Crankshaft balancing mechanism for a variable compression engine
OwnerWilliam B. Henigesinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A crankpin on the crankshaft of a variable compression engine carries an eccentric bushing which is positionable about the crankpin axis to determine the length of piston stroke. To counteract the relocation of the bushing center of gravity counterweights are rotatably housed in a counterbalance of the crankshaft. Partial rotation of each counterweight shifts their centers of gravity with respect to the crankshaft axis of rotation to achieve crankshaft balancing. For positioning of the counterweights coincident with shifting of the eccentric bushing the same are shown coupled with gears. Positioning of the eccentric bushing to change piston stroke of the engine is by a motor responsive to a microprocessor and engine performance criteria.
Claims6
A crankshaft with a counterbalance and a crankpin for use in a variable compression engine having pistons, the improvement comprising,
- an eccentric bushing on said crankpin,
- means imparting arcuate rotation to said eccentric bushing to position same about said crankpin to vary the orbital path of the bushing about the crankshaft axis of rotation,
- means carried by said eccentric bushing to impart reciprocal movement to the pistons,
- at least one counterweight journalled on said counterbalance for positioning about its axis of rotation and having its center of gravity offset from its axis of rotation whereby its center of gravity is positionable with respect to the crankshaft axis of rotation to balance the crankshaft through a range of eccentric bushing positions, and
- means coupling said eccentric bushing to said counterweight to position same about its axis to vary the counterweight center of gravity from the crankshaft axis simultaneously with the altering of the orbital path of the eccentric bushing during the changing of the engine compression ratio.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.