Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to an engine transmission assembly that transforms a linear reciprocating motion of a piston into an angular motion of a crankshaft.

Conventional engines generally include of three major cases: a cylinder head sitting on top of a cylinder block, and a crank case. The cylinder block includes a plurality of cylinders, each having a piston reciprocating there through. The cylinder block along with the cylinder head forms a combustion chamber where fuel is combusted to cause the reciprocation of the pistons. In such conventional engines, the crank case includes a crankshaft connected to the piston through a transmission assembly that transforms the reciprocating motion of the pistons to torsion of the crankshaft. A crankshaft piston interface is disclosed in the Application No. <CIT> known in the literature. Said crankshaft piston interface improves fuel efficiency and reduces harmful gas emission of the internal combustion engines. In order to realize this, the crankshaft piston mechanism is positioned between the piston and the crankshaft and provides movement transmission. A main link, a follower and a connecting rod are provided between the piston and the crankshaft. On said main link; a hole is provided for connecting to the piston, two positioning links are provided for connecting to the follower, and small diameter holes are provided which exist on the extensions. Thanks to this structure, the main link transfers the movement, received from the piston, towards the connecting rod. A hole is provided also on the connecting rod. This hole is essentially connected to the two positioning linkssuch that there is rotational freedom between the hole and the two extensions provided on the link. For this connection, a main link sleeve bearing is used which is in pin form. While the connecting rod is connected to the main link from one side, it is connected to the crankshaft from the other side. Thanks to this, movement transfer is provided between the two elements. The connecting rod can move in a compliant manner to the linear movement of the piston and the rotational movement of the crank. A transmission mechanism is described in the Application No. <CIT> known in the literature. This transmission mechanism divides the conventional connecting rod, which exists between the crankshaft and the piston, into two parts and increases the efficiency of the internal combustion engine and the power output. One of the two parts, which exist on the connecting rod, is the first part and the other one is the second part. Said first part and said second part are connected to each other by means of pin joint. An oscillating rocker is used for providing movement of the connecting element. Thanks to this, degree of freedom is added to the controlled conventional piston arm, and engine efficiency is increased and fuel consumption is reduced. At the inner part of the rocker, grooves can be provided for allowing linear movement of the connecting rod. Sliding movement can be realized by engaging one edge of the connecting rod into said groove.

Conventional transmission assemblies in engines generally include a single connecting rod connected at one end to a piston head and to a crankshaft at the other end, wherein such assembly has only one degree-of-freedom.

Therefore, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a new assembly including moving and stationary parts, the assembly should transmit the reciprocating motion of an engine piston to a torsional motion of a crank shaft, allowing for better torque conversion near top dead center without compromising the engine dimensions.

As another object of the present disclosure, there is provided an assembly that can fit inside the cylinders of the engine and a set of confined dimensions of a conventional cylinder block without altering the position of the crankshaft, allowing the assembly of the present disclosure to be used in retrofitting existing engines.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide an assembly for an engine configured for linking a piston head to a crankshaft of the engine, the assembly include:.

In some aspects, the upper portion of the secondary connecting rod may include an elongated member having a pin, wherein the pin may be inserted in an opening of the primary connecting rod.

In other aspects, the upper portion of the secondary connecting rod may include two vertical extrusions that form a first semi-circular space gap between said vertical extrusions, and wherein the lower portion of the secondary connecting rod may include two parallel vertical extrusions that form a second semi-circular space gap between said parallel vertical extrusions, wherein the first and second semi-circular space gaps form the circular opening when the upper and lower portions of the secondary connecting rod are mated.

In some aspects, the substantial part of the secondary connecting rod upper portion may be configured to slide inside said controlling member in a reciprocating motion.

In other aspects, each of the two aligned lateral openings of said controlling member support element may include a trapezoidal opening with a semi-circular cut formed in proximity of a middle point of a base of said trapezoidal opening.

