AT520821B1 - Method for producing a length-adjustable connecting rod, length-adjustable connecting rod, reciprocating engine and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method (100) for assembling a length-adjustable connecting rod for a reciprocating piston engine, in particular for a Hubkolbenbrennkraftmaschine, a length-adjustable connecting rod (1), a reciprocating piston engine with such a connecting rod (1) and a vehicle with such a reciprocating piston engine. An aforementioned method (100) comprises the steps of: providing (S1) a length-adjustable connecting rod, wherein an effective connecting rod length (L) of the connecting rod is changeable; Finishing (S2) at least one valve recess (6, 8); Pre-assembly (S3) of at least one valve assembly (14, 15); and securing (S5) the at least one valve assembly (14, 15) in the at least one valve recess (6) with a securing means (9). At least one preassembled valve assembly (14, 15) is a control valve assembly (14) with a valve body (14a), a spring element (14c) and an actuating body (14e) in a control valve housing (14b).

Description

METHOD FOR PRODUCING A length-adjustable connecting rod length-adjustable connecting rod, reciprocating engine as well as vehicle [0001] The present invention relates to a process for producing, in particular for the assembly, a length-adjustable connecting rod for a reciprocating piston machine, in particular for a reciprocating internal combustion engine, a length-adjustable connecting rod, a reciprocating engine with such a Connecting rods and a vehicle with such a reciprocating piston machine.

In order to make vehicles, especially motor vehicles, more powerful and / or more efficient, reciprocating internal combustion engines with a variable compression ratio are known from the prior art. Various measures are generally known from the prior art for changing the compression ratio in a reciprocating piston machine. One of these measures consists, for example, of varying the absolute positions of the top and bottom dead centers of a piston which can be cyclically moved up and down in a cylinder of the reciprocating piston internal combustion engine by an effective length of a connecting rod, which is defined in particular by a distance between the axis of rotation which the connecting rod is preferably rotatable about a crankshaft with its large connecting rod eye in a functional state of use in a reciprocating piston machine, and the axis of rotation about which the connecting rod is preferably rotatable about a piston pin with its small connecting rod is changed accordingly.

To change the effective connecting rod length, it is known to provide an appropriately trained length adjustment device. Among other things, hydraulic length adjustment devices with one another are displaceable relative to one another, in particular telescopically. separable connecting rod parts are known, the associated length adjustment device usually having one or more hydraulic chambers, which can be filled or drained with a hydraulic medium depending on the desired connecting rod length. With the help of one or more control devices, which generally comprise several valves, in particular hydraulic control and / or check valves, the hydraulic flow to and from the hydraulic chambers and thus the length adjustment can be controlled.

From WO 2016/203047 A1, for example, a length-adjustable connecting rod for a reciprocating piston machine is known, with at least a first rod part and a second rod part, the two rod parts telescoping towards and / or into one another by means of a length adjustment device in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the connecting rod are displaceable, the hydraulic chambers of the length adjustment device being able to be alternately filled with a hydraulic medium via at least one hydraulic channel and the hydraulic channels being flow-connectable to a control device with at least one hydraulic medium supply channel. The control device has a first and a second valve chamber, in each of which a valve body, which is pressed against a valve seat in a closed state by means of a spring, is arranged, the valve chambers each being connected to the flow with one of the hydraulic channels. In each case one of the valve bodies arranged in the valve chambers, which can be pressed against the valve seat by the restoring force of the spring and are operatively connected to one another by means of a displaceable connecting device, can be lifted off the valve seat by the connecting device against the restoring force of a valve spring and thus the respective valve chamber Flow connection to the hydraulic medium supply channel, while the other valve body blocks the flow connection to the hydraulic medium supply channel, whereby the length adjustment, in particular a hydraulic medium inflow and outflow into and out of the hydraulic chambers of the length adjustment device, can be controlled.

From AT 514 071 B1 a length-adjustable connecting rod with a hydraulic length adjustment device is known, in which a non-return valve opening in the direction of the high-pressure chamber is arranged in a hydraulic channel which opens into a high-pressure chamber.

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A return channel starting from the high-pressure chamber can be closed by a control valve in a first position and released in a second position, the control valve having an actuating piston which can be displaced into the first position by a return spring and into the second position against the force of the return spring.

A comparable connecting rod is also described in AT 517 217 B1. US 2007/175422 A1 shows a solution in which a piston can be adjusted in height in order to change the compression ratio. DE 10 2015 202 056 A1 discloses a changeover valve for a device for changing the compression ratio of an internal combustion engine with an eccentric adjusting device.

It is an object of the invention to provide an alternative, in particular an improved length-adjustable connecting rod, preferably an improved, hydraulically length-adjustable connecting rod, in particular a simple and / or efficient and thus in particular process-reliable connecting rod.

This object is achieved by a method for producing, in particular for assembling, a length-adjustable connecting rod, by a length-adjustable connecting rod, by a reciprocating machine with such a connecting rod and by a vehicle with such a reciprocating machine according to the independent claims.

[0009] A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing, in particular for assembling, a length-adjustable connecting rod for a reciprocating piston engine, in particular for a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, a method according to the invention comprising the following steps:

- Providing a length-adjustable connecting rod, an effective connecting rod length of the connecting rod being changeable, in particular adjustable, the connecting rod preferably having a hydraulic length adjustment device for changing the effective connecting rod length, in particular for adjusting the effective connecting rod length, [0011] - producing at least one valve recess , in particular at least one control valve recess and / or at least one check valve recess, in particular introducing at least one valve recess into the length-adjustable connecting rod, the valve recess being designed to receive an associated, preassembled valve assembly with a valve longitudinal axis, in particular a control valve assembly with a control valve longitudinal axis, which at least partially Control of the length adjustment device of the connecting rod is formed, and / or a check valve assembly with a check valve longitudinal axis , [0012] - pre-assembling at least one valve assembly, in particular at least one control valve assembly and / or at least one check valve assembly, [0013] - introducing the at least one pre-assembled valve assembly into the at least one valve recess, and [0014] - securing the at least one valve assembly in the at least one a valve recess with a securing means, preferably securing against falling out of the valve recess and / or fixing in a defined position in the valve recess, in particular in the axial direction of the associated longitudinal valve axis.

According to the invention, at least one preassembled valve assembly is a preassembled control valve assembly, the control valve assembly being preassembled by: introducing a valve body, a spring element and an actuating body into a control valve housing with a valve seat, the valve body being arranged between the valve seat and the spring element, and axially Securing the spring element by means of a spring seat in the control valve housing, in particular in such a way that the spring element is supported in one direction against the spring seat parallel to the longitudinal axis of the control valve. Preferably, the spring element is supported in a functional state of use of the connecting rod in the

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Alternatively or additionally, at least one pre-assembled valve assembly can be a check valve assembly, the check valve assembly being pre-assembled by: introducing a valve body and a spring element into a check valve housing with a valve seat, the valve body being arranged between the valve seat and the spring element, and axial securing of the spring element by means of a spring seat in the check valve housing, in particular in such a way that the spring element is supported in one direction against the spring seat parallel to the check valve longitudinal axis.

With regard to the control valve assembly, a longitudinal axis of the control valve housing preferably defines the control valve longitudinal axis, the valve body and the spring element preferably being introduced into the control valve housing along the control valve longitudinal axis and in particular from a first side facing the valve seat, and wherein the valve body and the spring element are preferably such be introduced into the control valve housing such that after the valve body and the spring element have been introduced, the valve body is arranged within the control valve housing, in particular along the longitudinal axis of the control valve, between the valve seat and the spring element.

Preferably, the control valve housing is at least partially closed axially with the spring seat. Further preferably, when the spring element is supported against the spring seat, the spring element is prestressed and the valve body is pressed against the valve seat by the prestressed spring element.

The spring seat is preferably aligned with the control valve housing, in particular screwed into the control valve housing. Alternatively, the spring seat can also be aligned with a bottom of the control valve recess. The spring seat preferably has at least one recess, in particular a groove, through which the hydraulic medium can flow out of or into the control valve housing, in particular the control valve interior. Alternatively or additionally, the control valve housing has at least one recess, in particular a spring seat opening designed as a bore, through which the hydraulic medium can flow out of or into the control valve housing, in particular the control valve interior.

The preassembled control valve assembly is designed in particular in such a way that it can also act reliably as a check valve, the preassembled control valve group being able to be opened in particular by actuation, in particular with the aid of an actuating means and / or an actuating body, and also counter to its blocking direction. The control valve assembly introduced into the control valve recess is particularly suitable for allowing the hydraulic medium to flow out of a hydraulic chamber of the length adjustment device, i.e. a return or outflow of hydraulic medium from an associated hydraulic chamber, so that the effective length of the connecting rod can be changed.

With regard to the check valve assembly, a hydraulic medium flow through the valve assembly can be controlled by clamping the valve body between the valve seat and spring seat such that this is only possible if a pressure and / or a force applied to the valve body, in particular a resulting force, in particular a resulting hydraulic pressure force and / or an actuating force is sufficient to bias the spring element, ie to overcome its restoring force to lift the valve body from the valve seat.

Preferably, a longitudinal axis of the check valve housing defines the check valve longitudinal axis, the valve body and the spring element preferably being introduced into the check valve housing along the check valve longitudinal axis and in particular from a first side facing the valve seat. The valve body and the spring element are in particular introduced into the check valve housing such that after the introduction of the valve body and the spring element, the valve body within the check valve housing, in particular along the check valve longitudinal axis, between

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In the context of the present invention, a “connecting rod” and a “connecting rod” are rod-like connecting elements for a reciprocating piston machine, which are designed in particular for connecting a crankshaft of the reciprocating piston machine to a reciprocating piston and which serve for linear movement of the reciprocating piston, in particular to convert a linearly oscillating axial movement of the reciprocating piston into a circular movement of the crankshaft or vice versa, to convert a circular movement of the crankshaft into a linear movement of the piston. In the present case, the rod-like connecting element before the introduction of at least one preassembled valve assembly according to a method according to the first aspect of the present invention is referred to in particular as a “connecting rod” and after the introduction of at least one preassembled valve assembly in particular as a “connecting rod”.

A "crankshaft" in the sense of the present invention is understood to be a shaft which is designed to carry out a linear-oscillating movement, i.e. convert a translatory movement of one or more reciprocating pistons into a rotary movement using connecting rods, or vice versa, convert a rotary movement into a translatory movement.

A "reciprocating piston machine" in the sense of the present invention is a machine with which a linear stroke movement of a piston can be converted into a rotary movement of a shaft or vice versa, a rotary movement of a shaft into a linear stroke movement of a piston.

[0026] A “reciprocating piston internal combustion engine” in the sense of the present invention is a reciprocating piston machine in which a linear stroke movement of a reciprocating piston can be generated by means of a combustion process.

[0027] A “length adjustment device” in the sense of the present invention is in particular a device for changing, in particular for adjusting, an effective length of the connecting rod. The length adjustment device preferably has at least two switching states, wherein in one of the switching states a maximum length of the connecting rod and in another of the switching states a minimum length of the connecting rod are realized, in particular can be set, and / or set.

In the context of the present invention, the term “making a recess” is understood to mean the production, in particular introduction, of a recess in a connecting rod and / or a connecting rod. The recess can be made in any way. However, at least one recess is preferably produced by a separating and / or ablative manufacturing process, such as eroding. However, at least one recess is particularly preferred by means of a machining production method, preferably by means of a machining method with a geometrically defined cutting edge, in particular by drilling and / or milling, and / or by means of a machining manufacturing method with a geometrically undetermined edge, such as grinding and / or lapping and / or honing.

“Pre-assembly” in the sense of the present invention means the at least partial assembly and / or assembly of individual parts to form a common assembly.

A "valve assembly" in the sense of the present invention is in particular an assembly or a partial assembly of individual components of a valve, wherein a valve group is preferably not necessarily complete, i.e. fully functional, must be assembled or assembled to form a valve, but in particular can also be a partially assembled assembly of a valve.

A “control valve assembly” in the sense of the present invention is a valve assembly which can be assigned to a control device for the length adjustment device

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A control valve assembly in the sense of the present invention is preferably designed to act in a first actuation state with respect to a flow of the hydraulic medium into a hydraulic chamber as a check valve, so that a hydraulic medium flow in the direction of an associated hydraulic chamber against the blocking direction of the control valve assembly is possible and a return flow from the associated hydraulic chamber is blocked in the blocking direction, the control valve assembly opening against the blocking direction, in particular when a defined, applied hydraulic pressure is exceeded. A control valve assembly in the sense of the present invention is preferably also designed to enable the hydraulic medium to return from the hydraulic chamber in a second actuation state, i.e. to be in an open state in both directions.

