Patent ID: 7431002

Claim:
A camshaft having contrarotating cams for automotive engines in particular, in which an inside shaft ( 1 ) and an outside shaft ( 2 ) are arranged concentrically and so that they are contrarotating, at least one cam consists of at least one main cam element ( 3 ) that can be placed radially on the outside shaft ( 2 ) and is supported there so it can rotate, the main cam element ( 3 ) is connected to the inside shaft 1 at least in a manner that is rotationally locked via a fastening means ( 7 ) passing through a recess ( 5 ) in the outside shaft ( 2 ), comprising the features the fastening means ( 7 ) protrudes like a pin radially inward from the inside circumferential surface ( 4 ) of the main cam element ( 3 ) and has a recess that is open toward the free end and is aligned radially with the inside circumferential surface ( 4 ) of the main cam element ( 3 ) at least in its freely protruding end area, the main cam element ( 3 ) supported on the outside shaft ( 2 ) engages with its fastening means ( 7 ) in a through-hole ( 6 ) in the inside shaft ( 1 ) designed complementary in shape to the outside circumference of this fastening means ( 7 ), a locking means ( 8 ) which passes through a respective recess ( 5 ) in the outside shaft ( 2 ) projects from the side radially opposite the main cam element ( 3 ) into the recess in the fastening means ( 7 ), the fastening of the main cam element ( 3 ) to the inside shaft ( 1 ) is provided via one or more of the following embodiments, namely widening of the outside diameter of the fastening means ( 7 ) by the locking means ( 8 ) with a resulting tight fit connection between the fastening means ( 7 ) and the inside shaft ( 1 ) on the one hand and the fastening means ( 7 ) and the locking means ( 8 ) on the other hand, whereby the locking means ( 8 ) may be connected to a supplementary cam element ( 12 ), a tight fit between the locking means ( 8 ) and the fastening means ( 7 ), on the one hand, and, on the other hand, a form fit which is created radially between the inside shaft ( 1 ) and the locking means ( 8 ) through contact of the locking means ( 8 ) with the inside shaft ( 1 ) on one side radially, a tight fit between the locking means ( 8 ) and the fastening means ( 7 ) on the one hand and a form fit between the main cam element ( 3 ) and a supplementary cam element ( 12 ) which is supported on the main cam element ( 3 ) on the other side which in turn holds the locking means ( 8 ).