Valve train for an internal combustion engine

Abstract

A valve train for an internal combustion engine may include a cam shaft and a cam follower. The valve train may also include a first cam arranged on the cam shaft for conjoined rotation, and a second cam for conjoined rotation, arranged on the cam shaft axially adjacent to the first cam. The cam follower may be axially adjustable between a first position, in which the cam follower is drive-connected to the first cam, and a second position, in which the cam follower is drive-connected to the second cam. The cam follower may also include a mechanical adjustment device interacting with the cam shaft for axially adjusting the cam follower between the first position and the second position.

Claims

1. A valve train for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a cam shaft; a cam follower; a first cam arranged on the cam shaft for conjoined rotation; and a second cam for conjoined rotation, arranged on the cam shaft axially adjacent to the first cam; a third cam arranged on the cam shaft for conjoined rotation; the cam follower axially adjustable between a follower first position, where the cam follower is drive-connected to the first cam, and a follower second position, where the cam follower is drive-connected to the second cam; the cam follower including a mechanical adjustment device interacting with the cam shaft for axially adjusting the cam follower between the follower first position and the follower second position; the mechanical adjustment device including an adjustable first mechanical engagement element comprising a pin, the adjustable first mechanical engagement element configured to interact with at least one first slide guide disposed on the cam shaft to axially adjust the cam follower from the follower first position to the follower second position; the mechanical adjustment device further including an adjustable second mechanical engagement element comprising a pin, the adjustable second mechanical engagement element configured to interact with at least one second slide guide disposed on the cam shaft to axially adjust the cam follower from the follower second position to the follower first position; wherein the at least one first slide guide includes two first slide guides and the at least one second slide guide includes two second slide guides; and wherein the cam follower is adjustable between the follower first position, the follower second position, and a follower third position.

2. The valve train according to claim 1, wherein: the two first slide guides are arranged substantially parallel and at a distance from one another on a first slide body; the two second slide guides are arranged substantially parallel and at a distance from one another on a second slide body; and the first cam, the second cam, and the third cam are arranged axially between the first slide body and the second slide body.

3. The valve train according to claim 1, wherein: one of the two first slide guides is configured to adjust the cam follower from the follower first position into the follower second position, and the other of the two first slide guides is configured to adjust the cam follower from the follower second position into the follower third position; and one of the two second slide guides is configured to adjust the cam follower from the follower third position into the follower second position, and the other of the two second slide guides is configured to adjust the cam follower from the follower second position into the follower first position.

4. The valve train according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first slide guide and the at least one second slide guide are arranged on the cam shaft and are axially adjustable relative to the cam shaft, the at least one first slide guide and the at least one second slide guide coupled to the cam follower via a coupling element comprising a bolt or a pin, structured and arranged such that an axial movement of the at least one first slide guide and the at least one second slide guide for adjusting the cam follower between the follower first position and the follower second position facilitates an axial movement of the cam follower.

5. The valve train according to claim 4, wherein the at least one first slide guide and the at least one second slide guide are disposed on at least one sleeve displaceably arranged onto the cam shaft along an axial direction.

6. The valve train according to claim 5, further comprising a bearing arrangement including the at least one first slide guide, the at least one second slide guide, and a plurality of bearing elements facilitating a rotatable connection to the cam shaft.

7. The valve train according to claim 5, wherein the bolt or the pin of the coupling element protrudes radially outwards from the cam follower and engages into a recess disposed on the at least one sleeve.

8. The valve train according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: the mechanical adjustment device further includes a first linear actuator structured and arranged to adjust the first mechanical engagement element between a first element first position, where the first mechanical engagement element engages into the at least one first slide guide, and a first element second position, where the first mechanical engagement element does not engage into the at least one first slide guide; and the mechanical adjustment device further includes a second linear actuator structured and arranged to adjust the second mechanical engagement element between a second element first position, where the second mechanical engagement element engages into the at least one second slide guide, and a second element second position, where the second mechanical engagement element does not engage into the at least one second slide guide.

