Patent ID: 8596235

Claim:
A variable valve drive for internal combustion engines, for activation of gas exchange valves, comprising: a camshaft; and at least one axially displaceable cam segment mounted on the camshaft, said at least one axially displaceable cam segment having multiple different cam profiles, said cam profiles each having a same base circle section, wherein each one of said cam profiles is adapted to be switched to be active for at least one gas exchange valve, in accordance with an axial position of said at least one cam segment relative to said at least one related gas exchange valve; a setting shaft that is adapted to be rotated and is disposed parallel and next to the camshaft for axial positioning of the cam segment relative to the at least one gas exchange valve by twisting of the setting shaft, said setting shaft having a guide track in which a tappet is guided; and a transfer element connected to the cam segment and on which the tappet acts, said transfer element determining an axial position of the cam segment, wherein the guide track is structured to run around a circumference of the setting shaft and to be closed in itself, so that back and forth switching can be implemented with one direction of rotation of the setting shaft.