Magnetically-actuated variable-length connecting rod devices and methods for controlling the same

An apparatus comprising:

• a piston head configured to be disposed inside of a cylinder of an engine;
• a connecting rod device coupled to the piston head and extending therefrom, the connecting rod device including:
• a variable-length connecting rod including a female component with a hollow body and a male component disposed at least partially inside of the female component, the female component configured to be coupled to a crankshaft of the engine;
• and
• a piston coupling mechanism disposed at least partially inside of the piston head to couple the connecting rod device to the piston head, the piston coupling mechanism including:
• first and second piston-cylinder coupling pads movably disposed at opposite axial ends of the piston coupling mechanism, respectively, and
• a piston coupling mechanism magnet movably disposed at least partially between the first and second piston-cylinder coupling pads,
• wherein the piston coupling mechanism is configured to transition between a retracted state, in which the first and second piston-cylinder coupling pads are positioned inside of an outer wall of the piston head, and an extended state, in which the piston coupling mechanism magnet moves in response to a magnetic field proximate to the cylinder causing the first and second piston-cylinder coupling pads to move along an axis of the piston coupling mechanism outside of the outer wall of the piston head, such that the first and second piston-cylinder coupling pads abut an inner surface of the cylinder to hold the piston head in place inside of the cylinder.

An apparatus comprising:

• a piston head configured to be disposed inside of a cylinder of an engine;
• a connecting rod device coupled to the piston head and extending therefrom, the connecting rod device including:
• a variable-length connecting rod including a female component with a hollow body and a male component disposed at least partially inside of the female component, the female component configured to be coupled to a crankshaft of the engine,
• one or more rollers rotatably disposed in or on the male component, an outer surface of each roller in contact with an inner surface of the female component, and
• a connecting rod magnet movably coupled to the male component proximate to a position of the one or more rollers;
• and
• a piston coupling mechanism disposed at least partially inside of the piston head to couple the connecting rod device to the piston head, the piston coupling mechanism including:
• first and second piston-cylinder coupling pads movably disposed at opposite axial ends of the piston coupling mechanism, respectively, and
• a piston coupling mechanism magnet movably disposed at least partially between the first and second piston-cylinder coupling pads,
• wherein the connecting rod device is configured to transition between a locked state, in which the female component is held in unison with the male component, and an unlocked state, in which the connecting rod magnet moves in response to a magnetic field proximate to the cylinder enabling rotation of the one or more rollers, allowing the female component to move independent of the male component along an axis of the connecting rod, and
• wherein the piston coupling mechanism is configured to transition between a retracted state, in which the first and second piston-cylinder coupling pads are positioned inside of an outer wall of the piston head, and an extended state, in which the piston coupling mechanism magnet moves in response to the magnetic field causing the first and second piston-cylinder coupling pads to move along an axis of the piston coupling mechanism outside of the outer wall of the piston head, such that the first and second piston-cylinder coupling pads abut an inner surface of the cylinder to hold the piston head in place inside of the cylinder.