A
crankshaft (1, 40, 80) for an
internal combustion engine including
variable compression ratio comprises a main journal (2, 42, 82) including a
crankshaft axis (5, 41, 81), a
crankpin (3, 43) including a
crankpin axis (7) and a
crank web (4, 44, 84) located between the main journal (2, 42, 82) and the
crankpin (3, 43, 83) in longitudinal direction of the
crankshaft axis (5, 41, 81) and an eccentric member (6, 45, 85) which is mounted on the crankpin (3, 43, 83) and rotatable with respect to the crankpin (3, 43) about the crankpin axis (7) The eccentric member (6, 45, 85) comprises a bearing portion (8, 46, 86) for supporting a big end of a connecting rod, which bearing portion (8, 46, 86) has a centreline extending parallel to the crankpin axis (7), and an external eccentric member gear (9, 48, 87) between the bearing portion (8, 46, 86) and the
crank web (4, 44, 84) as seen in longitudinal direction of the crankshaft axis (5, 41, 81). The eccentric member gear (6, 45, 85) is driveably coupled to an external central gear (12, 49, 90) through an external intermediate gear (11, 51, 89). The central gear (12, 49, 90) is fixed to a central shaft (14, 50, 92) which extends through the main journal (2, 42, 82) and through the
crank web (4, 44, 84) and which is rotatable with respect to the main journal (2, 42, 82) and the crank web (4, 44, 84). The intermediate gear (11, 51, 89) is rotatably mounted to the crank web (4, 44, 84) and meshes with both the eccentric member gear (9, 48, 87) and the central gear (12, 49, 90). The intermediate gear (11, 51, 89) is mounted to an intermediate gear shaft (13, 60, 91) that is radially supported by both the crank web (4) and a separate supporting element (16), which is attached to the crank web (4) at a circumferential side thereof or by a separate supporting element (53, 94), which is attached to the crank web (44) at a side where the eccentric member (45) is located or at a circumferential side of the crank web (84).