9. The valve train according to claim 8, wherein: the first linear actuator is adjustable between a first-inactive position and a first-active position, wherein the first linear actuator is not in contact with the first mechanical engagement element when in the first-inactive position, and wherein the first linear actuator adjusts the first mechanical engagement element through mechanical contact from the first element second position into the first element first position when the first linear actuator is adjusted from the first-inactive position into the first-active position; and the second linear actuator is adjustable between a second-inactive position and a second-active position, wherein the second linear actuator is not in contact with the second mechanical engagement element when in the second-inactive position, and wherein the second linear actuator adjusts the second mechanical engagement element through mechanical contact from the second element second position into the second element first position when the second linear actuator is adjusted from the second-inactive position into the second-active position.

10. The valve train according to claim 9, wherein at least one of: the first mechanical engagement element is adjusted from the first element first position into the first element second position at least partially by a stroke movement of the cam follower; the second mechanical engagement element is adjusted from the second element first position into the second element second position at least partially by the stroke movement of the cam follower; the first mechanical engagement element is adjusted from the first element first position into the first element second position at least partially by an active movement of the first linear actuator from the first-inactive position into the first-active position; and the second mechanical engagement element is adjusted from the second element first position into the second element second position at least partially by an active movement of the second linear actuator from the second-inactive position into the second-active position.

11. The valve train according to claim 8, wherein the first linear actuator and the second linear actuator are at least one of electrically driven, hydraulically driven, and pneumatically driven.

12. The valve train according to claim 8, wherein: the first linear actuator includes a linearly adjustable first control body having a face side that presses against a face side of the first mechanical engagement element facing the first control body when the first mechanical engagement element engages into the at least one first slide guide; and the second linear actuator includes a linearly adjustable second control body having a face side that presses against a face side of the second mechanical engagement element facing the second control body when the second mechanical engagement element engages into the at least one second slide guide.

13. The valve train according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first slide guide and the at least one second slide guide are arranged on a same axial side of a common slide body relative to the first cam and the second cam.

14. The valve train according to claim 1, wherein the cam follower further includes a cam follower fixing device for detachably fixing the cam follower in at least one of the follower first position and the follower second position, wherein the cam follower fixing device includes a spring-loaded cam follower fixing element engaging into a follower first mount disposed on the cam follower in the follower first position and engaging into a follower second mount disposed on the cam follower in the follower second position.

15. The valve train according to claim 14, wherein the follower first mount is a first circumferential groove disposed on a circumferential side of the cam follower, and the follower second mount is a second circumferential groove disposed on the circumferential side of the cam follower at an axial distance from the first circumferential groove.

16. The valve train according to claim 1, wherein: the cam follower further includes at least one engagement element fixing device for detachably fixing at least one of i) the first mechanical engagement element in at least one of the first element first position and the first element second position, and ii) the second mechanical engagement element in at least one of the second element first position and the second element second position; the at least one engagement element fixing device includes a spring-loaded fixing element engaging an element first mount when at least one of i) the first mechanical engagement element is in the first element first position and ii) the second mechanical engagement element is in the second element first position, and engaging an element second mount when at least one of i) the first mechanical engagement element is in the first element second position and ii) the second mechanical engagement element is in the second element second position; and the element first mount and the element second mount are disposed on at least one of the first mechanical engagement element and the second mechanical engagement element.

17. The valve train according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the first mechanical engagement element and the second mechanical engagement element has an elongated base body, wherein the element first mount is a first circumferential groove, and the element second mount is a second circumferential groove, the first circumferential groove and the second circumferential groove arranged at an axial distance from one another on a circumferential side of the base body.

18. The valve train according to claim 1, wherein: the cam follower interacts with a control lever including two lever arms; the control lever is configured such that, when the cam follower is in the follower first position, a first valve opening and a second valve opening are opened or closed via a rotational adjustment of the two lever arms depending on a rotational position of the control lever; and the control lever is further configured such that, when the cam follower is in the follower second position, i) the first valve opening is opened or closed via a rotational adjustment of one of the two lever arms depending on the rotational position of the control lever and ii) the second valve opening remains open irrespective of the rotational position of the control lever.

