The present invention relates to an electromechanical device for incorporation into the design and manufacture of internal combustion engines, which comprises the joining of two specific mechanisms, the first being an elaborate mechanism, called the cam actuator, which makes it possible, through the movement of these cams, to alter, under the control of an electronic control unit, the relative position of the crankshaft with respect to the top dead center of the pistons, inside the cylinder, increasing or decreasing the compression ratio according to the requirements of the engine. The second mechanism is the rotational coupler, formed by an internally-toothed gear, the ring gear, and a shaft with external gear teeth, the sprocket, to be applied at one or both ends of the crankshaft of the engines.

An internal combustion engine (1) for a vehicle is equipped with a variable compression ratio mechanism (2) capable of changing the mechanical compression ratio. An idle stop, which is for automatically stopping the internal combustion engine (1) when the vehicle stops, and a sailing stop, which is for stopping the internal combustion engine (1) in conjunction with the release of a forward clutch (8) during inertial travel, are carried out. A target compression ratio during normal travel is set on the basis of the load and rotation speed of the internal combustion engine (1). During an idle stop the target compression ratio is set to an idle stop restart compression ratio (εis). During a sailing stop the target compression ratio is set to a sailing stop restart compression ratio (εss). The sailing stop restart compression ratio (εss) is lower than the idle stop restart compression ratio (εis).

A phasing system for varying a rotational relationship between a first rotary component and a second rotary component includes a gear hub and a cradle rotor. A spider rotor is arranged between the gear hub and the cradle rotor to selectively lock and unlock relative rotation between the gear hub and the cradle rotor. A torsion spring is coupled between the gear hub and the cradle rotor to apply a torque load between the gear hub and the cradle rotor. A planetary actuator is coupled to the gear hub and the spider rotor. The planetary actuator is operable between a steady-state mode, in which relative rotation between the gear hub and the cradle rotor is inhibited, and a phasing mode, in which the planetary actuator receives a rotary input at a predetermined magnitude to selectively provide a relative rotation between the gear hub and the cradle rotor.

A variable compression ratio (VCR) phaser configured to control a compression ratio of an engine having a crankshaft and a control shaft. The variable compress ratio phaser comprises: i) a control shaft gear configured to mesh with a gear on the control shaft of the engine and to receive torque from the control shaft; ii) a crankshaft gear configured to mesh with a gear on the crankshaft of the engine and to deliver torque to the crankshaft; and iii) a torque conversion mechanism configured to receive torque from the control shaft and to convert the torque to a linear force that changes the compression ratio of the engine.

There are provided systems and methods for using fuel rich partial oxidation to produce an end product from waste gases, such as flare gas. Lambda sensor modifications and other control parameters that provide closed-loop mixture control at extremely fuel-rich operating conditions utilizing feed-forward and feedback approaches, physics-based engine models, novel use of a lambda sensor (O.sub.2-based sensor), sensors with intermittent contact with the gas stream. In an embodiment the system and method use air-breathing engines having control systems, control parameters, sensors and input/output (I/O) for the fuel rich (ER of 1.2 and greater), partial oxidation of the flare gas to form syngas. In embodiments the syngas is further converted into an end product. In an embodiment the end product is methanol.

An example embodiment of an all-stroke-variable internal combustion engine may include a piston slidably positioned within an engine cylinder for asymmetrical reciprocation and a primary crankshaft and a half-speed crankshaft to be operatively engaged for rotation of the half-speed crankshaft at half of a speed of the primary crankshaft, wherein the rotation of the half-speed crankshaft at half of the speed of the primary crankshaft to result in the asymmetrical reciprocation of the piston so as to produce a stroke length that is independently variable over four distinct strokes of a full cycle of the all-stroke-variable internal combustion engine.

A phase adjuster assembly is disclosed that includes an input gear connected to an input shaft via an interface assembly configured to provide both axial movement and rotational locking between the input gear and the input shaft. A piston plate is connected to the input shaft, and the piston plate defines at least one inner spiral bidirectional raceway. An output gear is configured to be driven by the input shaft, and the output gear at least partially defines at least one outer spiral bidirectional raceway. At least one first rolling element is arranged between the at least one inner bidirectional raceway and the at least one outer spiral bidirectional raceway. Axial movement of the piston plate adjusts a phase between the input gear and the output gear. The input shaft is configured to be axially displaced via axial movement of the piston plate.

A fastening structure (105) includes a pair of fastening members (105A) joined to each other, which is coupled with a bolt. The fastening member (105) is made of steel. A surface other than joint surfaces (Sa) has a Rockwell hardness of 50 HRC or more. The joint surfaces (Sa) have a Rockwell hardness of 30 HRC or more and less than 50 HRC. The joint surfaces (Sa) have an arithmetic mean roughness (Ra) of 0.2 μm or more and 0.5 μm or less. Production cost is suppressed, and at the same time, bending fatigue strength is secured and secondary damage due to abrasion powder generated by fretting is prevented.

An example embodiment of an all-stroke-variable internal combustion engine may include a piston slidably positioned within an engine cylinder for asymmetrical reciprocation and a primary crankshaft and a half-speed crankshaft to be operatively engaged for rotation of the half-speed crankshaft at half of a speed of the primary crankshaft, wherein the rotation of the half-speed crankshaft at half of the speed of the primary crankshaft to result in the asymmetrical reciprocation of the piston so as to produce a stroke length that is independently variable over four distinct strokes of a full cycle of the all-stroke-variable internal combustion engine.

An example embodiment of an all-stroke-variable internal combustion engine may include a piston slidably positioned within an engine cylinder for asymmetrical reciprocation and a primary crankshaft and a half-speed crankshaft to be operatively engaged for rotation of the half-speed crankshaft at half of a speed of the primary crankshaft, wherein the rotation of the half-speed crankshaft at half of the speed of the primary crankshaft to result in the asymmetrical reciprocation of the piston so as to produce a stroke length that is independently variable over four distinct strokes of a full cycle of the all-stroke-variable internal combustion engine.