A "check valve assembly" in the sense of the present invention is in particular an assembly or a partial assembly of individual components of a check valve, which is preferably set up to control a flow of a hydraulic medium from and / or into a hydraulic chamber of the length adjustment device. A check valve assembly in the sense of the present invention is especially designed and / or set up, for example by a corresponding assembly or partial assembly and / or a corresponding arrangement of the individual components, a flow of a hydraulic medium out of a hydraulic chamber of the length adjustment device, i.e. to prevent in the blocking direction of the check valve assembly, but to allow a hydraulic medium flow in the direction of an associated hydraulic chamber against the blocking direction of the check valve assembly.

[0034] A “longitudinal valve axis” in the sense of the present invention is in particular an axis of a valve assembly in the longitudinal direction of an associated valve assembly and / or an associated valve housing, in particular an axis of symmetry extending in the longitudinal direction, provided the valve assembly is longitudinally symmetrical.

A “control valve longitudinal axis” in the sense of the present invention is accordingly in particular an axis in the longitudinal direction of an associated control valve assembly and / or an associated control valve housing.

A “check valve longitudinal axis” in the sense of the present invention is accordingly in particular an axis in the longitudinal direction of an associated check valve assembly and / or an associated check valve housing.

"Securing" in the sense of the present invention means in particular securing against falling out and / or fixing in a defined position and / or fixing, preferably with or without a, in particular defined, contact pressure on the associated, secured assembly or the associated secured element exercise.

In the manufacture, in particular in the assembly, of a connecting rod according to a method according to the first aspect of the present invention, a length-adjustable connecting rod is provided in a first step, an effective connecting rod length of the connecting rod being changeable, in particular adjustable, and the connecting rod preferably has a hydraulic length adjustment device for changing the effective connecting rod length, in particular for adjusting the effective connecting rod length.

In a further, in particular subsequent, step, at least one valve recess is made in the connecting rod, in particular at least one control valve

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Patent office and / or at least one check valve recess, the at least one valve recess is preferably introduced into the provided connecting rod by drilling and / or milling, and optionally by additional post-processing such as grinding, lapping and / or honing, and / or by a method for Material removal, such as eroding or the like.

For an advantageous seat of the valve assembly in the associated valve recess, at least one valve recess is preferably manufactured in such a way that there is a transition fit, in particular an H7 / j6 fit, between the valve recess and at least one functional surface of the associated, pre-assembled valve assembly, which fits into this Valve recess is introduced, results.

In the context of the present invention, a “fit” refers to the dimensional relationship between two components which are connected to one another and which preferably have the same contour in their connecting region, but once as an inner contour and once as an outer contour, the two components with respect to their contours in particular have the same nominal size, but due to the existing tolerances there is a play or an excess in the connection.

A “transition fit” in the sense of the present invention is understood to mean a fit in which, depending on the actual tolerance position of the two interconnected components, either a clearance fit or an interference fit occurs in a reference state.

Preferably, the valve recess is made such that a, in particular frustoconical, sealing seat is created in the valve recess for interacting with a correspondingly designed sealing surface of the valve assembly, the sealing seat of the valve housing being designed to correspond to the sealing surface of the valve recess, the sealing surface of the valve housing is in particular at least partially formed by an outer surface of the valve housing, and the associated valve assembly can preferably be pressed sealingly against the sealing seat, in particular by means of the associated securing means.

In a further step, in particular parallel to the manufacture of at least one valve recess and / or before and / or after the manufacture of the valve recess, at least one valve assembly is preassembled, preferably a valve assembly corresponding to the at least one introduced valve recess, in particular a control valve assembly with one Control valve longitudinal axis, which is designed for at least partial control of the length adjustment device of the connecting rod, and / or a check valve assembly with a check valve longitudinal axis.

Preferably, the individual parts are preassembled to form a valve assembly such that they are secured against falling apart. This enables particularly simple assembly, in particular particularly simple insertion or insertion of the preassembled valve assembly into the connecting rod.

In a further step, the valve assembly, which is composed and / or assembled in particular from several individual parts, is inserted and / or introduced and / or inserted into an associated, manufactured valve recess, in particular along a longitudinal axis of the valve recess, and secured in the valve recess by means of a securing means , preferably against falling out of the valve recess and / or for fixing in a defined position in the valve recess, in particular in the axial direction of the associated longitudinal valve axis.

The valve assembly is fixed in particular in the valve recess, in particular against axial play, i.e. secured against movement along the longitudinal axis of the valve recess. The valve assembly is preferably against the stop, in particular against at least one sealing seat and / or by means of the associated securing means in the longitudinal direction of the valve recess and / or in the direction of the valve longitudinal axis

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The invention is based in particular on the approach of prefabricating or pre-assembling individual components and / or entire assemblies of a length-adjustable connecting rod, in particular separately from one another, in particular at least one valve assembly, in order to assemble the prefabricated and / or pre-assembled components and / or assemblies, in particular at least one preassembled valve assembly, then to insert it into the length-adjustable connecting rod in a few steps, and in particular to be able to assemble it with other components and / or assemblies to form a length-adjustable connecting rod.

This procedure has the advantage that complex components and / or assemblies of the connecting rod, such as valve assemblies, are manufactured and / or assembled in a particularly simple and therefore efficient and cost-effective and also precise and reliable manner, if necessary in separate manufacturing and / or assembly processes can, in particular on separate production and / or assembly lines and at different manufacturing and assembly locations and / or by different suppliers. In many cases, this makes it easier to assemble at least one valve assembly compared to assembling a valve assembly within an associated valve recess (i.e. compared to inserting individual parts of the valve assembly into the valve recess).

[0050] In addition, a method according to the invention enables quality control of individual components and / or assemblies of the length-adjustable connecting rod to be carried out in a simple manner and / or at least to facilitate quality control. In particular, individual components and / or assemblies can be checked in a simple manner and / or independently of other components or assemblies with regard to their function and quality before they are installed in the connecting rod and are therefore difficult to access.

The invention also advantageously allows individual components and / or assemblies, in particular at least one valve assembly, to be serviced and / or checked independently of other components and, if necessary, replaced and / or repaired and / or repaired with little effort replace.

Furthermore, a larger number of connecting rods can be produced and / or assembled in this way, in particular with relatively lower costs, in particular per connecting rod (from a certain minimum number of pieces).

A further advantage of the method according to the invention is that after the introduction of the respective valve assembly, only one securing means has to be introduced from a single direction along the respective longitudinal axis. This makes the method more efficient than solutions in which the individual parts of the valve assemblies are inserted individually and / or from two sides, in particular into a through hole, since at least one additional method step for securing the valve assemblies on both sides can be saved.

In an advantageous embodiment of a method according to the invention, at least one valve recess is manufactured such that the at least one valve recess is at least substantially perpendicular, in particular exactly perpendicular, to a connecting rod longitudinal axis, along which the connecting rod length of the connecting rod can be changed, and / or into which Connecting rod is introduced, wherein the at least one valve recess in relation to a functional state of use of the connecting rod in a reciprocating piston machine runs in particular parallel to a crankshaft axis in the connecting rod and / or inserted into the connecting rod

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Patent office is brought. This is advantageous since the accelerations acting on the connecting rod and its components during the operation of the connecting rod, in particular as a result of the rotation of a crankshaft coupled to the connecting rod, cannot therefore lift the valve bodies of the assemblies inserted into the recesses from the corresponding valve seats. An unintentional or uncontrolled opening of the control valve assembly and / or check valve assembly in the blocking direction can thus be avoided.

In order to further increase the reliability of the at least one preassembled control valve assembly and / or check valve assembly, the control valve housing or check valve housing is preferably set up, in particular designed such that the associated received valve body along the control valve housing or check valve longitudinal axis and in particular along one Longitudinal axis of the control valve or check valve recess is guided so that movement of the valve body by accelerations acting on it can be avoided perpendicular to the corresponding valve longitudinal axis.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a method according to the invention, at least one valve recess is manufactured as a blind hole or blind hole, in particular with a valve recess opening on one side in the longitudinal direction of the valve recess, in particular as a valve recess which has at least one section with an internal thread, in particular with a internal thread adjacent to the valve recess opening. At least one pre-assembled valve assembly is preferably introduced through the valve recess opening into at least one valve recess.

In a further advantageous embodiment, two control valve recesses are manufactured and two control valve assemblies are preassembled. The two control valve assemblies are preferably introduced into the two control valve recesses and each is fixed in the two control valve recesses with a securing means. As a result, two hydraulic chambers of the length adjustment device can each be connected separately to a hydraulic medium supply line via a control valve assembly.

With regard to the check valve assembly, at least one valve housing is preferably essentially designed as a cylindrical sleeve, in particular like a hollow cylinder, the longitudinal axis of the valve particularly preferably coinciding with a corresponding axis of symmetry of the sleeve or the hollow cylinder, in particular with a longitudinal axis of symmetry.

At least one valve housing preferably has a valve seat, in particular a truncated cone, which is designed to cooperate with the valve body in such a way that a hydraulic medium flow along the valve longitudinal axis, which presses the valve body onto the valve seat, is blocked at least in one direction.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a method according to the invention, when an actuating body of a control valve assembly is additionally introduced after the introduction of the valve body, the spring element and the actuating body, the valve body and the spring element are arranged on a side facing the valve seat within the control valve housing and the actuating body on a side facing away from the valve seat.

The actuating body is preferably also introduced into the control valve housing along the longitudinal axis of the control valve and in particular also from the first side. For this purpose, the valve seat has in particular a recess through which the actuating body can be introduced through the valve seat and arranged on the correct side of the valve seat. For this purpose, the actuating body is preferably dimensioned smaller than the valve body and in particular has a smaller diameter than this and the recess in the valve seat is in particular dimensioned such that the valve body does not fit through and can therefore close and / or block the valve by pressing against the valve seat. Alternatively, the actuating body can also extend from the second valve seat

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[0062] The actuating body is preferably set up and in particular arranged to actuate the valve body, in particular to lift it off a valve seat of the control valve housing, in particular against the restoring force of the spring element. The actuating body and / or the valve body is or are preferably spherical, so that reliable actuation of the valve body by the actuating body is made possible irrespective of the orientation of the valve body and / or the actuating body.

[0063] Preferably, at least one valve body and / or an actuating body of at least one valve assembly is a ball.

In at least one assembly, the spring seat, with which the spring element is secured in the axial direction in the valve housing and / or is pressed against the valve body, is particularly preferably pressed into the associated valve housing. Alternatively, the spring seat can be screwed in. However, this requires an appropriate thread, which is more expensive.

The spring seat does not necessarily have to be made to measure in the associated valve housing when securing the spring element during preassembly. The introduction of the spring seat to size and thus the setting of the defined spring force of the spring element supported on the spring seat can also take place and / or be achieved only when the preassembled valve assembly introduced into the associated valve recess is secured, in particular also only by securing, preferably by means of an effect "Pressing" the valve assembly, especially the spring seat, against a stop in the associated valve recess.

However, the spring seat is preferably introduced to measure when the spring element is secured in the valve housing, and in a particularly preferred embodiment the spring seat is introduced into the valve housing until it reaches a defined stop on the valve housing, in particular is pressed or screwed in. In this way, a particularly simple tolerance chain can be achieved, in particular in contrast to the variant described above, in which the spring seat is initially not introduced into the valve housing to size, but only when and / or by securing as a result of “pressing” onto a stop in the valve recess.

In an advantageous embodiment of a method according to the invention, at least one preassembled valve assembly is introduced into the associated valve recess and secured in the valve recess in such a way that the spring seat against a stop, in particular against a floor, of the associated valve recess in a functional state of use of the connecting rod is supported, in particular in such a way that the spring element is thereby preloaded such that in at least one state of the valve assembly the associated valve body is pressed against the valve seat of the associated valve housing by means of the spring element preloaded thereby and blocks a hydraulic medium flow in a first direction.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a method according to the invention, the following steps are carried out: Manufacturing an actuating recess, the actuating recess being manufactured in such a way that the actuating recess crosses at least one control valve recess in a functional state of use of the connecting rod, preferably all control valve recesses, the actuating recess in Is essentially perpendicular or exactly perpendicular to the at least one control valve recess and / or is introduced into the connecting rod in this way; optionally aligning at least one preassembled and inserted into the connecting rod control valve assembly, preferably all introduced preassembled control valve assemblies, relative to the actuating recess, in particular with respect to a position in the axial direction of the control valve longitudinal axis and / or in relation to an angular position about the control valve longitudinal axis;

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[0069] As a result, an, in particular predetermined, orientation of the preassembled control valve assembly in the control valve recess can be reliably maintained even when secured by the securing means. In particular, forces that act on the control valve assembly during the securing can be supported by the alignment means and a rotation of the control valve assembly about the longitudinal axis of the control valve recess can be avoided.