19. The valve train according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one first slide guide is disposed on a first sleeve; the at least one second slide guide is disposed on a second sleeve; and the first sleeve and the second sleeve are displaceably arranged onto the cam shaft along an axial direction.

20. The valve train according to claim 1, wherein the cam shaft is composed of a nitride steel at least in a region of the at least one first slide guide and in a region of the at least one second slide guide.

21. An internal combustion engine, comprising a valve train including: a cam shaft; a cam follower; a first cam arranged on the cam shaft for conjoined rotation; a second cam for conjoined rotation, arranged on the cam shaft axially adjacent to the first cam; a control lever including two lever arms; the cam follower axially adjustable between a follower first position, where the cam follower is drive-connected to the first cam, and a follower second position, where the cam follower is drive-connected to the second cam; the cam follower including a mechanical adjustment device comprising at least one pin interacting with the cam shaft via engaging in at least one of i) at least one first slide guide disposed on the cam shaft and ii) at least one second slide guide disposed on the cam shaft, for axially adjusting the cam follower between the follower first position and the follower second position; wherein the control lever is configured such that, when the cam follower is in the follower first position, a first valve opening and a second valve opening are opened or closed via a rotational adjustment of the two lever arms depending on a rotational position of the control lever; and wherein the control lever is further configured such that, when the cam follower is in the follower second position, i) the first valve opening is opened or closed via a rotational adjustment of one of the two lever arms depending on the rotational position of the control lever and ii) the second valve opening remains open irrespective of the rotational position of the control lever.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) There are shown, respectively diagrammatically:

(2) FIG. 1 an example of a valve train according to the invention, with a cam shaft, which is arranged in a first axial position,

(3) FIG. 2 the valve train of FIG. 1 with the cam shaft in a second position, axially displaced with respect to the first axial position,

(4) FIG. 3 a first variant of the valve train of FIGS. 1 and 2, with two slide guides arranged on a common slide body,

(5) FIG. 4 a first variant of the valve train of FIGS. 1 and 2 with a sleeve, adjustable relative to the cam shaft, on which sleeve the slide guides are arranged,

(6) FIG. 5 a second variant of the valve train of FIGS. 1 and 2 with three cams,

(7) FIGS. 6 and 7 a further development of the valve train of FIGS. 1 to 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate in a diagrammatic representation an example of a valve train 1 according to the invention. The valve train 1 comprises a cam shaft 2 and a cam follower 3. A first cam 4a is mounted for conjoined rotation on the cam shaft 2. A second cam 4b is arranged axially adjacent to the first cam 4a on the cam shaft 2, likewise for conjoined rotation with respect thereto.

(9) In the example of the figures, the first cam 4a is configured as a base circle without a cam stroke. This permits the use of the valve train 1 in an internal combustion engine with a disengageable cylinder.

(10) The cam follower 3 is adjustable along an axial direction A between a first position, in which it is drive-connected to the first cam 4a, and a second position, in which it is drive-connected to the second cam 4b. FIG. 1 shows the cam follower 3 in said first position, FIG. 2 shows the cam follower in its second position. The cam follower 3 can have a cylindrically configured cam follower base body 5, on the circumferential side of which a hollow-cylindrically constructed cam follower roller 6 is rotatably mounted. The cam follower base body 5 is also known to the relevant specialist in the art under the designation bolt or displacement axis. Via the cam follower roller 6, the drive connection of the two cams 4a, 4b to the cam follower 3 takes place in a known manner. Here, the rotational movement of the cam shaft 2 is converted by means of the cams 4a, 4b into a linear movement of the cam follower 3.

(11) In the first position of the cam follower 3 shown in FIG. 1, the cam follower roller 6 is coupled to the first cam 4a, in FIG. 2 to the second cam 4b. The cam follower roller 6 actuates (not shown) a valve for adjusting between an open and closed state via a suitably configured mechanical coupling device, in particular in the manner of a control member. Practical technical realization possibilities of such a coupling are not part of the present invention, but rather are known to the relevant specialist in the art from the prior art in various forms, so that a more detailed explanation in this respect can be dispensed with.