In aspects of the present disclosure, the controlling member support element may further include a pair of fixing elements each having a trapezoidal shape with a semi-circular cut formed in proximity of a middle point of a base of said trapezoidal shape.

in some aspects, two circular openings may be formed when the fixing elements are inserted inside said lateral openings of the controlling member support element, wherein the circular openings may be configured to receive the pair of aligned lateral pins of said controlling member to form a pair of aligned lateral pin joints.

In aspects of the present disclosure, the circular openings of said controlling member support element and the pair of aligned lateral pin joints of the controlling member may be configured to allow for an oscillation of said controlling member.

In some aspects, the piston head, the primary connecting rod, the secondary connecting rod, the controlling member, the controlling member support element, and the crank shaft joint may be enclosed in an engine cylinder block.

In some aspects, the controlling member support element may further include a fixing mechanism configured to affix the controlling member support element inside said engine cylinder block.

In some aspects, wherein said fixing mechanism may include a bolt configured to be tightened against said engine cylinder block.

Other aspects of the present disclosure further provide an engine, which include:.

In aspects of the present disclosure, the upper portion of the secondary connecting rod of the engine's transmission assembly may include an elongated member having a pair of aligned pins, wherein the pair of aligned pins is inserted in second openings of the pair of primary connecting rods, wherein the upper portion of the secondary connecting rod may include two vertical extrusions that form a first semi-circular space gap between said vertical extrusions, and wherein the lower portion of the secondary connecting rod may include two parallel vertical extrusions that form a second semi-circular space gap between said parallel vertical extrusions, wherein the first and second semi-circular space gaps may form the circular opening when the upper and lower portions of the secondary connecting rod are mated.

In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, each of the two aligned lateral openings of said controlling member support element in the engine's transmission assembly may include a trapezoidal opening with a semi-circular cut formed in proximity of a middle point of a base of said trapezoidal opening, wherein the controlling member support element may further include a pair of fixing elements each having a trapezoidal shape with a semi-circular cut formed in proximity of a middle point of a base of said trapezoidal shape, wherein two circular openings may be formed when the fixing elements are inserted inside said lateral openings of the controlling member support element, wherein the circular openings may be configured to receive the pair of aligned lateral pins of said controlling member to form a pair of aligned lateral pin joints, wherein the circular openings of said controlling member support element and the pair of aligned lateral pin joints of the controlling member may be configured to allow for an oscillation of said controlling member.

In aspects of the engine of the present disclosure, the controlling member support element may further include a fixing mechanism configured to affix the controlling member support element inside the cylinder block of the engine.

Aspects of the present disclosure further provides a vehicle, which include:.

In aspects of the present disclosure, the upper portion of the secondary connecting rod of the vehicle's engine may include an elongated member having a pair of aligned pins, wherein the pair of aligned pins may be inserted in second openings of the pair of primary connecting rods, wherein the upper portion of the secondary connecting rod may include two vertical extrusions that form a first semi-circular space gap between said vertical extrusions, and wherein the lower portion of the secondary connecting rod may include two parallel vertical extrusions that form a second semi-circular space gap between said parallel vertical extrusions, wherein the first and second semi-circular space gaps form the circular opening when the upper and lower portions of the secondary connecting rod are mated.

In aspects of the present disclosure, each of the two aligned lateral openings of said controlling member support element in the vehicle's engine may include a trapezoidal opening with a semi-circular cut formed in proximity of a middle point of a base of said trapezoidal opening, wherein the controlling member support element may further include a pair of fixing elements each having a trapezoidal shape with a semi-circular cut formed in proximity of a middle point of a base of said trapezoidal shape, wherein two circular openings are formed when the fixing elements are inserted inside said lateral openings of the controlling member support element, wherein the circular openings are configured to receive the pair of aligned lateral pins of said controlling member to form a pair of aligned lateral pin joints, wherein the circular openings of said controlling member support element and the pair of aligned lateral pin joints of the controlling member may be configured to allow for an oscillation of said controlling member. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

The disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure, without restricting the scope of the disclosure, and in which:.

