Patent ID: 6453869
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: F02B

Abstract:
An internal combustion engine comprising:an engine block assembly including at least one cylinder formed therein, said cylinder having a central axis; a piston reciprocating in said cylinder between a top dead center (TDC) position and a bottom dead center (BDC) position; at least one crankshaft assembly rotatably mounted to said engine block assembly for rotation about a crank axis; said crankshaft assembly including a driveshaft, a crankarm fixed to said driveshaft and a crankpin fixed to said crankarm; at least one connecting rod having a first end pivotally mounted to said piston and a second end rotatably mounted to said crankpin; said first end of said connecting rod rotates about a first connecting rod axis parallel to said crank axis and said second end of said connecting rod rotates about a second connecting rod axis parallel to said crank axis; at least one gear set including a stationary first gear coaxial with said crank axis and a rotatable second gear mounted concentrically on said crankpin, said second gear operatively engaged with said first gear; and at least one eccentric member mounted on said crankpin for rotation about a crankpin axis and interposed between said crankpin and said connecting rod; said eccentric member rigidly secured to said second gear; said eccentric member defines an offset lever between said crankpin axis and said second connecting rod axis; said eccentric member positioned on said crankpin so that rotation of said eccentric member by said gear set produces an extended dwell point of said piston.