US4016841A — Variable compression ratio piston

Claim 1

Independent Claim 132 words

In an internal combustion engine, a piston having an inner and an outer member telescopically received by said inner member, said members being movable in response to reciprocation of the piston with respect to a combustion chamber of the engine, a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber varying in volume in response to said relative movement and to variations in the quantity of fluid therein, means supplying fluid to said chambers, said means comprising a first passage in said piston connecting with said first fluid chamber, a one way inlet valve disposed in said first passage and a second unrestricted passage in said piston directly connecting said first chamber with said second chamber said second passage being the only means of communication between said first chamber and said second chamber.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 132 words

In an internal combustion engine, a piston having an inner and an outer member telescopically received by said inner member, said members being movable in response to reciprocation of the piston with respect to a combustion chamber of the engine, a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber varying in volume in response to said relative movement and to variations in the quantity of fluid therein, means supplying fluid to said chambers, said means comprising a first passage in said piston connecting with said first fluid chamber, a one way inlet valve disposed in said first passage and a second unrestricted passage in said piston directly connecting said first chamber with said second chamber said second passage being the only means of communication between said first chamber and said second chamber.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The invention as defined in claim 1 in which said outer member terminates substantially short of the end of said inner member.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

The invention as defined in claim 1 and in which said inner member has a reduced diameter section near the upper end thereof, and said outer member being disposed only around said reduced diameter section.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

The invention as defined in claim 1 and in which said outer member is provided with a ring groove area and said second chamber is disposed adjacent said ring groove area.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

The invention as defined in claim 3 and in which said first chamber is formed intermediate the upper end of said inner member and the upper end of said outer member, and said second chamber is formed adjacent the reduced diameter portion of said inner member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 56 words

The invention as defined in claim 1 and including a third passage connected with said first chamber and communicating with the crankcase of said engine, a normally closed valve disposed within said third passage and operable upon a predetermined pressure in said first chamber to open and thereby permit fluid to discharge from said first chamber.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

The invention as defined in claim 6 and in which said valve is a tapered washer.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 16 words

The invention as defined in claim 6 and in which said valve is a Belleville washer.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 31 words

The invention as defined in claim 1 and including a plate carried at the upper end of said inner member, said fluid supplying means including valve means carried by said plate.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 177 words

In an internal combustion engine having a crankcase, a piston having first and second members movable relative to one another in response to reciprocation of the piston with respect to a combustion chamber of the engine, and having a pressure fluid chamber within said piston which varies in internal volume in response to said relative movement and to variations in the quantity of fluid therein, means for supplying fluid to said chamber, the combination therewith of means in one of said members forming a discharge passageway connecting said chamber with said crankcase, normally closed valve means disposed in said passageway and operable to open a predetermined pressure of the fluid in said chamber to thereby permit discharge of some of said fluid from said chamber to said crankcase, said valve means including a tapered washer normally having its radial edge in a position closing fluid flow through said passageway and being operable upon a predetermined pressure being exerted on said washer to deflect from said closed position to a position opening fluid flow around said radial edge.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 177 words

In an internal combustion engine having a crankcase, a piston having first and second members movable relative to one another in response to reciprocation of the piston with respect to a combustion chamber of the engine, and having a pressure fluid chamber within said piston which varies in internal volume in response to said relative movement and to variations in the quantity of fluid therein, means for supplying fluid to said chamber, the combination therewith of means in one of said members forming a discharge passageway connecting said chamber with said crankcase, normally closed valve means disposed in said passageway and operable to open a predetermined pressure of the fluid in said chamber to thereby permit discharge of some of said fluid from said chamber to said crankcase, said valve means including a tapered washer normally having its radial edge in a position closing fluid flow through said passageway and being operable upon a predetermined pressure being exerted on said washer to deflect from said closed position to a position opening fluid flow around said radial edge.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 72 words

The invention as defined in claim 10 and in which said first member is telescopically received by said second member and said chamber is formed intermediate said first and second members, said passageway being formed in said second member, said first member and said second member each having a lower edge, the lower edge of said first member being spaced a substantial axial distance from the lower edge of said second member.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 59 words

The invention as defined in claim 10 and including a second chamber which varies in internal volume in reverse proportion to the variance of said first chamber, an unrestricted passageway formed in said second member connecting said first mentioned chamber and said second chamber, said passageway being the only connection between said first mentioned chamber and said second chamber.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 47 words

The invention as defined in claim 10 and including an inlet valve assembly carried in said second member, said assembly including a tubular portion extending through said second member and connecting with said chamber, said tapered washer being disposed around the outer periphery of said tubular member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 38 words

The invention as defined in claim 13 and in which said second member includes a plate mounted to the top thereof, said plate mounting said inlet valve assembly and said tapered washer in place in said second member.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 178 words

In an internal combustion engine, a piston having an inner and an outer member telescopically received by said inner member, said members being movable with respect to each other in response to reciprocation of the piston with respect to a combustion chamber of the engine, a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber disposed intermediate said members, said chambers expanding and contracting in inverse proportion to each other upon relative movement of said inner and said outer member, means supplying fluid to said first chamber and from said first chamber to said second chamber, said outer member having a ring groove area and a lower end closely adjacent said ring groove area, said inner member having a lower end, the lower end of said outer member being spaced a substantial axial distance from the lower end of said inner member, and said second fluid chamber being formed intermediate said outer member and said inner member in an area closely adjacent said lower end of said outer member and also the ring groove area of said outer member.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 178 words

In an internal combustion engine, a piston having an inner and an outer member telescopically received by said inner member, said members being movable with respect to each other in response to reciprocation of the piston with respect to a combustion chamber of the engine, a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber disposed intermediate said members, said chambers expanding and contracting in inverse proportion to each other upon relative movement of said inner and said outer member, means supplying fluid to said first chamber and from said first chamber to said second chamber, said outer member having a ring groove area and a lower end closely adjacent said ring groove area, said inner member having a lower end, the lower end of said outer member being spaced a substantial axial distance from the lower end of said inner member, and said second fluid chamber being formed intermediate said outer member and said inner member in an area closely adjacent said lower end of said outer member and also the ring groove area of said outer member.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1980-04-11	1980-10-11	1981-04-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1984-04-11	1984-10-11	1985-04-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1988-04-11	1988-10-11	1989-04-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Variable compression ratio piston

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