Crankshaft And Connecting Rod Patents (Class 123/197.4)
  • Publication number: 20090260595
    Abstract: An engine that is lighter in weight includes a crankcase, a crankshaft, a body cylinder, a head cylinder, a piston, a piston ring and a cylinder fixing bolt. The piston ring is arranged on an outer peripheral surface of the piston. One end portion of the cylinder fixing bolt extends toward the head cylinder and an other end portion of the cylinder fixing bolt extends toward the crankcase. The cylinder fixing bolt connects the head cylinder, the body cylinder and the crankcase to one another. A lower section of the body cylinder is located within the crankcase. The piston ring abuts on the lower section when the piston is located at a bottom dead center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideki FUJIWARA
  • Publication number: 20090255503
    Abstract: An engine 20 includes a two-plane type crankshaft 30 and a balancer shaft 50 for reducing a primary couple of the balancer shaft 50. The crankshaft 30 includes a crankshaft body 30a and a first gear 38. The first gear 38 is disposed at one axial end side of a first crank web pair 31a disposed at the outermost one axial end side of the crankshaft 30. In the engine 20 including the two-plane type crankshaft, the weight of the engine can be reduced while securing high reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideki Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20090241894
    Abstract: Combustion devices described herein comprise a compliant combustion chamber wall or segment. The compliant segment deforms during combustion in the combustion chamber. Some devices may include a compliant wall configured to stretch responsive to pressure generated by combustion of a fuel in the combustion chamber. A coupling portion translates deformation of the compliant segment or wall into mechanical output. One or more ports are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: SRI INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Scott E. Stanford, Harsha Prahlad, Seajin Oh, Jonathan Heim, Roy D. Kornbluh
  • Publication number: 20090229545
    Abstract: A crankshaft for an integral gas compressor and internal combustion engine. The cylinder block of the integral gas compressor and internal combustion engine has a bank of compressor cylinders and a bank of engine cylinders, such as in a V-shaped configuration. The crankshaft has four journals, each adapted to carry two connecting rods. The journals include two coaxial end journals and two coaxial intermediate journals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Compressco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Atkinson, George E. Folks
  • Publication number: 20090223479
    Abstract: A crankshaft and connecting rod configuration for use in piston engines comprises a crankshaft having a separable crank throw wherein the separable crank throw includes a pair of laterally separated throw arms supporting a crankpin therebetween. A pair of coplanar connecting rods is in rotational engagement with the crankpin. Each rod has a small end configured for rotational attachment to a piston and a large end configured for the rotational engagement with the crankpin. At least one retention ring engages a portion of the large end of each connecting rod for maintaining the large ends of the connecting rods in rotational engagement with the crankpin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventor: Harry Schoell
  • Patent number: 7584738
    Abstract: A rotary shaft, such as an automotive crankshaft, for rotation about an axis carries an eccentric substantially circular section, radially extending flap (6), connected to the radially outer surface of which is an annular housing (16) affording a cavity defined in part by radially inner and radially outer coaxial cylindrical surfaces. The axis (22) of the cavity is offset from the axis (4) of the shaft. The cavity accommodates an annular inertia mass (20) and the radially inner and outer surfaces of the cavity are opposed to radially inner and outer surfaces, respectively, of the inertia mass whereby there are two pairs of opposed surfaces. One of the said pairs constitutes bearing surfaces guiding relative motion of the inertia mass and the housing (16) about the axis (22) of the coaxial cylindrical surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Ricardo UK Limited
    Inventors: Michael Robert Stott, Brian Russell Knight
  • Publication number: 20090217891
    Abstract: A two-stroke engine (1) including, an engine block (2) having a cylinder (3), a double-ended piston (4) received for reciprocation in the cylinder (3), the piston (4) comprising a body having first and second opposing ends (7, 9), the first end (7) forming a wall of the combustion chamber (8), the second end (9) forming a wall of a pre-compression chamber (10), the piston (4) including a piston opening (11) between the first and second ends (7, 9); at least one passage extending from the pre-compression chamber (10) to the combustion chamber (8) for charging the combustion chamber(8); a connecting rod (6) operatively connecting the piston (4) to a crankshaft (5), and characterised in that the piston opening (11 ) encloses the connecting rod (6) and the crankshaft (5) protrudes through the piston opening (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: Shed Engineering Limited
    Inventors: Wayne Stuart Alexander, James Stuart Morris
  • Publication number: 20090217902
