This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2017 205 571.5, filed on Mar. 31, 2017, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The invention relates to a valve drive for an internal combustion engine with a camshaft and with at least one cam follower.
The generic valve drives for an internal combustion engine with a camshaft and with at least one cam follower and with at least one cam group non-rotatably fixed on the camshaft with a first cam and with a second cam axially adjacent to the first cam are already known. There, the cam follower is drive-connected in a first position with the first cam of the respective cam group and in a second position with the second cam of the respective cam group.
By way of an adjusting device, the cam follower can be switched between the first position and the second position and thus activate or deactivate a corresponding cylinder of the internal combustion engine. The adjusting device comprises a first adjustable engagement element and a second adjustable engagement element which in each case interact with a guide arranged on the camshaft. The first engagement element and the second engagement element are adjusted between a basic position and a switching position. Conventionally, the respective engagement elements are individually adjusted by linear actuators and the valve drive activated in this way, which however requires major control expenditure. Altogether, the total costs of the valve drive are also significantly increased by relatively expensive linear actuators.
The object of the invention therefore is to state an alternative embodiment for a valve drive of the generic type, with which the activation of the valve drive is simplified and the total costs are reduced.
According to the invention, this object is solved through the subject of the independent claim(s). Advantageous embodiments are subject of the dependent claim(s).
The present invention is based on the general idea of jointly activating the respective engagement elements in a valve drive and thereby simply the activation of the valve drive and reduced the total costs. For this purpose, the valve drive according to the invention comprises a camshaft and at least one cam follower, wherein the camshaft comprises at least one cam group non-rotatably fixed on the camshaft with a first cam and with a second cam axially adjacent to the first cam. The respective cam follower is drive-connected in a first position with the first cam of the respective cam group and in a second position with the second cam of the respective cam group. For adjusting the cam follower into the first position or into the second position, the valve drive comprises at least one adjusting device which comprises a first adjustable engagement element and a second adjustable engagement element. Here, the first engagement element interacts with a first guide of a slotted guide and the second engagement element interacts with a second guide of a slotted guide arranged on the camshaft. The first engagement element and the second engagement element are alternately adjustable between a basic position and a switching position, wherein in the basic position there is no contact with the associated guide and in the switching position the respective engagement element interacts with the associated guide. According to the invention, the adjusting device comprises a stop arrangement that is axially shiftable relative to a rocker lever shaft with a first stop region for the first engagement element and with a second stop region for the second engagement element. When the stop arrangement is shifted along the rocker lever shaft—i.e. substantially in the direction of the rocker lever shaft—the respective engagement element is then adjustable from the basic position into the switching position by the respective stop region.
By way of the stop arrangement according to the invention, the first engagement element and the second engagement element can be jointly activated by the stop arrangement, as a result of which the activation of the valve drive on the whole is simplified. In addition, the adjusting device can be configured sturdier and simpler in this way, as a result of which the total costs and also the maintenance costs can be advantageously reduced.
When the valve drive is activated, the first engagement element is actuated by the first stop region and the second engagement element by the second stop region of the stop arrangement. The stop arrangement can be configured so that actuating the respective engagement element is supported by an upwards movement of the rocker lever. Accordingly, the stop arrangement moves along the rocker lever shaft into a first switch-over position, wherein the first stop region of the stop arrangement is arranged above the first engagement element. By way of an upwards movement of the rocker lever, the first engagement element also moves up so that the first engagement element is adjusted out of the basic position into the switching position by the first stop region. The first engagement element now interacts with the first guide and the cam follower is moved from the first position into the second position. The rocker lever for example is switched over from a braking mode into a normal mode. When the rocker lever is now switched back, the stop arrangement moves into a second switch-over position and the second stop region is arranged above the second engagement element. By way of an upwards movement of the rocker lever, the second engagement element is actuated by the second stop region and interacts with the second guide. Accordingly, the cam follower is moved from the second position into the first position. Here, the rocker lever is switched over for example from a normal operation to a braking operation.
Advantageously it is provided that the adjusting device comprises a bearing element that is fixed in the valve drive, in particular on the rocker lever shaft or in the rocker lever shaft or in a cylinder head, on which the stop arrangement is shiftably mounted. The bearing element can be configured so that the stop arrangement is guided along the rocker lever shaft and undesirable lateral tilting of the stop arrangement for example because of its own weight is reduced. Thus, the bearing element can be for example a bearing sleeve fixed on the rocker lever shaft and the stop arrangement a stop rod encased by the bearing sleeve in regions. The stop regions can be moulded on the stop rod in that the stop rod is configured U-shaped for example. When shifted along the rocker lever shaft, the stop rod is guided by the bearing sleeve and undesirable lateral tilting of the stop rod prevented.
