EP2841737A1 - Piston engine with a variable compression ratio - Google Patents

Piston engine with a variable compression ratio

Info

Publication number
EP2841737A1
EP2841737A1 EP13723531.3A EP13723531A EP2841737A1 EP 2841737 A1 EP2841737 A1 EP 2841737A1 EP 13723531 A EP13723531 A EP 13723531A EP 2841737 A1 EP2841737 A1 EP 2841737A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sleeve
cylinder liner
cylinder
engine
piston
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP13723531.3A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2841737B1 (en
Inventor
Magnus Sundsten
Saku Niinikangas
Hannu Nurmi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Wartsila Finland Oy
Original Assignee
Wartsila Finland Oy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Wartsila Finland Oy filed Critical Wartsila Finland Oy
Publication of EP2841737A1 publication Critical patent/EP2841737A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2841737B1 publication Critical patent/EP2841737B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B75/00—Other engines
    • F02B75/04—Engines with variable distances between pistons at top dead-centre positions and cylinder heads
    • F02B75/041—Engines with variable distances between pistons at top dead-centre positions and cylinder heads by means of cylinder or cylinderhead positioning
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D15/00—Varying compression ratio
    • F02D15/04—Varying compression ratio by alteration of volume of compression space without changing piston stroke
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B75/00—Other engines
    • F02B75/04—Engines with variable distances between pistons at top dead-centre positions and cylinder heads

