| 主权项 |
1. A stepwise variable compression ratio internal combustion engine comprising:
a crank shaft rotatable about a crank shaft axis and comprising a connecting rod coupling portion defining a first axis; at least one piston cylinder; a piston slidably received by said at least one cylinder so as to reciprocate between top dead center and bottom dead center positions within said cylinder; the crank coupling end portion comprising an eccentric adjuster receiving chamber; a connecting rod comprising a piston coupling end portion pivotally coupled to the piston and a crank coupling end portion pivotally coupled to the connecting rod coupling portion of the crank shaft, such that rotation of the crank shaft causes the connecting rod to reciprocate and move the piston between top dead center and bottom dead center positions; a crank shaft coupler comprising an eccentric portion defining a second axis and operable to couple the connecting rod coupling portion of the crank shaft to the crank coupling end portion of the connecting rod, the eccentric portion being positioned such that pivoting of the crank shaft coupler about the first axis from one crank shaft coupler position to another crank shaft coupler position pivots the eccentric portion from a first eccentric position to a second eccentric position and shifts the second axis relative to the crank shaft axis to thereby vary the compression ratio of said at least one piston cylinder; the crank coupling end portion of the connecting rod comprising a chamber that comprises a plurality of spaced apart outlet ports; a projection coupled to the crank shaft coupler such that movement of the projection pivots the crank shaft coupler about the first axis, the projection positioned at least partially within the chamber and being shaped to separate the chamber into first and second chamber sections, the projection being selectively movable between plural positions, wherein in each position a respective outlet port is closed by the projection; a first passageway communicating with the first section of the chamber, and a first valve allowing one-way liquid flow through the first passageway into the first section of the chamber; a second passageway communicating with the second section of the chamber, and a second valve allowing one-way liquid flow through the second passageway into the second section of the chamber; a compression ratio adjuster operable to selectively open a selected first of the outlet ports so as to permit liquid flow from the one of the first and second sections of the chamber in communication with the first outlet port through the first outlet port, wherein liquid flow through one of the first and second passageways and into the other of the first and second sections of the chamber other than said one of the first and second sections of the chamber in communication with the first outlet port, wherein the projection moves from a first projection position in a direction toward the first outlet port and to a second projection position closing the first outlet port with liquid in the respective first and second chambers assisting in maintaining the projection in the second projection position, the compression ratio adjuster also being operable to selectively open a selected second of the outlet ports other than the first outlet port to permit liquid flow from the one of the first and second sections of the chamber in communication with the second outlet port through the second outlet port, wherein liquid flows through one of the first and second passageways and into the other of the first and second sections of the chamber other than said one of the first and second sections of the chamber in communication with the second outlet port, wherein the projection moves from the second projection position in a direction toward the second outlet port and to a third projection position closing the second outlet port with liquid in the first and second sections of the chamber assisting in maintaining the projection in the third projection position, and wherein the movement of the projection moves the crank shaft coupler and varies the compression ratio of said at least one piston cylinder in steps defined by the positions to which the projection moves in response to opening the selected outlet ports. |
