Abstract: A connecting rod assembly is provided for varying a compression ratio of an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft and a piston. The connecting rod assembly includes a first portion adapted to be connected to the crankshaft, and a second portion adapted to be connected to the piston and movable with respect to the first portion. The connecting rod assembly further includes a locking mechanism disposed between the first and second portions. The locking mechanism includes a rotatable locking element that is configured to lock the second portion at a first position relative to the first portion. Furthermore, the first position corresponds to a first compression ratio of the engine.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 5, 2001
Date of Patent:
November 11, 2003
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Joshua Putman Styron, Pravin Sashidharan, V. Durga Nageswar Rao, Yash Andrew Imai