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a piston engine with a variable compression ratio, as defined in the preamble of claim 1 .
  • variable compression ratio With a variable compression ratio, the performance of a piston engine can be optimized in different operating conditions. Especially in engines in which different fuels are used, the possibility to use different compression ratios provides significant benefits.
  • Different solutions are known for implementing the variable compression ratio.
  • the cylinder head can be provided with an additional volume that can be selectively used.
  • a problem with this solution is that the crevice volume is increased, which leads to increased emissions.
  • Another solution is to use a cylinder liner that can be moved in relation to the engine block. With this solution, no additional crevice volume is created, and the need for additional equipment in the cylinder head can be avoided.
  • many of the prior art solutions are complicated and the adjustment of the compression ratio takes a lot of time.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an improved piston engine with a variable compression ratio.
  • the engine comprises an engine block, at least one cylinder, which cylinder is provided with a cylinder liner that is arranged partly inside the engine block, a reciprocating piston that is arranged inside the cylinder liner, a cylinder head that is arranged above the cylinder liner and attached to the engine block, and means for adjusting the volume of the combustion chamber of the cylinder by moving the cylinder liner in its axial direction in relation to the engine block.
  • the means for adjusting the volume of the combustion chamber comprise a rotatable sleeve that is arranged around the upper end of the cylinder liner, and means for transforming the rotational movement of the sleeve into linear movement of the cylinder liner.
  • the compression ratio can be changed very quickly. In some cases, it can take even less than a minute to adjust the compression ratio.
  • the sleeve is provided with a thread on its inner circumference and the outer circumference of the cylinder liner is provided with a thread that is engaged with the thread of the sleeve. With this arrangement, the compression ratio can be adjusted even steplessly.
  • an end surface of the sleeve is provided with alternating elevated sections and cuttings, and the engine is provided with a mating surface that is provided with similar alternating elevated sections and cuttings and engaged with the end surface of the sleeve.
  • the mating surface can be arranged in a ring that is arranged around the cylinder liner.
  • the ring can be attached to the cylinder liner between the sleeve and the upper end of the cylinder liner or between the engine block and the sleeve.
  • the engine is provided with means for rotating the sleeve.
  • the rotating means can comprise a hydraulic cylinder and a push rod that is connected to the piston of the hydraulic cylinder.
  • the cylinder head is attached to the engine block with hydraulic locking means.
  • the hydraulic locking means enable much quicker adjustment of the compression ratio than conventional bolts.
  • Fig. 1 shows a piston engine with a variable compression ratio.
  • Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the engine of Fig. 1 .
  • Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the engine of Fig. 1 when a different compression ratio is in use.
  • Fig. 4 shows means for rotating an adjustment sleeve according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 5 shows the means for rotating an adjustment sleeve when a different compression ratio is in use.
  • Fig. 6 shows parts that are used for moving a cylinder liner.
  • Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a piston engine according to another embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 8 shows the engine of Fig. 7 when a different compression ratio is in use.
  • figure 1 is shown a simplified illustration of a piston engine according to an embodiment the invention.
  • three cylinders 2 are shown, but the engine can comprise any reasonable number of cylinders.
  • the engine of figure 1 is an in-line engine, but the engine could also be, for instance, a V-engine.
  • the engine is a large internal combustion engine, such as a main or an auxiliary engine of a ship or an engine that is used at a power plant for producing electricity.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 show a cross-sectional view of the engine of figure 1 , but the description below applies also to the embodiment of figures 7 and 8.
  • the engine comprises an engine block 1 , into which the cylinders 2 are arranged.
  • Each cylinder 2 of the engine is provided with a cylinder liner 2a that is arranged partly inside the engine block 1 .
  • the upper end of the cylinder liner 2a is above the upper surface of the engine block 1 .
  • a reciprocating piston 3 is arranged inside the cylinder liner 2a.
  • the piston 3 is connected to a crankshaft (not shown) that is supported with bearings to the engine block 1 .
  • a cylinder head 4 is arranged above the cylinder liner 2a and rests against the upper end of the cylinder liner 2a.
  • the cylinder head 4 is attached to engine block 1 by means of hydraulic locking means 13. Because of the hydraulic locking means 13, the cylinder head 4 can be quickly released from the engine block 1 . If quick release is not needed, also conventional bolts can be used for attaching the cylinder head 4 to the engine block 1 .