<FIG> illustrate a transmission assembly that transforms a linear reciprocating motion of a piston to an angular movement of a crank shaft, and that can fit inside a set of confined dimensions of a conventional cylinder block without altering the position of the crankshaft, while allowing for better torque conversion near the top dead center in the down stroke without compromising the engine's dimensions, wherein the transmission assembly is configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the transmission assembly includes a pair of primary connecting rods Ia and Ib, wherein each may be connected from a first end 100a and 100b, respectively, to a piston head <NUM>, and from a second end 101a and 101b to a secondary connecting rod <NUM> (e.g., see <FIG>), wherein the connection to the piston head <NUM> may be achieved by a single degree-of-freedom joint, such as formed by a mating of the pin <NUM> with a corresponding hole formed in an underneath surface of the piston head <NUM>.

Each of the primary connecting rods la and lb may have a pair of circular openings 103a, 103b and 104a, 104b, respectively, wherein the openings 103b and 104b are in proximity to lower ends of the primary connecting rods la and lb, respectively (e.g., see <FIG>).

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the secondary connecting rod <NUM> may include an upper portion 2a and a lower portion 2b that are separable from each other. The upper portion 2a of the secondary connecting rod <NUM> may include an elongated member <NUM> having two parallel opposed sides <NUM> and <NUM> with two laterally aligned pins <NUM> and <NUM> extending laterally outwardly from such an elongated member <NUM>. The upper portion 2a of the secondary connecting rod <NUM> may also include two vertical extrusions <NUM> and <NUM> pointing downwards and defining a semi -circular space gap <NUM> between them, each of such vertical extrusions <NUM> and <NUM> may have a pass-through hole <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the circular openings 103b and 104b are configured to receive the pins <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, thereby forming pin joints.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the lower portion 2b may include two substantially parallel vertical extrusions 200a and 200b, each with a respective pass-through hole 201a and 201b, respectively. Such vertical extrusions 200a and 200b may be spaced apart and connected by a curved member 200c that defines a semi-circular space gap 200d between such vertical extrusions 200a and 200b.

The pass-through holes <NUM> and 201b may be aligned to each other, and the pass-through holes <NUM> and 201a may be aligned to each other as well.

The diameters of the semi-circular space gaps <NUM> and 200d may be substantially similar, wherein such gaps <NUM> and 200d form a substantially circular opening when the upper and lower portions 2a and 2b are connected with each other (e.g., see <FIG>). Such a connection between the upper and lower portions 2a and 2b may be achieved by any suitable connection means, such as inserting a pair of bolts 2000a and 2000b, each through a pair of aligned holes <NUM>, 201b, and <NUM>, 201a, respectively, and securing each of such bolts 2000a and 2000b with nuts 2001a and 2001b, respectively.

Referring to <FIG>, the assembly may further include a controlling member <NUM>, which has two opposed guiding rails <NUM> a and 3b extending inwardly along such controlling member <NUM> with a space gap <NUM> defined between such rails <NUM> a and 3b. The controlling member <NUM> may also include a pair of substantially coaxially aligned pins 30a and 30b extending laterally outwardly from the controlling member <NUM> in a substantially perpendicular direction to the two guiding rails 3a and 3b.

Referring to <FIG>, one of the guiding rails 3a may be configured to facilitate force transmission from the pair of primary connecting rods la and lb to a crankshaft <NUM> in the downward stroke of the piston head <NUM>. This is since the guiding rails 3a and 3b, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, passively control the additional degree of freedom provided by the addition of the secondary connecting rod <NUM>, thus introducing a faster piston speed near Top Dead Center (TDC) of the cylinder block. It is known that in any slider-crank machine, the highest torque occurs at a highest sliding speed and vice-versa. This implies that the high piston speed near TDC makes a clear torque advantage by converting the combustion of the high pressure gasses at top dead center more effectively and efficiently into torque of the crank shaft <NUM>. The increase in torque at the TDC is illustrated in <FIG> shows the difference of torque for one piston cycle (from Bottom Dead Center (BDC) to TDC to BDC) as a result of the difference in how mechanical arrangement in converting the available gas forces into a useful torque especially near TDC when high pressure introduced by combustion. The mechanical advantage of the present disclosure over the traditional slider-crank is achieved by converting more out of the available gas forces just after TDC by optimized fast piston motion, thus producing more torque compared to traditional slider-crank.