(12) The cam follower 3 of FIG. 1 has a mechanical adjustment device 7, interacting with the cam shaft 2, for the axial adjusting of the cam follower 3 between the first and the second position. The mechanical adjustment device 7 comprises for this a first adjustable mechanical engagement element 9a. For the axial adjusting of the cam follower 3 from the first position, shown in FIG. 1, into the second position, the first mechanical engagement element 8a interacts with a first slide guide 9a present on the cam shaft 2. In an analogous manner, the mechanical adjustment device 7 has an adjustable second mechanical engagement element 8b. For the axial adjusting of the cam follower 3 from its second into the first position, the second engagement element 8b interacts with a second slide guide 9b present on the cam shaft 3.

(13) A hardened steel, which is surface-hardened, in particular nitrided, in the region of the two slide guides, can be used as material for the cam shaft 2.

(14) The mechanical adjustment device 7 further comprises a first actuator 10a, by means of which the first engagement element 8a engages between a first position shown in FIG. 1, in which it engages into the first slide guide 9a, and a second position shown in FIG. 2, in which it does not engage into the first slide guide 9a. The mechanical adjustment device 7 also comprises a second actuator 10b, by means of which the second engagement element 8b is adjustable between a first position, in which it engages into the second slide guide 9b, and a second position, in which it does not engage into said second slide guide 9b.

(15) The first actuator 10a is adjustable between an inactive position and an active position. For this purpose, the two actuators 10a, 10b can be configured as linearly adjustable, electrically driven actuators. The mechanical adjustment device 7 is realized in this case as an electromechanical adjustment device. In other words, electrically driven actuators 10a, 10b are included here by the term mechanical adjustment device 7.

(16) The two actuators 10a, 10b are controllable by a control device 11 of the valve train 1 for adjusting between their active position and their inactive position. This adjustability is realized such that the first actuator 10a in the inactive position is out of contact with the first engagement element 8a. In the course of an adjusting from its inactive position into its active position, the first actuator 10a adjusts the first engagement element 8a through mechanical contact from its second into its first position.

(17) The adjusting of the first engagement element 8a from the first into the second position can preferably be brought about by means of the stroke movement of the cam follower 3, in particular by means of the cam follower base body 5. Here, the cam follower 3 is moved through the stroke movement brought about by the first or second cam 4a, 4b in the direction of the first actuator 10a. When the latter is situated in its active position, then through the stroke movement of the cam follower 3 and thereby of the first engagement element 8a, this is pressed against the first actuator 10a and is adjusted by it into its second position.

(18) In a variant, the adjusting of the first engagement element 8a from the first into the second position can additionally take place with the execution of a synchronized active movement of the first actuator 10a from the inactive position into the active position.

(19) In this state, the first engagement element 8a engages into the first slide guide 9a, so that the cam follower 3, owing to the rotational movement of the cam shaft 2 is moved axially from its first into the second position by means of the first slide guide 9a arranged thereon. The second actuator 10b is also adjustable between an inactive position and an active position. This adjustability is realized such that the second actuator 10b in the inactive position is out of contact with the second engagement element 8b. In the course of an adjusting from its inactive position into its active position, the second actuator 10a adjusts the second engagement element 8b through mechanical contact from its second into its first position.

(20) The adjusting of the second engagement element 8b from the first into the second position is preferably brought about by means of the stroke movement of the cam follower 3, in particular by means of the cam follower base body 5. Here, the cam follower 3 is moved through the stroke movement, brought about by the first or second cam 4a, 4b, in the direction of the second actuator 8b. When the latter is in its active position, then through the stroke movement of the cam follower 3 and thereby of the second engagement element 8b, this is pressed against the second actuator 10b and therefore is adjusted by it into its second position. In a variant, the adjusting of the second engagement element 8b from the first into the second position can take place additionally with the execution of a synchronized active movement of the first actuator 10a from the inactive position into the active position.

(21) In this state, the second engagement element 8b engages into the second slide guide 9b, so that the cam follower 3, owing to the rotational movement of the cam shaft 2 is moved by means of the second slide guide 9a, arranged thereon, axially from its second into the first position.

