Length-adjustable connecting rod with control device

A length-adjustable connecting rod for a reciprocating piston engine, comprising:

• a hydraulic length-adjusting apparatus for adjusting an effective connecting rod length of the connecting rod;
• a control device switchable between at least two switching states for controlling a lengthwise adjustment of the connecting rod;
• wherein the hydraulic length-adjusting apparatus comprises a hydraulic cylinder with a piston, a first hydraulic working chamber, and a second hydraulic working chamber;
• wherein the control device comprises a first valve and a second valve;
• wherein the first valve of the control device is in fluid communication with the first hydraulic working chamber of the hydraulic length-adjusting apparatus, and the second valve of the control device is in fluid communication with the second hydraulic working chamber of the hydraulic length-adjusting apparatus;
• wherein the first valve can be actuated by means of a first hydraulically actuatable adjusting piston configured to move axially along a first adjusting axis and the second valve can be actuated by means of a second hydraulically actuatable adjusting piston configured to move axially along a second adjusting axis;
• wherein the first adjusting axis of the first valve of the control device differs from the second adjusting axis of the second valve of the control device;
• wherein at least one of the first adjusting axis of the first valve of the control device and the second adjusting axis of the second valve of the control device run parallel to a crankshaft axis with respect to a functional installed state of the connecting rod in the reciprocating piston engine;
• and wherein in a first switching state of the control device, a hydraulic medium return flow from the first hydraulic working chamber of the hydraulic length-adjusting apparatus is blocked and the second working chamber of the hydraulic length-adjusting apparatus is drained.