A phasing system is provided. A phase angle between the gear hub and the cradle rotor can be driven by a planetary actuator. In some non-limiting examples, an input shaft rotationally coupled between a rotary actuator for rotation therewith. Rotation of the input shaft can unlock relative rotation between the cradle rotor and the gear hub. In some non-limiting examples, the phasing system can include a gear hub and a cradle rotor, and a torsion spring arrange therebetween. The torsion spring can be configured to apply an internal torque load between the gear hub and the cradle rotor to offset an external torque load applied to the gear hub or the cradle rotor.

A connecting rod (10) has a crankpin bearing eye (11) attached to a crankshaft (38) and a connecting-rod bearing eye (12) attached to a piston. An eccentric adjustment device (13) adjusts an effective connecting rod length and has eccentric rods (15, 16) that engage a lever (14) of the eccentric adjustment device (13). Each eccentric rod (15, 16) has a piston (20, 21) guided in a hydraulic chamber (22, 23). The hydraulic chambers (22, 23) can be charged with hydraulic oil from first hydraulic lines (41) that lead to the crankpin bearing eye (11) and second hydraulic oil lines (24, 25) that lead from the crankpin bearing eye (11). Check valves (26, 27) prevent a backflow of hydraulic oil back into the second hydraulic lines (24, 25). At least one filter prevents an ingress of contaminants from the crankshaft into the hydraulic chambers (22, 23) via the hydraulic oil.

An endless band drive system having a variable center distance between the drive pulley and the driven pulley also has a rotatable control shaft and an endless band guide, where the guide is positioned by the rotatable control shaft for maintaining a slackless endless band with change of pulley center distance. Rotation of the control shaft pivots the endless band guide thereby maintaining a slackless endless band with change of the pulley center distance. Preferably, the rotatable control shaft also provides means for adjusting the center distance between the drive pulley and the driven pulley. The present invention provides a slackless endless band system for a variable compression ratio engine having a variable center distance between the drive pulley mounted on the crankshaft and the driven pulley mounted on the camshaft. The system provides slackless operation of the endless band at two or more compression ratio values.

A variable compression ratio internal combustion engine comprises a crankshaft and a connecting rod. The connecting rod comprises a connecting rod body, a first hydraulic cylinder, a first hydraulic piston, a second hydraulic cylinder, a second hydraulic piston, a linking member, a hydraulic oil path, and a spool between a first operating position permitting supply of hydraulic oil from the second hydraulic cylinder to the first hydraulic cylinder, and a second operating position permitting supply of hydraulic oil from the first hydraulic cylinder to the second hydraulic. The variable compression ratio internal combustion engine further comprises a biasing member arranged inside the crank pin and biasing the spool so as to selectively switch a position of the spool between the first operating position and the second operating position.

An actuating device (11) is provided for changeover valves (10) of an internal combustion engine having an adjustable compression ratio. Each changeover valve (10) is used to control a hydraulic oil flow in hydraulic chambers of an eccentric adjusting device of a respective connecting rod (1) of the internal combustion engine. Each changeover valve (10) has a pick-off element (12) that can be actuated by the actuating device (11). The actuating device (11) has a selector fork (13) for each changeover valve (10) and hence for each pick-off element (12) to be actuated. The selector forks are secured on a support structure (14) and can be moved from a first selection position into a second selection position against the restoring force of a return element (22), and wherein the restoring force of the return element (22) moves the selector forks (13) automatically in the direction of the first selection position.

A variable compression ratio internal combustion engine comprises a crankshaft and a connecting rod. The connecting rod comprises a connecting rod body, a first hydraulic cylinder, a first hydraulic piston, a second hydraulic cylinder, a second hydraulic piston, a linking member, a hydraulic oil path, and a spool moving between a first position permitting supply of hydraulic oil from the second hydraulic cylinder to the first hydraulic cylinder, and a second position permitting supply of hydraulic oil from the first hydraulic cylinder to the second hydraulic cylinder. The variable compression ratio internal combustion engine further comprises biasing members arranged at a crank arm or a counterweight of the crankshaft and biasing the spool so as to selectively switch the position of the spool between the first position and the second position.

At the time of increasing an actual intake air amount by increasing a valve overlap period of intake and exhaust valves (2; 3), an actual compression ratio is temporarily decreased to be lower than a steady-state target compression ratio. This makes it possible to increase the valve overlap period without causing interference of the intake and exhaust valves (2; 3) with a piston (8).

A rescue vehicle (2) includes a chassis (4), a drive unit (6) fastened to the chassis (4) and a driver's cab (8), which is fastened to the chassis (4). The chassis (4) is arranged behind the driver's cab (8) in a longitudinal direction L of the rescue vehicle (2). The rescue cab (10) has a gas-tight configuration. The rescue cab (10) has at least one door (12) as an access to the interior (14) of the rescue cab (10). The rescue vehicle (2) has an air supply unit (16), which is configured to supply the interior (14) of the rescue cab (10) with breathing air.

An actuator of a variable compression ratio mechanism includes: a control link; an arm link; a control shaft; a housing including a receiving portion in which a connection portion between the second end portion of the control link and the arm link is received, and a support hole formed within the housing, and rotatably supporting the control shaft; and a speed reduction device, the control shaft including a fixing portion inserted and fixed within the receiving portion in a fixing hole formed in the arm link at a predetermined axial position, and a first journal portion which is formed at a tip end portion of the control shaft, which has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the fixing portion, and which is supported by a first bearing hole formed in the support hole.

Variable compression ratio engines and methods for homogeneous charge, compression ignition operation. The engines effectively premix the fuel and air well before compression ignition. Various embodiments are disclosed including embodiments that include two stages of compression to obtain compression ratios well above the mechanical compression ratio of the engine cylinders for compression ignition of difficult to ignite fuels, and a controllable combustion chamber volume for limiting the maximum temperature during combustion. Energy storage with energy management are also disclosed.