    Abstract: A piston compressor includes a crankcase having an interior space. The compressor also includes a crankshaft, at least one connecting rod having a connecting rod head that interacts with the crankshaft. The at least one connecting rod and crankshaft are arranged in the crankcase and the crankcase and the at least one connecting rod are of a non-split configuration to permit assembly of the at least one connecting rod on the crankshaft by a threading into the interior space of the crankcase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventor: Michael Hartl
  • Patent number: 7581315
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a connecting rod assembly and method of manufacturing same. The method includes defining a small end of a connecting rod having a terminal end and defining a pin bore extending through the small end. A pair of channels is forged on opposite sides of the small end, such that each of the channels is substantially perpendicular to the pin bore. A bushing having a contact surface including at least partially annular grooves and opposed distal ends is subsequently formed and installed into the pin bore of the small end. Following installation of the bushing, the connecting rod is machined to reduce the width of the small end between each channel and the terminal end to where at least a portion of the grooves are disposed along the distal ends to reduce the need to deburr the area adjacent the pin bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Mahle Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Stephen McEwan
  • Publication number: 20090211551
    Abstract: A crankshaft mechanism for an engine wherein a crankshaft can be disposed close to the piston side while securing a moment of inertia. In the crankshaft mechanism for the engine including the piston, the crankshaft is provided with a crank pin and counterweight parts, and a connecting rod connecting the piston and the crank pin of the crankshaft to each other, the inner side of a circumferential end, on the opposite side of the crank pin, of each of the counterweight parts is cut out along a curve at equidistance R from the center Q of the crank pin, to obtain such a shape so as to avoid a projected part, projected in the direction of the piston, at the lower end of a small end part of the connecting rod when the piston reaches the bottom dead center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Hisashi SAKUYAMA, Shunsuke MUROI
  • Patent number: 7578269
    Abstract: In an adjusting apparatus, particularly for an internal combustion engine having cylinders arranged in an engine block, with a crankshaft and with pistons movably disposed in the cylinders, the adjusting apparatus includes a pick-up which causes an adjustment of an adjustable device, and an adjusting element which is operatively connected to the pick-up, the adjusting element being arranged movably on an adjusting shaft (9) which can be moved by an actuator translationally with a cone as adjusting element or rotationally with an eccentric (8) as adjusting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Jens Meintschel, Tilmann Römheld, Thomas Stolk, Alexander von Gaisberg-Helfenberg
  • Publication number: 20090199811
    Abstract: Disclosed are crankshaft, single-plate cam and beam mechanisms that provide significant improvements in performance for 2- & 4-stroke engines, compressors and pumps. These cost effective mechanisms include linkages with the new and improved use of pivoting arms that operate with a variety of cylinder arrangements. One embodiment of the crankshaft mechanism has its crankpin roller positioned within a novel yoke-arm. The cam mechanism uses a pair of centrally positioned parallel links that are connected to roller cam followers and single or diametrically-opposed pistons. A pair of laterally extending follower arms connects to the ends of the links to provide support and alignment for the piston rods. Between the reciprocating links, cam followers and follower arms is a rotating odd-lobe plate cam. A beam mechanism uses opposite-direction extending balancing beams that are connected to links, cam followers and piston rods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventor: Patrick T. Fisher
  • Publication number: 20090178641
    Abstract: An engine comprising a cylinder including a piston and piston rod combination; a rotational hub; a crankshaft, connected at one end to the piston and piston rod combination and at a second end to the rotational hub; a gear train including an orbital gear, a stationary gear and a plurality of intermediary gears; and a crankshaft gear, located on an end of the crankshaft, the crankshaft gear meshing with the gear train so that movement of the crankshaft can drive a drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: Lyle DAWSON
  • Patent number: 7556014
    Abstract: A four-stoke reciprocating internal combustion engine includes the capability to change the distance between the crankshaft axis and the big end of the connecting rod and hence the maximum cylinder displacement within a combustion cycle. This provides for a given inducted volume of gases to be expanded over a greater volume. An exhaust gas aperture is uncovered by the piston towards the end of the expansion stroke. The piston and crankcase space serves as a pre-compression space for supercharging air to be inducted into the cylinder via ducts. A unitary valve device sliding axially co-operates with intake and exhaust apertures of the combustion cylinder. The unitary device extends at times into a recess in the head of the piston. A diffuse ignition source is provided. A fuel pump is operated by action of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Inventor: David John Mason
  • Patent number: 7552707