In order to further support guiding the stop arrangement along the rocker lever shaft and maintain closer activation tolerances, it is advantageously provided that the adjusting device comprises a counter bearing element that is not shiftable relative to the bearing element and that the stop arrangement is shiftably mounted on the bearing element and on the counter bearing element along the rocker lever shaft. The counter bearing element additionally supports the shifting of the stop arrangement so that an undesirable lateral tilting of the stop arrangement for example because of its own weight is prevented. Thus, the bearing element can for example be a bearing sleeve and the counter bearing element a counter bearing sleeve which are fixed on the rocker lever shaft spaced from one another. A stop arrangement in the form of a stop rod with the integrally moulded stop regions can then be shiftably mounted in the bearing sleeve and in the counter bearing sleeve. The stop rod is then guided in the bearing sleeve and in the counter bearing sleeve along the rocker lever shaft and undesirable lateral tilting of the stop rod advantageously prevented. In addition, the activation of the engagement elements can also be performed with a closer activation tolerance.
Alternatively it is provided that the adjusting device comprises a sliding bearing element encasing the rocker lever shaft at least in regions and which is axially shiftable relative to the same and that the stop arrangement is shiftably mounted on the bearing element and on the sliding bearing element along the rocker lever shaft. Thus, the bearing element can for example be a bearing sleeve and the stop arrangement a U-shaped stop rod which on the one side is shiftably mounted in the bearing sleeve and on the other side fixed on the sliding bearing element. The sliding bearing element shifts together with the stop rod along the rocker lever shaft so that undesirable lateral tilting of the stop arrangement is also advantageously prevented here.
It is additionally provided that the stop arrangement is integrally formed on the sliding bearing element. Thus, the sliding bearing element with the integrally formed stop arrangement can be guided along the rocker lever shaft without undesirable lateral tilting of the stop arrangement. To this end, the adjusting device can comprise for example a guide rod which is fixed on the sliding bearing element with the integrally moulded stop arrangement and shiftably arranged on the bearing element. Consequently, the guide rod can shift on the bearing element along the rock lever shaft thus guiding the stop arrangement integrally formed on the sliding bearing element along the rocker lever shaft. In this way, the adjusting device can be configured sturdier and the maintenance costs reduced.
It is also provided that the adjusting device comprises a support arrangement which is integrally formed on the bearing element and/or on the counter bearing element and at least partly encases the stop arrangement. The support arrangement can for example be configured in the form of a guide tube or of a guide profile and additionally support guiding the stop arrangement along the rocker lever shaft. Advantageously, a lateral tilting of the stop arrangement and in particular a deformation of the stop arrangement during the adjustment of the engagement elements can be prevented here.
In order to be able to shift the stop arrangement along the rocker lever shaft it is advantageously provided that the adjusting device comprises a linear actuator fixed on the bearing element, by way of which the stop arrangement is shiftable along the rocker lever shaft. Advantageously, the linear actuator can be an electromagnetic actuator or a hydraulic actuator. Practically, the linear actuator is fixed on the bearing element and on the stop arrangement or alternatively on the guide rod so that the stop arrangement can be adjusted by an adjusting travel of the linear actuator along the rocker lever shaft relative to the bearing element. The adjusting travel is practically sufficient for shifting the stop arrangement from the first switch-over position into the second switch-over position. Multiple linear actuators can also be connected in series in order to achieve the required adjusting travel. Because of the fact that the stop arrangement can actuate the first engagement element and the second engagement element, fewer linear actuators than conventionally are then needed in total and because of this the overall costs of the valve drive advantageously reduced.
In order to reduce a negative influence on the linear actuator, the linear actuator can be arranged in the bearing element. To this end, the bearing element can be a bearing sleeve and the linear actuator be fixed in the bearing sleeve. The stop arrangement can then be a stop rod which is mounted in the bearing sleeve on one side and fixed on the linear actuator. Alternatively, a guide rod can also be fixed on the linear actuator, which guides the sliding bearing sleeve with the integrally formed stop arrangement along the rocker lever shaft.
In order to be able to securely actuate the engagement element it is advantageously provided that the first stop region and/or the second stop region comprises a ramp region. Practically, the ramp region changes its height from a neutral region to a stop region so that the respective engagement element can be switched over more evenly and more quickly. The stop arrangement can for example be a U-shaped stop rod and the ramp regions substantially grow steadily from a longitudinal axis to the outside. The ramp region can also be configured in the form of a double ramp in order to make a continuous adjustment of the respective engagement element and thus of the rocker lever.
In order to securely shift the stop arrangement into the respective switch-over position it is advantageously provided that the adjusting device comprises a resetting arrangement, preferably a spring resetting arrangement, by way of which the stop arrangement is adjustable into a basic stop position. The basic stop position in this case can be the first switch-over position or the second switch-over position or even a neutral position. By way of the resetting arrangement, the stop arrangement is situated in the intended basic stop position even between the switch-over operations, so that a switch-over operation can be started more quickly and the activation is simplified. The spring resetting arrangement makes possible resetting the stop arrangement even in a currentless state so that here the provided basic stop position can also be reached in an energy-saving manner.
