Patent ID: 7069892

Claim:
A camshaft for automotive engines, comprising at least one first cam ( 5 ′) and at least one cam segment ( 6 ) which is rotatable to a limited extent with respect to the first cam ( 5 ′) and exercises the full or partial function of a second cam ( 4 ), with which an inner shaft ( 3 ) and an outer shaft ( 2 ) are arranged concentrically, one inside the other, and also rotatably with respect to one another, the first cam ( 5 ′) and the cam element ( 6 ) surround the outer shaft ( 2 ) on the periphery at least in part, the first cam ( 5 ′) is fixedly connected to the outer shaft ( 2 ) and the respective cam segment ( 6 ) is connected to the inner shaft ( 3 ) in a rotationally fixed manner, the cam segment ( 6 ) is provided with an inside circumferential surface extending over only a section of the circle running concentrically in a circular cylindrical pattern with respect to the inner shaft and outer shaft ( 3 , 2 ), the inside circumferential surface of the cam segment ( 6 ) is supported on a guidance area ( 2 ′) formed by the outer shaft ( 2 ) or fixedly connected to it, comprising the features the cam segment ( 6 ) is mounted on the guidance area ( 2 ′) assigned to the outer shaft ( 2 ) by means of a tongue-and-groove connection ( 8 , 9 ) which runs on a circular section limited at the circumference, whereby the circular section is designed to be coaxial with the outer shaft and inner shaft ( 2 , 3 ), the cam segment ( 6 ) which is connected to the inner shaft in a rotationally fixed manner is displaceable with respect to the inner shaft ( 3 ) to a limited extent radially.