摘要 |
An internal combustion engine includes one or more pistons (4), each of which is mounted to reciprocate in a respective cylinder (2) and is pivotably connected to a connecting rod (6) which is connected to a respective crank on a crankshaft (7). The connecting rod (6) is pivotably connected to one end of an elongate link (14), which is pivotably connected to the associated crank at a point intermediate its ends and whose other end constitutes a rod (18) which is restrained by a mounting (20, 24) such that it may pivot about a pivotal axis parallel to the axis of the crankshaft. The mounting includes a first movable mounting member (20) and a second movable mounting member (24). The first mounting member (20) is connected to the rod (18) by a connection which permits only relative sliding movement in the direction of the length of the rod and is pivotally connected to the second mounting member (24) to pivot with respect thereto about the said pivotal axis. A single actuator (30) is provided which cooperates with the second mounting member (24) and is arranged to move it. The second mounting member (24) is an elongate lever which is connected to a fixed structure to pivot with respect thereto about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of crankshaft. |