The alignment means is preferably designed as a mandrel or the like, which can be used to fix the alignment of the control valve assembly through the actuating recess, in particular inserted or inserted into the actuating recess and can interact with at least one control valve assembly, in particular at least one associated control valve housing. In particular, the alignment means serves as a “dummy actuation means”.

When aligning the control valve assembly in the control valve recess, the control valve assembly is preferably rotated or rotated about the longitudinal axis of the control valve or the longitudinal axis of the control valve recess. The control valve assembly is preferably aligned such that an opening, in particular a through opening in the control valve housing for the actuating means (actuating means penetration) of the control valve housing is aligned with the actuating recess.

By fixing the preassembled control valve assembly with the alignment means, in particular by inserting or inserting the alignment means into the actuating recess in the predetermined orientation, in which preferably the actuating means penetration of the control valve housing is flush with the actuating recess, it can be ensured that even after securing the control valve assembly by means of the securing means, the actuating means can be introduced into the actuating recess without any problems.

Preferably, the preassembled control valve assembly is aligned and fixed in the control valve recess before the control valve assembly is secured.

In an advantageous embodiment of a method according to the invention, the actual actuating means serves as an alignment means, i.e. the actual actuating means is the aligning means, in which case the step of removing the aligning means is omitted and the step “introducing an actuating means” is already fulfilled by introducing the aligning means (= actuating means) and is not carried out again.

Particularly preferably, the control valve assembly for interacting with the actuating means and / or the aligning means has an actuating opening (actuating means penetration) into which the actuating means and / or the aligning means can be inserted and / or through which the actuating means and / or the aligning means can be inserted ,

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In this way, a simple mechanical actuation mechanism can be implemented in one way.

By means of the above-described method steps for introducing the actuating means, in particular through the temporary use of an additional aligning means, simple, reliable and efficient assembly of the actuating means can be achieved in a particularly simple manner, in particular that for assembling an actuating means which consists of at least one Control valve assembly inserted or inserted through at least one control valve assembly, required alignment of the associated control valve assembly (s).

The actuating means preferably has at least one recess, in particular groove, into or out of which the actuating body can slide in and / or out, in particular when the actuating means moves axially in the actuating recess. As a result, the actuating body can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the actuating means or the actuating recess, in particular along the longitudinal axis of the control valve, and thereby lift the valve body, in particular against the bias of the spring element, from the valve seat of the control valve housing, so that a hydraulic medium flow against the blocking direction of the control valve assembly , in particular from a hydraulic chamber, is released and can flow through the control valve assembly or can be discharged, in particular into the connecting rod bearing in the large connecting rod eye or a crankshaft chamber.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a method according to the invention, for securing at least one valve assembly and / or the actuating means, the associated securing means is at least partially, in particular completely, introduced into the associated valve recess and / or the associated actuating recess, in particular in the longitudinal direction of the valve recess and / or in the longitudinal direction of the actuating recess, the securing means preferably being screwed in, in particular after the associated valve assembly to be secured in the valve recess or after the actuating means. By screwing in, the length-adjustable connecting rod can be assembled particularly reliably. In particular, this enables a particularly tight fit of the securing means and thereby particularly secure and precise fixing of the valve assembly in the valve recess.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a method according to the invention, at least one valve recess and / or the actuation recess is at least partially sealed against leakage of hydraulic medium by the associated securing means by means of the associated securing means, in particular in the area of the securing means.

A length-adjustable connecting rod for a reciprocating piston machine according to the second aspect of the invention, in particular for a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, has at least one valve recess, in particular at least one control valve recess and / or at least one check valve recess, at least one associated preassembled valve assembly with a longitudinal valve axis, in particular a control valve assembly a control valve longitudinal axis, which is designed to at least partially control a length adjustment device of the connecting rod, and / or in particular a check valve assembly, and at least one associated securing means, the at least one valve assembly being received by the associated valve recess and secured in the associated valve recess by means of the associated securing means is, preferably in the axial direction of the associated longitudinal valve axis.

According to the invention, at least one valve recess is a control valve recess, a preassembled control valve assembly being introduced into at least one control valve recess, in particular a preassembled control valve assembly which has a valve body introduced into a control valve housing with a valve seat, a spring element introduced into the control valve housing and an actuating body. The spring element is secured in the axial direction by means of a spring seat in the control valve housing, in particular

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Patent office such that the spring element is supported parallel to the control valve longitudinal axis in one direction against the spring seat, and the spring element is particularly preferably supported, in particular in a functional state of use of the connecting rod in at least one control state, in the other direction in particular on the valve body.

A longitudinal axis of the control valve housing preferably defines the control valve longitudinal axis, the valve body and the spring element preferably being introduced into the control valve housing along the control valve longitudinal axis and in particular from a first side facing the valve seat, and wherein the valve body and the spring element are preferably arranged in this way in the control valve housing are that the valve body is arranged within the control valve housing, in particular along the longitudinal axis of the control valve, between the valve seat and the spring element.

An effective connecting rod length of the connecting rod is variable, in particular adjustable, the connecting rod preferably having a connecting rod with a hydraulic length adjustment device for changing the effective connecting rod length, in particular for adjusting the effective connecting rod length.

At least one valve assembly is secured against falling out of the valve recess and / or fixed and / or fixed in a defined position in the valve recess by means of the associated securing means.

In an advantageous embodiment of a length-adjustable connecting rod according to the present invention, the connecting rod is produced, in particular assembled, using a method according to the invention.

Preferably, a connecting rod according to the invention for connection to a reciprocating piston and a crankshaft, in particular, as is customary in the prior art, has a connecting rod bearing at its two ends, in particular, as is also customary in the prior art, in the form of a connecting rod eye, whereby the connecting rod preferably has a smaller connecting rod eye on the piston-side end and a larger connecting rod eye on the crankshaft-side end, based on a functional installation state of the connecting rod in a reciprocating piston machine. With the aid of a piston pin mounted in the small connecting rod eye, a reciprocating piston can preferably be connected to the end of the connecting rod on the piston side. The connecting rod can preferably be connected to the crankshaft via the larger connecting rod eye, a connecting rod bearing designed as a slide bearing being arranged in the larger connecting rod eye and being able to be lubricated with hydraulic medium, in particular with engine oil from a reciprocating piston machine.

The connecting rod is preferably rotatable about an axis of rotation around the crankshaft and about an axis of rotation around the piston pin in a reciprocating piston machine, with a distance between the two axes of rotation, i.e. a distance between the axis of rotation around the piston pin and the axis of rotation around the crankshaft defines an effective or effective connecting rod length. The compression ratio of the reciprocating piston machine can be changed by changing the effective connecting rod length, in particular by adjusting the effective connecting rod length, since a change in the top dead center of the piston movement results as a result of the change in the effective connecting rod length.

In principle, the length adjustment device of a connecting rod according to the invention can be designed in any manner. In an advantageous embodiment of a connecting rod according to the invention, however, the connecting rod has a first connecting rod section and a second connecting rod section, the two connecting rod sections preferably being displaceable relative to one another along a longitudinal axis of the connecting rod, in particular telescopically one inside the other and apart that the effective connecting rod length can be changed.

For connection to a reciprocating piston of a reciprocating piston machine, in particular a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, the first connecting rod section can preferably be connected to the reciprocating piston of a reciprocating piston machine, in particular by means of a small connecting rod eye, preferably in a manner known from the prior art, using a piston pin , Alternatively, the first connecting rod section can also be fixed to one

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Piston pin to be connected, in which case a reciprocating piston of a reciprocating piston machine to be connected to the connecting rod has a corresponding eye, from which the piston pin fixedly connected to the connecting rod can be received and in which the piston pin fixedly connected to the connecting rod can in particular be rotatably supported. The second connecting rod section is preferably designed for connection to a crankshaft of a reciprocating piston machine and, as is customary in the prior art, can preferably be connected to the crankshaft using a larger connecting rod eye.

In an advantageous embodiment of a connecting rod according to the invention, the length adjustment device is in particular designed such that one of the two connecting rod sections is designed as a guide body, in particular as a hydraulic cylinder, and the other connecting rod section is designed as a piston element displaceable in the guide body, in particular as a double-acting hydraulic piston, preferably as a stepped piston , in particular between a first end face of the piston element and the guide body, a first hydraulic chamber, in particular a first pressure chamber, and between the second end face of the piston element, a second hydraulic chamber, in particular a second pressure chamber, is spanned by the guide body, preferably at least in the first pressure chamber a first hydraulic channel opens and in the second pressure chamber preferably at least one second hydraulic channel, which ver fluid-communicating with the control device are bound. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber are each fluidly communicating and / or connectable to the control device with a hydraulic channel serving as an oil supply line and a hydraulic channel serving as a return line.

A length-adjustable connecting rod with a previously described hydraulic length adjustment device with a hydraulic cylinder with a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber, which is particularly suitable for a connecting rod according to the invention, is fundamentally known from the prior art and is described, for example, in detail in WO 2015 / 055582 A1 and WO 2016/064193 A1, to which reference is hereby made for more detailed information on the basic functioning of such a length adjustment device and with regard to a basic functioning of an associated control device and with regard to a suitable hydraulic system.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a connecting rod according to the invention, the connecting rod has a hydraulic medium supply line and a drainage.

A “hydraulic medium feed line” in the sense of the invention is a line in which hydraulic medium can be guided, in particular with an engine oil pressure present in a reciprocating piston machine.

“Drainage” in the sense of the invention is understood to mean a hydraulic line and / or an outlet opening in the connecting rod, by means of which hydraulic medium can be discharged from the connecting rod in such a way that pressure is released in the hydraulic components connected to the drainage. A drainage can be formed, for example, by a bore in the connecting rod, with which hydraulic medium can be discharged into the crankshaft chamber of an associated reciprocating piston machine. A drainage can, however, also be formed, for example, by openings in the control device and / or a valve and / or a valve assembly, with hydraulic medium in particular in the crankshaft space and / or in the vicinity of the connecting rod, based on a functional state of use in a reciprocating piston machine , can drain off.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a connecting rod according to the invention, the length adjustment device has a hydraulic cylinder with a first pressure space and a second pressure space, the first pressure space of the length adjustment device and the second pressure space of the length adjustment device being separated from one another by a hydraulic piston, preferably one of the two Connecting rod sections is connected to the hydraulic cylinder and the other of the two connecting rod sections to the hydraulic piston, and in particular the hydraulic medium supply line and the drainage of the connecting rod

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Patent office can be fluidly communicated with the first pressure chamber of the length adjustment device and / or the second pressure chamber of the length adjustment device.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a connecting rod according to the invention, the connecting rod has a control device, the connecting rod being designed in particular in such a way that in a first control state of the control device a return of hydraulic medium from the first pressure chamber of the length adjustment device is blocked and the second pressure chamber Length adjustment device is drained and in a second control state of the control device a return flow from the second pressure chamber of the length adjustment device is blocked and the first pressure chamber of the length adjustment device is drained.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a connecting rod according to the invention, in order to adjust the effective length of the connecting rod, one of the two pressure chambers of the length adjustment device in particular can be supplied with hydraulic medium from the connecting rod bearing of the larger connecting rod eye via the hydraulic medium feed line or as a result of a stroke movement into one of the two pressure chambers be sucked in, while at the same time a return, ie a fluid connection to the drainage is blocked and a return line from the other pressure chamber is open, so that no hydraulic pressure can build up in the length adjustment device in this other pressure chamber. As a result, the pressure chamber, the return of which is blocked, in particular after a change in the control state, can increasingly and in particular be filled with hydraulic medium over several strokes and build up a corresponding hydraulic pressure therein, which brings about a length adjustment of the connecting rod as a result of a relative movement of the two connecting rod sections relative to one another, in particular one telescoping and / or pushing into each other, while the other pressure chamber is being emptied.