  • the walls of the cylinder 2, the bottom surface of the cylinder head 4 and the piston 5 define a combustion chamber 5.
  • the engine is provided with means for adjusting the volume of the combustion chamber 5 of the cylinder 2 by moving the cylinder liner 2a in its axial direction in relation to the engine block 1 .
  • the means for adjusting the volume of the combustion chamber 5 comprise a rotatable sleeve 6 that is arranged around the upper end of the cyl- inder liner 2a, and means for transforming the rotational movement of the sleeve 6 into linear movement of the cylinder liner 2a.
  • the sleeve 6 rests against the engine block 1 .
  • the construction of the sleeve 6 is shown in more detail in figure 6.
  • the upper end surface of the sleeve 6 is provided with alternating elevated sections 6a and cuttings 6b. Each elevated section 6a is connected to the adjacent cuttings 6b with chamfered sections 6c.
  • the engine is also provided with a mating surface 10, which is provided with similar elevated sections 7a and cuttings 7b. Also the elevated sections 7a of the mating surface 10 are connected to the adjacent cuttings 7b with chamfered sections 7c.
  • the mating surface 10 is part of a ring 7, which is shown in more detail in figure 6.
  • the mating surface 10 of the ring 7 is arranged against the upper surface of the sleeve 6.
  • the ring 7 is arranged between the sleeve 6 and the upper end of the cylinder liner 2a.
  • the upper end of the cylinder liner 2a is provided with an elbow 2c, which rests against the other surface of the ring 7.
  • the ring 7 thus supports the cylinder lin- er 2a in the vertical direction.
  • the ring 7 is attached to the cylinder liner 2a in a rotationally fixed manner, and the ring 7 can thus not rotate in relation to the cylinder liner 2a.
  • the cylinder liner 2a In figure 2, the cylinder liner 2a is in its lowermost position, and consequently the volume of the combustion chamber 5 is as small as possible.
  • a high compression mode of the engine is thus in use. In the high compression mode, the elevated sections 7a of the ring 7 are against the cuttings 6b of the sleeve 6.
  • the cylinder head 4 needs to be released from the engine block 1 .
  • the hydraulic locking means 13 are thus unlocked, and the cylinder head 4 is allowed to move in the vertical direction.
  • the sleeve 6 is rotated.
  • the chamfered sections 6c of the sleeve 6 become engaged with the chamfered sections 7c of the ring 7.
  • the rotating sleeve 6 thus starts pushing the ring 7 upwards, which ring 7 pushes the cylinder liner 2a upwards.
  • the rotational movement of the sleeve 6 is thus transformed into linear movement of the cylinder liner 2a.
  • the sleeve 6 and the ring 7 can also be provided with elevated sections 6a, 6b of different heights. This kind of arrangement allows more than two different compression ratios. When the sleeve 6 is rotated by an angle that corresponds the width of one elevated section 6a, the compression ratio is changed by one step. Further rotation of the sleeve 6 causes an additional change of the compression ratio.
  • the ring 7 could be arranged between the engine block 1 and the sleeve 6.
  • the mating surface 10 of the ring 7 would face the sleeve 6, and that end surface of the sleeve 6 which is provided with the elevated sections 6a and the cuttings 6b would be arranged against the mating surface 10 of the ring 7.
  • the sleeve 6 would have a plain surface against the elbow 2c of the cylinder liner 2a.
  • the ring 7 would be attached in a rotationally fixed manner to the engine block 1 .
  • valve mechanism needs to be adapted to the moving cylinder head 4, for instance by using hydraulic valve actuators instead of mechanical valve opening arrange- ments.
  • FIGS 7 and 8 is shown a piston engine according to another embodiment of the invention.
  • the engine is provided with a rotatable sleeve 6 and means for transforming the rotational movement of the sleeve 6 into linear movement of the cylinder liner 2a.
  • the inner circumference of the sleeve 6 is provided with a thread 8.
  • a similar thread 9 is arranged on the outer circumference of the cylinder liner 2a, and the thread 9 of the cylinder liner 2a is engaged with the thread 8 of the sleeve 6.
  • the cylinder liner 2a is fixed in a rotationally fixed manner to the engine block 1 .
  • FIGS 4 and 5 are shown means for rotating the sleeve 6.
  • the rotating means can be used in connection with both the embodiments of figures 2 and 3 and figures 7 and 8.
  • the rotating means comprise a hydraulic cylinder 1 1 and a push rod 12.
  • the hydraulic cylinder 1 1 is attached to the engine block 1 and the push rod 12 is connected to the piston 1 1 a of the hydraulic cylinder 1 1 .
  • the sleeve 6 comprises an arm 14, to which the push rod 12 is pivoted.
  • the hydraulic cylinder 1 1 needs to be provided with a control arrangement that allows several different positions of the piston 1 1 a.
  • a certain position of the piston 1 1 a of the hydraulic cylinder 1 1 corresponds to a certain volume of the combustion chamber 5.
  • some kind of a gear mechanism can be used for rotating the sleeve.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Output Control And Ontrol Of Special Type Engine (AREA)
  • Cylinder Crankcases Of Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)

