Internal combustion engine with variably timed transmission

Unit selected from the group consisting of device, appliance and machine, said unit comprising, at least one four-stroke internal combustion engine comprising at least an intake phase, a compression phase, an expansion phase and an exhaust phase, said engine operating by an ignition selected from the group consisting of self-ignition and controlled ignition, said combustion engine comprising:

• a cylinder housing part having (a) a first series of cylinders, each cylinder of said series having an axis and a diameter, and (b) a second series of cylinders, each cylinder of said series having an axis and diameter, the cylinders of the first series having a volume and a diameter larger than the volume and diameter of the cylinders (3) of the second series,
• pistons, each piston being adapted to be driven in a reciprocating movement in a cylinder and being associated with a connecting rod,
• two crankshaft lines having axes of rotation parallel to each other, a first crankshaft line having a crank with a long stroke, while the second crankshaft line has a crank with a short stroke, said short stroke of the crank of the second crankshaft line being less than the long stroke of the crank of the first crankshaft line, said first and second crankshaft lines being adapted to be coupled to the same rotation speed by means of a gear train and a variably timed transmission;
• wherein each piston being associated to a connecting rod is operated with a crank of a crankshaft line, the crank with the short-stroke of the second crankshaft line operating the connecting rod of the piston moving in the cylinder of the second series, while the crank with the long-stroke of the first crankshaft line operates the connecting rod of the piston moving in the cylinder of the first series,
• wherein the first series of cylinders is arranged above the first crankshaft line, while the second series of cylinders is arranged above the second crankshaft line,
• wherein each cylinder of the first series communicates with at least one cylinder of the second series via a clearance so as to form a group of two communicating cylinders communicating with each other to allow gas passing from one cylinder to the other irrespective of the position of the pistons moving in said two communicating cylinders,
• the said engine including a fitting for the variably timed transmission, the said fitting being suitable to receive, at least partially, a control unit governing the phase angle difference between the first and second crankshaft lines, the first and second crankshaft lines being associated with a first driving wheel and a second driving wheel respectively, while a driving means extends between the said first and second driving wheels,
• in which the variably timed transmission comprises an assembly separated from the shaft of the second crankshaft, the variably timed transmission being equipped with a bearing plate, which is fastened by centring in an orifice provided in the cylinder housing, the variably timed transmission comprising a transmission shaft including coupling means for coupling the said transmission shaft to a shaft of the first or second crankshaft line, an end of the said transmission shaft displaying external splines, while the shaft of the second crankshaft is provided with a means with a hollow with internal splines adapted for co-operating with the external splines of the transmission shaft to ensure the coupling of the transmission shaft to the shaft of the second crankshaft line, while still permitting axial displacement between the transmission shaft and the shaft of the second crankshaft line, the variably timed transmission further comprising (a) a sliding tube sliding axially in relation to the axis of rotation of the second crankshaft line, said sliding tube having an outer surface provided with outer helicoidally splines, (b) stop means to limit the travel of the variably timed transmission between a start and an end of travel of the sliding tube, (c) an internal ring with a pair of bearings located between the sliding tube and a fixation piece adapted to be connected to a control moving means controlling the movement of the sliding tube, (d) a sleeve in which the said sliding tube is adapted to slide, said sleeve comprising on its inner periphery helicoidally splines mated to the outer helicoidally splines of the sliding tube;
• in which the transmission shaft displays an internal channel for feeding at least one lubricant between the said transmission shaft and the sleeve,
• in which the variably timed transmission comprises a lubrication system comprising lubricant transfer means selected from the group consisting of channels and passages directly connected to the internal channel of the transmission shaft, and channels and passages indirectly connected to the internal channel of the transmission shaft to feed lubricant to the internal ring extending between the fixation piece and the sliding tube, as well as within at least one channel extending between the transmission shaft and a part of the sliding tube,
• in which the transmission shaft has a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and an internal central channel extending in the shaft between said two ends, the first end being directed towards the shaft of the second crankshaft line, while the second end is adjacent to the fixation piece, whereby the second end of the internal central channel adjacent to the fixation piece being sealed;
• in which a channel connecting the internal central channel of the transmission shaft to a hollow extending between the sliding tube and an external face of the transmission shaft adjacent to the fixation piece, this channel being adapted to feed lubricant into a chamber of the fixation piece adjacent to the second end of the transmission shaft;
• in which a channel extending in the internal ring of the bearings between the chamber of the fixation piece and at least one internal face of the bearings of the internal ring, said channel being adapted to feed lubricant between the pairs of bearings, the lubricant then being able to escape from the bearings of the internal ring;
• in which the said lubrication system further comprises at least one passage permitting lubricant to flow out of the variably timed transmission after the passage of the lubricant, at least, through the internal ring extending between the fixation piece and the sliding tube;
• in which the said lubrication system is adapted to ensure the flow of lubricant by the centrifugal force created by the rotation of the transmission shaft.