In other words, in an advantageous embodiment of a connecting rod according to the invention, the length adjustment device of a connecting rod according to the invention is designed in particular in such a way that to adjust a length of the connecting rod, a pressure chamber of the length adjustment device can be supplied via the hydraulic medium feed line or into the pressure chamber can be sucked in while the other pressure chamber is drained, so that the desired change in the effective connecting rod length ensues.

In particular, the length adjustment device is designed in such a way that, as a result of the external forces acting on the connecting rod, hydraulic medium can be sucked in via the hydraulic medium feed line and the pressure chamber of the length adjustment device connected in fluid communication with it during an upward stroke of the connecting rod, while the other pressure chamber of the length adjustment device, which is drained is emptied, the hydraulic medium being able to be discharged into the crankshaft chamber preferably via the drainage which communicates fluidly with this pressure chamber.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a connecting rod according to the invention, the connecting rod is in particular designed such that, in a first control state of the control device, the hydraulic medium supply line is fluidly connected to the first pressure chamber of the length adjustment device and the second pressure chamber of the length adjustment device is connected to the drainage and in a second control state Control device the hydraulic medium supply line is fluidly communicating with the second pressure chamber of the length adjustment device and the first pressure chamber of the length adjustment device with the drainage.

The control device is in particular operatively connected to the length adjustment device, in particular hydraulically, that by actuating the control device, in particular by switching the control device from the first control state to the second control state, in particular with the aid of an actuating element and / or an actuating means, a change the effective connecting rod length can be effected.

The control device of a length-adjustable connecting rod according to the invention is here

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The patent office is preferably designed and in particular interacts with the length adjustment device and / or is operatively connected to the length adjustment device in such a way that a first effective connecting rod length is set in the first control state and a second effective connecting rod length is set in the second switching control state.

In particular, the control device is designed such that the first control state is set at a first applied engine oil pressure, based on a functional state of use in a reciprocating piston engine, in particular a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, the actuating element in particular assuming the first actuating position, and at a second applied engine oil pressure, the second switching state, in which case the actuating element assumes the second actuating position.

Particularly preferably, the actuating element and / or an actuating means for this purpose can be displaced against a restoring force in the hydraulic working space along an actuation axis, in particular against a restoring force generated, in particular defined, by means of a restoring spring, the spring stiffness of the restoring spring being chosen in particular such that at a first, lower engine oil pressure level, the first control state is set and the actuating element and / or actuating means assumes the first actuating position and is held in the first actuating position by the return spring, and at a second, higher engine oil pressure level, in particular an engine oil pressure level , in which a different compression ratio is desired, sets the second control state, the adjusting element and / or the actuating means being used to counter the restoring force along the bed, in particular with the aid of the applied engine oil pressure actuating axis is displaced within the hydraulic working chamber and assumes the second actuating position. This means that the spring stiffness of the return spring is chosen in particular in such a way that at a second, higher engine oil pressure level at which a length adjustment, in particular a change in the effective connecting rod length, is to be brought about compared to a first engine oil pressure level.

Instead of hydraulically as described above, the control device of a length-adjustable connecting rod according to the invention can also be designed in an alternative manner and, for example, have a mechanically and / or (electro) magnetically actuated actuating element and / or actuating element.

[00106] In a further advantageous embodiment of a connecting rod according to the invention, at least one valve recess has a blind hole-like recess or is designed as a blind hole, in particular with a valve recess opening. The valve recess preferably has at least one section with an internal thread, in particular with an internal thread adjacent to the valve recess opening. Particularly preferably, the internal thread extends along the corresponding valve recess at most as far as the preassembled valve assembly introduced into the valve recess, so that at the same time a firm, in particular sealing, fit of the screwed-in securing means and the valve assembly is made possible.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a connecting rod according to the invention, at least one valve recess extends at least substantially perpendicular, in particular exactly perpendicular, to a longitudinal axis of the connecting rod, along which the connecting rod length of the connecting rod can be changed, and / or extends at least partially in this way. Particularly preferably, the at least one valve recess extends and / or extends at least partially, preferably completely, in each case based on a functional state of use of the connecting rod in a reciprocating piston engine, in particular parallel to a crankshaft axis.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a connecting rod according to the invention, the valve body and the spring element are arranged on a side facing the valve seat within the control valve housing and the actuating body on a side facing away from the valve seat. The actuating body is preferably also introduced into the control valve housing along the longitudinal axis of the control valve and in particular also from the first side. Alternatively, the actuating body can also be removed from the second one, from the valve seat

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Patent Office turned side be introduced into the control valve housing.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a connecting rod according to the invention, at least one valve recess is a check valve recess, into which in particular a preassembled check valve assembly is introduced, the check valve assembly having a valve body introduced into a check valve housing with a valve seat and a spring element introduced into the check valve housing. The spring element is particularly preferably secured in the axial direction by means of a spring seat in the check valve housing, in particular in such a way that the spring element is supported in one direction against the spring seat parallel to the check valve longitudinal axis.

Preferably, a longitudinal axis of the check valve housing defines the check valve longitudinal axis, the valve body and the spring element preferably being introduced into the check valve housing along the check valve longitudinal axis and in particular from a first side facing the valve seat. The valve body and the spring element are in particular arranged in the check valve housing such that the valve body is arranged within the check valve housing, in particular along the longitudinal check valve axis, between the valve seat and the spring element.

In at least one valve assembly, an existing spring seat is preferably pressed or screwed into the associated valve housing and in particular introduced up to a stop in the associated valve housing, in particular up to a stop surface which preferably extends in a plane perpendicular to the valve housing. In this way, a particularly simple assembly of the spring seat can be achieved, in particular a tolerance chain that is particularly easy to control results.

On the other hand, the spring seat is not defined in the associated valve housing, such as by inserting up to a stop, but undefined and therefore not to size and only with securing the preassembled valve assembly to a desired level by applying an axial pressure and / or press-in force introduced into the control valve housing, a longer tolerance chain must be taken into account for the precise setting of a pretensioning force and / or restoring force of the spring element, since the tolerances of the securing means and the complete valve housing in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the valve housing must also be taken into account (especially the respective tolerances in In relation to the length of the individual components).

In a further advantageous embodiment of a connecting rod according to the invention, at least one preassembled valve assembly is introduced into the associated valve recess and / or secured in the valve recess in such a way that the spring seat rests against a stop and / or a bottom in a functional state of use of the connecting rod associated valve recess is supported, in particular in such a way that the spring element is preloaded in such a way that in at least one state of the valve assembly the associated valve body is pressed against the valve seat of the associated valve housing by means of the spring element preloaded in this way and a hydraulic medium flow through the valve assembly at least partially is locked in a first direction.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a connecting rod according to the invention, the at least one securing means is in a secured state of the valve assembly, in particular in a functional state of use of the connecting rod, with a contact surface which extends in particular perpendicular to the associated valve longitudinal axis, in particular with its end, on the associated valve housing on, the associated valve housing and / or the securing means having a shaft section. Particularly preferably, at least one stem section of the valve housing and / or of the securing means, in particular only one stem section of the valve housing, has a hydraulic duct section that is connected to the length adjustment device and, in particular, a supply duct section that opens into the hydraulic duct section and through which hydraulic medium can flow into and out of the hydraulic duct section.

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Patent Office [00115] The stem section is preferably a part of the control valve housing, which is in contact with the securing means when the control valve assembly is inserted and secured, in particular fixed. The hydraulic channel section arranged in the shaft section is preferably designed as a central bore through the control valve housing and preferably runs along the longitudinal axis of the control valve. In particular, the hydraulic duct section can be part of a control valve housing interior, in particular an associated valve seat formed in the control valve housing and / or an associated actuating means passage provided in the control valve housing can pass into the hydraulic duct section.

[00116] The supply channel section particularly preferably runs radially in the shaft section, in particular essentially perpendicular to the control valve longitudinal axis. The supply channel section can also run at an angle to the control valve longitudinal axis. The supply duct section preferably opens into the hydraulic duct section with a supply opening and in particular has a round or oval cross section.

Preferably, the stem portion lies in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the control valve on the securing means and / or on the control valve housing.

If the shaft section is part of the control valve housing and a hydraulic channel section and a supply channel section are only provided in the control valve housing, a particularly simple securing means can be used. In this case, only the valve housing is expensive to manufacture. On the other hand, in particular a securing means can be used without a previously described hydraulic duct section, which enables the use of a standard component, for example a standard screw plug.

Alternatively or additionally, the shaft section can also be part of the securing means, in which case the hydraulic channel section preferably merges into the control valve interior of the control valve housing in which the valve body is arranged and through which the actuating means optionally extends. The hydraulic channel section is preferably aligned with a central bore of the control valve housing in the interior of the control valve housing.

In some cases, however, despite the more complex and therefore more expensive production, it may be more advantageous if both the valve housing and the securing means have a corresponding hydraulic duct section, for example if a relatively long section has to be bridged in the longitudinal direction of the valve or if only a small amount of installation space is required Is available and therefore a very small overall length is required, ie only one valve recess with a shallow depth is available.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a connecting rod according to the invention, the connecting rod has at least one actuating recess and an actuating means introduced into the actuating recess. In a functional state of use of the connecting rod, the actuating recess crosses in particular at least one control valve recess, preferably all of the control valve recesses, the actuating recess being essentially perpendicular or exactly perpendicular to the at least one control valve recess and / or extending perpendicularly to at least one control valve recess, preferably all. The actuating means is preferably designed for actuating at least one valve assembly, in particular for actuating at least one control valve assembly, and in particular designed and arranged in the connecting rod in such a way that it interacts with at least one control valve assembly, preferably with the valve body and / or the actuating body with at least one control valve assembly that the valve assembly can be actuated by means of the actuating means, in particular by axial displacement, in particular axial displacement of the actuating means along its longitudinal axis.

[00122] The actuating means is particularly preferably designed and / or

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Patent office arranged in the actuating recess in such a way and / or cooperates with at least one control valve assembly such that an axial displacement of the actuating means causes the valve body to be lifted or placed against the valve seat of the control valve assembly in the control valve housing, preferably indirectly via the actuating body and in particular in a direction perpendicular to the Longitudinal direction and / or direction of displacement of the actuating means.

To interact with the actuating means, at least one control valve assembly preferably has an actuating opening (actuating means penetration) into which the actuating means can be inserted and / or inserted or through which the actuating means can be inserted and / or inserted, in particular in such a way that in particular the valve body or the actuating body of at least one control valve assembly lies at least partially and in particular in at least one operating state of the connecting rod on the actuating means.

Particularly preferably, the actuating means is also secured in the actuating recess by means of a securing means, in particular against falling out of the actuating recess, in particular in the longitudinal direction of the actuating means.

[00125] In particular, at least one valve assembly, the actuating means or at least one securing means is completely inserted into the associated valve recess.

Furthermore, at least one valve recess and / or the actuating recess by means of the associated securing means is particularly preferably at least partially sealed, in particular in the area of the securing means, by the associated securing means against leakage of hydraulic medium, in particular in the longitudinal direction of the associated recess. For this purpose, the respective securing means is preferably at least partially inserted into the associated control or check valve recess in such a way that the securing means lies flat against an inside of the recess or interacts with it. The securing means further preferably has a head section which at least partially covers the corresponding valve recess. As a result, high pressures of the hydraulic medium can also be withstood within the valve recess.

Furthermore, at least one valve recess is preferably designed such that the connecting rod between the valve recess and at least one functional surface of the associated, preassembled and inserted into the associated valve assembly has a transition fit, in particular an H7 / j6 fit, in particular between one on a sealing surface adjacent functional surface and the valve recess. As a result, a preassembled valve assembly can be moved and / or positioned in the corresponding valve recess, in particular along the longitudinal axis of the corresponding valve recess, by light impacts and / or by hand. An associated valve recess is particularly preferably made as a (blind hole) bore with a nominal diameter of essentially 5.6 mm.

Preferably, the control valve recess is also made such that the valve recess has a, in particular a frustoconical, sealing seat for the control valve assembly in the control valve recess, in particular a sealing seat inclined to the control valve longitudinal axis, preferably at least one valve assembly having a correspondingly configured, in particular conical, preferably conical, inclined , Sealing surface, in particular on the outside of the associated valve housing.

