VALVE-ACTUATING DEVICE HAVING A SWITCHING DEVICE

A valve-actuating device for a valve of a reciprocating piston engine having a coupling apparatus with a locking element able to be brought into a first and second position by a mechanical switching device, the switching device comprising a guide rod and a parallel actuating rod capable of relative movement; a slotted guide element movably mounted on the guide rod for moving the locking element; a triggering element coupled to the slotted guide element; where the slotted guide element and triggering element are clamped between two stops on the actuating rod, each with an associated spring element, where the slotted guide element and the triggering element are displaceable along and/or parallel to the guide rod with the actuating rod; and a blocking element interacting with the triggering element which in a first state, blocks a displacement of the triggering element and the slotted guide element upon the axial displacing of the actuating rod such that the spring elements are preloaded, where in a second state, a displacement of the triggering element and the slotted guide element effects actuation of the coupling apparatus.