Abstract
A slide element for displacement of a cam segment in an axial direction along a camshaft may include a slide sleeve, which has a longitudinal toothing formed at least sectionally along an inner wall of the slide sleeve and has a latching section formed on the inner wall and serving for interaction with a latching means. The latching section comprises a latching means receiving part, which comprises at least two latching grooves formed adjacently in an axial direction and at least one latching elevation formed between the latching grooves of the latching means receiving part and directed inward. The latching elevation may be partially hardened exclusively in a latching means transfer region.
Claims
1.-13. (canceled)
14. A slide element for displacement of a cam segment in an axial direction along a shaft of a camshaft, the slide element comprising a slide sleeve having a longitudinal toothing formed at least sectionally along an inner wall of the slide sleeve, the slide sleeve having a latching section that is formed on the inner wall and is configured to interact with a latching means, wherein the latching section comprises a latching means receiving part that includes latching grooves formed adjacently in an axial direction and a latching elevation formed between the latching grooves and directed inward, wherein the latching elevation is partially hardened exclusively in a latching means transfer region.
15. The slide element of claim 14 wherein the latching elevation is heated exclusively partially inductively in the latching means transfer region.
16. The slide element of claim 15 wherein the latching elevation is heated at least in the latching means transfer region by way of an inductor for the partially inductive hardening, wherein a width of the inductor corresponds to a length of the latching means transfer region formed in a circumferential direction and to be hardened.
17. The slide element of claim 14 wherein the latching means transfer region of the latching elevation comprises teeth that are formed adjacently to one another in a circumferential direction.
18. The slide element of claim 17 wherein at least one of the teeth is formed in an extension to the longitudinal toothing.
19. The slide element of claim 14 wherein the latching elevation comprises a toothed ring of ring-like form that includes teeth formed adjacently in a circumferential direction.
20. The slide element of claim 19 wherein at least one of the teeth is formed in an extension to the longitudinal toothing.
21. The slide element of claim 14 comprising a cam segment that includes axially adjacently arranged cams with mutually different cam profiles including a cam base circle and including a cam elevation.
22. The slide element of claim 21 wherein the latching elevation is partially hardened in the latching means transfer region that is opposite the cam elevation of the cam segment.
23. The slide element of claim 14 wherein the latching means transfer region is cooled by way of a flowable cooling medium that is conductible via an inductor to the latching means transfer region.
24. A method for producing the slide element of claim 14, the method comprising: heating the latching elevation exclusively partially inductively in the latching means transfer region.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the latching elevation is exclusively partially hardened in the latching means transfer region.
26. The method of claim 24 comprising: heating the latching elevation at least in the latching means transfer region by way of an inductor for the partial hardening, wherein a width of the inductor corresponds to a length of the latching means transfer region formed in a circumferential direction and to be hardened.
27. The method of claim 24 comprising: cooling the latching means transfer region, for the partial hardening of the latching elevation, by way of a flowable cooling medium that is conductible via an inductor to the latching means transfer region.
28. A camshaft of an internal combustion engine, the camshaft comprising: a shaft; and a slide element for displacement of a cam segment in an axial direction along the shaft, wherein the slide element is movable on the shaft in a manner rotationally conjoint with respect to the shaft and in an axial direction along the shaft, the slide element comprising a slide sleeve having a longitudinal toothing formed at least sectionally along an inner wall of the slide sleeve, the slide sleeve having a latching section that is formed on the inner wall and is configured to interact with a latching means that includes a latching means head that is inelastic and spherical and a latching means neck that is resiliently elastic, wherein the latching means is connected to the shaft such that the latching means neck is disposed in a recess extending radially into the shaft while the latching means head interacts with the latching section, wherein the latching section comprises a latching means receiving part that includes latching grooves formed adjacently in an axial direction and a latching elevation formed between the latching grooves and directed inward, wherein the latching elevation is partially hardened exclusively in a latching means transfer region.
