Actuating Element Positioning for Variable Compression Ratio Connecting Rod
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engines with variable compression ratios face complexity and limited installation space due to the arrangement of switchover elements and actuating elements, restricting the number of possible variants for optimizing the geometrical shape and trajectory of these elements.
Innovation Solution
The actuating element for the switchover element is positioned outside the region occupied by the crankshaft, allowing the switchover element to be arranged on the connecting rod in a way that describes a trajectory intersecting a circle with a radius equal to the maximum distance of the counterweight from the crankshaft center line, enabling more flexible arrangement and optimization of the actuating element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the switchover element and actuating element are arranged in the region of the bottom dead center position of the connecting rod, then the compression ratio can be adjusted, but the device complexity increases and the installation space is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating element is positioned outside the traditional crankshaft region, utilizing the spatial dimension beyond the maximum counterweight extent. This dimensional relocation provides additional installation space and reduces arrangement complexity while maintaining the variable compression ratio functionality.
2Ease of operation
If the actuating element is designed as a cam disk that rotates with the connecting rod, then the switchover element can be actuated, but the geometrical shape optimization is restricted due to limited installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating element is extracted from the constrained crankshaft region and positioned outside the maximum counterweight extent. This extraction frees the actuating element from spatial constraints, allowing for optimized geometrical shape design without being limited by the crankshaft and counterweight configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the switchover element is arranged on the connecting rod within the crankshaft region, then the adjusting mechanism can be switched, but the number of possible arrangement variants is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating the actuating element to a position outside the crankshaft region (beyond the maximum counterweight extent), the patent opens up new spatial arrangements and increases the number of possible configuration variants for the switchover element and actuating element system.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an internal combustion engine having an adjustable variable compression ratio, a crankshaft having a crankshaft center line and at least one counterweight, which has an extent with a maximum distance from the crankshaft center line, at least one connecting rod, an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the adjustable variable compression ratio, a switchover element for switching the adjusting mechanism, wherein the switchover element is arranged on the connecting rod, and an actuating element for switching over the switchover element from a first position, which corresponds to a first compression ratio, into a second position.