Abstract

The piston engine with a variable compression ratio comprises a rotatable sleeve (6) that is arranged around the upper end of a cylinder liner (2a), and means (6a, 6b, 7, 7a, 7b, 8, 9) for transforming the rotational movement of the sleeve (6) into linear movement of the cylinder liner (2a).

Description

Piston engine with a variable compression ratio Technical field of the invention
The present invention relates to a piston engine with a variable compression ratio, as defined in the preamble of claim 1 .
Background of the invention
With a variable compression ratio, the performance of a piston engine can be optimized in different operating conditions. Especially in engines in which different fuels are used, the possibility to use different compression ratios provides significant benefits. Different solutions are known for implementing the variable compression ratio. For instance, the cylinder head can be provided with an additional volume that can be selectively used. A problem with this solution is that the crevice volume is increased, which leads to increased emissions. Another solution is to use a cylinder liner that can be moved in relation to the engine block. With this solution, no additional crevice volume is created, and the need for additional equipment in the cylinder head can be avoided. However, many of the prior art solutions are complicated and the adjustment of the compression ratio takes a lot of time.
Summary of the invention
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved piston engine with a variable compression ratio. The engine comprises an engine block, at least one cylinder, which cylinder is provided with a cylinder liner that is arranged partly inside the engine block, a reciprocating piston that is arranged inside the cylinder liner, a cylinder head that is arranged above the cylinder liner and attached to the engine block, and means for adjusting the volume of the combustion chamber of the cylinder by moving the cylinder liner in its axial direction in relation to the engine block. The characterizing features of the engine according to the present invention are given in the characterizing part of claim 1 . According to the invention, the means for adjusting the volume of the combustion chamber comprise a rotatable sleeve that is arranged around the upper end of the cylinder liner, and means for transforming the rotational movement of the sleeve into linear movement of the cylinder liner.
In a piston engine according to the invention, the compression ratio can be changed very quickly. In some cases, it can take even less than a minute to adjust the compression ratio. According to an embodiment of the invention, the sleeve is provided with a thread on its inner circumference and the outer circumference of the cylinder liner is provided with a thread that is engaged with the thread of the sleeve. With this arrangement, the compression ratio can be adjusted even steplessly. According to another embodiment of the invention, an end surface of the sleeve is provided with alternating elevated sections and cuttings, and the engine is provided with a mating surface that is provided with similar alternating elevated sections and cuttings and engaged with the end surface of the sleeve. The mating surface can be arranged in a ring that is arranged around the cylinder liner. The ring can be attached to the cylinder liner between the sleeve and the upper end of the cylinder liner or between the engine block and the sleeve.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the engine is provided with means for rotating the sleeve. The rotating means can comprise a hydraulic cylinder and a push rod that is connected to the piston of the hydraulic cylinder.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the cylinder head is attached to the engine block with hydraulic locking means. The hydraulic locking means enable much quicker adjustment of the compression ratio than conventional bolts. Brief description of the drawings
Fig. 1 shows a piston engine with a variable compression ratio.
Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the engine of Fig. 1 .
Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the engine of Fig. 1 when a different compression ratio is in use.
Fig. 4 shows means for rotating an adjustment sleeve according to an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 5 shows the means for rotating an adjustment sleeve when a different compression ratio is in use.
Fig. 6 shows parts that are used for moving a cylinder liner.
Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a piston engine according to another embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 8 shows the engine of Fig. 7 when a different compression ratio is in use.
Detailed description of the invention
Embodiments of the invention are now described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In figure 1 is shown a simplified illustration of a piston engine according to an embodiment the invention. In figure 1 three cylinders 2 are shown, but the engine can comprise any reasonable number of cylinders. The engine of figure 1 is an in-line engine, but the engine could also be, for instance, a V-engine. The engine is a large internal combustion engine, such as a main or an auxiliary engine of a ship or an engine that is used at a power plant for producing electricity.
Figures 2 and 3 show a cross-sectional view of the engine of figure 1 , but the description below applies also to the embodiment of figures 7 and 8. The engine comprises an engine block 1 , into which the cylinders 2 are arranged. Each cylinder 2 of the engine is provided with a cylinder liner 2a that is arranged partly inside the engine block 1 . The upper end of the cylinder liner 2a is above the upper surface of the engine block 1 . A reciprocating piston 3 is arranged inside the cylinder liner 2a. The piston 3 is connected to a crankshaft (not shown) that is supported with bearings to the engine block 1 . A cylinder head 4 is arranged above the cylinder liner 2a and rests against the upper end of the cylinder liner 2a. The cylinder head 4 is attached to engine block 1 by means of hydraulic locking means 13. Because of the hydraulic locking means 13, the cylinder head 4 can be quickly released from the engine block 1 . If quick release is not needed, also conventional bolts can be used for attaching the cylinder head 4 to the engine block 1 . The walls of the cylinder 2, the bottom surface of the cylinder head 4 and the piston 5 define a combustion chamber 5. For adjusting the compression ratio of the engine, the engine is provided with means for adjusting the volume of the combustion chamber 5 of the cylinder 2 by moving the cylinder liner 2a in its axial direction in relation to the engine block 1 . The means for adjusting the volume of the combustion chamber 5 comprise a rotatable sleeve 6 that is arranged around the upper end of the cyl- inder liner 2a, and means for transforming the rotational movement of the sleeve 6 into linear movement of the cylinder liner 2a. In the embodiment of figures 2 and 3, the sleeve 6 rests against the engine block 1 . The construction of the sleeve 6 is shown in more detail in figure 6. The upper end surface