Variable stroke crankshaft assembly
OwnerAllen M. Shotwellinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable stroke crankshaft assembly includes a drive shaft surrounded by a sleeve. A crankshaft is disposed inside the drive shaft with the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft offset from the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft. A gear projecting outwardly from the crankshaft through a window in a drive shaft engages angled gear teeth on the inner surface of the sleeve allowing sliding movement of the sleeve relative to the drive shaft to rotate the crankshaft. A crankpin is attached to the crankshaft but offset from the rotational axis of the crankshaft. Rotational movement of the crankshaft with respect to the drive shaft thus pivots the crankpin with respect to the rotational axis of the drive shaft creating a crank stroke that may be varied by sliding the sleeve back and forth.
Claims19
A variable stroke crankshaft assembly comprising:
- a drive shaft having a rotational axis;
- the drive shaft having a first end and a second end;
- the drive shaft defining a longitudinal bore having a centerline;
- the longitudinal bore having a first end and a second end;
- the first end of the longitudinal bore positioned at the first end of the drive shaft;
- the centerline of the longitudinal bore being offset from the rotational axis of the drive shaft;
- the drive shaft defining a window at the second end of the longitudinal bore;
- a sleeve disposed around a portion of the drive shaft;
- the sleeve having an inner surface;
- the sleeve being slidably mounted on the drive shaft;
- the sleeve defining at least one angled slot on its inner surface;
- the slot being disposed over the window;
- a crankshaft disposed in the longitudinal bore of the drive shaft;
- the crankshaft including at least one gear tooth projecting out of the window of the drive shaft;
- the gear tooth of the crank shaft being disposed in the at least one angled slot of the sleeve;
- the crankshaft having a crankpin;
- the crankpin having a longitudinal axis;
- and
- the crankpin being offset from the longitudinal axis of the a main shaft of the crankshaft.
A variable stroke crankshaft assembly comprising:
- a drive shaft having a rotational axis;
- a sleeve surrounding a portion of the drive shaft;
- the sleeve being slidably mounted on the drive shaft and connected to the drive shaft so that the sleeve rotates with the drive shaft;
- a crankshaft carried by the drive shaft;
- the crankshaft having a main shaft having a longitudinal axis that is offset from the rotational axis of the drive shaft;
- the crankshaft engaging the sleeve;
- the crankshaft having a crankpin offset from the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft;
- and
- sliding movement of the sleeve rotating the crankshaft to pivot the crankpin and thus change the stroke of the crankshaft assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.