Abstract: A switchable cam follower (1) or a switchable support element of a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said cam follower or support element comprising an outer part (2) which is assembled together with an inner part (4) that is displaceable relative thereto in a direction of cam lift, said inner part (4) comprising, at a parting gap (5) to the outer part (2), two spaced apart or opposing openings (6, 7) for coupling means, each of said openings (6, 7) being aligned, at one cam position, to a further opening (10, 11) for coupling means in the outer part (2), the coupling means being configured and arranged so that, in a coupled state, each coupling means extends beyond the parting gap (5) on one coupling side (12, 13) while simultaneously extending in the opening (10, 6) of the outer and the inner part (2, 4) which in an uncoupled position of the coupling means (14, 15), an axial idle stroke of the coupling means (15) on the one coupling side (12) till coupling is achieved is large and the axial idle

Abstract: A switchable cam follower (1) or a switchable support element of a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said cam follower or support element comprising an outer part (2) which is assembled together with an inner part (4) that is displaceable relative thereto in a direction of cam lift, said inner part (4) comprising, at a parting gap (5) to the outer part (2), two spaced apart or opposing openings (6, 7) for coupling means, each of said openings (6, 7) being aligned, at one cam position, to a further opening (10, 11) for coupling means in the outer part (2), the coupling means being configured and arranged so that, in a coupled state, each coupling means extends beyond the parting gap (5) on one coupling side (12, 13) while simultaneously extending in the opening (10, 6) of the outer and the inner part (2, 4) which in an uncoupled position of the coupling means (14, 15), an axial idle stroke of the coupling means (15) on the one coupling side (12) till coupling is achieved is large and the axial idle

Abstract: The inventions provides a method of making a lever-type cam follower (2) out of thin-walled light-weight sheet metal for loading at least one gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine, said cam follower comprising two side walls (12a, 12b) which, together with a crossbeam (11) that connects these side walls to each other, form a U-shaped cross-sectional profile pointing away from the gas exchange valve, the cam follower further comprising two finger-like tabs (5a, 5b) for receiving a stem end of the gas exchange valve, which tabs are configured on one end (3) of the cam follower (2) as extensions of the side walls (12a, 12b) and are bent through 180° onto an undersurface (9) of the crossbeam (11), said method comprising the following steps which may be supplemented with further intermediate steps: a) punching out a blank (1) out of sheet metal with the tabs (5a, 5b) being bulged outward in arc-shaped curves that are configured as mirror images of each other in respect of a central longitudinal

Abstract: In a valve train (1) of an internal combustion engine (10), a tappet push rod (2) comprises on its first end (3), a tappet (5) and an uncoupling device (8) made as a single component, and on its second end (4), a hydraulic lash adjuster (15) that acts on a rocker arm. Due to this spatial separation of the lash adjuster (15) from the single component (5, 8), a component (5, 8) is obtained that has a reduced mass and a smaller diameter as well as a relatively simple structure. In addition, the lash adjuster (15) can now be supplied with hydraulic medium directly out of the rocker arm.

Abstract: A lever-type cam follower (1) of a thin-walled material like sheet metal is proposed. It has a simply structured valve stem guidance in the region of one of its ends (5). The guidance comprises a separate securing element (6) with a basically U-shaped cross-section. A web (9) of the securing element (6) bears against a crossbeam (3) of the cam follower (1) and possesses an opening (11), for example punched, for receiving a valve stem.

Abstract: In a valve train (1) of an internal combustion engine (10), a tappet push rod (2) comprises on its first end (3), a tappet (5) and an uncoupling device (8) made as a single component, and on its second end (4), a hydraulic lash adjuster (15) that acts on a rocker arm. Due to this spatial separation of the lash adjuster (15) from the single component (5, 8), a component (5, 8) is obtained that has a reduced mass and a smaller diameter as well as a relatively simple structure. In addition, the lash adjuster (15) can now be supplied with hydraulic medium directly out of the rocker arm.