In an advantageous embodiment, at least one valve recess has such a sealing seat and the associated preassembled valve assembly, which is introduced into the valve recess, has a sealing surface correspondingly and correspondingly to the sealing seat, the valve assembly being secured in the valve recess by means of the securing means in such a way that for an at least partial sealing of the valve recess, the sealing surface of the valve assembly, in particular of the control valve housing, in the axial direction, ie is pressed against the sealing seat in the direction of the control valve longitudinal axis. As a result, Hyd

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Patent office raulikmedium, whose return, for example from a hydraulic chamber, is blocked through the valve assembly, is prevented from exiting the valve recess in the longitudinal direction, in particular via the valve recess opening.

A third aspect of the invention relates to a reciprocating engine, in particular reciprocating internal combustion engine, with a length-adjustable connecting rod according to the second aspect of the invention.

A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with a reciprocating piston engine according to the third aspect of the invention.

These and other features and advantages emerge from the claims and from the description also from the drawings, the individual features can be implemented individually or in groups, in the form of sub-combinations in one embodiment of the invention and one can represent advantageous as well as protectable design, provided that this makes technical sense.

Some of the features or properties mentioned relate both to a method according to the invention and a length-adjustable connecting rod according to the invention and / or a reciprocating piston machine according to the invention and / or a vehicle according to the invention. Some of these features and properties are only described once, but apply independently of one another within the scope of technically possible configurations both for a method according to the invention and for a length-adjustable connecting rod according to the invention, a reciprocating piston machine according to the invention and for a vehicle according to the invention.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of non-restrictive exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the figures, wherein functionally identical components and / or assemblies have the same reference numerals, even across several exemplary embodiments. At least partially, they show schematically:

Figure 1 a first embodiment of a length-adjustable connecting rod in side view, Figure 2 2 a first connecting rod part of the length-adjustable connecting rod from FIG. 1, also in a side view, with partial representation of hidden contours, Figure 3 1 shows a section of the length-adjustable connecting rod from FIG. 1 in a first section along a first section plane X-X ', Fig. 4 2 shows a section of the length-adjustable connecting rod from FIG. 1 in a second section along a second section plane Y-Y ', 5 a further embodiment of a preassembled control valve assembly in a longitudinal section, and Figure 6 a flow diagram of a first embodiment of a method according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a length-adjustable connecting rod 1 in side view, the connecting rod 1 having a first connecting rod part 2 or a first connecting rod section 2 and a second connecting rod part 4 or a second connecting rod section 4. The first connecting rod part 2 of the connecting rod 1 has a large connecting rod eye 3 for connecting the connecting rod 1 to a crankshaft (not shown here) and the second connecting rod part 4 of the connecting rod 1 has a small connecting rod eye 5 for connecting the connecting rod 1 to a piston (also not shown). The first connecting rod part 2 and the second connecting rod part 4 can be displaced relative to one another along a longitudinal axis Z of the connecting rod, in particular telescopically one inside and the other, so that an effective connecting rod length L of the connecting rod 1 can be changed, in particular adjusted.

The connecting rod 1, in particular the first connecting rod part 2, in the present example has two control valve recesses 6 and two check valve recesses 8, which are preferably above the large connecting rod eye 3 and between the large connecting rod eye 3 and the small one

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Patentamt nen connecting rod eye 5, in particular in a region of the connecting rod 1 on the large connecting rod eye 3, are arranged and preferably run perpendicular to the connecting rod longitudinal axis Z and parallel to a crankshaft axis, based on a functional installation state of the connecting rod 1 in a reciprocating piston machine.

In the control valve recesses 6, a preassembled control valve assembly 14 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) is arranged and fixed by a securing means 9, in particular a screw 9 screwed into the respective control valve recess 6, and thereby in particular to prevent it from falling out the associated control valve recess 6 secured and further fixed in this case in the axial direction in the control valve recess 6.

In the check valve recesses 8, a pre-assembled check valve assembly 15 (see FIG. 3) is arranged and also fixed by a securing means 9 and thereby also secured against falling out of the associated check valve recess 6 and also in the axial direction in the check valve recess 6 fixed.

Fig. 2 shows a first connecting rod part 2 of the length-adjustable connecting rod 1 from Fig. 1, also in side view, with partial representation of hidden contours, which are indicated by the dashed lines. From this it can be seen that the first connecting rod part 2 has in particular a guide and hydraulic cylinder 10 extending along the longitudinal axis Z of the connecting rod. The hydraulic cylinder 10 is designed and set up to at least partially accommodate the second connecting rod part 4 of the connecting rod 1 shown in FIG. 1 and to guide the second connecting rod part 4, which is located within the guide and hydraulic cylinder 10 and along the longitudinal rod axis Z relative to the first connecting rod part 2 is displaceable and, in particular, telescopically insertable into and withdrawable from the first connecting rod part 2 in order to change the effective connecting rod length L.

The part of the second connecting rod part 2 of the connecting rod 1 received in front of the hydraulic cylinder 10 is preferably designed as a hydraulic piston, in particular as a stepped piston, and together with the hydraulic cylinder 10 forms two hydraulic chambers or (high) pressure chambers, which are not described in more detail, the Hydraulic piston and the hydraulic cylinder 10 are part of a length adjustment device 7 for changing, in particular setting, the effective connecting rod length L.

The hydraulic chambers can be filled in a preferred manner known from the prior art (see, for example, WO 2015/055582 A1 or WO 2016/064193 A1) with a hydraulic medium for changing the effective connecting rod length L and for this purpose via hydraulic lines 11 and Via control valve assemblies 14 and check valve assemblies 15 introduced into the control valve recesses 6 and the check valve recesses 8 (see FIG. 1), with a hydraulic medium supply line 12, via which hydraulic medium supply line 7, in particular hydraulic medium, is supplied from the connecting rod bearing in the area of the large connecting rod eye 3 of the first connecting rod part 2 can be connected in a fluid-communicating manner.

The control valve assemblies 14 and check valve assemblies 15 are set up in this exemplary embodiment to control a hydraulic medium flow from the hydraulic medium supply line 12 into the hydraulic channels 11 and further into the hydraulic chambers, in particular the hydraulic cylinder 10, the length adjustment device 7 and thus the length adjustment of the connecting rod 1, a control valve assembly 14 and a check valve assembly 15 being associated with each hydraulic chamber.

The check valve assemblies 15 are in particular set up to allow a hydraulic medium flow from the large connecting rod eye 3 via the hydraulic medium supply line 12 and the hydraulic channels 11 into at least one hydraulic chamber of the length adjustment device 7, but to prevent a return or outflow in the other direction.

The control valve assemblies 14 are in particular also set up for this purpose

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To enable hydraulic medium flow from the large connecting rod eye 3 via the hydraulic medium feed line 12 and the hydraulic channels 11 into at least one hydraulic chamber of the length adjustment device 7. In contrast to the check valve assemblies 15, the control valve assemblies 14, however, have at least two actuation states, a return line from the associated hydraulic chamber being blocked in a first actuation state and being released in a second actuation state.

To switch the two control valve assemblies 14, in particular in each case between the first actuation state and the second actuation state, an actuation means 16 is provided (see FIG. 4), which in an actuation recess 13 of the length-adjustable connecting rod 1, in particular within the second connecting rod part 2, is axially movable, in particular displaceable, supported and can itself be operated hydraulically in this exemplary embodiment, but the control valve assemblies 14 are operated mechanically. In principle, the actuating means 16 can also be actuated electromechanically or likewise mechanically or the like.

The actuating means and the control valve assemblies 14 are designed and interact in such a way that one of the two control valve assemblies 14 is in the first actuation state, i.e. that a hydraulic medium return from the associated hydraulic chamber is blocked while the other control valve assembly 14 is in the second actuation state, so that a hydraulic medium return from the associated other hydraulic chamber is released.

For example, based on the illustration, a return via the left hydraulic channel 11 is blocked and a return via the right hydraulic channel is enabled, with each upward stroke through the valve assemblies 14 and 15, which open in the direction of the hydraulic cylinder, hydraulic medium via the hydraulic medium supply line 12 the valve assemblies 14 and 15 are sucked through and via the hydraulic lines 11 into the hydraulic cylinder 10. However, the hydraulic medium cannot be discharged from the lower hydraulic chamber in the region of the bottom of the hydraulic cylinder 10 due to the return line being blocked by the associated control valve assembly 14, as a result of which this hydraulic chamber fills up more and more and thus pushes the second connecting rod part 4 out of the first connecting rod part 2 and enlarges it effective connecting rod length L, in particular up to the maximum effective connecting rod length L. In the other, upper hydraulic chamber, no back pressure can build up due to the open return due to the other associated control valve assembly 14 which is in the second actuation state.

The two control valve assemblies 14 are now actuated by means of the actuating means 16, the first control valve assembly 14 opening so that the hydraulic medium can flow out of the lower hydraulic chamber, and the second control valve assembly 14 being transferred to the second state, in which a return flow from the upper hydraulic chamber is locked in the region of the hydraulic cylinder 10, hydraulic medium is pressed out of the lower hydraulic chamber with each downward stroke, while the upper hydraulic chamber fills, as a result of which the effective connecting rod length L is increasingly reduced, in particular to its minimum.

Fig. 3 shows a section of the length-adjustable connecting rod from Fig. 1 in a first section along a first section plane XX ', in this illustration an exemplary embodiment of the check valve assemblies 15 and an intermediate control valve assembly 14 each according to a first embodiment of the invention is recognizable.

The check valve assemblies 15 and the control valve assembly 14 are each arranged in a check valve recess 8 or control valve recess 6 of the connecting rod 1. The valve recesses 6, 8 are each formed as blind holes and are drilled into the first connecting rod part 2, and an internal thread (not shown here) adjacent to the respective opening of the blind hole has also been introduced. The valve recesses 6 and 8 also each have a, in particular frustoconical, sealing seat 6a, 8a.

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Patent Office The valve assemblies 14 and 15 have each been used as pre-assembled valve assemblies in the associated valve recess 6 or 8, in particular in the longitudinal direction of the valve recesses 6, 8, and in each case by means of a securing means 9, in particular in each case by means of one in the respective valve recess 6, 8 screwed-in locking screw 9, fixed in the axial direction within the valve recesses 6, 8, the valve assemblies 14, 15 each bearing on the associated sealing seat 6a, 8a, in particular in a form-fitting and thus sealing manner, the valve assemblies 14, 15 in particular by means of the securing means 9 are each pressed against the associated sealing seat 6a, 8a.

The valve assemblies 14, 15 each have a valve housing 14b, 15b (control valve housing 14b, check valve housing 15b), wherein in each case a sealing surface of the associated valve housing 14b, 15b bears against the sealing seat 6a, 8a of the respective valve recess 6,8, and where the securing means 9 are each supported in the axial direction on the associated valve housing 14b, 15b or, via the associated valve housing 14b, 15b, applies an axial pressing force to the valve assembly 14, 15.

In addition, the securing means 9 close the valve recesses 6, 8, in particular with respect to a hydraulic medium which can enter the valve recesses 6, 8 via a hydraulic channel 12 opening into the valve recesses 6, 8 and / or can exit from the valve recesses 6, 8 and whose flow is at least partially controllable by means of the control valve assemblies 14 and / or the check valve assemblies 15.

The individual valve assemblies 14, 15 in particular control a hydraulic medium flow through the valve assemblies 14, 15, the check valve assemblies 15 generally only permitting a hydraulic medium flow from the large connecting rod eye 3 via the hydraulic medium supply line 12 through the check valve assemblies 15 through the hydraulic lines 11 , while a hydraulic medium return in the opposite direction is basically blocked, while the control valve assemblies 14 additionally, in each case in the second actuation state, also a hydraulic medium return in the opposite direction, ie from the hydraulic cylinder 10 to the large connecting rod eye 3 and / or into a crankshaft space, and in particular in this way can control the actual length adjustment.

Here is a first of the two check valve assemblies 15 (based on the illustration in FIG. 2, the left, upper check valve assembly 15) via a first hydraulic channel 11 (based on the illustration in FIG. 2, the left hydraulic channel 11) with the lower hydraulic chamber fluidly connected in the hydraulic cylinder 10 and the second check valve assembly 15 (based on the illustration in FIG. 2, the right check valve assembly 15 arranged further down) via a second hydraulic channel 11 (based on the illustration in FIG. 2, the right hydraulic channel 11) with the upper one Hydraulic chamber in the hydraulic cylinder 10.

