Patent ID: 8746195

Claim:
A variable valve train for actuating a plurality of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, wherein a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine drives a camshaft, the valve train comprising: a plurality of individual cam sleeves axially displaceable relative to one another and disposed so as to form the camshaft, each of the plurality of individual cam sleeves including a plurality of different cam profiles each having a same base circle portion, the plurality of different cam profiles being configured to engage, by switching, one of the plurality of gas exchange valves; a switching shaft disposed inside the plurality of cam sleeves and configured to rotate together with the plurality of cam sleeves; a switching ball operatively connecting one of the plurality of cam sleeves to a switching contour disposed on the switching shaft; an actuator; and a displacement piece disposed so as to be rotationally engaged but axially displaceable on one of the plurality of cam sleeves and connected to the switching shaft; wherein, for displacing each cam sleeve by means of the switching ball, the displacement piece is operatively connectable to the actuator so as to rotate the switching shaft relative to the cam sleeve.