# US 11,111,828 B2 · Valvetrain for an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle

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- Number: US 11,111,828 B2
- Document ID: US11111828B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/963,025
- Filed: 2018-12-12
- Published: 2020-11-12
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2018-01-19
- Assignees: Daimler AG
- Applicants: Daimler AG
- Inventors: Alexander Von Gaisberg-Helfenberg; Thomas Stolk
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111828B2

## CPC

- F01L 13/0036: {the valves being driven by two or more cams with different shape, size or timing or a single cam profiled in axial and radial direction}
- F01L 13/0042: {with cams being profiled in axial and radial direction}
- F01L 1/047: Camshafts
- F01L 1/053: overhead type
- F01L 2001/0473: {Composite camshafts, e.g. with cams or cam sleeve being able to move relative to the inner camshaft or a cam adjusting rod}
- F01L 2013/0052: {with cams provided on an axially slidable sleeve}
- F01L 2013/103: {Electric motors}
- F01L 2820/032: Electric motors
- F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES

## Abstract

A valvetrain for an internal combustion engine has a camshaft that can be rotated in a direction of rotation around an axis of rotation, at least two cam pieces arranged on the camshaft which each have at least two cams for actuating a respective gas exchange valve and which are rotationally fixedly connected to the camshaft, and an actuator via which the cam pieces can be shifted in the axial direction of the camshaft. A first of the cam pieces has a first rib protruding outwardly from a first base body of the first cam piece in the radial direction of the camshaft and the second cam piece has a second rib protruding outwardly from a second base body of the second cam piece in the radial direction of the camshaft.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A valvetrain for an internal combustion engine, the valvetrain comprising:
a camshaft (12) configured to rotate about an axis of rotation (14);
a first cam piece (18) rotationally fixed on the camshaft (12), the first cam piece (18) including at least two cams (22, 24) configured to alternately actuate a first gas exchange valve;
a second cam piece (20) rotationally fixed on the camshaft (12), the second cam piece (20) including at least two cams (22, 24) configured to alternately actuate a second gas exchange valve; and
an actuator (26) wherein configured to axially shift the first and second cam pieces (18, 20) relative to the camshaft (12);
wherein the first cam piece (18) further includes a radially outwardly protruding first rib (30) which extends circumferentially about the first cam piece (18) and entirely within a first angle region corresponding to a first half rotation of the camshaft (12);
wherein the second cam piece (20) further includes a radially outwardly protruding second rib (36) which extends circumferentially about the second cam piece (20) and entirely within a second angle region corresponding to a second half rotation of the camshaft (12);
wherein the actuator (26) engages the first rib (30) and is disengaged from the second rib (36) during the first half rotation so as to axially shift the first cam piece (18); and
wherein the actuator (26) engages the second rib (36) and is disengaged from the first rib (30) during the second half rotation so as to axially shift the second cam piece (20).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The valvetrain according to claim 1, wherein the first and second cam pieces (18, 20) are each configured to axially shift between a respective first position and a respective second position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The valvetrain according to claim 2, wherein the first and second cam pieces (18, 20) are sequentially shifted from the respective first position into the respective second position within one rotation of the camshaft (12).

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The valvetrain according to claim 2, wherein the first and second ribs (30, 36) are aligned on a common first plane that extends perpendicular to the camshaft (12) when the first and second cam pieces (18, 20) are simultaneously in the respective first position,
wherein the first and second ribs (30, 36) are aligned on a common second plane that extends perpendicular to the camshaft (12) when the first and second cam pieces (18, 20) are simultaneously in the respective second position, and
wherein the second plane is axially spaced apart from the first plane relative to the camshaft (12).

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The valvetrain according to claim 4 further wherein:
the actuator (26) is configured to engage the first and second ribs (30, 36) via a first form-fit element (38) and a second form-fit element (40);
when the first and second ribs (30, 36) are aligned on the first plane, the first form-fit element (38) is configured to receive the first rib (30) during the first half rotation and to receive the second rib (36) during the second half rotation;
when the first and second ribs (30, 36) are aligned on the second plane, the second form-fit element (40) is configured to receive the first rib (30) during the first half rotation and to receive the second rib (36) during the second half rotation; and
when the first cam piece (18) is in the respective first position and the second cam piece (20) is simultaneously in the respective second position, the first form-fit element (38 is configured to receive the first rib (30) during the first half rotation and the second form-fit element (40) is configured to receive the second rib (36) during the second half rotation.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The valvetrain according to claim 5, wherein the actuator (26) includes an engine (52) configured to drive the actuator (26).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The valvetrain according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (26) includes an engine (52) configured to drive the actuator (26).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The valvetrain according to claim 1, wherein the first rib extends more than 90 degrees about the first cam piece within the first angle region, and the second rib extends more than 90 degrees about the second cam piece within the second angle region.
