Valve mechanism with a variable valve opening diameter

Abstract

A valve mechanism with a variable valve opening cross section disposed in a passageway of an internal combustion engine and has a gas exchange valve that is acted on by the force of a valve spring and can be slid back and forth in the axial direction inside a guide by a valve control unit. Coaxial to the gas exchange valve is a seal valve acted on by the force of a coupling spring and can be slid back and forth in the axial direction by the valve control unit. The position of the seal valve in relation to the gas exchange valve in the axial direction can be changed by an adjusting unit.

1 - 24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . In a valve mechanism with a variable valve opening cross section, wherein the valve mechanism is disposed in a passageway of an internal combustion engine and has a gas exchange valve that is acted on by the force of a valve spring and can be slid back and forth in the axial direction inside a guide by a valve control unit, the improvement comprising, a seal valve ( 10 ) coaxial to the gas exchange valve ( 12 ), acting on the seal valve ( 10 ), the seal valve being axially slidable back and forth by the valve control unit, an adjusting unit operable to change the position of the seal valve ( 10 ) in relation to the gas exchange valve ( 12 ) in the axial direction, the adjusting unit being essentially comprised of a regulating valve ( 44 ) and a working cylinder ( 52 ) that contains a regulating piston ( 46 ) that can be slid by means of a working medium.  
   
   
       26 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 25 , wherein the valve control unit is a camshaft.  
   
   
       27 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 25 , wherein the gas exchange valve ( 12 ) has a rotationally symmetrical basic design and is comprised of a valve shaft ( 14 ), the upper end of which has a valve disk ( 20 ) supported on it.  
   
   
       28 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 27 , wherein the valve disk ( 20 ) has a conical circumference surface, which constitutes the sealing seat ( 28 ) of the gas exchange valve ( 12 ).  
   
   
       29 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 25 , wherein, in the closed position of the valve mechanism, the sealing seat ( 28 ) of the gas exchange valve ( 12 ) respectively rests directly against a sealing seat ( 30 ) of the seal valve ( 10 ) and against a valve seat ring ( 22 ) of the cylinder head ( 18 ).  
   
   
       30 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 25 , wherein the seal valve ( 10 ) comprises of a bushing-shaped supporting body ( 40 ), which is supported so that it can slide axially back and forth inside a guide of the cylinder head ( 18 ).  
   
   
       31 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 25 , wherein the seal valve ( 10 ) comprises a bushing-shaped supporting body ( 40 ) constituting the guide of the gas exchange valve ( 12 ), inside of which guide the gas exchange valve ( 12 ) can slide back and forth in the axial direction.  
   
   
       32 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 25 , wherein, at its bottom end, the seal valve ( 10 ) has a cylindrical sealing body ( 38 ) whose outer surface constitutes the sealing seat ( 30 ).  
   
   
       33 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 25 , wherein the seal valve ( 10 ) comprises a supporting body ( 40 ), and wherein the sealing body ( 38 ) is connected to the supporting body ( 40 ) by means of connecting rods ( 42 ).  
   
   
       34 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 25 , wherein the seal valve ( 10 ) comprises a support body, and a stop disk ( 26 ) fastened to the supporting body ( 40 ) of the seal valve, close to its top end.  
   
   
       35 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 34 , wherein the stop disk ( 26 ) is comprised of two parts.  
   
   
       36 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 35 , wherein the two parts of the stop disk ( 26 ) are encompassed by a clamping ring ( 36 ).  
   
   
       37 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 25 , wherein the working medium of the adjusting unit is a hydraulic fluid.  
   
   
       38 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 25 , wherein the regulating valve ( 44 ) is electrically triggered.  
   
   
       39 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 25 , wherein the working medium of the adjusting unit is a hydraulic fluid, wherein the regulating valve ( 44 ) is electrically triggered, the regulating valve ( 44 ) being operable to produce three different switched positions (A, B, C), of which the first switched position (A) opens the return flow of hydraulic fluid and the third switched position (C) opens the inflow of hydraulic fluid, while the second switched position (B) shuts off the flow of the hydraulic fluid.  
   
   
       40 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 39 , wherein the regulating valve ( 44 ) can trigger a working cylinder ( 52 ), which contains the regulating piston ( 46 ) in a sliding fashion, wherein the regulating piston ( 46 ) is connected to the regulating slide valve ( 34 ) of the valve mechanism.  
   
   
       41 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 40 , wherein the regulating valve ( 44 ) is essentially comprised of a housing ( 88 ) that has a central working chamber ( 92 ) with three connections, wherein an adjusting pin ( 90 ) that can slide axially is disposed inside the working chamber ( 92 ).  
   
   
       42 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 41 , wherein the three connections of the central working chamber, respectively, are a pressure connection ( 60 ), a return line ( 56 ), and a cylinder connection ( 58 ).  
   
   
       43 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 42 , wherein the pressure connection ( 60 ) is connected to an oil pump ( 50 ), the return line ( 56 ) is connected to an oil tank ( 48 ), and the cylinder connection ( 58 ) is connected to a working cylinder ( 52 ) of the adjusting unit.  
   
   
       44 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 43 , wherein the adjusting pin ( 90 ) is acted on by the force of a spring ( 78 ) and is connected to a stroke drive unit ( 84 ).  
   
   
       45 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 44 , wherein further comprising a first driver disk ( 64 ) and a second driver disk ( 66 ) fastened to the adjusting pin ( 90 ) spaced apart from each other and serve to support a first seal valve ( 68 ) and a second seal valve ( 70 ), wherein both of the seal valves ( 68 ,  70 ) are supported on the adjusting pin ( 90 ) in an axially sliding fashion and a compression spring ( 80 ) is disposed between the two seal valves ( 68 ,  70 ), whose force can bring the seal valves ( 68 ,  70 ) into contact with their respective associated driver disks ( 64 ,  66 ).  
   
   
       46 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 45 , wherein the first seal valve ( 68 ) has a conical outer surface, which corresponds to a sealing seat ( 74 ) of the housing ( 88 ), and the second seal valve ( 70 ) has a conical outer surface, which corresponds to a sealing seat ( 76 ) of the sealing seat support ( 72 ) of the regulating valve ( 44 ).  
   
   
       47 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 45 , wherein characterized in that the through openings of the working chamber ( 92 ) to the return line ( 56 ) and/or to the pressure connection ( 50 ) can be closed depending on the axial position of the adjusting pin ( 90 ).  
   
   
       48 . The valve mechanism according to  claim 25 , wherein the motor oil that is present can be used as the hydraulic fluid of the adjusting unit.