Internal combustion engine with improved fuel efficiency and/or power output

摘要

An internal combustion engine may include a bushing defining an external circumferential diameter and an aperture defining an internal circumferential diameter. A center defined by the external circumferential diameter and a center defined by the internal circumferential diameter are offset with respect to one another. The internal circumferential diameter is operably coupled to a crankpin, and the external circumferential diameter is operably coupled to a connecting rod, thereby operably coupling the connecting rod to the crankpin. The engine may further include a bushing control assembly, wherein the bushing control assembly is configured to delay initiation of a power stroke of the engine until a crankshaft of the engine has rotated at least about 15 degrees beyond a first stroke termination angle of a compression stroke of the engine.

主权项

1. An internal combustion engine comprising:
a cylinder block defining a cylinder, the cylinder defining a longitudinal axis; a crankshaft defining a crankpin, wherein the crankshaft is rotatably received by the cylinder block and rotates along a longitudinal axis, wherein the crankpin defines a longitudinal axis parallel to and offset by a distance with respect to the longitudinal axis along which the crankshaft rotates, and wherein a line extending between the longitudinal axis along which the crankshaft rotates and the longitudinal axis of the crankpin defines a radial axis of the crankshaft; a connecting rod defining a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, wherein the first end of the connecting rod defines an aperture operably coupled to the crankpin; a piston operably coupled to the second end of the connecting rod; a bushing defining an external circumferential diameter and an aperture defining an internal circumferential diameter, wherein a center defined by the external circumferential diameter and a center defined by the internal circumferential diameter are offset with respect to one another, and wherein the internal circumferential diameter is operably coupled to the crankpin and the external circumferential diameter is operably coupled to the aperture defined by the connecting rod, thereby operably coupling the connecting rod to the crankpin; and a bushing control assembly operably coupled to the bushing and configured to control oscillation of the bushing with respect to the aperture of the connecting rod, wherein rotation of the crankshaft results in reciprocating movement of the piston via the connecting rod within the cylinder, the reciprocating movement defining:
a compression stroke terminating when the radial axis of the crankshaft is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis defined by the cylinder at a first stroke termination angle and the crankpin is located proximate the cylinder with respect to the longitudinal axis defined by the crankshaft, anda power stroke terminating when the radial axis of the crankshaft is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis defined by the cylinder at a second stroke termination angle and the crankpin is located distal from the cylinder with respect to the longitudinal axis defined by the crankshaft, wherein the bushing control assembly comprises:
a bushing control plate defining an elongated profile having a shape, anda bushing control rod configured to follow the elongated profile, such that oscillation of the bushing is controlled to delay initiation of the power stroke according to the shape of the elongated profile, and wherein the bushing control rod defines a longitudinal axis that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis defined by journals of the crankshaft.