of the sleeve 6 is provided with alternating elevated sections 6a and cuttings 6b. Each elevated section 6a is connected to the adjacent cuttings 6b with chamfered sections 6c. The engine is also provided with a mating surface 10, which is provided with similar elevated sections 7a and cuttings 7b. Also the elevated sections 7a of the mating surface 10 are connected to the adjacent cuttings 7b with chamfered sections 7c. In the embodiment of figures 1 -6, the mating surface 10 is part of a ring 7, which is shown in more detail in figure 6. The mating surface 10 of the ring 7 is arranged against the upper surface of the sleeve 6. The ring 7 is arranged between the sleeve 6 and the upper end of the cylinder liner 2a. The upper end of the cylinder liner 2a is provided with an elbow 2c, which rests against the other surface of the ring 7. The ring 7 thus supports the cylinder lin- er 2a in the vertical direction. The ring 7 is attached to the cylinder liner 2a in a rotationally fixed manner, and the ring 7 can thus not rotate in relation to the cylinder liner 2a. In figure 2, the cylinder liner 2a is in its lowermost position, and consequently the volume of the combustion chamber 5 is as small as possible. A high compression mode of the engine is thus in use. In the high compression mode, the elevated sections 7a of the ring 7 are against the cuttings 6b of the sleeve 6. For changing the operation mode from the high compression mode to the low compression mode shown in figure 3, the cylinder head 4 needs to be released from the engine block 1 . The hydraulic locking means 13 are thus unlocked, and the cylinder head 4 is allowed to move in the vertical direction. For moving the cylinder liner 2a upwards in its axial direction, the sleeve 6 is rotated. As the sleeve 6 turns, the chamfered sections 6c of the sleeve 6 become engaged with the chamfered sections 7c of the ring 7. The rotating sleeve 6 thus starts pushing the ring 7 upwards, which ring 7 pushes the cylinder liner 2a upwards. The rotational movement of the sleeve 6 is thus transformed into linear movement of the cylinder liner 2a. Since the cylinder head 4 is supported against the upper end of the cylinder liner 2a, also the cylinder head 4 moves upwards together with the cylinder liner 2a. Gradually the elevated sections 6a of the sleeve 6 become engaged with the elevated sections 7a of the ring 7, and the cylinder liner 2a has reached its uppermost position, as shown in figure 3. The engine is thus in the low compression mode. The cylinder liner 2a has been moved by a distance that equals the difference between the height of the elevated sections 6a of the sleeve 6 and the height of the cuttings 6c. After the compression ratio has been changed, the hydraulic locking means 13 are locked again to attach the cylinder head 4 to the engine block 1 . The change from the low compression mode to the high compression mode is done by unlocking the hydraulic locking means 13 and by rotating the sleeve 6 to the opposite direction.
It would be sufficient to provide only the sleeve 6 or the ring 7 with the chamfered sections 6c, 7c. However, by providing both parts 6, 7 with the chamfered sections 6c, 7c, smooth movement of the parts 6, 7 in relation to each other is ensured. The sleeve 6 and the ring 7 can also be provided with elevated sections 6a, 6b of different heights. This kind of arrangement allows more than two different compression ratios. When the sleeve 6 is rotated by an angle that corresponds the width of one elevated section 6a, the compression ratio is changed by one step. Further rotation of the sleeve 6 causes an additional change of the compression ratio. Instead of arranging the ring 7 between the sleeve 6 and the upper end of the cylinder liner 2a, the ring 7 could be arranged between the engine block 1 and the sleeve 6. The mating surface 10 of the ring 7 would face the sleeve 6, and that end surface of the sleeve 6 which is provided with the elevated sections 6a and the cuttings 6b would be arranged against the mating surface 10 of the ring 7. The sleeve 6 would have a plain surface against the elbow 2c of the cylinder liner 2a. The ring 7 would be attached in a rotationally fixed manner to the engine block 1 .
Since the cylinder head 4 moves together with the cylinder liner 2a, flexible or adjustable air intake, exhaust and fuel connections are needed. Also the valve mechanism needs to be adapted to the moving cylinder head 4, for instance by using hydraulic valve actuators instead of mechanical valve opening arrange- ments.
In figures 7 and 8 is shown a piston engine according to another embodiment of the invention. Also in this embodiment, the engine is provided with a rotatable sleeve 6 and means for transforming the rotational movement of the sleeve 6 into linear movement of the cylinder liner 2a. In this embodiment, the inner circumference of the sleeve 6 is provided with a thread 8. A similar thread 9 is arranged on the outer circumference of the cylinder liner 2a, and the thread 9 of the cylinder liner 2a is engaged with the thread 8 of the sleeve 6. The cylinder liner 2a is fixed in a rotationally fixed manner to the engine block 1 . Before the compression ratio is adjusted, the locking 13 of the cylinder head 4 is released in the same manner as in the embodiment of figures 2 and 3. When the sleeve 6 is rotated, the rotational movement of the sleeve 6 is transformed into linear movement of the cylinder liner 2a by means of the cooperating threads 8, 9 of the sleeve 6 and the cylinder liner 2a. An advantage of this embodiment is that the compression ratio of the engine can be adjusted in a stepless manner.
In figures 4 and 5 are shown means for rotating the sleeve 6. The rotating means can be used in connection with both the embodiments of figures 2 and 3 and figures 7 and 8. The rotating means comprise a hydraulic cylinder 1 1 and a push rod 12. The hydraulic cylinder 1 1 is attached to the engine block 1 and the push rod 12 is connected to the piston 1 1 a of the hydraulic cylinder 1 1 . The sleeve 6 comprises an arm 14, to which the push rod 12 is pivoted. When the piston 1 1 a of the hydraulic cylinder 1 1 is in the position of figure 4, i.e. the piston 1 1 a is in its outermost position, the high compression mode of the engine is in use. When the piston 1 1 a of the hydraulic cylinder 1 1 is pulled in, the push rod 12 simultaneously rotates the sleeve 6, and the engine is switched to the low compression mode, which is shown in figure 5. If more than two different compression ratios are needed, the hydraulic cylinder 1 1 needs to be provided with a control arrangement that allows several different positions of the piston 1 1 a. A certain position of the piston 1 1 a of the hydraulic cylinder 1 1 corresponds to a certain volume of the combustion chamber 5. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but may vary within the scope of the appended claims. For instance, instead of the hydraulic cylinder, some kind of a gear mechanism can be used for rotating the sleeve. Also, it is not necessary to use a ring together with the sleeve for moving the cylinder liner, but the mating surface for the sleeve could be an integral part of the cylinder liner or the engine block.

