Patent · US Expired

Module-like constructed internal combustion engine

US7305961B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
2References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 18, 2003
Grant dateDec 11, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 12, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T10/12
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular internal combustion engine (1) comprising an engine housing (17, 117) with a crankshaft drive (40) having at least one reciprocating piston (4) in a cylinder (2), which acts on a crankshaft (6) by means of a connecting rod (5), and a variable-speed gear box (10) connected to the crankshaft (6) via a disengaging clutch (8), and a gearbox output train (12) which connects to at least one drive shaft (15) of a vehicle. In order to serve a large variety of vehicle types with a single low-cost engine design the proposal is put forward that the internal combustion engine (1) should have at least one main module (26) including the subassemblies engine housing (17), crankshaft drive (40), variable-speed gearbox (10), and gearbox output train (12), and at least one auxiliary module (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32) attachable to the main module (26), and that no mechanical connection be provided between the variable-speed gearbox (10) and the gearbox output train (12) within the main module (26) but that a rotational connection be effected by attaching a first auxiliary module (27) to the main module (26).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.