(22) The first actuator 10a has a linearly adjustable (cf. arrow 15a) first control element 12a. The latter can protrude partially out from a first housing 16a of the first actuator 10a and be arranged linearly adjustably relative thereto. A face side 13a of the first control element 12a, facing the first engagement element 8a, which can be configured in a pin- or bolt-like manner, presses, on moving of the first engagement element 8a into the first slide guide 9a against a face side 14a of the first engagement element 8a lying opposite the first control element 12a. The second actuator 10b has a linearly adjustable (cf. arrow 15b) second control element 12b. The latter can protrude partially out from a second housing 16b of the second actuator 10b and can be arranged linearly adjustably relative thereto. A face side 13b of the second control element 12b, facing the second engagement element 8b, which can be configured in a pin- or bolt-like manner, presses, on moving of the second engagement element 8b into the second slide guide 9b against a face side 14b of the second engagement element 8b lying opposite the second control element 12b.

(23) As the illustration of FIG. 2 shows, the cam follower 3 also has a cam follower fixing device 17 for the detachable fixing of the cam follower 3 in the first or second position. The cam follower fixing device 17 comprises a spring-loaded cam follower fixing element 18. The cam follower fixing element 18 engages in the first position of the cam follower 3 into a first mount 19a provided on the cam follower 3, and engages in the second position of the cam follower 3 into a second mount 19b provided on the cam follower 3. Preferably, the first mount 19a is realized, as illustrated in FIG. 2, as a first circumferential groove 20a, which is arranged on a circumferential side 21 of the cam follower 3. The second mount is accordingly realized as a second circumferential groove 20b arranged axially at a distance on the circumferential side 21.

(24) As FIGS. 1 and 2 clearly show, the cam follower 3 has for the two engagement elements 8a, 8b, preferably for both engagement elements 8a, 8b, respectively a first or respectively second engagement element fixing device 22a, 22b for the detachable fixing of the first or respectively second engagement element 8a, 8b in the first or second position. As can be seen, the two engagement elements have fixing devices 22a, 22b, respectively a spring-loaded fixing element 23a, 23b, which in the first position of the respective engagement element 8a, 8b is received in a first mount 24a, 24b provided on the respective engagement element 8a, 8b. In the second position of the cam follower, the fixing element 23a, 23b is received in a second mount 25a, 25b provided on the cam follower. The first and the second engagement element 8a, 8b have respectively a base body 29a, 29b configured in a bolt-like or pin-like manner. On a circumferential side of the base body 29a, 29b the first mount 24a, 24b is configured as a first circumferential groove 27a, 27b, and the second mount 25a, 25b is configured as a second circumferential groove 28a, 28b arranged at a distance on the circumferential side.

(25) An adjusting of the cam follower 3 from the first into the second position is explained below with the aid of the illustration of FIGS. 1 and 2. In the scenario of FIG. 1, the cam follower 3 is situated in the first position, in which its cam follower roller 6 is drive-connected to the first cam 4a.

(26) If an adjusting of the cam follower 3 from its first into its second axial position is to take place, then the first engagement element 8a of the mechanical adjustment device 7 is brought, as shown in FIG. 1, into engagement with the first slide guide 9a. This takes place by means of the first electric actuator 10a.

(27) The first actuator 10a is, as already explained, adjustable between an inactive position, shown in FIG. 1, and an active positionindicated in dashed lines in FIG. 1. In the inactive position, the first actuator 10a is mechanically out of contact with the first engagement element 8a. In the course of an adjusting from its inactive position into its active position, the first actuator 10a adjusts the first engagement element 8a through mechanical contact from its second into its first position. In the first position, the first engagement element 8a engages into the first slide guide 9a (cf. FIG. 1), so that the cam follower 3 is moved through the rotational movement of the cam shaft 2 by means of the first slide guide 9a axially from its first into its second position, which is illustrated in FIG. 2. After the bringing into engagement of the first engagement element 8a with the first slide guide 9a, the first actuator 10a can be moved back by the control device 11 into its inactive position again.

