Patent attributes
A valve timing mechanism of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, having a camshaft having at least one cam (18), via which a switchable valve timing mechanism element (1) can be loaded with a cam stroke (s), in which locking means (12) are arranged on the valve timing mechanism element (1), which locking means (12) have a locking play (16) which is active in the direction of a valve stroke, in which the cam (18) has a base circle region (α) and a ramp region (19) with an opening ramp (γ) which adjoins the base circle region (α), and in which at least one ramp section (21) is formed on the opening ramp (γ) in order to compensate for the locking play (16). In order to provide a valve timing mechanism of an internal combustion engine, which produces sufficient idle travel of a locking play (16) of the switchable valve timing elements (1) being loaded by the cam ramps of the cams (18), and nevertheless manages with a relatively short length of the cam ramps, the cam (18) is shaped in the locking play ramp section (21) for compensating for the locking play (16) in such a way that, during a run-off movement over a cam counterelement (17) of the valve timing mechanism element (1), in the event of a rotation of the camshaft, it runs off with an increased cam velocity (v) in comparison with adjacent ramp sections (20,24), at least in one part of the locking play ramp section (21).
