Process for preventing the pumping of a hydraulic valve clearance compensating element in valve operating mechanisms of internal combustion engines

Abstract

Process for preventing the pumping of a hydraulic valve clearance compensating element in a valve operating mechanism of an internal combustion engine, wherein a valve actuating lever is supported by means of a hydraulic valve clearance compensating element in a bearing zone of the lever and is controlled by a cam is disclosed. The process is characterized in that during operation of the engine, an auxiliary force which counteracts a compensating force of the valve clearance compensating element, and which is greater than the compensating force, is applied to the valve clearance compensating element only during a valve lifting phase of the cam in response to movement of the cam, the auxiliary force acting upon the bearing zone of the lever and being independent of a bearing force of the valve actuating lever.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.