29. The camshaft of claim 24 wherein the latching means neck is a compression spring.
Description
[0022] An embodiment of a slide element according to the invention is discussed in more detail below on the basis of drawings. In the drawings, in each case schematically:
[0023] FIG. 1 shows, in a lateral sectional illustration, an embodiment of a slide element according to the invention,
[0024] FIG. 2 shows, in a plan view, the embodiment of a slide element according to the invention shown in FIG. 1,
[0025] FIG. 3 shows, in a lateral view, an embodiment of an induction device in the machining process for the embodiment of a slide element according to the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and presented in a lateral sectional illustration,
[0026] FIG. 4 shows an enlargement of the detail A in FIG. 3, and
[0027] FIG. 5 shows, in a lateral view, an embodiment of a camshaft according to the invention.
[0028] Elements with identical function and action are in each case provided with the same reference signs in FIGS. 1 to 4.
[0029] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a slide element 1 according to the invention. The slide element 1 comprises a slide sleeve 2 which, on its inner wall 4, comprises at least sectionally a longitudinal toothing 3 which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis 15 of the slide sleeve 2 at least along a section of the inner wall 4. As viewed in an axial direction, adjacent to the longitudinal toothing 3, the slide sleeve 2 of the slide element 1 comprises a latching section 5. The latching section 5 comprises a latching means receiving part 6 and a latching elevation 7. The latching means receiving part 6 comprises a first latching groove 6.1 and a second latching groove 6.2, which are formed spaced apart from one another by the latching elevation 7. The latching grooves 6.1 and 6.2 comprise a half shell-shaped configuration and extend from the inner wall 4 of the slide sleeve 2 radially outward at least sectionally into the material of the slide sleeve 2. Advantageously, the latching section 5 directly adjoins a distal end of the longitudinal toothing 3 as viewed in an axial direction. However, it is also conceivable that, between the longitudinal toothing 3 and the latching section 5 as viewed in an axial direction, an unmachined or untreated section of the inner wall 4 is present. The latching section 5, in particular the latching elevation 7 of the latching section 5, comprises a latching means transfer region 8. As shown in particular in FIG. 2, the latching means transfer region 8 is situated in a region of the latching elevation 7 which is formed opposite a cam elevation 14 of a cam. Advantageously, the slide element 1 also comprises at least one cam segment, advantageously two or more cam segments, 11 and/or 12. FIG. 1, for example, shows two cam segments 11 and 12, wherein the first cam segment 11 comprises a first cam 11.1 and a second cam 11.2, and the second cam segment 12 comprises a first cam 12.1 and a second cam 12.2. Both cams 11.1, 11.2 or 12.1, 12.2 of a respective cam segment 11 or 12 advantageously comprise a mutually different cam profile. Accordingly, the cams 11.1,11.2 or 12.1, 12.2 of each cam segment 11, 12 advantageously comprise a jointly formed cam base circle 13 and an in each case differently geometrically formed cam elevation 14. The cam segments 11,12 are advantageously connected in a force-fitting manner to the slide sleeve 2, in particular are pressed onto the slide sleeves 2. However, it is also conceivable that the cam segments 11, 12 are connected in a form-fitting or materially bonded manner to the slide sleeve 2.
[0030] As furthermore shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the embodiment of the slide element 1 according to the invention shown here comprises a toothed ring 10 which forms the latching elevation 7. The toothed ring 10 comprises a plurality of teeth 9, which are formed uniformly distributed in a manner spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction. The teeth 9 formed in the toothed ring 10 can be advantageously viewed in an extension to the longitudinal toothing 3 of the slide sleeves 2. This means that the longitudinal toothing 3 is interrupted by the formation of the latching grooves 6.1, 6.2 such that the latching elevation 7, in particular the toothed ring 10, is a constituent part of the longitudinal toothing 3. Accordingly, the number of teeth 9 of the toothed ring 10 corresponds to the number of teeth of the longitudinal toothing 4 formed on the inner wall 4 of the slide sleeve 2 in a circumferential direction. The number of teeth 9 in the latching means transfer region 8 can vary according to requirement. In this regard, it is conceivable that, as a latching means transfer region 8, merely one tooth, two teeth of else three or more teeth are used. It is considered to be advantageous if the latching means transfer region 8 is formed opposite the cam elevation 14 of the cam segments 11, 12, since, in this region, contact between the latching means (not shown here) and the latching elevation 7, in particular sliding of the latching means from one latching groove 6.1 or 6.2 over into another latching groove 6.1 or 6.2, is realized. Accordingly, it is necessary to harden in particular the latching means transfer region 8 of the latching elevation 7 such that wear of the latching elevation 7 in the latching means transfer region 8 owing to the continuous contact, or the continuous sliding of the latching means from one latching groove 6.1 or 6.2 over into another latching groove 6.1 or 6.2, is avoided or advantageously minimized.