Referring to <FIG>, for example, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the transmission assembly may further include a controlling member support element <NUM> with two substantially similar curved openings 4a and 4b, wherein each of such openings 4a and 4b may have a substantially trapezoidal profile combined with a semi-circular cut in proximity to a middle point of a base of the substantially trapezoidal profile. Each of the curved openings 4a and 4b may have a corresponding fixing element 40a and 40b, respectively, which are moveable laterally outwardly from the substantially trapezoidal portion of the openings 4a and 4b. Each of the fixing elements 40a and 40b may have a substantially trapezoidal shape with a substantially semi-circular cut 400a and 400b near a midpoint of a base of the substantially trapezoidal shape. Such fixing elements 40a and 40b may be configured to fit into the substantially trapezoidal portion of the openings 4a and 4b. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the semi-circular cuts 400a and 400b of the fixing elements 40a and 40b, respectively, and the semi-circular portions of the openings 4a and 4b may have similar diameters, wherein such similar diameters may form two coaxially aligned circular openings configured to receive the pins 30a and 30b of the controlling member <NUM> to form pin joints when the fixing elements 40a and 40b are inserted in the openings 4a and 4b, respectively (e.g., see <FIG>).

It is appreciated that a function of the substantially trapezoidal portions of the openings 4a and 4b along with the substantially trapezoidal shapes of the fixing elements 40a and 40b is to secure the pins 30a and 30b, respectively, of the controlling member <NUM> inside the engine's cylinder block <NUM>. Therefore, in other embodiments, other profiles and shapes may be considered such as, but not limited to an inverted Y-shape, etc..

The controlling member support element <NUM> may be inserted inside a cylinder block <NUM> of an IC engine and may have a fixing mechanism <NUM> that helps in keeping such support element <NUM> static inside the cylinder block <NUM>. Such a fixing mechanism <NUM> may include, but not limited to, a bolt that can be tightened up against an inside of the cylinder block <NUM> using a ratchet or an Allen key.

In embodiments of the present invention, the two pins 30a and 30b may be positioned on the semi-circular portions of the substantially similar curved openings 4a and 4b prior to the insertion of the fixing members 40a, 40b inside the substantially trapezoidal portions of such openings 4a, 4b.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the transmission assembly may further include a crank shaft <NUM> laterally extending from a pair of mushroom-shaped counterweights 7a and 7b, wherein such counterweights are connected to each other by means of a crank shaft joint <NUM>.

The circular space gap formed by connecting the upper and lower portions 2a and 2b of the secondary connecting rod <NUM> (i.e., formed by mating the two semi-circular space gaps <NUM> and 200d) may be configured to receive the crank shaft joint <NUM>.

The cylinder block <NUM> may include an opening <NUM> (e.g., see, for example, <FIG>) configured to receive the piston head <NUM>, the primary connecting rods la and lb, the controlling member <NUM>, the controlling member support element <NUM>, and the secondary connecting rod <NUM>. The cylinder block <NUM> may include a pair of vertically extruding members 51a and 51b pointing downwards, wherein each of such extruding members 51a and 51b has a semi-circular cut 52a and 52b, respectively, and a pair of parallel holes formed therein (not shown).

Referring to <FIG>, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the transmission assembly may further include a pair of cylinder caps <NUM>, wherein each of such caps 9a and 9b corresponds to one of the vertically extruding members 51a and 51b, respectively, and may include a pair of pass-through parallel holes 90a, 91a, and 90b, 91b, respectively, and a semicircular cuts 92a and 92b, respectively.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the holes of the vertically extruding members 51a and 51b and the pass-through holes 90a, 91a and 90b, 91b of the corresponding cylinder caps 9a and 9b may be aligned, wherein the cylinder caps 9a and 9b may be connected to the vertically extruding members 51a and 51b by any suitable connecting mechanism, such as bolts 1000a, 1000b, 1000c, and IOOOd. The semi-circular cuts 52a, 92a and 52b, 92b may each form a circular opening when the cylinder caps 9a and 9b are connected to the vertically extruding members 51a and 51b, wherein such circular openings are configured to receive each end of the engine's crank shaft <NUM>, such as illustrated in <FIG>.