    Abstract: Disclosed are crankshaft, single-plate cam and beam mechanisms that provide significant improvements in performance for 2 & 4-stroke engines, compressors and pumps. These cost effective mechanisms include linkages with the new and improved use of pivoting arms that operate with a variety of cylinder arrangements. One embodiment of the crankshaft mechanism has its crankpin roller positioned within a novel yoke-arm. The cam mechanism uses a pair of centrally positioned parallel links that are connected to roller cam followers and single or diametrically-opposed pistons. A pair of laterally extending follower arms connects to the ends of the links to provide support and alignment for the piston rods. Between the reciprocating links, cam followers and follower arms is a rotating odd-lobe plate cam. A beam mechanism uses opposite-direction extending balancing beams that are connected to links, cam followers and piston rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Inventor: Patrick T. Fisher
  • Patent number: 7543559
    Abstract: A gear crank mechanism for a reciprocating engine with a cylinder, a piston and a piston rod and having a pair of crank discs for each piston, with a crank pin extending between the two crank discs, in which the crank pin moves around a circular orbit path, and in which the axis of rotation of the crank discs is offset from the centre of the orbit path so that the crank pin displaces radially outwardly and inwardly relative to the centre of the crank discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Inventor: Ivan Milicic
  • Publication number: 20090129711
    Abstract: A bearing mechanism for mounting a connecting rod to a crankshaft is disclosed. The bearing mechanism may include a first bearing half-shell forming a first semicylindrical member and a second bearing half-shell forming a second semicylindrical member. The second bearing half-shell may be assembled to the first bearing half-shell to form a cylindrical member. The cylindrical member may include an outer surface, an inner surface, and at least one end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: Bradley Joseph Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20090120404
    Abstract: A force transfer mechanism is provided for an internal-combustion engine. In the most preferred configuration, the force transfer mechanism comprises two inter-connected first class levers that are driven by four pistons. Each of the pistons is driven through its non-powered strokes by the action of the piston in its powered stroke on the first class levers. The force transfer mechanism also drives the crankshaft through a single connecting rod. The force transfer mechanism provides for less frictional loss, and greater efficiency, than a typical internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventor: Michael Dennis Brickley
  • Publication number: 20090107454
    Abstract: A multi-link variable compression ratio engine is provided with a crankshaft, a piston, a control shaft, a linkage, a motor and a reduction mechanism. The crankshaft moves the piston within an engine cylinder. The control shaft has an eccentric axle eccentric relative to its center-axis. The linkage operatively connects the piston to the crankshaft and the crankshaft to the eccentric axle of the control shaft. The motor rotates the control shaft so a top-dead-center position of the piston changes to vary compression ratios by changing the positions of the eccentric axle and the linkage. The reduction mechanism couples the motor to the control shaft to transmit a reduced rotation of the motor to the control shaft so a reduction ratio of a rotation angle of the motor to a rotation angle of the control shaft is less at high-compression ratios than at intermediate compression ratios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryosuke HIYOSHI, Yoshiaki TANAKA, Shinichi TAKEMURA
  • Publication number: 20090107426
    Abstract: A dual crankshaft internal combustion engine is symmetrically constructed to form a perfectly balanced engine assembly. A first crankshaft, having a first end, a second end, and being formed of a shape and with a torsional flexibility, is housed within a cylinder block and connected to a first series of cooperating pistons and cylinders. A second crankshaft, having a first end and a second end, is formed of substantially the same shape as the first crankshaft and has substantially the same torsional flexibility as the first crankshaft. The second crankshaft is also housed within the cylinder block and connected to a second series of cooperating pistons and cylinders, while being positioned parallel to the first crankshaft, with the first end of the first crankshaft being positioned adjacent to the second end of the second crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Al Henry Berger, James R. Clarke
  • Publication number: 20090107452
    Abstract: A multi-link engine has a piston coupled to a crankshaft to move inside an engine cylinder. A piston pin connects the piston to an upper link, which is connected to a lower link by an upper link pin. A crank pin of the crankshaft rotatably supports the lower link thereon. A control link pin connects the lower link to one end of a control link, which is connected at another end to the engine block body by a control shaft. The crank pin has a center arranged on a straight line joining centers of the upper link pin and the control link pin such that an angle formed between the straight line and a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to a center axis of the cylinder and that passes through an axial center of a crank journal is the same for at top dead center and at bottom dead center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki TAKAHASHI, Masayuki TOMITA, Kenshi USHIJIMA, Koji HIRAYA, Hirofumi TSUCHIDA, Shunichi AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20090107453