[0031] For the purpose of hardening the latching means transfer region 8, use is advantageously made of an induction device 20, as is shown for example in FIGS. 3 and 4. The induction device 20 comprises an inductor plate 21, an access line 22, a heating conductor 23, which can advantageously also serve as a cooling medium conductor, and an inductor 24. The inductor 24 is advantageously dimensioned and geometrically designed such that merely a defined region of the latching elevation 7, in particular the predefined latching means transfer region 8 of the latching elevation 7 of the latching section 5 of the slide element 1, is heated to a defined, in particular predetermined, temperature, and advantageously subsequently cooled by means of a flowable cooling medium, to produce a defined hardness in the latching means transfer region 8. For this purpose, a cooling medium, in particular a flowable cooling medium such as for example cooling water, is advantageously is passed on via the structure of the heating conductor 23 into the inductor 24 and, from there, applied to the previously heated location or heated section, in particular the latching means transfer region 8 of the latching elevation 7.
[0032] The cooling medium is not conducted via the heating conductor (inductor) to the location to be hardened. Advantageously, the cooling medium (Aquatensid) is conducted via an external component to said location.
[0033] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a camshaft 30 according to the invention, which comprises a shaft 31 and at least one slide element 1 according to the preceding type, in particular according to FIGS. 1 and 2, which at least one slide element is movable on the shaft 31 in a manner rotationally conjoint with respect to the shaft 31 and in an axial direction along the shaft 31. The shaft 31 is advantageously formed as a toothed shaft and comprises a toothing 31, in particular an outer toothing, which is formed as a longitudinal toothing. The camshaft 30 futhermore comprises a latching means (not shown here), which comprises an inelastic latching means head and an elastic latching means neck. The latching means neck is connected to the shaft 31 such that the latching means neck is arranged in a recess extending radially into the shaft 31, while the latching means head interacts with the latching section of the slide element 1. The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 furthermore comprises an adjusting slotted guide 33 which is operatively connected to the slide element 1. This means that the adjusting slotted guide 33 is, for example, formed integrally on the slide element 1 or connected in a force-fitting or form-fitting manner to the slide element 1. The adjusting slotted guide is advantageously arranged on one face end of the slide element 1. The adjusting slotted guide 33 advantageously serves for the displacement of the slide element 1 along the longitudinal axis 15, that is to say in an axial direction. For this purpose, for example, an actuator pin (not shown here) is introduced into the guide groove 34 of the adjusting slotted guide 33, which is connected rotationally conjointly to the shaft 31 and is consequently rotated along therewith. During rotation of the shaft 31 about the longitudinal axis 15 thereof, the guide groove 34, of S-shaped or double S-shaped form, slides along the actuator pin and is consequentlyowing to the guide path of the guide groove 34displaced along the longitudinal axis 15. During displacement of the adjusting slotted guide 33 along the longitudinal axis 15, the slide element 1 is also displaced along the longitudinal axis 15.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0034] 1 Slide element [0035] 2 Slide sleeve [0036] 3 Longitudinal toothing [0037] 4 Inner wall [0038] 5 Latching section [0039] 6 Latching means receiving part [0040] 6.1 (First) latching groove [0041] 6.2 (Second) latching groove [0042] 7 Latching elevation [0043] 8 Latching means transfer region [0044] 9 Tooth [0045] 10 Toothed ring [0046] 11 (First) cam segment [0047] 11.1 (First) cam [0048] 11.2 (Second) cam [0049] 12 (Second) cam segment [0050] 12.1 (First) cam [0051] 12.2 (Second) cam [0052] 13 Cam and circle [0053] 14 Cam elevation [0054] 15 Longitudinal axis [0055] 20 Induction device [0056] 21 Inductor plate [0057] 22 Access lines [0058] 23 Heating conductor with cooling medium conductor [0059] 24 Inductor [0060] 30 Camshaft [0061] 31 Shaft [0062] 32 Toothing [0063] 33 Adjusting slotted guide [0064] 34 Guide path [0065] A Detail
