A transmission device, particularly for an engine with variable compression rate and/or variable displacement, includes, in a cylinder housing: a combustion piston capable of moving in a combustion cylinder of the engine and secured to a transmission member; a gear engaging with a first rack of the transmission member and providing transmission of the movement between the combustion piston and a crankshaft of the engine; a connecting rod engaging, at a first end, with the gear and, at a second end, with the crankshaft; and a control member engaging with the gear and secured to a control piston. The combustion piston and the transmission member are slidably linked with the cylinder housing in a main direction.

A transmission device, particularly for an engine with variable compression rate and/or variable displacement, includes, in a cylinder housing: a combustion piston capable of moving in a combustion cylinder of the engine and secured to a transmission member; a gear engaging with a first rack of the transmission member and providing transmission of the movement between the combustion piston and a crankshaft of the engine; a connecting rod engaging, at a first end, with the gear and, at a second end, with the crankshaft; and a control member engaging with the gear and secured to a control piston. The combustion piston and the transmission member are slidably linked with the cylinder housing in a main direction.

The invention relates to an adjustable-length connecting rod for a reciprocating piston engine, to a reciprocating piston engine, and to a vehicle, where an effective connecting rod length of the connecting rod can be changed, and the connecting rod has a hydraulic length adjustment device which has a hydraulic working chamber, a hydraulic duct, a valve recess with a valve recess longitudinal axis, and a valve device which is arranged in the valve recess and has a valve chamber, where the valve device is configured for opening and/or shutting of a hydraulic medium outflow from the hydraulic working chamber, and the hydraulic duct opens into the valve recess at an orifice opening in an inner wall section of the valve recess. The valve device has at least one closed outer wall section which lies opposite the orifice opening and surrounds the valve chamber of the valve device, where the outer wall section of closed configuration of the valve device configures a flow duct together with that inner wall section of the valve recess, where the flow duct is configured to divert hydraulic medium, which exits from the hydraulic duct with a first flow direction and enters into the valve recess, in a second flow direction which is different from the first flow direction before the entry into the valve chamber.

The invention relates to an adjustable-length connecting rod for a reciprocating piston engine, to a reciprocating piston engine, and to a vehicle, where an effective connecting rod length of the connecting rod can be changed, and the connecting rod has a hydraulic length adjustment device which has a hydraulic working chamber, a hydraulic duct, a valve recess with a valve recess longitudinal axis, and a valve device which is arranged in the valve recess and has a valve chamber, where the valve device is configured for opening and/or shutting of a hydraulic medium outflow from the hydraulic working chamber, and the hydraulic duct opens into the valve recess at an orifice opening in an inner wall section of the valve recess. The valve device has at least one closed outer wall section which lies opposite the orifice opening and surrounds the valve chamber of the valve device, where the outer wall section of closed configuration of the valve device configures a flow duct together with that inner wall section of the valve recess, where the flow duct is configured to divert hydraulic medium, which exits from the hydraulic duct with a first flow direction and enters into the valve recess, in a second flow direction which is different from the first flow direction before the entry into the valve chamber.

A longitudinally adjustable connecting rod for a piston engine, where the connecting rod includes a first connecting rod end for receiving a piston pin and a second connecting rod end for receiving a crankshaft journal, where the distance between the piston pin and the crankshaft journal is adjustable in the longitudinal direction (A) of the connecting rod by way of a hydraulic control device with a hydraulic control valve. The hydraulic control valve comprises a control cylinder and a control slide which is guided in a slidable manner in the control cylinder and which can be pressurized, and at least one outlet valve which can be actuated by the control slide. The control slide comprises a control piston which is arranged on the end face, with a control pressure surface which can be subjected to the hydraulic control pressure and which defines a control pressure chamber in the control cylinder. The use of such a longitudinally adjustable connecting rod with a hydraulic control device in a piston engine as well as a corresponding piston engine is also provided.

Apparatuses, systems and method for utilizing multi-zoned combustion chambers (and/or multiple combustion chambers) for achieving compression ignition (and/or spark-assisted or fuel-assisted compression ignition) in an internal combustion engine are provided. In addition, improved apparatuses, systems and methods for achieving and/or controlling compression ignition (and/or spark-assisted or fuel-assisted compression ignition) in a “Siamese cylinder” internal combustion engine are provided.

A connecting rod for changing a compression ratio of an internal combustion engine includes a connecting rod head, a connecting rod pin, and an interlock. The connecting rod pin is supported by an eccentric of the connecting rod at a variable distance within the connecting rod head. The connecting rod head or the connecting rod pin includes a fluid chamber and the eccentric has a projection extending into the fluid chamber. In the alternative, the eccentric delimits a fluid chamber and the connecting rod head or the eccentric has a projection extending into in the fluid chamber. A fluid pressure in the fluid chamber exerts a force on the projection to change the position of the eccentric. In a locking position, the interlock inhibits rotation of the eccentric relative to the connecting rod head and the interlock is configured to be releasable.

Throttle-at-valve apparatus, internal combustion engines employing throttle-at-valve apparatus, and methods of throttling an internal combustion engine using a throttle-at-valve apparatus, where the throttle-at-valve apparatus includes a throttle slide body disposed within a throttle slide cavity that is defined between and in fluid communication with both an unobstructed air intake passage and an intake valve of an internal combustion engine, where the air flow from the air intake passage to the intake valve is regulated by the reciprocal movement of the throttle slide body within the throttle slide cavity.

An engine, such as a circulating piston engine, includes a housing that defines an annular bore, a piston assembly, and a valve. The piston assembly is disposed within the annular bore and is configured to be coupled to a drive mechanism. The valve is configured to be intermittently disposed within the annular bore to define a combustion chamber relative to the piston assembly.

The variable compression ratio piston system for an engine adjusts the compression ratio of the engine piston by way of hydraulic fluid distributed between a pair of chambers formed in a pair of bores receiving control pistons mechanically coupled to the engine piston. A control valve selectively permits flow of hydraulic fluid between the high compression ratio line and the low compression ratio line. A variable force solenoid controlled by an engine control unit preferably controls the position of the control valve. The position of the spool controls whether hydraulic fluid can flow toward the first chamber, toward the second chamber, or not at all. Flow of hydraulic fluid is actuated by alternating forces from inertial and combustion forces on a crankshaft from operation of the engine.