    Abstract: A multi-link engine has a piston coupled to a crankshaft to move inside an engine cylinder. A piston pin connects the piston to an upper link, which is connected to a lower link by an upper link pin. A crank pin of the crankshaft rotatably supports the lower link thereon. A control link pin connects the lower link to one end of a control link, which is connected at another end to the engine block body by a control shaft. The upper link has an upper link axis that forms an angle with the cylinder axis, as viewed along a crank axis direction of the crankshaft, such that the angle reaches a minimum when a crank angle of the engine is within a range where the bottom end of a piston skirt is positioned below a topmost part of the bottom end of the cylinder liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Takahashi, Masayuki Tomita, Kenshi Ushijima, Koji Hiraya, Hirofumi Tsuchida, Shunichi Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20090101004
    Abstract: A two-part piston for an internal combustion engine comprising an annular outer piston connected to the crankshaft by two connecting rods and an inner piston fit into the bore of the annular outer piston connected to the crankshaft by one connecting rod. The reciprocating motion of the inner and annular outer piston is controlled by the location of the respective connecting rod bearing journals on the crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: Jerald L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7516546
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a connecting rod assembly having a stepped small end. The method includes defining a small end of a connecting rod assembly having a terminal end and defining a pin bore extending therethrough. A pair of channels are formed on opposite sides of the small end, perpendicular to the pin bore and a bushing is subsequently installed into the pin bore. Where a connecting rod assembly does not include a bushing the method includes defining a small end having a pin bore and forming pair of channels on opposite sides of the small end. A contact surface is then defined within the pin bore to engage a piston pin and the small end is machined to provide a stepped configuration. The connecting rod assembly is then machined to reduce the width of the small end to provide a stepped configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: MAHLE Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Stephen McEwan
  • Patent number: 7516684
    Abstract: In a shaft arrangement structure of an engine which is provided with a crank case divided into upper and lower two members, forms a transmission room accommodating a transmission within the crank case, and utilizes a lower portion of the transmission room as an oil reservoir chamber, an input shaft of the transmission is positioned above a line connecting an axis of the crank shaft of the engine and an axis of the output shaft of the transmission as seen in an axial direction. An angle formed between a first segment connecting the axis of the crank shaft and the axis of the input shaft and a center line of a cylinder of the engine above the axis of the crank shaft is acute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7503305
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting linear motion into rotary motion or vice versa comprising a shaft (12) which is rotatable about a fixed axis (14) and carrying a circular cam (16) mounted eccentrically relative to that axis (14), the cam (16) being rotatably mounted within a disc (22) which is in turn rotatably mounted within a housing (24) mounted for linear reciprocating motion along a rectilinear axis (26) in a direction transverse to the axis (14) of the shaft (12) whereby reciprocating motion of the housing (24) along the rectilinear axis (26) is converted into rotation of the shaft (12), or rotation of the shaft (12) is converted into reciprocating motion of the housing (24) along the rectilinear axis (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Inventor: Arvid Murray Johnson
  • Publication number: 20090056667
    Abstract: An engine comprises a combustion chamber, an expansion cylinder with a piston adapted for reciprocating motion in the expansion cylinder via combustion products combusted in the combustion chamber, and a transmission associated with the expansion cylinder. The transmission has a guide frame with a first drive wheel rotatably mounted at one end of the guide frame and a second drive wheel rotatably mounted at an opposite longitudinal end of the guide frame. Each of the drive wheels is driven by an inextensible continuous loop. The guide frame has a crank head adapted to reciprocatingly translate along the guide frame. The crank head has a drive connection pivotally connecting the crank head to the loop. The crank head is operatively connected to the piston such that reciprocating motion of the piston results in corresponding reciprocating motion of the crank head, movement of the loop, and corresponding rotation of the drive wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: John Arthur Devine
  • Patent number: 7475667
    Abstract: A four cycle internal combustion engine that eliminates the need for a crankshaft and fly wheel includes at least a cylinder and a piston reciprocally disposed in the cylinder. A spur gear and a connecting rod having a first end pivotally connected to the piston and a second end pivotally connected to the spur gear is provided. An outer ring gear engaging the spur gear, a sun gear and a plurality of planetary gears engaging the ring gear and the sun gear are provided for reciprocating the piston and a gear set so that the rotation of the spur gear translates into rotation of the sun gear. An output shaft is fixed to and rotated by the sun gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Inventor: Mohammad Esmael Al-Bannai