Furthermore, a first of the two control valve assemblies 14 (based on the illustration in FIG. 2, the left, lower control valve assembly 14) via a first hydraulic channel 11 (based on the illustration in FIG. 2, the left hydraulic channel 11) with the lower hydraulic chamber fluidly connected in the hydraulic cylinder 10 and the second control valve assembly 14 (based on the illustration in FIG. 2 the right control valve assembly 14 arranged further up) via a second hydraulic channel 11 (based on the illustration in FIG. 2 the right hydraulic channel 11) with the upper one Hydraulic chamber in the hydraulic cylinder 10. Via an unspecified supply channel section in the securing means 9, which is in each case fluidly connected to a likewise unspecified hydraulic channel section in the respective securing means 9 and in each case to a corresponding hydraulic channel section in a valve interior of the valve housing 14b, 15b t, hydraulic medium can in each case be supplied from the hydraulic medium supply line 12 to the associated valve interior of the respective valve assembly 14, 15.

[00164] The securing means 9 are in a secured state of the valve assembly

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14, 15 with a contact surface that extends in particular perpendicular to the associated valve longitudinal axis SVA, RVA, in particular with its end, in each case on the associated valve housing 14b, 15b, the securing means 9 each having a shaft section in which the supply channel section and the corresponding hydraulic channel section are arranged are. The valve housings 14b, 15b likewise have a stem section which bears against the stem section of the respective associated securing means 9 and in which the hydraulic passage section of the valve housing 14b, 15b which communicates fluidly with the passage sections in the associated securing means 9 is located.

In this case, the supply channel sections of the securing means 9 run radially in the shaft section of the securing means 9, in particular essentially perpendicular to the respective valve longitudinal axis SVA, RVA. The supply channel section can also run at an angle to the longitudinal valve axis SVA, RVA. The supply duct sections each open into the associated hydraulic duct section with a supply opening and, in the exemplary embodiment described, in particular have a round cross section.

To open or block a hydraulic medium flow through the respective valve assembly 14, 15 in this embodiment, all valve assemblies 14, 15, i.e. Both the control valve assemblies 14 and the check valve assemblies 15 each have a valve body 14a, 15a and an associated valve seat 14m, 15m, the valve bodies 14a, 15a each being closed by spring elements 14c, 15c, which are supported on a spring seat 14d, 15d , in particular locked state, are pressed against the respective valve seat 14m, 15m. By displacing the valve bodies 14a, 15a in the axial direction away from the valve seat 14m, 15m against a restoring force generated by the associated spring element 14c, 15c, in particular by lifting off the valve seat 14m, 15m against this restoring force, a hydraulic medium flow through the respective valve assembly 14, 15 becomes allows.

In the check valve assemblies 15, the valve body 15a only lift off from the valve seat 14m, 15m when a respective hydraulic pressure force acts on the respective valve body 15a, with which the restoring force of the respective spring elements 15c can be overcome. That The check valve assemblies 15 only open if there is a hydraulic overpressure on the side facing the large connecting rod eye 3 or a corresponding hydraulic underpressure on the side facing the hydraulic cylinder 10, which is sufficient to overcome the restoring force of the respective spring elements 15c.

The same applies to the control valve assemblies 14. these also open when there is a hydraulic overpressure on the side facing the large connecting rod eye 3 or a corresponding hydraulic vacuum on the side facing the hydraulic cylinder 10, which is sufficient to overcome the restoring force of the respective spring elements 14c.

The spring stiffness of the spring elements 14c, 15c of the check valve assemblies 15 and the control valve assemblies 14 is chosen such that the valve assemblies 14, 15 open when a defined resultant hydraulic pressure force is reached and / or exceeded.

In addition, the control valve assemblies 14 can also be opened with the aid of the actuating means 16, the valve bodies 14a being lifted from the valve seat 14m by means of the actuating means 16, in particular against the bias of the spring element 14c, so that the hydraulic medium from a high-pressure area 6c Control valve recess 6, which is in each case connected to the hydraulic cylinder 10 in a fluid-communicating manner via a hydraulic channel 11, can be discharged via a valve interior of the control valve assembly 14, in particular through the control valve housing 14b, via the hydraulic medium supply line 12.

In the embodiment shown, the control valve assemblies 14 each additionally have an actuating body 14e, which is set up to actuate the actuator

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Patentamt means 16 to couple with the respective valve body 14a and which in particular serves to bridge a distance from the actuating means 16 to the valve body 14a. This actuating body 14e is not absolutely necessary, but has the advantage that the valve body 14a can be made smaller. As a result, more installation space is available for the control valve housing 14b, in particular in the region of the valve seat 14m, which can be advantageous in some applications for the structural design of the valve seat 14m, in particular with regard to its strength.

In an alternative embodiment of a control valve assembly 14, the actuating means 16 can also be coupled directly to the respective valve body 14a. For this purpose, however, the valve body 14a is generally to be made larger, i.e. to be designed with a larger valve body diameter, with the result that the valve seat 14m is to be designed differently, in particular with a larger inner diameter, which can be disadvantageous in some applications with regard to the strength of the valve seat 14m.

The actuating bodies 14e are each movable by means of the actuating means 16, which extends through an opening (actuating means penetration 14f) in the control valve housing 14b, along the control valve longitudinal axis SVA against the spring force of the associated spring element 14c in order to lift the valve body 14a from the valve seat 14m ,

The spring seats 14d, 15d, with which the spring elements 14c, 15c of the control valve assemblies 14 and the check valve assemblies 15 are each biased in such a way that they are pressed in a closed state against the associated valve body 14a, 15a, are in turn supported on a floor 6b, 8b of the respective valve recess 6, 8.

The spring seats 14d, 15d close the valve housing 14b, 15b on a side facing the bottom 6b, 8b of the respective valve recess 6, 8, preferably at least partially, for example by the spring seats 14d, 15d, as in this embodiment, in one of the Bottom 6b, 8b facing opening of the respective valve housing 14b, 15b are screwed.

However, the spring seats 14d, 15b preferably do not completely close the associated valve housing 14b, 15b, but preferably each have at least one recess 14g, in particular a spring seat opening 14g (see FIG. 5), through which hydraulic medium from or into the respective control valve assembly 14 or check valve assembly 15 can exit and / or enter. In particular, hydraulic medium can thereby flow out of and / or into a valve interior delimited by the respective valve housing 14b, 15b, the valve interior preferably being designed as a recess, in particular a central bore, running along a control valve or check valve longitudinal axis SVA or RVA and in which or in which the associated valve body 14a, 15a and the associated spring element 14c, 15c are arranged.

In particular, hydraulic medium can flow through the recess 14g from the respective valve interior into a high-pressure region 6c, 8c arranged on the bottom 6b, 8b of the respective recess 6, 8, the high-pressure regions 6c, 8c each via the associated hydraulic channel 11 (see above and Fig. 2) with the hydraulic cylinder 10, in particular with each of the hydraulic chambers, the length adjustment device are flow-connected (see above and Fig. 2).

Alternatively or additionally, as in this embodiment, the respective valve housings 14b, 15b, in particular on the side of the valve seat 14m, 15m facing away from the base 6b, 8b, can have one or more recesses, not specifically described here, in particular grooves , which in particular are fluidly communicating with the associated valve interior, and via which hydraulic medium can exit and / or enter the respective control valve assembly 14 or check valve assembly 15 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

FIG. 4 shows a section of the length-adjustable connecting rod from FIG. 1 in a second section along a second section plane Y-Y ', with further details in this illustration

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Patent office of the design of the control valve assemblies 14 of the connecting rod 1 according to the invention can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 3.

In this illustration it can be seen in particular that the control valve assemblies 14 have each been introduced into the associated control valve recess 6 of the first connecting rod part 2 and are each aligned in the control valve recesses 6 in this way, in particular in the axial direction, i.e. in the direction of the control valve longitudinal axis SVA and in relation to a (rotational) angular position about the control valve longitudinal axis SVA, that the respective openings 14f in the control valve housings 14b, which are provided for the actuating means 16 (the actuating element passages 14f), each with the actuating recess 13, which in the Extends substantially perpendicular to the control valve recesses 6 and crosses them. As a result, an actuating means 16 inserted into the actuating recess 13 can be inserted into the control valve housing 14b or inserted through it or reach through it.

The actuating means 16 is preferably mounted in the actuating recess 13 such that it is axially displaceable along its longitudinal axis for actuating the two control valve assemblies 14, in particular for switching the two control valve assemblies 14 in each case from the first actuation state to the second actuation state.

The connecting rod 1 according to the invention is designed in particular in such a way, in particular the control device for length adjustment, which, among other things, the two control valve assemblies 14 and the actuating means 16 are associated with the two control valve assemblies 14 by axially displacing the actuating means 16 in each case from an actuating state to can be switched over to another actuation state, one of the two control valve assemblies 14 being in the first actuation state, in which the control valve assembly 14 is closed and hydraulic medium flow through the control valve assembly 14 only in one direction and only in the direction of the high-pressure region 6c and further in the direction of the hydraulic cylinder 10 is possible while the other control valve assembly 14 is open and a hydraulic medium flow through the control valve assembly 14 in both directions, ie is also possible from the hydraulic cylinder 10 and from the high pressure region 6c.

For this purpose, the actuating means 16 in this case each for each control valve assembly 14, in particular for each actuating body 14e, a corresponding, unspecified recess, which can also be formed by a recess or opening, of which the respective actuating body 14b is at least partially receivable, the actuating bodies 14e being able to slide in and / or slide out of the respective recess in the event of an axial displacement of the actuating means 16.

The control device, preferably the actuating means 16, in particular the depression, is in particular designed such that when an actuating body 14e is at least partially received by the associated depression or recess, the associated valve body 14a is in each case in contact with the associated valve seat 14m, so that the associated control valve assembly 14 is in the first actuation state and a hydraulic medium return from the hydraulic cylinder 10 is blocked through this control valve assembly 14.

However, if the actuating body 14e is not received by the associated recess in the actuating means 16, i.e. if this is due to the axial position of the actuating means 16 in the actuating recess 13 offset from the recess or recess in the actuating means 16, the actuating body 14e is pressed by the actuating means 16 against the associated valve body 14 in such a way that it moves along the control valve longitudinal axis SVA in the direction of the spring seat 14d lifts off the valve seat 14m, so that a hydraulic medium return from the hydraulic cylinder 10 is possible through this control valve assembly 14 and the associated control valve assembly 14 is in the second actuation state.

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Patent Office That is, the control device for controlling the length adjustment, in particular the actuating means 16 and the actuating body 14e are preferably designed, coupled to one another and arranged in the connecting rod 1 such that the actuating body 14e is displaced in a direction perpendicular to the actuating means by means of the actuating means 16 16, which is associated with a pushing out of the actuating body 14e from the associated depression, in particular along the control valve longitudinal axis SVA in the direction of the spring seat 14d, each causes the valve body 14a to be lifted from the associated valve seat 14m against the spring force of the spring element 14c and a displacement of the actuating body 14e by means of the actuating means 16 in a direction perpendicular to the actuating means 16, which is connected to a sliding of the actuating body 14e into the associated depression in the actuating means 16, corresponding to that the respective valve body 14a is moved back again by the spring force of the spring element 14c and (again) is pressed against the valve seat 14m.

The depressions in the actuating means 16 are preferred, as in this embodiment, arranged such that one of the two control valve assemblies 14 is always in the first actuation state and the control valve assemblies 14 in the second actuation state, so that hydraulic medium from one of the two hydraulic chambers is always in the Hydraulic cylinder 10 of the length adjustment device 7 can flow out, while the other hydraulic chamber can be filled with hydraulic medium (see FIG. 2).

Instead of providing corresponding recesses and / or recesses in the actuating means 16 in order to effect the displacement of the actuating body 14e required for actuating the control valve groups 14, the actuating means 16 can also have corresponding elevations or projections in an alternative embodiment, in which case the Control valve assemblies 14 each in the first, ie closed, state when the elevations or projections are offset from the actuating bodies 14e.

The actuating means 16 is displaceable against a restoring force in a hydraulic working space along an actuation axis in this embodiment, in particular against a restoring force generated, particularly defined, by means of a restoring spring 16a, the spring stiffness of the restoring spring 16a being chosen in particular such that a first, lower engine oil pressure level sets a first control state and the actuating means 16 assumes a first actuating position and is held in the first actuating position by the return spring 16a, and at a second, higher engine oil pressure level, in particular an engine oil pressure level at which another compression ratio is desired, a second control state is set, for which purpose the actuating means 16, in particular with the aid of the applied engine oil pressure, counter to the restoring force along the actuation axis within the hydraulis Chen work space is moved and takes the second position. This means that the spring stiffness of the return spring 16a is selected in particular in such a way that at a second, higher engine oil pressure level, at which a length adjustment, in particular a change in the effective connecting rod length, is to be brought about compared to a first engine oil pressure level.

