amorphous carbon to a surface of the machine element and locally heating the coating with a laser. The coating is heated to a temperature below an evaporation temperature of the coating to achieve a local volumetric increase in the coating and a local increase in a layer thickness of the coating. A surface structure of the coating includes a multiplicity of elevations resulting from a local phase transformation of the coating from amorphous carbon into graphite due to the locally heating.

Abstract: A cam follower for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, the cam follower being formed as a lever, which is U-shaped in cross-section, and produced from steel sheet without machining, and which has a floor wall (3) and lateral walls (4 and 5) extending therefrom, wherein a valve stem support (10) is disposed as a groove (11) at one end of the lever in a surface of the floor wall (3) facing away from the lateral walls (4 and 5). Lateral guide walls (12 and 13) of the valve stem support (10) are formed by chipless shaping so as to extend from and counter to the lateral walls (4 and 5) and are connected to a support wall (14) that forms a valve stem support surface (10a). The valve stem support surface (10a) extends in a first plane (10b), which is spaced from a second plane (16a), which extends through an internal transition (15, 16) between the lateral walls (4 and 5) and the adjacent guide walls (12 and 13), in the direction of ends (19, 20) of the lateral walls (4 and 5).

Abstract: A support element for the valve train of an internal combustion engine, having a hollow cylindrical housing that holds a displaceable piston. The piston has a hollow cylindrical pressure part and a pot-shaped work part axially adjacent thereto. An inner space of these parts forms a storage space for hydraulic medium. A high pressure space is defined by a base of the work part and the housing. The storage space and the high pressure space are connected hydraulically by a non-return valve with a ball for automatic lash compensation of the valve train. The piston is supported by a compression spring on the housing base, and a retaining ring is arranged radially between the pressure part and the housing, which limits axial travel of the piston. The ball is movably held in the base of the work part in an axial ball guide having first and second integrally formed ball seats.

Abstract: A cam follower for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, the cam follower being formed as a lever, which is U-shaped in cross-section, and produced from steel sheet without machining, and which has a floor wall (3) and lateral walls (4 and 5) extending therefrom, wherein a valve stem support (10) is disposed as a groove (11) at one end of the lever in a surface of the floor wall (3) facing away from the lateral walls (4 and 5). Lateral guide walls (12 and 13) of the valve stem support (10) are formed by chipless shaping so as to extend from and counter to the lateral walls (4 and 5) and are connected to a support wall (14) that forms a valve stem support surface (10a). The valve stem support surface (10a) extends in a first plane (10b), which is spaced from a second plane (16a), which extends through an internal transition (15, 16) between the lateral walls (4 and 5) and the adjacent guide walls (12 and 13), in the direction of ends (19, 20) of the lateral walls (4 and 5).

Abstract: A support element for the valve train of an internal combustion engine, having a hollow cylindrical housing that holds a displaceable piston. The piston has a hollow cylindrical pressure part and a pot-shaped work part axially adjacent thereto. An inner space of these parts forms a storage space for hydraulic medium. A high pressure space is defined by a base of the work part and the housing. The storage space and the high pressure space are connected hydraulically by a non-return valve with a ball for automatic lash compensation of the valve train. The piston is supported by a compression spring on the housing base, and a retaining ring is arranged radially between the pressure part and the housing, which limits axial travel of the piston. The ball is movably held in the base of the work part in an axial ball guide having first and second integrally formed ball seats.

Abstract: A lever-style cam follower (1) is provided for a sliding cam valve train of an internal combustion engine, including a cam roller follower (2), a structure (3) for a gas exchange valve, and a bearing point (4) for support against a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine. This cam follower (1) includes two lateral walls (6) which are connected by a transverse bar (5) and between which the cam roller follower (2) is received, the follower being mounted on a pin (7) that extends in bore holes (9) in the lateral walls (6). Each bore hole (9) intersects, in some sections, a lateral wall (6) longitudinal side (10) that faces the cam such that said pin (7) lies with a peripheral segment (11) exposed on the longitudinal side (10). This therefore allows the height of the lateral walls (6) to be reduced even further, thus permitting a greater cam differential stroke.

Abstract: A component constructed as a cam follower or eccentric follower, such as a finger follower, swinging arm, or rocker arm or tappet for gas-exchange valves or pumps of reciprocating internal combustion engines is provided, with a roller (2) that is guided on a pin (1) and is in active connection with a cam lobe or eccentric of a camshaft or a sliding cam of the internal combustion engine. The roller (2) is arranged on the pin (1) via a plain bearing mounting and the ratio of the plain bearing mounting width to the plain bearing mounting diameter is selected in the range of between approximately 0.4 to 0.8.