Actuator for lobe switching camshaft system

A method for a multiple-lift profile cam lobe switching mechanism actuator in an engine, comprising:

• biasing a first and second pin toward a camshaft outer sleeve;
• deploying the first pin into a groove of the camshaft outer sleeve while the second pin remains in place due to an absence of a groove in which to deploy;
• and
• maintaining the second pin in place with a ball locking mechanism even after the second pin is exposed to a vacated groove in the camshaft outer sleeve.

A system for multiple-lift profile cam lobe switching mechanism in an engine, comprising:

• a body including first and second parallel bores extending therethrough;
• a first pin within the first bore and a second pin within the second bore, where the first and second pins are each moveable within their respective bores from a home position within the body to an extended position where a portion of the pin extends outside of the body, and wherein the first and second pins each include an indentation;
• a ball locking mechanism between the first and second bores at the indentations in the pins in the home position, wherein the ball locking mechanism includes a spherical moveable ball and is configured to engage an indentation in a pin in the home position when the other pin is in the extended position;
• and
• an actuator coupled to the first and second pins, the actuator configured to apply a force to direct the first and second pins into extended positions.