Apparatus for the adjustment of the stroke of a valve actuated by a camshaft

An apparatus comprising:

• an outer lever comprising two arms extending substantially in parallel and being interconnected by a crosspiece, the outer lever having a first end portion, a second end portion and at least one first abutment surface defined between the first and second end portions, wherein said at least one first abutment surface is arranged and constructed to contact a camshaft,
• an inner lever at least partially disposed between the two arms of the outer lever, the inner lever having a first end portion, a second end portion and at at least one second abutment surface defined between the first and second end portions, wherein said at least one second abutment surface is arranged and constructed to contact the camshaft, wherein the respective first end portions of the inner and outer levers are pivotably coupled, at least one of the first end portions is arranged and constructed to contact to a valve stem and at least one of the second portions is arranged and constructed to contact a supporting element, and
• a locking device disposed substantially within the second end portion of the inner lever and between the arms of the outer lever, the locking device being arranged and constructed to releasably couple the respective second end portions of the inner and outer levers, wherein the inner lever and outer lever are arranged and constructed such that:
• (i) the valve stem is actuated by abutment of the camshaft and the outer lever when the locking device couples the respective second end portions, and
• (ii) the valve stem is actuated by abutment of the camshaft and the inner lever when the locking device releases the respective second end portions.

An apparatus comprising:

• outer lever comprising two arms extending substantially in parallel from a crosspiece, the outer lever having a hinge portion, wherein at least one of the two arms defines a first abutment surface arranged and constructed to contact a camshaft,
• an inner lever at least partially disposed between the two arms of the outer lever, the inner lever having a supported portion and a hinge portion, the supporting portion being arranged and constructed to be supported by a supporting element, the inner lever also having a second abutment surface arranged and constructed to contact the camshaft, which second abutment surface is disposed substantially adjacent to the first abutment surface, wherein the respective hinge portions of the inner and outer levers are pivotably coupled and the inner and outer, levers are arranged and constructed to connect to a valve stem at a position proximal to the hinge portions, and
• a locking device disposed substantially within the inner lever and between the arms of the outer lever, the locking device being arranged and constructed to releaseably couple the supported portion and the crosspiece, wherein the inner lever and outer lever are arranged and constructed such that:
• (i) the valve stem is actuated by abutment of the camshaft and the first abutment surface when the locking device couples the supported portion to the crosspiece, and
• (ii) the valve stem is actuated by abutment of the camshaft and the second abutment surface when the locking device releases the crosspiece from the supported portion.

An apparatus for changing the stroke length of a valve actuatable by a camshaft having at least a first cam and a second cam, the first cam defining a full stroke length end the second cam defining a partial stroke length, the apparatus comprising:

• an outer lever having two arms extending substantially in parallel from a crosspiece, wherein the outer lever also includes a hinge portion arranged and constructed to be coupled to the valve, a first abutment surface is defined on at least one of the arms, and the first abutment surface is arranged and constructed to contact the first cam,
• an inner lever having a supported portion, which is arranged and constructed to be supported by a hydraulic play-compensating element, and a hinge portion, which is pivotably coupled to the hinge portion of the outer lever, wherein the inner lever is disposed between the two arms of the outer lever, a second abutment surface is defined on the inner lever, end the second abutment surface is arranged and constructed to contact the second cam, and
• a locking device arranged and constructed to detachably connect the crosspiece to the supported portion, the locking device being disposed within the inner lever,
• wherein the first end second abutment surfaces are arranged and constructed such that;
• (i) when the locking device connects the crosspiece to the supported portion, contact of the first abutment surface and the first cam will cause the valve to reciprocally move between a valve closed position and a fully open valve position, and
• (ii) when the locking device disconnects the crosspiece from th supported portion, contact of the second abutment surface and the second cam will cause the valve to reciprocally move between the valve closed position and a partially open valve position.