The elongated member <NUM> of the upper portion 2a of the secondary connecting rod <NUM> may be configured to reciprocate inside the space gap <NUM> of the controlling member <NUM> on the guiding rails <NUM> a and 3b.

The controlling member <NUM> may be configured to oscillate about a central axis formed by the aligned pin joints 30a and 30b in a confined angle inside the controlling member support element <NUM>.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the oscillation of the controlling member <NUM> along with the reciprocation of the secondary connecting rod <NUM> may translate the reciprocating motion of the piston <NUM> to a rotation of the crank shaft <NUM>, the counterweights 7a and 7b, and the crankshaft joint <NUM>.

It should be appreciated that the dimensions of all the above-mentioned components may be configured to allow the insertion of the piston <NUM>, the primary connecting rods la and lb, the controlling member <NUM>, the controlling member support element <NUM>, and the secondary connecting rod <NUM> inside the cylinder block <NUM>; and may be configured to allow for the oscillation of the controlling member <NUM>, the rotation of the counter weights 7a and 7b, the crankshaft joint <NUM>, and the crankshaft <NUM>; and for the reciprocation of the piston <NUM> and the secondary connecting rod <NUM>.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the piston <NUM> may have less lateral surface area in comparison with conventional pistons, since the piston in the present disclosure may have lateral cuts. Such decrease in lateral surface area improves efficiency and lateral forces.

Referring to <FIG>, the difference in generated power as a result of the torque produced for one cycle (from BDC to TDC to BDC) is illustrated. The Figure gives an approximation for the net improvement of the power produced by mechanical advantage of the present disclosure, which is about <NUM>%.

Referring to <FIG>, there is illustrated an exemplary vehicle <NUM> that includes an engine <NUM> suitable for driving wheels of the vehicle, wherein the engine <NUM> is configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the engine <NUM> implements the transmission assembly described herein with respect to <FIG>.

The use of the term "and" in the claims is used to mean "and/or" unless explicitly indicated to refer to a collective nature only.

Claim 1:
An assembly for an engine (<NUM>) configured for linking a piston head (<NUM>) to a crankshaft (<NUM>) of the engine (<NUM>), the assembly comprising:
a primary connecting rod (1a and 1b) configured to hingeably connect to said piston head (<NUM>);
a secondary connecting rod (<NUM>) comprising an upper portion (2a) and a lower portion (2b), wherein the upper portion (2a) comprises an elongated member (<NUM>) having a pin (<NUM> and <NUM>) to hingeably connect the upper portion (2a) to the primary connecting rod (1a and 1b) by inserting such pin (<NUM> and <NUM>) in an opening (103a and 104b) of the primary connecting rod (1a and 1b), and wherein the upper and lower portions (2b) of the secondary connecting rod (<NUM>) are configured to engage a crank shaft joint (<NUM>) between a circular opening formed by mating of the upper and lower portions (2a and 2b) of said secondary connecting rod (<NUM>);
characterized in having
a controlling member (<NUM>) having a pair of opposing guiding rails (3a and 3b) and a pair of aligned lateral pins (30a and 30b), wherein the controlling member (<NUM>) is configured to receive a substantial part of the upper portion (2a) of said secondary connecting rod (<NUM>); and
a controlling member support element (<NUM>) configured to enclose the controlling member (<NUM>) within a cylinder block (<NUM>) of said engine (<NUM>), the controlling member support element (<NUM>) comprising two aligned lateral openings (4a and 4b) configured to receive the pair of aligned lateral pins (30a and 30b) of the controlling member (<NUM>),
the controlling member support element (<NUM>) further comprises a fixing mechanism (<NUM>) for affixing the controlling member support element (<NUM>) inside the cylinder block and for helping in keeping said controlling member support element (<NUM>) static inside the said cylinder block (<NUM>).