Switchable support element

Abstract

A switchable support element (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine is disclosed, including a housing (4), in the bore of which (5) an axially displaceable inner element (7) is located, wherein two coupling slides (9) run in a radial bore (8) of the inner element (7) and can be brought into engagement with a driver surface of the housing (4) in an axially extended position, wherein the extended position is limited by a height stop (10), which is formed of a circlip assembly, which runs peripherally on an annular shoulder (13) of the inner element (7) and which, in the event of contact, lies radially externally above the upper annular end (14) thereof in abutment against a lower annular edge (15) of an annular groove (16) of the housing (4) near the upper edge thereof (17), and wherein an outer casing (11) of the housing is enclosed by a rotationally fixed ring as an outer anti-twist mechanism (12) with an offset bore (18).

Claims

1. A switchable support element for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, comprising a housing that is installable in a receptacle of a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine having a bore hole in which an axially moving inner element is located that receives a force applied by a spring element pushing said inner element outward from the housing, at least one coupling slide runs in a radial bore hole of the inner element, said at least one coupling slide is brought into engagement in an axially extended position of the inner element with a driving surface of the housing, and the axially extended position is limited by a height stop, a projection extends past an outer casing of the housing to form an outer anti-rotation lock, the height stop includes at least one circlip that surrounds an annular shoulder of the inner element and contacts a lower annular edge of an annular groove of the housing at an upper edge thereof radially outward past an upper annular end in the contact case, and the outer casing of the housing is surrounded by a rotationally fixed ring or ring segment as the outer anti-rotation lock with an offset bore hole for installation in a complementary counter contour of the receptacle of the cylinder head.

2. The support element according to claim 1, wherein for forming the rotationally fixed attachment of the ring or ring segment, a tongue projects radially inward from the ring or ring segment through a cut section of the housing, and the tongue runs with lateral outer sides thereof in front of or on legs of the cut section.

3. The support element according to claim 2, wherein the ring or ring segment is locally separated by the height stop and runs directly axially underneath the height stop, and the cut section is open for the tongue from the upper edge of the housing.

4. The support element according to claim 1, wherein exactly two of the circlips are used.

5. The support element according to claim 4, wherein only an upper one of the circlips of the two circlips is provided grouped with respect to a thickness thereof for installation for defining the axially extended position of the inner element out of the housing.

6. The support element according to claim 1, wherein the circlip has, on an inner edge thereof, a flattened section that interacts with an opposing flat section on an outer casing of the inner element, and free ends of the circlip contact legs of a cut section of the housing bent radially outward, to form an inner anti-rotation lock.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention can be seen in the drawing. Shown are:

(2) FIG. 1, a longitudinal section through a switchable support element, perpendicular to its coupling slides,

(3) FIG. 2, a top view of the support element, and

(4) FIG. 3, an enlarged view of the outer ring with tongue.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(5) In FIG. 1, a switchable support element 1 for a valve train of an internal combustion engine is shown perpendicular to its two coupling slides 9 (see DE 102 04 672 A1) so that these cannot be seen in more detail in their longitudinal extent within their radial bore hole 8.

(6) The support element 1 has a sheet-metal pot-shaped housing 4 that is installed in a receptacle 2 shown here in a cylinder head 3 of the internal combustion engine. An axially moving inner element 7 with a head 28 moves in a bore hole 5 of the housing 4 and is loaded by a spring element 6 (helical compression spring assembly) out of the housing 4. The head is used for one-end support of a cam follower.

(7) The coupling slides 9 are diametrically opposite each other in the radial bore hole 8. They engage in the shown, axially extended position of the inner element 7 with a driving surface of the housing 4, so that the valve is lifted.

(8) The extended position is limited by a height stop 10 that is here made from two circlips. These circlips run on an annular shoulder 13 of the inner element 7, wherein the upper circlip of the circlip assembly 10 contacts a lower annular edge 15 of an annular groove 16 of the housing 4 radially on the outside in some sections over its upper annular end 14 for its head-side, upper edge 17. For installation and adjustment of the coupling clearance, only the upper circlip of the circlip assembly 10 is provided in pairs grouped by thickness.

(9) It can be seen that an outer casing 11 of the housing 4 is surrounded by a ring 12 that is punched from steel sheet as an outer anti-rotation lock. The ring 12 has an offset bore hole 18 as can be seen in more detail from FIG. 3 in connection with FIGS. 1, 2. The receptacle 2 of the cylinder head 3 has a counter contour complementary to the ring 12. In this way, the support element 1 is secured against twisting relative to the receptacle 2.

(10) Equally, the ring 12 has a twisting-oriented attachment relative to the outer casing 11 of the housing 4. Here, a tongue 9 projects radially inward through a cut section 20 of the housing 4. The tongue 19 runs with its lateral outer sides 21 in front of legs 22 of the cut section 20.

(11) Finally, from FIG. 2 it can be seen that the upper circlip 10 has, on its inner edge 23, a flattened section 24 that communicates with an opposing flat section 26 on the outer casing 25 of the inner element 7. Free ends 27 of the circlip 10 contact legs 22 of the cut section 20 of the housing 4 angled radially outward. In this way, an inner anti-rotation lock is formed. It can be seen from FIG. 1 that both circlips 10 are flattened (for reference number 14).

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(12) 1) Switchable support element 2) Receptacle 3) Cylinder head 4) Housing 5) Bore hole 6) Spring means 7) Inner element 8) Radial bore hole 9) Coupling slide 10) Height stop means, circlip 11) Outer casing 12) Outer anti-rotation lock, ring 13) Annular shoulder 14) Annular end 15) Lower annular edge 16) Annular groove 17) Upper edge 18) Bore hole 19) Tongue 20) Cut section 21) Outer side 22) Leg 23) Inner edge 24) Flattened section 25) Outer casing 26) Flat section 27) End 28) Head