  • Patent number: 7455038
    Abstract: An engine is provided comprising a cylinder, a piston, a connecting rod, and a crank. A cylinder combustion occurs in the cylinder to induce movement of the piston in a lateral direction. The cylinder combustion comprises a first stage during which a first portion of a fuel and air mixture is burned over a substantially constant volume, and a second stage during which a second portion of the fuel and air mixture is burned over a substantially constant pressure. The piston comprises a piston head and a rigid piston rod mounted to the piston head. The connecting rod is pivotally mounted to the rigid piston rod and capable of receiving a pulling force applied by the piston. The crank is pivotally mounted to the connecting rod such that the connecting rod applies a torque capable of rotating the crank about a fixed axis as the piston moves within the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Inventors: Tihomir Sic, Miladin Vidakovic
  • Patent number: 7455041
    Abstract: A reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine has a crank drive and a transmission lever indirectly coupled with the piston and intersecting the cylinder axis. The lever is articulated onto the crank drive's connecting rod and onto an adjustable bearing guided in the cylinder block. For greater variation of the translation of movements between crank drive and piston, the pulling and pushing rod connected with the piston has a guide at its end facing the transmission lever. The guide is preferably a pivotally-mounted slide shoe that engages into a guide extending along the transmission lever. The transmission lever is pivotally connected with the crankshaft connecting rod and connected with a setting drive for variably setting the articulation of the pulling and pushing rod on the transmission lever. A guide lever pivotally connected with the pulling and pushing rod and pivotally articulated onto the cylinder block guides the pulling and pushing rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: IAV GmbH Ingenieurgesellschaft Auto und Verkehr
    Inventors: Markus Meyer, Frank Van Der Seylberg
  • Patent number: 7441530
    Abstract: A conservative force coupled to the piston of a reciprocating-piston engine, refrigerator, or compressor acts to counter the pressure force on the piston that arises from the change of volume of the working substance accompanying a change in the piston position. As a result, the efficiency of the engine, refrigerator, or compressor is improved to approach the theoretical thermodynamic limit of the underlying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: FSNC, LLC
    Inventor: Frank A. Tinker
  • Publication number: 20080257296
    Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To enhance freedom in designing an engine, improve acceleration feeling, provide extremely excellent driving feeling, and enable an engine to be more compact. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] An in-line four-cylinder engine for a vehicle has a two-plane 90° crankshaft (3). The weight of a crank web for each cylinder is distributed to left and right web half bodies (21a,b-24a,b) to satisfy the expression of (KL?0.25)(0.25?KR)=DR/DL, where KL and KR are balance ratios of web half bodies of each cylinder (where KL?0.25, KR?0.25), and DL and DR are the distances from the center in the longitudinal direction of the crankshaft to each crank web half body. This causes the vector locus of first moment of inertia to be substantially a circle to cancel the first moment of inertia by a primary balancer (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Kengo Nishi, Masao Furusawa
  • Publication number: 20080257299
    Abstract: Engine output takeout device includes: a first crank gear mounted on a first crankshaft; a second crank gear mounted on a second crankshaft; a ring gear surrounding the first and second crank gears and having inner teeth meshing with the first crank gear; and an idler gear rotatably mounted coaxially on the first crankshaft via bearings and meshing at its one position with the second crank gear and at its other position with the inner teeth of the ring gear, the first crank gear and the idler gear both meshing with a same inner tooth of the ring gear at any given time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Kengo ISHIMITSU
  • Patent number: 7438041
    Abstract: A piston pin carries out an eccentric coupling of connecting rod and crank connected with the driving shaft. The piston pin is shaped like a cylinder, has two cuts disposed orthogonally to the axis of the piston pin. The cuts form three sectors. The two external sectors correspond to the connection with the crank and the internal sector is coupled to the connecting rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: Garavello Renato
  • Publication number: 20080251046
    Abstract: A power unit for a vehicle comprises an engine and a transmission assembly. The engine includes a crank shaft having a rotating mass. The transmission assembly includes a drive shaft having a first drive gear and being connected to the crank shaft through a first transmission mechanism, and a driven shaft connected to the drive shaft through a driven gear that meshes with the first drive gear. With the power unit oriented such that the crank shaft is substantially horizontal, at least a portion of the transmission assembly is positioned within a region extending below a swept area of the rotating mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigehiro Mochizuki, Kazutaka Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7434562
