An apparatus configured to change a compression ratio of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine includes an externally toothed eccentric, an adjusting unit, and a coupling unit. A first takeoff shaft is coupled mechanically to the external toothing system of the eccentric. A second takeoff shaft is coupled mechanically to the adjusting unit. The first and second takeoff shafts of the coupling unit, the eccentric and/or the adjusting unit are configured for the partial or complete arrangement in the interior of a crankcase of the crankshaft, within an installation space of a web of the crankshaft and/or within an installation space of a counterweight.

A variable compression ratio engine is provided, which includes a connecting rod including a small end connected to a piston through a piston pin, and a big end connected to a crankshaft through a crank pin, a gear eccentric sleeve installed on at least one of the piston pin and the crank pin, and at least one rack engaged with a gear formed on an outer circumferential surface of the gear eccentric sleeve at one side thereof.

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.

A crankshaft is rotatably supported by an engine block and rotatable about a crank axis. An eccentric shaft is rotatably supported within the engine and rotatable about an eccentric shaft axis, wherein the eccentric shaft axis is parallel to and distal from the crank axis. A speed change mechanism interlinks movement of the eccentric shaft and the crankshaft. The speed change mechanism selectively varies a ratio of a rotational speed of the eccentric shaft relative to a rotational speed of the crankshaft from 1:1 to one of: −8:1, −6:1, −4:1, −2:1, −1:1, −0.5:1, 0:1, 0.5:1, 1:1, 2:1, 4:1, 6:1, and 8:1, thereby causing the eccentric shaft to rotate at a speed different from the crankshaft and varying a rotational position of the eccentric shaft relative to the crankshaft.

A variable compression ratio engine is provided, which includes a connecting rod including a small end connected to a piston through a piston pin, and a big end connected to a crankshaft through a crank pin, a gear eccentric sleeve installed on at least one of the piston pin and the crank pin, and at least one rack engaged with a gear formed on an outer circumferential surface of the gear eccentric sleeve at one side thereof

Presented are variable compression ratio and independent compression and expansion engines, methods for making/operating such engines, and vehicles equipped with such engines. An engine assembly includes an engine block with a cylinder bore defining a combustion chamber, and a piston movable within the cylinder bore. A valve assembly, which is fluidly coupled to the combustion chamber, selectively introduces/evacuates fluid from the combustion chamber. A crankshaft is supported by the engine block and rotatable on a first axis. A multipoint linkage, which drivingly engages the piston to the crankshaft, rotates on a second axis offset from the first axis. A control shaft is supported by the engine block and rotates on a third axis offset from the first and second axes. The control shaft operable to selectively rotate the multipoint linkage on the second axis, and is operable to selectively unseat the valve assembly.

An engine assembly including a crankshaft, a bell crank pivotally mounted on the crankshaft, the bell crank having a first end and a second end opposite of the first end, a connecting rod connected to the first end of the bell crank, a control shaft, a control link mounted on the control shaft and connected to the second end of the bell crank, a driven gear fixed to the crankshaft, a drive gear fixed to the control shaft, an actuator, and a split-torque gear box splitting the torque from the driven gear between the drive gear via a first torque path and the actuator via a second torque path.

An expanded torque system of an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder having an upper piston bore, a lower piston bore and a lower action chamber. An upper piston is connected to the upper link rod and reciprocally moves in the upper piston bore. A linkage unit has a link block coupled to the upper link rod. A lower piston moves in the lower piston bore and is connected to the link block. A lower link rod is disposed at the lower action chamber and is pivotally coupled between the linkage unit and a lower link rod pivoting handle. A crank shaft is disposed at the lower action chamber and has a main shaft and the lower link rod pivoting handle eccentrically connected to the main shaft. An oil ring with oil outlets is disposed at the top of the lower action chamber and communicates with a main oil duct.

The present invention discloses a control method of variable stroke engine for reforming high-octane fuel under the FCE mode, the ECU connected to the engine controls the amount of fuel injected from the flexible cylinder injector to the flexible cylinder and controls the switch state of inlet valve and exhaust valve of the flexible cylinder, so that the flexible cylinder can be switched between two-stroke mode and four-stroke mode according to the actual engine operating conditions; when the engine is at a small load and needs to promote combustion stability, the flexible cylinder injector injects a rich fuel with equivalence ratio greater than 1 into the flexible cylinder, the flexible cylinder is at two-stroke mode; when the engine is at a large load and needs sufficient power output, the flexible cylinder injector injects a conventional fuel into the flexible cylinder, said flexible cylinder is at four-stroke mode.

A crank and connecting rod mechanism which can realize a Miller cycle and its control method, wherein an interior of a crankshaft is provided with a drive oil channel and a lock-up oil channel. A connecting rod neck of the crankshaft is arranged with an eccentric connecting rod bearing. In a crankshaft balance weight, a drive gear meshing with an outer meshing gear ring of the eccentric connecting rod bearing through an idle gear is installed. A planetary gear is installed in a drive gear hollow shaft. A lockpin is designed for the drive gear hollow shaft so as to lock with the crankshaft balance weight or with a planetary gear shaft.