Switchable rocker arm

A rocker arm for transmitting rotational motion from a camshaft to opening and closing motion of a combustion valve in an internal combustion engine, said rocker arm comprising:

• an outer arm;
• an inner arm which selectively pivots relative to said outer arm about a pivot axis;
• a lost motion spring which biases said inner arm to pivot relative to said outer arm in a first rotational direction;
• a lock pin which is displaced along a lock pin axis between 1) a coupled position in which said lock pin prevents said inner arm from pivoting relative to said outer arm past a predetermined position of said inner arm relative to said outer arm in a second rotational direction which is opposite of said first rotational direction and 2) a decoupled position in which said lock pin allows said inner arm to pivot relative to said outer arm past said predetermined position in said second rotational direction;
• a linkage which is slidable along a linkage axis, said linkage comprising a first linkage portion through which said linkage axis passes;
• a second linkage portion which extends from said first linkage portion laterally outward from said linkage axis and includes a second linkage portion surface which is configured to engage an actuator which causes said linkage to slide along said linkage axis;
• and a third linkage portion which extends from said first linkage portion laterally outward from said first linkage portion and which includes a third linkage portion surface which engages said lock pin such that movement of said linkage along said linkage axis affects a position of said lock pin along said lock pin axis;
• and
• guiding means which guides said linkage along said linkage axis.