Instead of hydraulically as described above, the control device of a length-adjustable connecting rod according to the invention can also be designed in an alternative manner and, for example, have a mechanically and / or (electro) magnetically actuated actuating means.

Analogous to the valve recesses 6, 8, the actuating recess 13 is also closed with a securing means 9, which preferably also also seals the actuating recess 13 against leakage of hydraulic medium.

FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an embodiment of a preassembled control valve assembly 14 inserted into an associated control valve recess 6 for a length-adjustable connecting rod 1 according to the invention in a longitudinal section.

In this second embodiment, a preassembled control valve assembly 14

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Patent office for a connecting rod 1 according to the invention, the control valve housing 14b is also designed like a sleeve and has a longitudinal axis which defines a control valve longitudinal axis SVA. A control valve interior, through which hydraulic medium can flow in and out in the direction of a hydraulic chamber of the length adjustment device 7, likewise runs through the control valve housing 14b along the control valve longitudinal axis SVA.

Likewise, this preassembled control valve assembly 14 is designed to connect in particular the control valve interior of the control valve housing 14b, a hydraulic channel 11, which opens into a hydraulic chamber of a hydraulic cylinder 10 of a hydraulic length adjustment device 7, to a hydraulic medium supply line 12 (see FIG. 2). ,

A valve body 14a, a spring element (not shown here) and an actuating body 14e are likewise arranged in the control valve interior along the longitudinal axis SVA of the control valve. The valve body 14a is also, as in the case of the control valve assemblies 14 described above, arranged between the actuating body 14e and the spring element 14c, which is also supported on a spring seat 14d pressed into the control valve housing 14b, in particular between an associated valve seat 14m introduced into the control valve housing 14b and the spring element.

The spring element is also biased between the spring seat 14d and the actuating body 14a in such a way that the valve body 14a is pressed or pressed in a sealing manner against the valve seat 14m of the control valve housing 14b.

The spring seat 14d also has a corresponding, in particular central, i.e. spring seat opening 14g arranged in particular concentrically to the control valve longitudinal axis SVA. The central position of the spring seat opening 14g allows a uniform, in particular laminar, flow of the hydraulic medium.

Alternatively, the spring seat opening 14g, in particular the bore, can also be arranged eccentrically in the spring seat 14d with respect to the control valve longitudinal axis SVA. This also applies to the spring seat openings 14g of the control valve assemblies 14 from FIGS. 1 to 4. Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, as with the control valve assemblies 14 from FIGS. 1 to 4, one or more, optionally symmetrical, in particular rotationally symmetrical and / or In the circumferential direction around the control valve longitudinal axis SVA evenly distributed spring seat openings 14g may be provided.

In contrast to the control valve assemblies 14 described above from FIGS. 1 to 4, the spring seat 14d in this control valve assembly 14 is not aligned with the bottom of the associated control valve recess 6 in the axial direction (ie in the direction of the control valve longitudinal axis SVA) (see FIG. 3 and 4, bottom 6c, spring seat 14d), but on the control valve housing 14b, in particular on a corresponding stop surface, not specified. This has the advantage that there is a considerably simplified tolerance chain to be taken into account for the design of the spring element 14c with regard to the force required to lift the valve body 14a from the valve seat 14m, since a length tolerance of the spring seat and a length tolerance of the control valve recess 6 no longer increase are taken into account.

In an alternative embodiment, however, the spring seat 14d could also be configured as in the control valve assemblies 14 from FIGS. 1 to 4 and in particular be aligned on the bottom 6c of the associated control valve recess 6.

The control valve housing 14b also, like the control valve assemblies 14 from FIGS. 1 to 4, on a side facing away from the valve seat 14m has a plurality of bypass channels 14h, which are arranged uniformly distributed in particular in the circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis of the control valve SVA (see FIGS. 3 and 4, in which these bypass channels are not designated), each of which fluidly communicates the valve interior with a volume in the control valve recess 6 outside of the control valve housing 14b, the bypass channels in the control valve assembly 14 shown in FIG. 5 being radial

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Extend outward and are therefore particularly easy to manufacture, while they run obliquely through the control valve housing 14b in the control valve assemblies 14 from FIGS. 1 to 4, which is alternatively or additionally also possible.

In contrast to the control valve assemblies 14 and the control valve housings 14b from FIGS. 1 to 4, on the one hand, the control valve housing 14b shown in FIG. 5 tapers in a section adjacent to the securing means 9. On the other hand, the securing means of this control valve assembly 14 does not have a shaft section with a supply channel section and a hydraulic channel section. The supply channel section and the hydraulic channel section are integrated in the control valve housing 14b (supply channel section 14i; hydraulic channel section 141), in particular in the shaft section 14j of the control valve housing 14b, which abuts the securing means 9 with a shaft end 14k.

Via the hydraulic channel section 141, the hydraulic medium supply line 12 opening into the large connecting rod eye 3 can be flow-connected to one of the hydraulic channels 11, which opens into one of the hydraulic chambers in the hydraulic cylinder 10 (see FIG. 2). The hydraulic channel section 141 forms part of the control valve interior.

The shaft end 14k is set up to secure the control valve assembly 14 by means of the securing means 9 in the control valve recess 6 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) in a plane perpendicular to the control valve longitudinal axis SVA with the securing means 9, in particular to absorb a force exerted by the securing means 9 so that the control valve housing 14b can be pressed or pressed against the sealing seat and / or the bottom of the control valve recess 6.

As a result, a particularly simple securing means 9 can be used, in particular a standard component, for example a standard locking screw as in the exemplary embodiment shown. In this case, only the control valve housing 14b is expensive to manufacture. On the other hand, in particular a securing means 9 can be used without a hydraulic channel section as described above.

In an alternative embodiment, the shaft section 14j can also be part of the securing means 9, as in the (control) valve assemblies from FIGS. 1 to 4. In this case, the hydraulic channel section 141 preferably merges into the valve interior. In particular, the hydraulic channel section 141 can be aligned with a valve interior formed by a central bore, in order to enable a flow connection between one of the hydraulic chambers and the large connecting rod eye 3 or the connecting rod bearing in the large connecting rod eye 3.

6 shows a flowchart for a first exemplary embodiment of a method 100 according to the invention for producing, in particular for assembling, a length-adjustable connecting rod according to the invention for a reciprocating piston engine, in particular a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, the individual method steps below using the example of the connecting rod 1 according to the invention from FIGS 1 to 4 are explained in more detail.

In a first method step S1 of the method 100 according to the invention, a length-adjustable connecting rod is provided, the connecting rod being designed in particular for length adjustment with a length adjustment device 7 which has two hydraulic chambers, which, among other things, of a hydraulic cylinder 10 of a first connecting rod part 2 of the length-adjustable connecting rod 1 and a hydraulic piston of a second connecting rod part 4 of the length-adjustable connecting rod can be limited. The hydraulic chambers are preferably each, in particular independently of one another, can be filled or drained with a hydraulic medium via a hydraulic medium feed line 12 and one of the hydraulic channels 11 (see FIG. 2).

In order to be able to control the filling or drainage, a control device is to be provided which has in particular at least one valve assembly 14, 15, in particular at least one control valve assembly 14, preferably two control valve assemblies 14 and in particular additionally at least one check valve assembly 15, in particular two

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Check valve assemblies 15.

In order to be able to arrange these in the length-adjustable connecting rod 1, in a further method step S2, at least one valve recess 6, 8 is introduced into the length-adjustable connecting rod, in particular a first connecting rod part 2, in particular manufactured, preferably by drilling or milling, at least one of which Valve recess 6,8 is manufactured in particular as a blind hole, which in particular has a section adjacent to the opening with an internal thread.

At least one valve recess 6, 8 is manufactured in such a way that it is connected to the hydraulic medium supply line 12 and one of the hydraulic channels 11 in a fluid-communicating manner.

In addition, at least one valve recess 6,8 is made such that it runs essentially perpendicular to a connecting rod longitudinal axis Z, in particular parallel to a crankshaft axis, based on a functional installation state of the connecting rod 1 or the connecting rod in a reciprocating piston machine. It can thereby be avoided that accelerations occurring during operation of the length-adjustable connecting rod 1 act along a longitudinal axis of the valve recess 6, 8, which possibly lead to an undesired lifting of the valve bodies 14a, 15a from the associated valve seat and thus to an undesired opening of the valve assemblies 14, 15 could.

In method step S2, an actuating recess 13 is also made in this exemplary embodiment, in particular introduced into the provided, length-adjustable connecting rod, preferably likewise by drilling and / or milling. The actuating recess 13 is in particular introduced in such a way that, as a result, it runs perpendicularly to and intersects at least one of the manufactured control valve recesses 6, in particular perpendicular to all of the control valve recesses 6, in particular such that the actuating recess 13 opens into each of the control valve recesses 6.

Alternatively, it is also possible, in particular in the context of method step S2, to first produce the actuation recess 13 and then at least one control valve recess 6.

In a further method step S3, at least one control valve assembly 14 is preassembled and provided. In this case, an actuating body 14e for actuating a valve body 14a, a corresponding valve body 14a and a spring element 14c along a control valve longitudinal axis SVA are introduced into a control valve housing 14b, preferably first the actuating body 14e, then the valve body 14a and finally the spring element 14c Control valve housing are introduced, but in particular all from a common side. Thereafter, the control valve housing 14b is at least partially closed with a spring seat 14d against which the spring element 14c can be supported. The spring element 14c is preloaded between the spring seat 14d and the valve body, so that a spring force acts on the valve body 14a, which presses it against a valve seat of the control valve housing 14b (see FIGS. 3 and 4). As a result, the spring element 14c and the valve body 14a are located on one side facing the valve seat 14m and the actuating body 14e on another side facing away from the valve seat 14m, the actuating body 14e being brought through an opening in the valve seat 14m for this purpose.

The at least one preassembled control valve assembly 14 is inserted in a further method step S4 into the associated valve recess, in this case in an associated control valve recess 6, and in the control valve recess 6 both in the axial direction in the direction of the control valve longitudinal axis SVA and by rotation about it Control valve longitudinal axis SVA aligned, in particular in such a way that an actuating element passage (ie an opening in the control valve housing 14b, through which an actuating means 16 can be inserted; see FIG. 4) in the control valve housing 14b of the preassembled control valve assembly 14 with the actuating recess 13 opening into the control valve recess 6

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The patent office is in alignment, so that in a further method step S5 an alignment means can be inserted into the actuation recess 13 and in each case can be inserted through the control valve housing (s) 14b of the control valve assemblies inserted and preassembled into the connecting rod, so that the alignment means result in at least one control valve recess 6 and in particular the associated actuating means penetration of the control valve housing of the at least one control valve assembly 14 and thereby fixes the alignment of the at least one preassembled control valve assembly 14 relative to the actuating recess 13.

In a further method step S5, the preassembled control valve assembly 6, which is introduced into the control valve recess 6, is fixed in the control valve recess 6 by means of a securing means 9, in particular secured against movement along the longitudinal axis of the control valve SVA in the axial direction, the securing means 9 in particular in the valve recess 6 is screwed in. The control valve recess 6 is at least partially sealed by the securing means 9 against leakage of hydraulic medium.

The fixation of the control valve assembly by the alignment means ensures that the alignment of the control valve assembly 14 does not change when locking or securing by the securing means 9, but in particular that the alignment of the actuating means penetration relative to the actuating means recess 13 is maintained. In particular, the alignment means prevents, when the control valve assembly 14 is fixed, forces acting on the control valve assembly 14 by the securing means 9 change the alignment of the control valve assembly 14, in particular that the control valve assembly 14 rotates around the control valve longitudinal axis SVA when secured.

After the at least one control valve assembly 14 is fixed or secured in the control valve recess 6, in a further method step S7 the alignment means in particular is removed again from the actuating means recess 13 and instead of this the actual actuating means 16, which in particular for interacting at least one actuating body 14e at least one control valve assembly 14 is inserted into the actuating means recess 13. The actuating means 16 is then preferably also fixed or secured in the actuating means recess 13 by a corresponding securing means 9.

