internal combustion engine

Abstract

The invention relates to an internal combustion engine (1) with an engine housing (2) and with at least one cylinder formed therein, further comprising a crankshaft (3) and with at least one piston which is movably mounted in the cylinder and which is connected to the crankshaft (3) by means of a connecting rod, wherein the crankshaft (3) is rotatably mounted in the engine housing (2), wherein the crankshaft (3) has a first end face (4) which is arranged adjacent to a wall (5) of the engine housing (2), wherein a first opening (6) is provided in the wall (5) of the engine housing (2) adjacent to the first end face (4) of the crankshaft (3), which is covered by a cover (7), wherein the first end face (4) of the crankshaft (3) has at least one marking (8) which can be detected by means of a tool which reaches through the first opening (6) in order to determine the position of the crankshaft (3).

Description

The invention relates to an internal combustion engine, in particular for a motor vehicle.Internal combustion engines have a crankshaft which is rotatably mounted in the crankshaft bearing of the internal combustion engine. Pistons are articulated on the crankshaft by means of connecting rods which move up and down in a respective cylinder. In this case, the top dead center (TDC) of at least one piston or of all pistons is relevant for the control of the internal combustion engine, with the result that knowledge of TDC is important in the setting of the internal combustion engine and in the control of the internal combustion engine. In conventional internal combustion engines, the crankshaft can be seen from the outside either directly or indirectly, for example if a belt pulley is connected to the crankshaft at one end of the crankshaft. As a result, the position of the crankshaft and TDC of a cylinder can be detected relatively easily from the outside.In internal combustion engines without belt drive and thus also without pulley, the crankshaft is typically integrated into the engine housing in such a way that it is no longer recognizable from the outside and thus the position of the crankshaft and TDC can also no longer be easily derived. Often, other components are installed on the internal combustion engine, which would have to be removed in a complex manner in order to arrive at the crankshaft in order to determine the position thereof. After removal of such a component, there is often the problem that an oil chamber is opened and oil leakage occurs and, as a result, oil leakage is to be prevented and, nevertheless, there is then also the need to check the oil level and, if appropriate, to replenish oil, which altogether appears to be unacceptable only in order to find out the position of the crankshaft.The object is to provide an internal combustion engine with an integrated crankshaft in which the position of the crankshaft is possible even without complex removal of further components.The object is achieved with the features of claim 1.An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to an internal combustion engine having an engine housing and having at least one cylinder formed therein, furthermore having a crankshaft and having at least one piston which is held displaceably in the cylinder and which is connected to the crankshaft by means of a connecting rod, wherein the crankshaft is arranged rotatably mounted in the engine housing, wherein the crankshaft has a first end side which is arranged adjacent to a wall of the engine housing, wherein a first opening which is covered by a cover cover is provided in the wall of the engine housing adjacent to the first end side of the crankshaft, wherein the first end side of the crankshaft has at least one mark which can be detected by means of a tool which engages through the first opening in order to determine the position of the crankshaft. The position of the crankshaft can thus also be determined without complex dismantling of components, which can be carried out quickly and without any difficulties.In one embodiment, it is expedient if the cover cover has a second opening through which the tool can be guided for capturing the at least one marking. Thus, the cover does not have to be removed separately, but the second opening only has to be exposed in order to attach and use the tool. The second opening can also be configured in a channel-like manner in order to generate a defined distance which is to be bridged by the tool.In one embodiment, it is also expedient if the second opening can be closed, in particular by a removable and reusable closure element. Alternatively, self-closing seals can also be provided, so that such a seal forms such a closure element, which can be penetrated.It is also expedient if the first end face of the crankshaft has a plurality of markings which are arranged on the end face distributed over the circumference. Thus, different positions can be defined and recognized by means of the tool.It is also advantageous if the at least one marking is formed as a depression or bore in the first end face. The tool can thus be designed such that it can engage in the depression or bore, and the position of the crankshaft can be detected and defined when the tool engages in the depression or bore.It is also advantageous if the markings are formed as depressions or bores in the first end face. The tool can thus be designed such that it can engage in one of the depressions or bores and the position of the crankshaft can be identified via the depth of the bore.It is also expedient if the depressions or bores each have a different depth. This makes it easier for the tool to engage in one of the depressions or bores and the position of the crankshaft can be identified via the depth of the bore.It is also advantageous if the tool is designed in such a way that it can be guided through the second opening and through the first opening into a marking or depression or bore.It is also advantageous if the tool has an extendable feeler which can be guided through the second opening and through the first opening into a marking or depression or bore, wherein the depth of the marking or depression or bore in which the feeler engages can be determined by means of the extension depth of the feeler. This allows a quick and uncomplicated determination of the position of the crankshaft to be carried out from the outside.It is also advantageous if the position of the crankshaft can be determined from the extension depth of the sensor. Thus, the position can be quickly and unambiguously detected from the outside on the basis of the extension depth of the sensor.The invention is explained in detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, there are shown: FIG. 1 shows a schematic partial view of an exemplary embodiment of an internal combustion engine according to the invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view according to FIG. 1 , FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of an end face of a crankshaft in a first opening of a motor housing, FIG. 4 is a schematic partial sectional view of an end of a crankshaft with an end face, FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional illustration of a motor housing in the region of the first opening with cover cover, second opening and closure element, and FIG. 6 shows a schematic sectional illustration of a motor housing in the region of the first opening with cover cover and opened second opening.FIGS. 1 to 6 show various details of an exemplary embodiment of an internal combustion engine 1 according to the invention.The internal combustion engine 1 has an engine housing 2 and at least one cylinder formed therein, as is known in internal combustion engines, for which reason the cylinder is not explicitly shown.Furthermore, the internal combustion engine 1 has a crankshaft 3 and at least one piston which is accommodated displaceably in the cylinder and which is connected to the crankshaft 3 by means of a connecting rod.The crankshaft 3 is rotatably mounted in the engine housing 2. The crankshaft 3 has two end faces 4 at its two ends. In this case, the crankshaft 3 has a first end side 4, which is arranged adjacent to a wall 5 of the motor housing 2.As FIG. 3 shows, a first opening 6 is provided in the wall 5 of the motor housing 2 adjacent to the first end side 4 of the crankshaft 3, said first opening being covered by means of a cover cover 7.To detect the position of the crankshaft 3 in the engine housing 2, the first end side 4 of the crankshaft 3 has at least one marking 8, which can be detected by means of a tool which engages through the first opening 6 in order to determine the position of the crankshaft 3.It can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the cover cover 7 has a second opening 9, through which the tool can be guided for capturing the at least one marking 8, wherein in the exemplary embodiment shown the second opening 9 is configured such that it can be closed, in particular by a removable and reusable closure element 10.According to the exemplary embodiment shown, the first end face 4 of the crankshaft 3 is equipped with a plurality of markings 8, which are arranged on the first end face 4 distributed over the circumference. Thus, each marking 8 can be assigned a defined position of the crankshaft 3, such as an TDC of a piston.It is advantageous if the at least one marking 8 is formed as a depression or bore in the first end face 4 or if the markings 8 are formed as depressions or bores in the first end face 44. In the case where a plurality of depressions or bores are provided, see FIG. 3 or 4, it is expedient if the depressions or bores each have a different depth. The depth can thus be determined by means of the tool and therefore also the bore in which the tool engages can be identified, so that the position of the crankshaft 3 can also be determined thereby.The tool is preferably designed in such a way that it can be guided through the second opening 9 and through the first opening 6 into a marking 8 or depression or bore.The tool preferably has an extendable feeler which can be guided through the second opening 9 and through the first opening 6 into a marking 8 or depression or bore, wherein the depth of the marking 8 or depression or bore in which the feeler engages can be determined by means of the extension depth of the feeler.From the depth of extension of the sensor, the position of the crankshaft 3 can then be determined.List of reference characters1 Internal combustion engine 2 Engine housing 3 Crankshaft 4 End face 5 Wall 6 First opening 7 Cover cover 8 Marking 9 Second opening 10 Closure element

