Apparatus for establishing and terminating connections between crankshafts

摘要

An internal combustion engine wherein a first crankshaft is driven by a first group of cylinders and a second crankshaft which is coaxial with the first crankshaft can be driven by a second group of cylinders upon acceleration to the speed of the first crankshaft. The first crankshaft drives a first camshaft which is coaxial with a second camshaft serving to drive the second crankshaft in the absence of a direct connection between the two crankshafts. A friction clutch between the two camshafts gradually accelerates the second crankshaft to the speed of the first crankshaft and is thereupon disengaged whereby a positive engagement clutch connects the second crankshaft to the first crankshaft. The second crankshaft can be coupled to the first crankshaft only when the two crankshafts are held in predetermined angular positions relative to each other.