Sliding cam actuator having a seal

Abstract

A sliding cam actuator for a sliding cam system, including a housing defining a housing interior, and at least one coil former having a winding for generating a magnetic force when current flows, further including a moving pin or control pin extendable out of the housing by the magnetic force or a spring force and designed to dip into a displacement groove of a sliding can. A sealing element sealing off the interior of the housing from the outside is arranged between a component fixed to the housing and a component fixed to the moving pin. A sliding cam system including at least one camshaft, on which at least one sliding cam having a displacement groove is arranged such that the sliding cam can be displaced but is fixed against rotation, and into which sliding cam a moving pin of a sliding cam engages is provided.

Claims

1. A sliding cam actuator for a sliding cam system, the sliding cam actuator comprising: a housing defining a housing interior; at least one coil body situated in the housing interior and including a winding for generating a magnetic force when current flows through the winding; at least one moving pin or contact pin extendable out of the housing by the magnetic force or a spring force, the moving pin or contact pin for dipping into a sliding groove of a sliding cam; and a seal sealing the housing interior from the outside and situated between a component fixed to the housing and a component fixed to the moving pin or contact pin, wherein the seal is a bellows.

2. The sliding cam actuator as recited in claim 1 wherein the bellows is made of or includes rubber or metal.

3. The sliding cam actuator as recited in claim 1 wherein the bellows is an expandable bellows fixedly mounted on the component fixed to the housing as well as the component fixed to the moving or contact pin, and sealing a gap situated between the component fixed to the housing as well as the component fixed to the moving or contact pin.

4. The sliding cam actuator as recited in claim 1 wherein the component fixed to the housing is the housing or an armature guide, the component fixed to the moving or contact pin being the moving or contact pin or an armature.

5. The sliding cam actuator as recited in claim 4 wherein the armature or the armature guide is fixedly connected to the moving or contact pin or is an integral part thereof.

6. A sliding cam system comprising: at least one camshaft; and at least one sliding cam situated dispaceably but rotatably fixed on the camshaft and having a sliding groove, the moving or contact pin of the sliding cam actuator as recited in claim 1 engaging into the sliding groove.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention is also explained in greater detail with the aid of a drawing. Several exemplary embodiments are depicted.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a view from the front onto a sliding cam actuator according to the present invention, having a partially sectional area, in which a moving pin is situated,

(3) FIG. 2 shows an area II from FIG. 1 in a detailed view,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a second specific embodiment in the type of representation of FIG. 1

(5) FIG. 4 shows an area IV from FIG. 3 in a detailed view,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a third specific embodiment in the type of representation of FIG. 1, and

(7) FIG. 6 shows an area VI from FIG. 5 in a detailed view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) The figures are only of schematic nature and merely facilitate an understanding of the present invention. The same elements are labeled with the same reference numerals.

(9) FIG. 1 shows a first specific embodiment of a sliding cam actuator 1 according to the present invention. Sliding cam actuator 1 may be used in a sliding cam system. It has a housing 2, which defines a housing interior. A coil body (not shown) is situated therein.

(10) Housing 2 or a separate component may function as an armature guide. The coil body has a winding through which current may flow. A magnetic force is generated when an electric current flows through the winding. A moving pin 3, which is extendable out of the housing and may also be referred to as a contact pin, is movable by the magnetic force. If moving pin 3 is extended out of housing 2, it may engage in a sliding groove (not shown) of a displacement cam/sliding cam (not shown) and may effectuate the displacement of the sliding cam, so that different operating states, such as the valve lifts, are achievable on one or multiple valves. The combustion behavior in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine may therefore change.

(11) A sealing element 4 is situated between a component fixed to the housing and a component fixed to the moving pin, sealing element 4 being designed as a wiper ring 5 in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. It is readily apparent in FIG. 2, that wiper ring 5 tapers to a point radially inward with a symmetrical distribution.

(12) Tips 6 of wiper ring 5 are in sealing contact with peripheral surface 7 of moving pin 3. Sealing element 4 is situated fixedly in housing 2 in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 but is in grinding contact with moving pin 3, so that moving pin 3 extends in the direction of arrow 8, which indicates the extending direction of. An axis 9 is the longitudinal axis of the sliding cam actuator and at the same time indicates the axial direction.

(13) The second specific embodiment of a sliding cam actuator 1 according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3, sealing element 4, designed as a wiper ring 5, being fixedly mounted on the moving pin, namely being inserted into a recess 10, which is readily apparent in FIG. 4. Recess 10 is formed as a peripheral groove on the outside of moving pin 3. As is also apparent in FIGS. 3 and 4, a guide element which is designed as a grinding element 12 is additionally mounted on the housing end of sealing element 4 in addition to the moving pin guide.

(14) Wiper ring 5 has a tip 6, which is attached peripherally to the sealing element 4 and is in grinding contact with housing 2

(15) FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a third exemplary embodiment of a sliding cam actuator 1 according to the present invention, sealing element 4 being designed as bellows 13 here. Bellows 13 has a first end 14, fixedly inserted into a preferably rectangular peripheral notch 16, which may also be referred to as a groove or recess in housing 2. A moving pin groove 17 is formed peripherally over the entire circumference of moving pin 3, a second end 15 of bellows 13 being fixedly inserted into this moving pin groove. Bellows 13 is thus fixedly connected to housing 2 at its first end 14 as well as being fixedly connected to moving pin 3 at its second end 15

(16) Bellows 13 may be made of rubber, metal or a combination of these materials.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(17) 1 sliding cam actuator

(18) 2 housing

(19) 3 moving pin

(20) 4 sealing element

(21) 5 wiper ring

(22) 6 tip

(23) 7 peripheral surface

(24) 8 extending direction

(25) 9 longitudinal axis

(26) 10 recess

(27) 11 groove

(28) 12 grinding element

(29) 13 bellows

(30) 14 first end of the bellows

(31) 15 second end of the bellows

(32) 16 notch

(33) 17 moving pin groove