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AT 520 821 B1 2019-08-15 Austrian

Patent Office

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 adjustable connecting rod 2 first connecting rod part 3 large connecting rod eye 4 second connecting rod part 5 small connecting rod eye 6 Steuerventilausnehmung 7 length adjustment 8th Rückschlagventilausnehmung 6a, 8a sealing seat 6b, 8b ground 6c, 8c High pressure area 9 securing means 10 hydraulic chamber 11 hydraulic line 12 Hydraulic fluid supply line 13 actuating recess 14 Control valve assembly 15 Check Valve Assembly 14a, 15a valve body 14b, 15b Control valve housing 14c, 15c spring element 14d, 15d spring seat 14e operating body 14f Actuator handle 14g Spring seat opening 14h bypass channel 14i Supply channel section 14j shank portion 14k shank end 141 Hydraulic channel section 14m, 15m valve seat 16 actuating means 16a spring element 100 method L effective connecting rod length Z Pleuellängsachse SVA Control valve longitudinal axis RVA Check valve longitudinal axis S1 - S7 steps

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Claims (16)

Patent Office claims 1. A method (100) for producing, in particular for assembling, a length-adjustable connecting rod (1) for a reciprocating piston engine, in particular for a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, comprising the steps: - Provision (S1) of a length-adjustable connecting rod, an effective connecting rod length (L) of the connecting rod being changeable, in particular adjustable, the connecting rod preferably having a hydraulic length adjustment device (7) for changing the effective connecting rod length (L), in particular for adjusting the effective connecting rod length (L), - Manufacture (S2) of at least one valve recess (6, 8), in particular at least one control valve recess (6) and / or at least one check valve recess (8), the valve recess (6, 8) being designed to have an associated, pre-assembled valve assembly (14 , 15) with a valve longitudinal axis (SVA, RVA), in particular a control valve assembly (14) with a control valve longitudinal axis (SVA), which is designed to at least partially control the length adjustment device (7) of the connecting rod (1), and / or a check valve module ( 15) with a non-return valve longitudinal axis (RVA), - pre-assembling (S3) at least one valve assembly (14, 15), in particular at least one control valve assembly (14) and / or at least one check valve assembly (15), - Introducing (S4) the at least one preassembled valve assembly (14, 15) into the at least one valve recess (6, 8), and - Securing (S5) the at least one valve assembly (14, 15) in the at least one valve recess (6) with a securing means (9), preferably securing against falling out of the valve recess (6, 8) and / or fixing in a defined position in the valve recess (6, 8), in particular in the axial direction of the associated longitudinal valve axis (SVA, RVA), characterized in that at least one preassembled valve assembly (14, 15) is a preassembled control valve assembly (14), the control valve assembly (14) being preassembled by: - Introducing a valve body (14a), a spring element (14c) and an actuating body (14e) into a control valve housing (14b) with a valve seat (14m), the valve body (14a) between the spring element (14c) and the valve seat (14m) is arranged, and - axially securing the spring element (15c) by means of a spring seat (15d) in the control valve housing (14b), in particular in such a way that the spring element (14c) is supported in one direction against the spring seat (14d) parallel to the control valve longitudinal axis (SVA), and / or wherein at least one preassembled valve assembly (14, 15) is a check valve assembly (15), the check valve assembly (15) being preassembled by: - Introducing a valve body (15a) and a spring element (15c) into a check valve housing (15b) with a valve seat (15m), the valve body (15a) being arranged between the spring element (15c) and the valve seat (15m), and - Axially securing the spring element (15c) by means of a spring seat (15d) in the check valve housing (15b), in particular in such a way that the spring element (15c) is supported in one direction parallel to the check valve longitudinal axis (RVA) against the spring seat (15d). 2. The method (100) according to claim 1, wherein at least one valve recess (6, 8) is manufactured as a blind hole-like recess or as a blind hole, in particular with a valve recess opening on one side in the longitudinal direction of the valve recess (6, 8), in particular as a recess (6 , 8) which has at least one section with an internal thread, in particular with an internal thread adjacent to the valve recess opening. 32/39 AT 520 821 B1 2019-08-15 Austrian Patent Office 3. The method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein after the introduction of the valve body (14a), the spring element (14c) and the actuating body (14e), the valve body (14a) and the spring element (14c) on one of the valve seat ( 14m) facing side are arranged within the control valve housing (14b) and the actuating body (14e) on a side facing away from the valve seat (14m). 4. The method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one preassembled valve assembly (14, 15) is introduced into the associated valve recess (6, 8) and secured in the valve recess (6, 8) that in a functional state of use of the connecting rod (1) supports the spring seat (14d, 15d) against a bottom (6b, 8b) of the associated valve recess (6, 8), in particular in such a way that the spring element (14c, 15c) is thereby preloaded such that in at least one state of the valve assembly (14, 15) the associated valve body (14a, 15a) is pressed against the valve seat (14m, 15m) of the associated valve housing (14b, 15b) by means of the spring element (14c, 15c) and a hydraulic medium flow locks in a first direction. 5. The method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising the steps: - Manufacture of an actuation recess (13), the actuation recess (13) being manufactured in such a way that the actuation recess (13) crosses at least one control valve recess (6, 8), preferably all control valve recesses (6), when the connecting rod (1) is in a functional state of use. wherein the actuating recess (13) extends substantially perpendicular or exactly perpendicular to the at least one control valve recess (6, 8) and / or is introduced into the connecting rod (1) in this way, - If necessary, aligning at least one preassembled and inserted into the connecting rod control valve assembly (14), preferably all inserted preassembled control valve assemblies (14), relative to the actuating recess (13), in particular with respect to a position in the axial direction of the control valve longitudinal axis (SVA) and / or in Reference to an angular position around the control valve longitudinal axis (SVA), - If necessary, fixing the preassembled control valve assembly (14) in the aligned position by introducing an alignment means into the actuation recess (13), the alignment means being suitable, at least temporarily, to change the orientation of the preassembled control valve assembly (14) relative to the actuation recess (13) prevent, - if necessary, removing the alignment means from the actuating recess (13), in particular only after the at least one preassembled control valve assembly (14) has been secured by the securing element (9), - Introducing the actuating means (16) into the actuating recess (13), which is designed for actuating at least one valve assembly (14), in particular for actuating at least one control valve assembly (14), in particular in such a way that the actuating means (16) with at least one control valve assembly (14) cooperates in such a way, preferably with the valve body (14a) and / or the actuating body (14e), of at least one control valve assembly (14) that the valve assembly (14) can be actuated by means of the actuating means (16), and - Preferably securing, in particular securing against falling out of the actuating recess (13), the actuating means (16) in the actuating recess (13) with a securing means (9), in particular in the longitudinal direction of the actuating means (16). 6. The method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein for securing at least one valve assembly (14, 15) and / or the actuating means (16) the associated securing means (9) at least partially, in particular completely, into the associated valve recess ( 6, 8) and / or the associated actuating recess (13), is introduced, in particular in the longitudinal direction of the valve recess (6, 8) and / or in the longitudinal direction of the actuating recess (13), the securing means (9) preferably being screwed in. 33/39 AT 520 821 B1 2019-08-15 Austrian Patent Office 7. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one valve recess (6, 8) and / or the actuating recess (13) by means of the associated securing means (9) at least partially, in particular in the area of the securing means (9), by the associated securing means (9) is sealed against leakage of hydraulic medium. 8. Length-adjustable connecting rod (1) for a reciprocating piston machine, in particular for a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, an effective connecting rod length (L) of the connecting rod (1) being variable, in particular adjustable, the connecting rod (1) preferably being a connecting rod with a hydraulic length adjustment device (7). for changing the effective connecting rod length (L), in particular for adjusting the effective connecting rod length (L), further comprising: - at least one valve recess (6, 8), in particular at least one control valve recess (6) and / or at least one check valve recess (8), - At least one associated pre-assembled valve assembly (14, 15) with a valve longitudinal axis (SVA, RVA), in particular a control valve assembly (14) with a control valve longitudinal axis (SVA), which is designed for at least partial control of the length adjustment device (7) of the connecting rod (1) , and / or a check valve assembly (15), and at least one associated securing means (9), the at least one valve assembly (14, 15) being received by the associated valve recess (6, 8) and being secured in the associated valve recess (6, 8) by means of the associated securing means (9), preferably in the axial direction of the associated longitudinal valve axis (SVA, RVA), the valve assembly (14, 15) being secured against falling out of the valve recess (6, 8) by the associated securing means (9) and / or in a defined position in of the valve recess (6, 8), characterized in that at least one valve recess (6, 8) is a control valve recess (6) and a preassembled control valve assembly (14) is introduced into the control valve recess (6), the preassembled control valve assembly (14 ) a valve body (14a) introduced into a control valve housing (14b) with a valve seat (14m), one introduced into the control valve housing it has spring element (14c) and an actuating body (14e) arranged in the control valve housing (14b), the spring element (14c) being secured in the axial direction by means of a spring seat (15d) in the control valve housing (14b), in particular in such a way that the spring element ( 14c) is supported parallel to the control valve longitudinal axis (SVA) in one direction against the spring seat (14d). 9. Length-adjustable connecting rod (1) according to claim 8, wherein the connecting rod (1) according to a method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, in particular assembled, is. 10. Length-adjustable connecting rod (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the valve body (14a) and the spring element (14c) are arranged on a side facing the valve seat (14m) within the control valve housing (14b) and the actuating body (14e) on one side facing away from the valve seat (14m). 11. Length-adjustable connecting rod (1) according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein at least one valve recess (6, 8) is a check valve recess (8) and in the check valve recess (8) a preassembled check valve assembly (15) is introduced, the check valve assembly ( 15) has a valve body (15a) introduced into a check valve housing (15b) with a valve seat (15m) and a spring element (15c) introduced into the check valve housing (15b), the spring element (15c) in the axial direction by means of a spring seat (15d) is secured in the check valve housing (15b), in particular in such a way that the spring element (15c) is supported in one direction against the spring seat (14d) parallel to the check valve longitudinal axis (SVA). 34/39 AT 520 821 B1 2019-08-15 Austrian Patent Office 12. Length-adjustable connecting rod (1) according to one of claims 8 to 11, wherein at least one preassembled valve assembly (14, 15) is introduced into the associated valve recess (6, 8) and / or secured in the valve recess (6, 8) is that in a functional state of use of the connecting rod (1) the spring seat (14d, 15d) is supported against a bottom (6b, 8b) of the associated valve recess (6, 8), in particular in such a way that the spring element (14c, 15c) thereby is preloaded in such a way that in at least one state of the valve assembly (14, 15) the associated valve body (14a, 15a) by means of the spring element (14c, 15c) thereby preloaded against the valve seat (14m, 15m) of the associated valve housing (14b, 15b) is pressed. 13. Length-adjustable connecting rod (1) according to one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the at least one securing means (9) in a secured state of the valve assembly (14, 15), in particular in a functional state of use of the connecting rod (1) with a particularly vertical the contact surface extending to the associated longitudinal valve axis (SVA, RVA), in particular with its end, bears against the associated valve housing (14b, 15b), the associated valve housing (14b) and / or the securing means (9) having a shaft section (14j), at least a stem section (14j) of the valve housing (14b, 15b) and / or the securing means (9) has a hydraulic channel section (141) which is connected to the length adjustment device (7) and a supply channel section (14i) opening into the hydraulic channel section (141), through which Hydraulic medium can flow into and out of the hydraulic channel section (141). 14. Length-adjustable connecting rod (1) according to one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the connecting rod (1) has an actuating recess (13) and an actuating means (16) introduced in the actuating recess (13), the actuating recess (13) being functional State of use of the connecting rod (1) crosses at least one control valve recess (6), preferably all control valve recesses (6), the actuating recess (13) running essentially or exactly perpendicular to the at least one control valve recess (6, 8) and / or extending in such a way , The actuating means (16) being designed for actuating at least one valve assembly (14), in particular for actuating at least one control valve assembly (14), and in particular being designed and arranged in the connecting rod (1) in such a way that it is equipped with at least one control valve assembly (14). interacts in this way, preferably with the valve body (14a) and / or the actuating body rper (14e) at least one control valve assembly (14) that the valve assembly (14) can be actuated by the actuating means (16), the actuating means (16) preferably being secured in the actuating recess (13) by means of a securing means (9), in particular against Falling out of the actuating recess (13), in particular in the longitudinal direction of the actuating means (16). 15 reciprocating piston machine, in particular reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, with a length-adjustable connecting rod (1) according to one of claims 8 to 14. 16. Vehicle, in particular motor vehicle, with a reciprocating piston machine according to claim 15.