(28) The first slide guide 9a canjust as the second slide guide 9bhave a ramp structure, not shown in the figures, such that the first engagement element 8a is brought out of engagement with the first slide guide 9a as soon as the cam follower 3 has reached the second axial position. In this second position, the second cam 4b is in drive connection with the cam follower roller 6. The adjusting of the cam follower 3 from the second position back into the first position can take place by means of the second actuator 10b, the second engagement element 8b and the second slide guide 9b in an analogous manner to the transition, explained above, from the first into the second position of the cam follower 3.

(29) In a variant not illustrated in further detail in the figures, the valve train can also be configured such that not the entire cam follower, but rather only the cam follower roller of the cam follower is axially adjusted between the first and the second position.

(30) The slide guides 9a, 9b can be formed respectively on a first or respectively second sleeve 42a, 42b. At least one of the two sleeves 42a, 42bthe second sleeve 42b in the example of FIGS. 1 and 2can be part of a bearing arrangement 46. The bearing arrangement 46 comprises conventional bearing elements 47a, 47b, only indicated roughly diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2, by means of which the rotatable bearing of the cam shaft 2 on a housing (not shown) or another stationary component of the valve train 1 takes place.

(31) In FIG. 3 a variant of the example of FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown. The valve train 1 of FIG. 3 differs from that of FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the first and second slide guides 9a, 9b are configured axially relative to the two cams 4a, 4b on the same side in a common slide body 26. It is clear that this involves a change to the axial arrangement of the two engagement elements 8a, 8b and of the two slide guides 9a, 9b and of the two actuators 10a, 10b. The variant of FIG. 3 requires particularly little installation space in axial direction A.

(32) In FIG. 4 a further variant of the example of FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown, wherein in FIG. 4 the cam shaft 2 and the cam follower 3 are only illustrated in an axial partial detail, for the sake of clarity. In the variant according to FIG. 4, the two slide guides 9a, 9b are arranged relative to the cam shaft 2 axially adjustably thereon, and are connected to the cam follower 3 by means of a coupling element 41. Said coupling is realized here such that a movement of the slide guides 9a, 9b along the axial direction A for adjusting the cam follower 3 between the first and second position is also accompanied by an axial movement of the cam follower 3. The coupling element 41, as shown in FIG. 4, is configured in a bolt-like or pin-like manner and protrudes radially outwards from the cam follower 3. As FIG. 4 further shows, the two slide guides 9a, 9b are configured as outer circumferential grooves 45a, 45b on a common sleeve 42. Said sleeve 42 is slid axially displaceably here (cf. arrow 20 in FIG. 4) onto the cam shaft 2. In this way, the coupling element 41 can engage, for mechanical axial coupling, into a recess 43 provided on the sleeve 42, which as indicated in FIG. 4 is preferably realized as a circumferential groove 44 formed on the outer circumference of the sleeve 42. With an adjusting of the sleeve 42 along the axial direction A, brought about by an engagement of the first engagement element 8a or of the second engagement element 8b into the respective slide guide 9a, 9b, the cam follower 3owing to the present mechanical coupling of the sleeve 42 via the coupling element 41 to the cam follower 3is entrained along the axial direction A. This brings about the desired axial adjusting of the cam follower 3 between its first and second position.

(33) FIG. 5 shows in diagrammatic illustration a further variant of the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, in which not just two cams, but three cams 4a, 4b, 4c are arranged for conjoined rotation on the cam shaft 2. In the valve train 1 of FIG. 5, the cam follower 3 is consequently adjustable between a first, a second and a third position. In the third position of the cam follower 3, the cam follower roller 6 interacts with the third cam 4c. Nevertheless, FIG. 5 shows the cam follower roller 6 in engagement with the second cam 4b.

(34) As FIG. 5 further shows, in the valve train 1 not only one single first slide guide 9a and one single second slide guide 9b, but rather respectively two first slide guides 9a and two second slide guides 9b are present. As FIG. 5 shows, the two first slide guides 9a are arranged substantially parallel and at a distance to one another on a first slide body 40a. Likewise, the two second slide guides 9b are arranged substantially parallel and at a distance to one another on a second slide body 40b. Here, the three cams 4a, 4b, 4c are arranged axially between the two slide bodies 40a, 40b on the cam shaft 2. One of the two first slide guides (9a) serves to adjust the cam follower 3 from its first position into its second position. The other first slide guide 9a serves to adjust the cam follower 3 from the second position into its third position. In an analogous manner, one of the two second slide guides 9b serves for the adjusting of the cam follower 3 from the third position back into the second position. The other second slide guide 9b serves accordingly for the adjusting of the cam follower 3 from the second position into the first position.