Abstract: The inventions provides a method of making a lever-type cam follower (2) out of thin-walled light-weight sheet metal for loading at least one gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine, said cam follower comprising two side walls (12a, 12b) which, together with a crossbeam (11) that connects these side walls to each other, form a U-shaped cross-sectional profile pointing away from the gas exchange valve, the cam follower further comprising two finger-like tabs (5a, 5b) for receiving a stem end of the gas exchange valve, which tabs are configured on one end (3) of the cam follower (2) as extensions of the side walls (12a, 12b) and are bent through 180° onto an undersurface (9) of the crossbeam (11), said method comprising the following steps which may be supplemented with further intermediate steps:

Abstract: A lever-type cam follower (1) of a thin-walled material like sheet metal is proposed. It has a simply structured valve stem guidance in the region of one of its ends (5). The guidance comprises a separate securing element (6) with a basically U-shaped cross-section. A web (9) of the securing element (6) bears against a crossbeam (3) of the cam follower (1) and possesses an opening (11), for example punched, for receiving a valve stem.

Abstract: The invention proposes a lever-type cam follower (1) which, for mounting a pin (7) for a cam roller, comprises bores (5, 6) in the region of its side walls (2, 3). The diameter of the bore (5) is larger than the diameter of the bore (6). Corresponding ends (8, 9) of the pin (7) are configured so that when mounted, the pin (7) is fixed in the bores (5, 6) by a press fit. Thus, the pin (7) can be inserted with its second end (8) at first through the larger bore (5) without causing damage to its raceway (8a) during assembly. At the same time, the press fit guarantees an excellent fixture of the pin (7) in the cam follower (1) with an all-round contact.

Abstract: A tappet (1) with a hydraulic clearance compensation element (7), a positive opening of a one-way valve (15) being effected during a base circle region &agr; of the contacting cam (5) whereby a closing member (16) of the one-way valve (15) is loaded by an adjusting element (21), the adjusting element (21) extends through a bottom (3) of the tappet (1) and cooperates with a groove (22) on the outer peripheral surface (23) of the cam (5), the groove (22) extends over the entire periphery of the cam (5) with the exception of its base circle region so that when the base circle region &agr; comes to be situated opposite the bottom (3), a positive opening of the closing member (16) is effected whereby no undesired relieving of the gas exchange valve actuated by the tappet (1) nor its opening due to a transmission of undesired opening movements from the cam (5) to the clearance compensation element (7) can occur in the base circle region &agr; of the cam (5).

Abstract: A valve drive (1) including of a hydraulic support element (2), a finger lever (18) supported on the support element (2), and a cam (25) of a camshaft (26), is provided with opening mechanisms (27, 28, 29) for the forcible opening of a check valve (14) of the support element (2) during contact of a base circle (&agr;) of the cam on the finger lever (18). The opening mechanisms (27, 28, 29) are formed from a slide extending in a support element, which acts on a closing body (13) of the check valve (14). In addition, they include a separate lever for the slide, where this lever communicates with a signal path on the camshaft (26). By these measures, eccentricity of the base circle (&agr;) or the like no longer lead during a play compensation phase of the support element (2) to an undesired hardening of a high pressure chamber (12) of the support element (2).

Abstract: In a tappet (1) comprising a hydraulic clearance compensation element (7), a positive opening of its one-way valve (15) is effected during a base circle region &agr; of the contacting cam (5). This is achieved by the invention by the fact that a closing member (16) of the one-way valve (15) is loaded by an adjusting element (21). This adjusting element (21) extends through a bottom (3) of the tappet (1) and cooperates with a groove (22) on the outer peripheral surface (23) of the cam (5). This groove (22) extends over the entire periphery of the cam (5) with the exception of its base circle region. When the base circle region &agr; comes to be situated opposite the bottom (3), a positive opening of the closing member (16) is effected. In this way, no undesired relieving of the gas exchange valve actuated by the tappet (1) nor its opening due to a transmission of undesired opening movements from the cam (5) to the clearance compensation element (7) can occur in the base circle region &agr; of the cam (5).

Abstract: A finger lever for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said finger lever being made by shaping without chip removal and comprising two side walls (5,6) which are connected to each other in a first end region (1) by a first bottom wall (4) to form an upwardly open U-shape, the first bottom wall (4) comprising a downwardly facing semi-spherical recess (7) for receiving a support element, said side walls (5,6) being connected to each other in a second end region (2) by a second bottom wall (11) to form an upwardly open U-shape, said second bottom wall (11) comprising a contact surface for a valve stem of a gas exchange valve (12), and the contact surface comprising lateral guides spaced apart from each other characterized in that, in the region of the contact surface of the valve stem (12) and/or in the region of the semi-spherical recess (7), the side walls (5,6) comprise partially punched-out sections (14) that are bent through nearly 180° toward the valve stem (12) and/or toward the support el

