Patent ID: 8468997

Claim:
An internal combustion engine comprising: a cylinder block defining a cylinder; a surface associated with the cylinder block; a crankshaft defining a crankpin, wherein the crankshaft is rotatably received by the cylinder block and rotates about a longitudinal axis; a piston configured to reciprocate within the cylinder; and a connecting rod operably coupled to the piston and the crankpin, wherein the connecting rod comprises a first distal end operably coupled to the piston and a second proximate end operably coupled to the crankpin, wherein the connecting rod comprises: a first rod element comprising the first distal end operably coupled to the piston, and a first proximate end, a second rod element pivotally coupled to the first rod element, the second rod element comprising a second distal end operably coupled to the first proximate end of the first rod element, and the second proximate end operably coupled to the crankpin, and at least one follower associated with the second rod element, wherein the first distal end and the second proximate end define an effective length of the connecting rod, wherein the connecting rod is configured such that the effective length of the connecting rod is variable, wherein the at least one follower is configured to interact with the surface associated with the cylinder block and affect the pivoting motion of the first rod element relative to the second rod element, and wherein the at least one follower intermittently contacts the surface during operation of the engine.