It is provided that the resetting arrangement is coaxially fixed on the rocker lever shaft. Thus, the resetting arrangement, in particular the spring resetting arrangement, can be arranged between the rocker lever and for example between the sliding bearing element. The spring resetting arrangement can comprise for example a coil spring, which is arranged coaxially to the rocker lever shaft and encases the same. Alternatively, the spring resetting arrangement can comprise multiple coil springs which lie against the rocker lever shaft axially parallel to the same and are fixed for example on the rocker lever and on the sliding bearing element. In a currentless state, the sliding bearing element can then be shifted to the rocker lever or from the rocker lever along the rocker lever shaft into the basic stop position.
Alternatively or additionally it is provided that the resetting arrangement is fixed on the bearing element or integrally formed on the bearing element. Accordingly, the bearing element for example can be connected with the stop arrangement or also with the guide rod by the resetting arrangement, preferably by the spring resetting arrangement. In a currentless state, the stop arrangement or alternatively the guide rod can then be shifted to the bearing element or from the bearing element along the rocker lever shaft into the basic stop position.
On the whole, the first engagement element and the second engagement element in the valve drive according to the invention can be jointly activated by the stop arrangement as a result of which the activation of the valve drive is simplified and the total costs and the maintenance costs reduced.
Further important features and advantages of the invention are obtained from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated figure description by way of the drawings.
It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and still to be explained in the following cannot only be used in the respective combination stated but also in other combinations or by themselves without leaving the scope of the present invention.
Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein same reference characters relate to same or similar or functionally same components.
It shows, in each case schematically
According to
For adjusting the cam follower 3 into the first position or into the second position, the valve drive 1 comprises an adjusting device 6 which comprises a first adjustable engagement element 7a and a second adjustable engagement element 7b. Here, the first engagement element 7a interacts with a first guide 8a of a slotted guide and the second engagement element 7b interacts with a second guide 8b of a slotted guide 8 arranged on the camshaft 2. The first engagement element 7a and the second engagement element 7b are alternately adjustable between a basic position and a switching position, wherein in the basic position there is no contact with the associated guide 8a or 8b and in the switching position the respective engagement element 7a or 7b interacts with the associated guide 8a or 8b. The cam follower 3 is shiftably arranged in a rocker lever 9, wherein the rocker lever 9 is rotatably fixed on a rocker lever shaft 10.
In order to adjust the engagement elements 7a and 7b, the adjusting device 6 according to the invention comprises a stop arrangement 11 that is axially shiftable relative to the rocker lever shaft 10 with a first stop region 12a for the first engagement element 7a and with a second stop region 12b for the second engagement element 7b. In this exemplary embodiment, the stop arrangement 11 is a U-shaped stop rod. When shifting the stop arrangement 11 along the rocker lever shaft 10, the respective engagement element 7a or 7b is then adjustable by the respective stop region 12a or 12b from the basic position into the switching position through an upwards movement of the rocker lever 9.
In addition, the adjusting device 6 comprises a bearing element 13 fixed on the rocker lever shaft 10, on which the stop arrangement 11 is shiftably mounted. The bearing element 13 in this exemplary embodiment is a bearing sleeve, in which the stop arrangement 11 is shiftably mounted by a linear actuator 14 along the rocker lever shaft 10. The linear actuator 14 can for example be an electromagnetic actuator or a hydraulic actuator. By way of the bearing element 13 and the stop arrangement 11 mounted in the bearing element 13 an undesirable lateral tilting of the stop arrangement 11 for example because of its own weight can be additionally reduced.
The adjusting device 6 also comprises a resetting arrangement 18 which in this exemplary embodiment is a spring resetting arrangement 19. The spring resetting arrangement 19 sets the stop arrangement 11 into a basic stop position, which can be the first switch-over position or the second switch-over position or even a neutral position. By way of the spring resetting arrangement 19, the stop arrangement 11 is in the provided basic stop position even between the switch-over operations. Additionally, the spring resetting arrangement 19 makes possible a resetting of the stop arrangement 11 even in a currentless state. In this exemplary embodiment, the spring resetting arrangement 19 comprises a coil spring 20 which is arranged coaxially about the rocker lever shaft 10 between the rocker lever 9 and the sliding bearing element 16 and fixed on these.
In
On the whole, the first engagement element 7a and the second engagement element 7b in the valve drive 1 according to the invention can be jointly activated by the stop arrangement 11, as a result of which on the whole the activation of the valve drive 1 is simplified. In addition, the number of the linear actuators and because of this the total costs of the valve drive 1 and the maintenance costs can be reduced.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2017 205 571 | Mar 2017 | DE | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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5129407 | Phillips | Jul 1992 | A |
8714125 | Kamichika | May 2014 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country |
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19945340 | Mar 2001 | DE |
10 2010 048 709 | Apr 2012 | DE |
10 2011 076726 | Dec 2012 | DE |
102014212305 | Jan 2015 | DE |
202015009047 | Aug 2016 | DE |
Entry |
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English abstract for DE-202015009047. |
English abstract for DE-102014212305. |
English abstract for DE-10 2010 048 709. |
English abstract for DE-199 45 340. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20180283237 A1 | Oct 2018 | US |