Internal combustion engine including maximum firing pressure-limiting means

Claim 2

A supercharged internal combustion engine including an engine frame, cylinders, at least one cylinder head for the cylinders, pistons slidingly arranged in the cylinders and forming a combustion chamber between a piston and the corresponding underside of the cylinder head, and a connecting rod connecting a piston to a crankshaft, characterized by means for varying the volume of said combustion chamber during engine operation by changing the position of the crankshaft axis relative to the underside of the cylinder head including a plurality of individual transverse support members rotatably supporting said crankshaft in bearings and extending substantially transversely to the longitudinal centerline of said crankshaft, first support means pivotally supporting each support member at one end thereof in the engine frame about a pivot axis, and second support means individually suspending each support member at the opposite end thereof in the engine frame, said second support means including an auxiliary crankshaft rotatably supported in said frame and having portions located eccentrically to the centerline of rotation, and individual link members each pivotably connecting one of said opposite ends with one of said eccentric portions of said auxiliary shaft, the length of said link members being adjustable for individually adjusting the elevation of each crankshaft bearing in said transverse members in relation to each other to achieve accurate bearing alignment, a level position of the crankshaft assembly and equalization of bearing loading, and means for rotating said auxiliary shaft to effect rotation in unison of said opposite ends of said transverse support members about said pivot axis.

Claim 3

An internal combustion engine according to claim 1 wherein the angle of rotation of said auxiliary shaft is dependent on the loading of the engine.

Claim 4

An internal combustion engine according to claim 2, further comprising means for preventing said crankshaft from moving in a longitudinal direction including a crankshaft thrust bearing arranged in one of said transverse support members, said one transverse support member being provided with a guide lug at said opposite end thereof, and said frame being provided with adjustable guide faces for guiding said lug to thereby maintain the crankshaft in a fixed longitudinal position relative to the centerlines of said cylinders.

Claim 5

A supercharged internal combustion engine including an engine frame, cylinders, at least one cylinder head for the cylinders, pistons slidingly arranged in the cylinders and forming a combustion chamber between a piston and the corresponding underside of the cylinder head, and a connecting rod connecting a piston to the main crankshaft, characterized by means for varying the volume of said combustion chamber during engine operation by changing the position of the crankshaft axis relative to the underside of the cylinder head including a plurality of individual transverse support members provided between each two cylinders rotatably supporting said main crankshaft in bearings and extending substantially transversely to the longitudinal centerline of said crankshaft, first support means pivotally supporting each support member at one end thereof in the engine frame about a pivot axis, second support means individually suspending said support member at the opposite end thereof, an auxiliary crankshaft rotatabLy supported in said frame having portions located eccentrically to the centerline of rotation, individual link members each pivotably connecting one of said opposite ends with one of said eccentric portions of said auxiliary crankshaft, the length of a link member being adjustable for individually adjusting the elevation of each opposite end and the center of the main crankshaft bearing in relation to each other to achieve accurate bearing alignment, a level position of the main crankshaft assembly and equalization of bearing loading, shaft means fixed in said engine frame extending substantially coaxial with said pivot axis, power output gear means rotatably mounted on said shaft means and operatively engaging drive gear means mounted on said main crankshaft forming connecting means drivingly connecting the main crankshaft with the power output gear.

Claim 6

A supercharged internal combustion engine including an engine frame, cylinders, at least one cylinder head for the cylinders, pistons slidingly arranged in the cylinders and forming a combustion chamber between a piston and the corresponding underside of the cylinder head, and a connecting rod connecting a piston to the main crankshaft, characterized by means for varying the volume of said combustion chamber during engine operation by changing the position of the crankshaft axis relative to the underside of the cylinder head including a plurality of individual transverse support members provided between each two cylinders rotatably supporting said main crankshaft in bearings and extending substantially transversely to the longitudinal centerline of said crankshaft, first support means pivotally supporting each support member at one end thereof in the engine frame about a pivot axis, second support means individually suspending said support member at the opposite end thereof, an auxiliary crankshaft rotatabLy supported in said frame having portions located eccentrically to the centerline of rotation, individual link members each pivotably connecting one of said opposite ends with one of said eccentric portions of said auxiliary crankshaft, the length of a link member being adjustable for individually adjusting the elevation of each opposite end and the center of the main crankshaft bearing in relation to each other to achieve accurate bearing alignment, a level position of the main crankshaft assembly and equalization of bearing loading, shaft means fixed in said engine frame extending substantially coaxial with said pivot axis, power output gear means rotatably mounted on said shaft means and operatively engaging drive gear means mounted on said main crankshaft forming connecting means drivingly connecting the main crankshaft with the power output gear.