Claims

Claims
1 . A piston engine with a variable compression ratio, which engine comprises an engine block (1 ), at least one cylinder (2), which cylinder (2) is provided with a cylinder liner (2a) that is arranged partly inside the engine block (1 ), a reciprocating piston (3) that is arranged inside the cylinder liner (2a), a cylinder head (4) that is arranged above the cylinder liner (2a) and attached to the engine block (1 ), and means (6, 6a, 6b, 7, 7a, 7b, 8, 9) for adjusting the volume of the combustion chamber (5) of the cylinder (2) by moving the cylinder liner (2a) in its axial direction in relation to the engine block (1 ), characterized in that the means (6, 6a, 6b, 7, 7a, 7b, 8, 9) for adjusting the volume of the combustion chamber (5) comprise a rotatable sleeve (6) that is arranged around the upper end of the cylinder liner (2a), and means (6a, 6b, 7, 7a, 7b, 8, 9) for transforming the rotational movement of the sleeve (6) into linear movement of the cylinder liner (2a).
2. A piston engine according to claim 1 , characterized in that the sleeve (6) is provided with a thread (8) on its inner circumference and the outer circumference of the cylinder liner (2a) is provided with a thread (9) that is engaged with the thread (8) of the sleeve (6).
3. A piston engine according to claim 1 , characterized in that an end surface of the sleeve (6) is provided with alternating elevated sections (6a) and cuttings (6b), and the engine is provided with a mating surface (10) that is provided with similar alternating elevated sections (7a) and cuttings (7b) and en- gaged with the end surface of the sleeve (6).
4. A piston engine according to claim 3, characterized in that the mating surface (10) is arranged in a ring (7) that is arranged around the cylinder liner (2a).
5. A piston engine according to claim 4, characterized in that the ring (7) is attached to the cylinder liner (2a) between the sleeve (6) and the upper end of the cylinder liner (2a).
6. A piston engine according to claim 4, characterized in that the ring (7) is arranged between the engine block (1 ) and the sleeve (6) and attached to the engine block (1 ).
7. A piston engine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the engine is provided with means (1 1 , 12) for rotating the sleeve (6).
8. A piston engine according to claim 7, characterized in that the means (1 1 , 12) for rotating the sleeve (6) comprises a hydraulic cylinder (1 1 ) and a push rod (12) that is connected to the piston (1 1 a) of the hydraulic cylinder (1 1 ).
9. A piston engine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cylinder head (4) is attached to the engine block (1 ) with hydraulic locking means (13).
EP13723531.3A 2012-04-23 2013-04-19 Piston engine with a variable compression ratio Active EP2841737B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI20125437A FI20125437A7 (en) 2012-04-23 2012-04-23 Piston engine with a variable compression ratio
PCT/FI2013/050437 WO2013160541A1 (en) 2012-04-23 2013-04-19 Piston engine with a variable compression ratio

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2841737A1 true EP2841737A1 (en) 2015-03-04
EP2841737B1 EP2841737B1 (en) 2016-03-30

Family

ID=48464026

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP13723531.3A Active EP2841737B1 (en) 2012-04-23 2013-04-19 Piston engine with a variable compression ratio

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2841737B1 (en)
FI (1) FI20125437A7 (en)
WO (1) WO2013160541A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US943598A (en) * 1908-11-27 1909-12-14 Ingle Hovey Internal-combustion engine.
US1360366A (en) * 1918-07-13 1920-11-30 James A Charter Variable-compression gas-engine
US1429164A (en) * 1921-03-22 1922-09-12 John T Ramsey Internal-combustion engine
JP2005133612A (en) * 2003-10-29 2005-05-26 Toyota Motor Corp Variable compression ratio internal combustion engine

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2013160541A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FI20125437L (en) 2013-10-24
WO2013160541A1 (en) 2013-10-31
FI20125437A7 (en) 2013-10-24
EP2841737B1 (en) 2016-03-30

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