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine which includes two parallel crankshafts positioned in crankcases, a cylinder positioned on a side of the crankcases, a piston movably disposed within the cylinder, and connecting rods linked to the piston and extending from respective crankshafts. Positions at which the two connecting rods are linked to the piston and the crankshafts are constantly kept symmetrical with respect to a cylinder axis when the two crankshafts rotate in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kengo Ishimitsu
  • Publication number: 20080216791
    Abstract: A piston pin carries out an eccentric coupling of connecting rod and crank connected with the driving shaft. The piston pin is shaped like a cylinder, has two cuts disposed orthogonally to the axis of the piston pin. The cuts form three sectors. The two external sectors correspond to the connection with the crank and the internal sector is coupled to the connecting rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventor: RENATO GARAVELLO
  • Patent number: 7418939
    Abstract: The invention provides a motorcycle having a frame, an engine coupled to the frame, and a crankshaft assembly. The crankshaft assembly includes a first flywheel half having an aperture, a crank pin including a first end portion, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and a bearing surface between the first and second end portions. The first end portion is press-fit into the aperture of the first flywheel half. The first end portion, the second end portion, and the bearing surface are coated with a friction enhancer. A bearing is positioned at least partially onto the bearing surface, and a connecting rod has an aperture that at least partially receives the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard F. Enright, William K. Davis, Thomas A. Lanser, William Lackas, Jon Janke, Jennifer M. Sampson, Tomas Smetana
  • Publication number: 20080188340
    Abstract: A four cycle internal combustion engine that eliminates the need for a crankshaft and fly wheel includes at least a cylinder and a piston reciprocally disposed in the cylinder. A spur gear and a connecting rod having a first end pivotally connected to the piston and a second end pivotally connected to the spur gear is provided. An outer ring gear engaging the spur gear, a sun gear and a plurality of planetary gears engaging the ring gear and the sun gear are provided for reciprocating the piston and a gear set so that the rotation of the spur gear translates into rotation of the sun gear. An output shaft is fixed to and rotated by the sun gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventor: Mohammad Esmael Al-Bannai
  • Patent number: 7392781
    Abstract: A crankshaft mechanism is disclosed that takes advantage of component makeup and orientation to cancel out inertial force. A crankshaft of the crankshaft mechanism includes at least one counterweight that is arranged in combination with the rest of the mechanism to cancel out the inertial force particularly at a timing in front of a bottom dead center of a piston where the inertial force becomes a maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Takahashi, Katsuya Moteki, Hideaki Mizuno, Yoshimi Nunome
  • Publication number: 20080121196
    Abstract: An internal-combustion engine (1) with improved reciprocating operation comprises at least one hollow cylinder (C), which contains a chamber for the evolution of a working fluid and has one end closed by a head and the opposite end closed by a piston (2) which can slide with a reciprocating rectilinear motion between a bottom dead center (BDC) and a top dead center (TDC), and a device (3) for converting the reciprocating rectilinear motion of the piston (2) into a rotary motion of an engine shaft (4) which comprises a push rod (5), which is substantially perpendicular to the engine shaft (4) and in which a first end (5a) is connected to the piston (2) and a second end (5b) is connected to at least one pin (13) for supporting at least one pusher roller (7) and at least one return roller (8), which rotate in mutually opposite directions, a rotating contoured body (9), which is fixed to the engine shaft (4) and is provided with at least one pusher circuit (10) and at least one return circuit (11), along which th
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Luciano Fantuzzi
  • Publication number: 20080092846
    Abstract: A stroke control assembly for an engine. The assembly is configured to transfer power from a rectilinear moving piston by way of an interaction between a control plate and a flywheel of the assembly. The control plate is configured to phase shift or overrun the flywheel at predetermined locations of interface between a rectilinear moving piston and the control plate. In this manner, significant forces that might otherwise be applied to the control plate, may be avoided, following these predetermined locations. The control plate may also allow a firm engagement of a mechanical rectifier (one way clutch) while tracking a substantially constant velocity piston device for about 240° of rotation thereof to optimally enhance collection of power from the rectilinear moving piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: John A. Heimbecker
  • Publication number: 20080092384