Abstract: A cam follower (1) is proposed, which is made from a sheet metal material, and has a profile that is U-shaped in cross-section. In the area of its one end (6), its side walls (2) taper conically. At the same time, straps (7) for guiding a shaft end of a gas exchange valve are provided on an underside (5) of the cam follower (1) as an extension of the side walls (2) and are bent by 180° to fit on the underside (5) in the area of the end (6). A cam follower (1) of this type is made in a simple way, has an excellent guide possibility for the shaft end of the gas exchange valve, and has a smaller mass with a smaller mass moment of inertia than cam followers that have been used until now.

Abstract: A rocker arm (6) that can be uncoupled from the cam lift, the axle (11) of this rocker arm (6) is guided for longitudinal movement in a slot (12) of a pedestal (13), and the rocker arm (6) can be coupled to the pedestal (13) by locking elements (20, 21, 22) or it can be uncoupled from the pedestal (13) by these locking elements (20, 21, 22) for achieving a zero lift of an associated gas exchange valve (9).

Abstract: In a housing (1) for a switchable device for adjusting or compensating valve lash in an internal combustion engine, said housing being made as a one-piece component and comprising a sleeve-shaped inner guide (4) having a bore (7) for receiving an inner element which is contacted by a first, separate cam, said housing also comprising a cylindrical bottom portion (3) for making contact with at least one second, separate cam, and a circular cylindrical jacket (2) coaxially surrounding the inner guide (4), said inner guide comprising openings (6) for receiving locking pins which extend at right angles to the housing axis (5), according to the invention, the housing (1) is configured as a thin, drawn sheet metal part whose jacket (2) likewise comprises openings (8) which are aligned to the openings (6) of the inner guide (4). In this way, a light-weight housing is created which by joining with separate connection pieces forms a simple-to-manufacture base body for the device.

Abstract: An operating lever for a valve train of an internal combustion engine comprises, on the valve-proximate end, a sliding shoe arranged between itself and an end of a valve stem of a gas exchange valve.The operating lever is characterized in that it is configured as a chiplessly shaped sheet metal part and comprises in the valve-proximate region (2), a bottom wall (12) which is connected in an upwardly open U-shape to two side walls (5, 6), the bottom wall (12) comprises a downwardly open recess (13) for receiving the sliding shoe (14) which is inseparably retained in the recess (13), and spatial dimensions of the sliding shoe (14) and the recess (13) are matched to each other so that the sliding shoe (14) can freely execute a pivoting movement in the recess (13) caused by a displacement of the valve stem (11).

Abstract: In a tappet (1) of a valve train of an internal combustion engine, the leakage of hydraulic medium occurring between its reception bore (6) and skirt (2) is to be reduced. To achieve this, the tappet (1) of the invention comprises an anti-rotation device (22) and, at the same time, a supply of hydraulic medium from a supply gallery (21) to an annular oil reservoir (17) is effected directly, i.e. annular grooves and other oil deflecting measures are dispensed with. An aperture (19) in the skirt (2) for the supply of hydraulic medium can, at the same time, be advantageously arranged in a bottom-proximate region thereof.

Abstract: A hydraulic clearance compensation element actuated by a cam of a camshaft and adapted for use with a valve drive, includes a casing closed on one end by a bottom which bears upon one end of a gas exchange valve, a pressure piston so received in the interior of the casing that a leakage gap for hydraulic fluid is formed between an outer surface area of the pressure piston and an adjacent side wall of the casing for enabling the clearance compensating function. The pressure piston and the casing are movable relative to one another in axial direction, with a high pressure chamber being defined between the bottom and a confronting end face of the pressure piston for receiving a hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: A valve tappet actuated by a cam of an internal combustion engine comprises a cup (1) having a hollow cylindrical skirt (2) and a cup bottom (3) which closes the skirt (2) at one end. On an outer surface, the skirt (2) comprises a peripheral groove (4), and on an inner surface, at least one bead (5). Concentrically arranged within the cup (1) is an inner element (6) whose casing (9) bears against the bead (5, 21). A hydraulic valve clearance compensation element (10) is guided for axial displacement in the inner element (6). To simplify the manufacturing of this valve tappet, it is proposed that the cup (1) is hardened in a heat treatment process, and the inner element (5) is unhardened.