Claim 7

An internal combustion engine according to claim 4, wherein said power output gear means is provided with power takeoff flange means.

Claim 8

An internal combustion engine according to claim 4, wherein the gear ratio between said drive gear means and said power output gear means may be varied to thereby effect a speed increase or decrease of the power output gear in relation to the crankshaft rotative speed.

Claim 9

An internal combustion engine according to claim 4, wherein said drive gear means and said power output gear means form chain sprocket means including chain drive means for the transfer of power from one to the other.

Claim 10

An internal combustion engine according to claim 4, wherein said engine is provided with fuel injection pump means, a camshaft rotatably arranged in said frame including cam means for actuating said injection pump means, gear means mounted on said camshaft engaging with said power output gear means whereby the start of injection in relation to the top dead-center position of said piston is advanced and/or retarded when the position of said main crankshaft is changed in relation to the underside of said cylinder head.

Claim 11

An internal combustion engine according to claim 4, wherein said means for varying the volume of said combustion chamber inclusive said connecting means is accommodated substantially completely within the engine frame.

Claim 12

An internal combustion engine according to claim 4, wherein means are provided for rotating said auxiliary crankshaft to effect rotation in unison of said opposite ends of said transverse support members about said pivot axis.

Claim 13

An internal combustion engine according to claim 10, wherein the angle of rotation of said auxiliary crankshaft is dependent on the power output of the engine.

Claim 14

An internal combustion engine according to claim 4, further comprising means for preventing said crankshaft from moving in a longitudinal direction, said last-mentioned means consisting of a crankshaft thrust bearing arranged in one of said transverse support members, said one transverse support member being provided with a guide lug at said opposite end thereof, and said frame being provided with adjustable guide faces for guiding said lug to thereby maintain the crankshaft in a fixed longitudinal position relative to the centerlines of said cylinders.

Claim 15

A supercharged multicylinder internal combustion engine which includes an engine frame, a plurality of cylinders, at least one cylinder head for the cylinders, pistons slidingly arranged in the cylinders and forming a combustion chamber between a piston and the corresponding underside of the cylinder head, and a connecting rod connecting a piston to the crankshaft, means for varying the volume of said combustion chamber during operation by changing the position of the crankshaft axis relative to the underside of the cylinder head and means for supercharging the engine, characterized in that the means for varying the volume of said combustion chamber includes a plurality of individual transverse support members rotatably supporting said crankshaft in bearings and extending substantially transversely to thE longitudinal center line of said crankshaft, first support means pivotally supporting each support member at one end thereof in the engine frame about a pivot axis, and second support means suspending each support member at the opposite end thereof in the engine frame in an individually adjustable manner, and means for controlling said means for varying the volume of said combustion chamber in such a manner that the combustion chamber volume is increased with an engine load increase to thereby limit the end compression pressure and therewith the firing pressure of the engine.

Claim 16

A supercharged multicylinder internal combustion engine which includes an engine frame, a plurality of cylinders, at least one cylinder head for the cylinders, pistons slidingly arranged in the cylinders and forming a combustion chamber between a piston and the corresponding underside of the cylinder head, and a connecting rod connecting a piston to the crankshaft, means for varying the volume of said combustion chamber during operation by changing the position of the crankshaft axis relative to the underside of the cylinder head and means for supercharging the engine, characterized in that the means for varying the volume of said combustion chamber includes a plurality of individual transverse support members rotatably supporting said crankshaft in bearings and extending substantially transversely to thE longitudinal center line of said crankshaft, first support means pivotally supporting each support member at one end thereof in the engine frame about a pivot axis, and second support means suspending each support member at the opposite end thereof in the engine frame in an individually adjustable manner, and means for controlling said means for varying the volume of said combustion chamber in such a manner that the combustion chamber volume is increased with an engine load increase to thereby limit the end compression pressure and therewith the firing pressure of the engine.