Patent ID: 7021254

Claim:
A variable compression ratio engine, comprising: an engine block having at least one cylinder formed therein; a piston disposed in said cylinder for reciprocal movement therein; a crankshaft rotatably disposed in said engine block; a connecting rod operatively attached to said crankshaft and to said piston for converting reciprocal movement of said piston in said cylinder into rotary movement of said crankshaft, said connecting rod formed in at least two portions which are joined at a juncture; a control rod operatively connected to said connecting rod proximate said juncture thereof, a piston-type double-acting hydraulic cylinder disposed in said engine block; wherein said control rod is operatively connected to a cylinder rod of said hydraulic cylinder in a manner such that said cylinder rod is operable to displace a support shaft position of said control rod; wherein a piston section of said hydraulic cylinder is configured to selectively move in accordance with displacement of the support shaft position of said control rod; wherein a channel is used to connect two hydraulic chambers of said hydraulic cylinder divided by said piston section; and wherein said channel is configured to selectively control fluid flow between said hydraulic chambers.