Claims

Internal combustion engine (1) having an engine housing (2) and having at least one cylinder formed therein, furthermore having a crankshaft (3) and having at least one piston which is accommodated in the cylinder in a displaceable manner and which is connected to the crankshaft (3) by means of a connecting rod, wherein the crankshaft (3) is arranged rotatably mounted in the engine housing (2), wherein the crankshaft (3) has a first end side (4) which is arranged adjacent to a wall (5) of the engine housing (2), wherein a first opening (6) which is concealed by means of a cover cover cover (7) is provided in the wall (5) of the engine housing (2) adjacent to the first end side (4) of the crankshaft (3), wherein the first end side (4) of the crankshaft (3) has at least one marking (8) which can be detected by means of a tool which engages through the first opening (6), to determine the position of the crankshaft (3).Internal combustion engine (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the cover cover (7) has a second opening (9) through which the tool can be guided for detecting the at least one marking (8).Internal combustion engine (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the second opening (9) is closable, in particular by a removable and reusable closure element (10).Internal combustion engine (1) according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the first end face (4) of the crankshaft (3) has a plurality of markings (8), which are arranged on the end face (4) in a manner distributed over the circumference.Internal combustion engine (1) according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the at least one marking (8) is formed as a depression or bore in the first end face (4).Internal combustion engine (1) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the markings (8) are formed as depressions or bores in the first end face (4).Internal combustion engine (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the depressions or bores each have a different depth.Internal combustion engine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tool is designed in such a way that it can be guided through the second opening (9) and through the first opening (6) into a marking (8) or depression or bore.Internal combustion engine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tool has an extendable feeler which can be guided through the second opening (9) and through the first opening (6) into a marking (8) or depression or bore, wherein the depth of the marking (8) or of the depression or bore, in which the feeler engages, can be determined by means of the extension depth of the feeler.Internal combustion engine (1) according to Claim 9, characterized in that the position of the crankshaft (3) can be determined from the extension depth of the sensor.

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