Patent ID: 6857618

Claim:
An apparatus for controlling a gas exchange valve in an internal combustion engine, comprising: at least one valve positioner, associated with the gas exchange valve, that encompasses a double-acting hydraulic working cylinder having a positioning piston, coupled to the gas exchange valve, which delimits an upper pressure space for actuating the gas exchange valve in an opening direction and a lower pressure space for actuating the gas exchange valve in a closing direction, and that encompasses a control valve controlling a hydraulic pressure in the pressure spaces; and a pressure supply device to supply the pressure spaces of the working cylinder with a fluid under high pressure, wherein the upper pressure space is coupled directly, and the lower pressure space is coupled via a restrictor throttle, to the pressure supply device, and the control valve is coupled to the lower pressure space and to a relief line, and, depending on a switch position, the control valve creates or blocks the connection between the lower pressure space and the relief line.