Device and method for operating a valve drive of an internal combustion engine

A valve drive device of an internal combustion engine, comprising a switching mechanism incorporated in a support element for support of a cam follower disposed in driving relationship between a camshaft and a gas exchange valve for switching the gas exchange valve to different valve lift curves in response to an operation of a cam arrangement, said support element including:

• a hollow cylindrical housing including an axis and received within an enveloping outer casing;
• an inner element axially displaceable relative to the housing and so received within the housing as to form at their interface an annular gap;
• and said switching mechanism including
• coupling means movable in a radial direction of said housing in a first radial bore arrangement so as to couple the inner element with the housing during a base circle phase of the cam arrangement by bridging the annular gap to thereby maintain a contact of the cam follower upon the cam arrangement, said coupling means being movable in the radial direction of said housing in a second bore arrangement which is spaced from the first radial bore arrangement in a direction of the axis so as to effect a disengagement of the cam follower from the cam arrangement in a phase of maximum cam lift.