Patent ID: 6595167
Filing Date: 2003-07-22
Classification: F01B,F02B

Abstract:
A modular engine design system for providing a plurality of related engines, wherein each engine includes at least one cylinder block defining a cylinder therein, a crankcase having an opening therein communicating with the cylinder, a piston adapted for reciprocal movement in the cylinder, a crankshaft adapted for rotational movement within the crankcase, a connecting rod interconnecting the piston and the crankshaft, and a camshaft operably associated with the crankshaft and being operable to selectively operate a valve assembly associated with the cylinder block, the modular engine design system comprising:a first engine design for providing a basic engine associated with a first power output, said basic engine being formed of selectively replaceable basic engine components, wherein said basic engine components include: a first cylinder block defining a first cylinder therein having first predetermined physical dimensions, a first crankcase, a first piston, said piston having first predetermined dimensions, a first camshaft, a first connecting rod having a length L1, a first crankshaft, said first crankshaft and said first connecting rod operably defining a first piston stroke; a second engine design for providing a second engine related to said basic engine wherein said second engine is associated with a second power output, said second power output being substantially different than said first power output and wherein said second engine design utilizes: said first cylinder block defining said first cylinder therein having said first predetermined physical dimensions, said first crankcase, said first piston, said first camshaft, a second connecting rod having a length L2, wherein L2 differs from L1, said second connecting rod selectively replacing said first connecting rod, and a second crankshaft, said second crankshaft selectively replacing said first crankshaft, said second crankshaft and said second connecting rod operably defining a second piston stroke substantially different from said first piston stroke; a third engine design for providing a third engine related to said basic engine wherein said third engine is associated with a third power output, said third power output being substantially different from said first power output and said second power output, wherein said third engine design utilizes: two of said first cylinder blocks each defining said first cylinder therein having said first predetermined physical dimensions, two of said first pistons, two of said first connecting rods wherein each first connecting rod is operably associated with a different one of said first pistons; a modified crankcase, said modified crankcase selectively replacing said first crankcase, said modified crankcase having two openings therein, each of said openings communicating with a different one of said first cylinders; a third crankshaft, said third crankshaft selectively replacing said first crankshaft, said third crankshaft and said first connecting rods operably defining third piston strokes for each of said first pistons of said third engine wherein said third piston strokes are substantially equal to said first piston stroke of said basic engine; a modified camshaft being operable to selectively operate two of said valve assemblies, each of said valve assemblies being associated with a different one of said first cylinder blocks, said modified camshaft selectively replacing said first camshaft; and, a fourth engine design for providing a fourth engine related to said basic engine wherein said fourth engine is associated with a fourth power output, said fourth power output being substantially different than said first power output and wherein said fourth engine design utilizes: two of said first cylinder blocks each defining said first cylinder therein having said first predetermined physical dimensions, two of said first pistons, two of said second connecting rods wherein each second connecting rod is operably associated with a different one of said first pistons, said modified crankcase, said modified crankcase selectively replacing said first crankcase, wherein each of said openings communicates with a different one of said first cylinders, a fourth crankshaft, said fourth crankshaft selectively replacing said first crankshaft, said fourth crankshaft and said second connecting rods operably defining fourth piston strokes for each of said first pistons of said fourth engine wherein said fourth piston strokes are substantially equal to said second piston stroke of said second engine, and said modified camshaft being operable to selectively operate two of said valve assemblies, each of said valve assemblies being associated with a different one of said first cylinder blocks, said modified camshaft selectively replacing said first camshaft.