(35) In the variant according to FIG. 5, it is therefore possible with the aid of only two engagement elements 8a, 8b and only two actuators 10a, 10b, which operate in an analogous manner to the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, by means respectively of two first and two second slide guides 9a, 9b to adjust the cam follower 3 between the first, the second and the third position, so that the cam follower 3 optionally interacts with the first cam 4a, the second cam 4b or the third cam 4c and is in this way drive-connected.

(36) FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an advantageous further development of the valve train 1, when the latter is used for the controlling of valves. The example of FIGS. 6 and 7, explained below, can be combined with the examples explained above with the aid of FIGS. 1 to 5.

(37) FIG. 6 shows a control lever 30, rotatably mounted about a rotation axis S on a housing, not illustrated in further detail, in a side view along the axial direction A. The control lever 30 is adjusted through a movement of the cam follower 3 of the valve train 1. Two valve bodies 31a, 31b are mounted in a stationary manner on the control lever 30. The two valve bodies 31a, 31b, depending on the current set position of the control lever 30, close or free a valve opening 32a, 32b, respectively associated with them. In other words, the two valve bodies 31a, 31b can be adjusted by means of the control lever 30 between a closed position and an open position. FIG. 6 shows the two valve bodies 31a, 31b in their open position.

(38) FIG. 7 shows the valve train 1 of FIG. 6 in a top view onto the two valve openings 32a, 32b. It can be seen that the control lever 30 is configured so as to be adjustable along the axial direction A and can be adjusted together with the cam follower 3 between a first and a second position. According to the illustration of FIG. 7, the control lever 30 has a first lever arm 33a and a second lever arm 33b. The first valve body 31a is arranged on the first lever arm 33a, the second valve body 31b on the second lever arm 33b.

(39) In the first position of cam follower 3 and control lever 30 illustrated in FIG. 7, the two valve bodies 31a, 31b serve in a known manner for the closing or respectively freeing of the two valve openings 32a, 32b. The adjusting of the valve bodies 31a, 31b between their open and their closed position takes place here by means of the control lever 30, connected to the cam follower 3, and namely according to the operating principle explained in FIG. 6.

(40) One of the two valve bodiesthe first valve body 31a in the example of FIG. 7is configured through suitable dimensioning such that it closes the valve opening 32a in its closed position irrespective of whether the cam follower 3 and therefore also the control lever 30 is situated in the first or second position. The respectively other valve bodytherefore the second valve body 31b in the example of FIG. 7is configured such that it only closes the valve opening 32b in its closed position when the cam follower 3 and therefore the control lever 30 is situated in the first or, alternatively thereto, in the second position.

(41) In the example of FIG. 7, the cam follower 3 and control lever 30 are situated in the second position, so that in their closed position both valve openings 32a, 32b are closed by the valve bodies 31a, 31b. In the example of FIG. 7, the first valve body 31a has a greater extent or respectively dimension along the axial direction A than the second valve body 31b.

(42) If the cam follower 3 is now adjusted through an axial movement contrary to the axial direction Aindicated in FIG. 7 by arrows designated by the reference number 34, then the two lever arms 33a, 33b and therefore also the two valve bodies 31a, 31b are adjusted axially such that after such an adjustment the first valve body 31a, but not the valve body 31b, in its assumed closed position is namely able to close the second valve opening 32a.

(43) This scenario is indicated in FIG. 7 in dashed-line illustration in the first position, set in the cam follower 3, for the two valve bodies 31a, 31b: In the axial positions of the valve bodies 31a, 31b, indicated in dashed lines in FIG. 7, which correspond to the first position of the cam follower 3, the valve opening 32b always remains open, irrespective of the position of the valve body 31b. This proves to be advantageous when the valve train 1 is used for controlling the valve bodies 31a, 31b in the operation of an engine brake.