| 摘要 |
A crank assembly for coupling a plurality of connecting rods to a common crank pin of a crankshaft includes an articulation member journaled on the crank pin. The articulation member carries a plurality of knuckle pins arranged in a radial array about the crank pin. Auxiliary cranks interconnect the articulation member and the body of the machine to limit freedom of movement of the articulation member and to assure that it does not rotate in space as it moves with the crank pin in a circular path around the axis of the crankshaft. The described assembly is particularly useful with reciprocating piston machines of the type having a radial array of cylinders with pistons movable in the cylinders, and permits the use of identical connecting rods, each drivingly connecting a separate one of the knuckle pins and a separate one of the pistons. Moreover, each of the auxiliary cranks can be used either as an additional power transmission input or output for the system.
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