Cam drive mechanism for internal combustion engine

摘要

Disclosed is a mechanism for use to progressively vary the angular relationship of the cam shaft of an internal combustion engine relative to the crank shaft of this engine. The mechanism comprises a first disk provided with two radially extending cavities aligned with respect to each other, each of the cavities containing a spring-biased, small weight slidably mounted therein with the spring uring said small weight toward the center of the first disk. The first disk is connected to the crank shaft in such as a manner as to be driven by, and rotated at the same speed as this crank shaft. The mechanism also comprises a second disk coaxially mounted with respect to the first disk. The second disk is provided with two arcuated slots of indential curvatures that are symetrical with respect to the center of the second disk and extends from a short distance away from the center of this second disk towards its periphery in opposite directions. This second disk is connected to the cam shaft in such a manner as to cause this cam shaft to be driven by and rotate at the same speed as the second disk when the same is driven into rotation by the first disk, both disks being interconnected by a pair of connecting pins that are solid with the small weights and extend into the arcuated slots along which they may move freely.