Engine with split crankshaft and crankshaft half disabling means

Claim 1

A block defining a plurality of piston bores each having a piston reciprocal therein, crankshaft means including two separate crankshaft sections journalled from said block, connecting rod means connecting at least one piston to each crankshaft section for reciprocation for said pistons responsive to rotation of said crankshaft sections, countershaft means journalled from said block, a pair of drive means each drivingly connecting a corresponding crankshaft section to said countershaft, at least one of said drive means including remotely operable clutch means for declutching and clutching the corresponding crankshaft section from and to said countershaft, respectively, and incorporating indexing means operative to automatically index said corresponding crankshaft section to said countershaft in the same indexed position each time said clutch means clutches said corresponding crankshaft section to said countershaft, said block comprising the block of an internal combustion engine and said engine including cylinder head means closing one set of corresponding ends of said bores, said cylinder head means including intake and exhaust ports opening into each cylinder and valve means for opening and closing the intake and exhaust ports of each cylinder in timed sequence with reciprocation of the corresponding piston, and driven actuator means for said valve means driven from said countershaft.