# US 2014/0190430 A1 · Camshaft adjustment device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190430 A1 - Document ID: US20140190430A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/122,389 - Filed: 2012-04-18 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-30 - Assignees: ETO Magnetic GmbH - Inventors: Matthias Werner; Thomas Golz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190430A1 ## CPC - F01L 1/344: changing the angular relationship between crankshaft and camshaft, e.g. using helicoidal gear - 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 2013/0052: {with cams provided on an axially slidable sleeve} - F01L 2013/101: {Electromagnets} - F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES ## Abstract A camshaft adjuster (3), comprising a camshaft axis of rotation (D) and an electromagnetic multi-tappet actuating device (4) having at least two electromagnetic drive units, which for exerting an actuating force on a corresponding number of elongated tappet units (9, 10, 11) which are mounted axially parallel to one another, each defining a tappet longitudinal centre axis (A1, A2, A3) arranged perpendicularly to the camshaft axis of rotation (D) are activatable, in order to engage with the tappet units (9, 10, 11) in shifting grooves (8) of an adjustable cam piece (7), wherein the drive units each on a facing acting end on one of the associated tappet units (9, 10, 11) form an acting surface that is moveable in an actuating direction of the drive units and an end face on the acting side facing away from the respective associated shifting groove (8) of a respective one of the tappet units (9, 10, 11) interacts with the acting surface, wherein at least one of the tappet units (9, 10, 11) is arranged relative to the camshaft axis of rotation (D) in such a manner that its tappet longitudinal centre axis (A1, A2, A3) running parallel to the tappet longitudinal centre axes (A1, A2, A3) of the at least one other tappet unit (9, 10, 11) is spaced from the camshaft axis of rotation (D) in a plane (E) receiving the camshaft axis of rotation (D) and running perpendicularly to the tappet longitudinal centre axes (A1, A2, A3). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A camshaft adjuster (3), comprising a camshaft axis of rotation (D) and an electromagnetic multi-tappet actuating device (4) having at least two electromagnetic drive units, which for exerting an actuating force on a corresponding number of elongated tappet units (9, 10, 11) which are mounted axially parallel to one another, each defining a tappet longitudinal centre axis (A1, A2, A3) arranged perpendicularly to the camshaft axis of rotation (D) are activatable, in order to engage with the tappet units (9, 10, 11) in shifting grooves (8) of an adjustable cam piece (7), wherein the drive units each on a facing acting end on one of the associated tappet units (9, 10, 11) form an acting surface that is moveable in an actuating direction of the drive units and an end face on the acting side facing away from the respective associated shifting groove (8) of a respective one of the tappet units (9, 10, 11) interacts with the acting surface, wherein at least one of the tappet units (9, 10, 11) is arranged relative to the camshaft axis of rotation (D) in such a manner that its tappet longitudinal centre axis (A1, A2, A3) running parallel to the tappet longitudinal centre axes (A1, A2, A3) of the at least one other tappet unit (9, 10, 11) is spaced from the camshaft axis of rotation (D) in a plane (E) receiving the camshaft axis of rotation (D) and running perpendicularly to the tappet longitudinal centre axes (A1, A2, A3). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The camshaft adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tappet longitudinal centre axis (A1, A2, A3) spaced from the camshaft axis of rotation (D) in the plane is spaced by a distance measured perpendicularly to the camshaft axis of rotation (D) out of a value range between 0.5 mm and 8.0 mm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The camshaft adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tappet longitudinal centre axis (A1, A2, A3) spaced from the camshaft axis of rotation (D) is spaced from the camshaft axis of rotation (D) in the plane between 3% and 80%, of half the base circle diameter of the associated shifting groove (8). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The camshaft adjuster according to claim 1, wherein at least three drive units with associated tappet units (9, 10, 11) are provided. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 4) The camshaft adjuster according to claim 4, claim 1, wherein a single one of the tappet longitudinal centre axes (A1, A2, A3) intersects the camshaft axis of rotation (D). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 4) The camshaft adjuster according to claim 4, claim 1, wherein at least two tappet longitudinal centre axes (A1, A2, A3) which are arranged next to one another intersect the camshaft axis of rotation (D). ### Claim 7 The camshaft adjuster according to wherein all tappet longitudinal centre axes (A1, A2, A3) are spaced from the camshaft axis of rotation (D) in the plane. ### Claim 8 The camshaft adjuster according to each tappet longitudinal centre axis (A1, A2, A3) defines a tappet plane which is perpendicularly penetrated by the camshaft axis of rotation (D), and wherein the spacing measured in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the camshaft axis of rotation (D) between each two adjacent ones of the tappet planes is the same in the case of each adjacent tappet planes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The camshaft adjuster according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the tappet units (9, 10, 11) with its end face on the acting side sits eccentrically and/or with merely a part surface of the end face on the acting side on the associated acting surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The camshaft adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the drive units are arranged in a common, hollow-cylindrical housing (14). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The camshaft adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the tappet units (9, 10, 11) are fixed on the at least one actuator unit in a magnetically adhering manner. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The camshaft adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the tappet units (9, 10, 11) each have a hardened engagement end entering into interaction with at least one of the shifting grooves (8). ### Claim 13 A camshaft adjuster (3), comprising a camshaft axis of rotation (D) and an electromagnetic tappet actuating device (4) having at least one electromagnetic drive unit, which for exerting an actuating force on a corresponding elongated tappet unit (9, 10, 11) defining a tappet longitudinal centre axis (A1, A2, A3) arranged perpendicularly to the camshaft axis of rotation (D) and activatable, in order to engage with the at least one tappet unit (9, 10, 11) in a shifting groove (8) of an adjustable cam piece (7), wherein the drive unit, on a facing acting end on the associated tappet units (9, 10, 11), forms an acting surface that is moveable in an actuating direction of the drive unit and an end face on the acting side facing away from the respective associated shifting groove (8) of the tappet unit (9, 10, 11) interacts with the acting surface, wherein the tappet unit (9, 10, 11) is arranged relative to the camshaft axis of rotation (D) in such a manner that its tappet longitudinal centre axis (A1, A2, A3) is spaced from the camshaft axis of rotation (D) in a plane (E) receiving the camshaft axis of rotation (D) and running perpendicularly to the tappet longitudinal centre axes (A1, A2, A3). ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The camshaft adjuster according to claim 2, wherein the distance is between 1.0 mm and 5.0 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The camshaft adjuster according to claim 2, wherein the distance is between 1.0 mm and 2.0 mm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 3) The camshaft adjuster according to claim 3, wherein the at least one tappet longitudinal centre axis is spaced from the camshaft axis of rotation in the plane between 3% and 50% of half of the base circle diameter of the associated shifting groove. ### Claim 17 (depends on 3) The camshaft adjuster according to claim 3, wherein the at least one tappet longitudinal centre axis is spaced from the camshaft axis of rotation in the plane between 3% and 30% of half of the base circle diameter of the associated shifting groove. ### Claim 18 (depends on 3) The camshaft adjuster according to claim 3, wherein the at least one tappet longitudinal centre axis is spaced from the camshaft axis of rotation in the plane between 3% and 20% of half of the base circle diameter of the associated shifting groove. ### Claim 19 (depends on 4) The camshaft adjuster according to claim 4, wherein exclusively three drive units with associated tappet units are provided. ### Claim 20 (depends on 6) The camshaft adjuster according to claim 6, wherein exclusively two tappet longitudinal centre axes which are arranged next to one another intersect the camshaft axis of rotation.