Variably timed transmission for a combustion engine comprising at least an intake phase, a compression phase, an expansion phase and an exhaust phase, said engine operating by an ignition selected from the group consisting of self-ignition and controlled ignition, said combustion engine comprising:

• a cylinder housing part having (a) a first series of cylinders, each cylinder of said series having an axis and a diameter, and (b) a second series of cylinders, each cylinder of said series having an axis and diameter, the cylinders of the first series having a volume and a diameter larger than the volume and diameter of the cylinders (3) of the second series,
• pistons, each piston being adapted to be driven in a reciprocating movement in a cylinder and being associated with a connecting rod,
• two crankshaft lines having axes of rotation parallel to each other, a first crankshaft line having a crank with a long stroke, while the second crankshaft line has a crank with a short stroke, said short stroke of the crank of the second crankshaft line being less than the long stroke of the crank of the first crankshaft line, said first and second crankshaft lines being adapted to be coupled to the same rotation speed by means of a gear train and a variably timed transmission;
• wherein each piston being associated to a connecting rod is operated with a crank of a crankshaft line, the crank with the short-stroke of the second crankshaft line operating the connecting rod of the piston moving in the cylinder of the second series, while the crank with the long-stroke of the first crankshaft line operates the connecting rod of the piston moving in the cylinder of the first series,
• wherein the first series of cylinders is arranged above the first crankshaft line, while the second series of cylinders is arranged above the second crankshaft line,
• wherein each cylinder of the first series communicates with at least one cylinder of the second series via a clearance so as to form a group of two communicating cylinders communicating with each other to allow gas passing from one cylinder to the other irrespective of the position of the pistons moving in said two communicating cylinders,
• the said engine including a fitting for the variably timed transmission, the said fitting being suitable to receive, at least partially, a control unit governing the phase angle difference between the first and second crankshaft lines, the first and second crankshaft lines being associated with a first driving wheel and a second driving wheel respectively, while a driving means extends between the said first and second driving wheels,
• in which the variably timed transmission comprises an assembly separated from the shaft of the second crankshaft, the variably timed transmission being equipped with a bearing plate, which is fastened by centring in an orifice provided in the cylinder housing, the variably timed transmission comprising a transmission shaft including coupling means for coupling the said transmission shaft to a shaft of the first or second crankshaft line, an end of the said transmission shaft displaying external splines, while the shaft of the second crankshaft is provided with a means with a hollow with internal splines adapted for co-operating with the external splines of the transmission shaft to ensure the coupling of the transmission shaft to the shaft of the second crankshaft line, while still permitting axial displacement between the transmission shaft and the shaft of the second crankshaft line, the variably timed transmission further comprising (a) a sliding tube sliding axially in relation to the axis of rotation of the second crankshaft line, said sliding tube having an outer surface provided with outer helicoidally splines, (b) stop means to limit the travel of the variably timed transmission between a start and an end of travel of the sliding tube, (c) an internal ring with a pair of bearings located between the sliding tube and a fixation piece adapted to be connected to a control moving means controlling the movement of the sliding tube, (d) a sleeve in which the said sliding tube is adapted to slide, said sleeve comprising on its inner periphery helicoidally splines mated to the outer helicoidally splines of the sliding tube;
• in which the transmission shaft displays an internal channel for feeding at least one lubricant between the said transmission shaft and the sleeve,
• in which the variably timed transmission comprises a lubrication system comprising lubricant transfer means selected from the group consisting of channels and passages directly connected to the internal channel of the transmission shaft, and channels and passages indirectly connected to the internal channel of the transmission shaft to feed lubricant to the internal ring extending between the fixation piece and the sliding tube, as well as within at least one channel extending between the transmission shaft and a part of the sliding tube,
• in which the transmission shaft has a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and an internal central channel extending in the shaft between said two ends, the first end being directed towards the shaft of the second crankshaft line, while the second end is adjacent to the fixation piece, whereby the second end of the internal central channel adjacent to the fixation piece being sealed;
• in which a channel connecting the internal central channel of the transmission shaft to a hollow extending between the sliding tube and an external face of the transmission shaft adjacent to the fixation piece, this channel being adapted to feed lubricant into a chamber of the fixation piece adjacent to the second end of the transmission shaft;
• in which a channel extending in the internal ring of the bearings between the chamber of the fixation piece and at least one internal face of the bearings of the internal ring, said channel being adapted to feed lubricant between the pairs of bearings, the lubricant then being able to escape from the bearings of the internal ring;
• in which the said lubrication system further comprises at least one passage permitting lubricant to flow out of the variably timed transmission after the passage of the lubricant, at least, through the internal ring extending between the fixation piece and the sliding tube;
• in which the said lubrication system is adapted to ensure the flow of lubricant by the centrifugal force created by the rotation of the transmission shaft.