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for installing an intermediate bearing by press fitting the intermediate bearing between a center hub of a crankshaft and a center web of a crankcase and an apparatus that provides support for an intermediate bearing that is installed within the crankcase and coupled to the center web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Mark D. Schaake, Brian Patrick Wolff
  • Patent number: 7357104
    Abstract: A piston crank mechanism has an upper link coupled to a piston by a piston pin, a lower link having a crankpin journal, wherein the crankpin journal is coupled to a crankpin of a crankshaft and is coupled to the upper link by an upper pin, and a control link is coupled to an eccentric cam of a control shaft that is supported by an engine block and coupled to a control pin boss by a control pin. The crankpin journal of the lower link is arranged and dimensioned relative to the upper pin such that a projection area defined by projecting the width of the upper pin along a direction line passing through a center of the piston pin and a center of the upper pin does not obscure an area defined by the crankpin during operation of the crankshaft as viewed in an axial direction of the crankpin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kobayashi, Kenshi Ushijima, Katsuya Moteki, Hideaki Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20080078354
    Abstract: A method for restoring a length of at least one of a master rod and an articulating rod, the method including determining a length of the rod, if the rod is within an acceptable length, cleaning the rod, applying a masking material to a part of the rod to be protected, grit blasting the part of the rod not protected by the masking material, and applying a thermal spray to the part of the rod not protected by the masking material to increase the length of the rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Alistair Jeffrey Smith, Wayne Alan Demo, Ronald Lance Galley, Stephen Joseph Ferrigno, Brian Robert Graham
  • Patent number: 7350506
    Abstract: Provided is a variable stroke property engine that can prevent an increase in the resistance to the engine owing to the contact between the variable stroke piston mechanism and lubricating oil. In a variable stroke property engine equipped with a variable piston stroke mechanism consisting of a plurality of links 4, 5 and 12, a baffle plate 40 is provided between the links and the oil surface of the lubricating oil received in an oil pan so that the links may be separated from the oil surface by the baffle plate and the lubricating oil is prevented from contacting the links. Thereby, an increase to the resistance to the movement of the links can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akinori Maezuru, Koichi Ikoma, Kenji Abe
  • Patent number: 7343893
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a connecting rod that connects a crankpin and a piston. The connecting rod has first and second connecting rods, and a guide piston is disposed at a connecting portion between the first and second connecting rods. Deformed portions are formed on a lower end portion of a guide piston and on a balancer weight portion of a crankshaft in order to reduce the whole length of the connecting rod, whereby a bottom dead center of the guide piston is set to a lower position. The engine has improved thermal efficiency by reducing the distance between the crank portion and the piston, increasing the speed of behavior of the piston at a position near a top dead center to reduce thermal energy loss, and preventing generation of knocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Suzuki, Hayato Maehara, Satoshi Iijima
  • Publication number: 20080053398
    Abstract: A gear crank mechanism for a reciprocating engine with a cylinder, a piston and a piston rod and having a pair of crank discs for each piston, with a crank pin extending between the two crank discs, in which the crank pin moves around a circular orbit path, and in which the axis of rotation of the crank discs is offset from the centre of the orbit path so that the crank pin displaces radially outwardly and inwardly relative to the centre of the crank discs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventor: Ivan Milicic
  • Patent number: 7337759
    Abstract: The invention involves an engine that the cylinder block contains a coupled piston formed by a main piston, an external piston. The external piston is sleeved outside of the main piston and uses the rods on the two sides to connect to the heart-shape groove on the two sides of the crankshaft inside the crankcase at the bottom of the cylinder block. It moves with the main piston in an upward stroke and in a downward stroke. It forms a direct fuel injection device in the cylinder without carburetor. It does not need to add lubricants in the fuels. Besides, the engine has increased compression ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Inventors: Yung-ching Chen, Chih-chieh Chen
  • Patent number: 7334558
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a slide body having a plurality of rigidly mounted pistons on opposite ends of the slide body. The slide body reciprocates and is connected to a flywheel by shaft and bearing which extends through an angled track in the slide body. As the pistons impart linear movement to the slide body, the flywheel and a drive shaft rotate. Both the slide body and the flywheel are mounted on the interior of the engine. Magnets on the flywheel rotate relative to stationary coil conductors to induce a current. The housing includes four panels, which can be easily assembled and disassembled, which form a housing compartment in which the linearly movable slide piston subassembly and the rotating flywheel are positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Inventor: Darrell Grayson Higgins