| 摘要 |
According to the present invention, a variable compression ratio engine having crankshaft main bearings mounted in one or more eccentrics includes a power take-off coupling having a single link or linkage. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention a drive arm is integrated into the crankshaft and a driven arm is integrated into the torque converter or clutch housing. The power take-off coupling further has a linkage having a first linkage end and a second linkage end. The first linkage end is pivotaly connected to the drive arm and the second linkage end is pivotaly connected to the driven arm for transferring torque from the crankshaft to the torque converter or clutch housing. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the power take-off coupling has only one link. The link, drive arm and driven arm are all rigid components made out of steel or other suitably stiff and strong metal. The single link is exceptionally robust, reliable and simple. The axels for the linkage are generally larger in diameter than piston pins, and can withstand engine detonation forces as well as other cranktrain bearings can, such as the piston pins, connecting rod big end bearings and crankshaft main bearings. The power take-off coupling of the present invention has a low cost and is easy to assemble. A further advantage of the present invention is the small magnitude of its friction penalty. Engines that are currently mated to torque converters will require only one new bearing to support the output shaft of the present invention. The one new bearing contributes relatively little to over-all engine friction losses. The linkage axel bearings pivot only a few degrees back and forth, and do not substantively increase engine friction losses. Another advantage of the present invention is its short axial length. The short axial length is highly desirable for packaging of the variable compression ratio engine in the small engine bays commonly found in passenger cars. The power take-off coupling of the present invention is robust and reliable, can withstand detonation forces to the same degree as other cranktrain components, has very low friction losses, has a short axial length, is easy to assemble, and has a low cost. |
