Claims
- 1. An improved drive means for coupling an engine including a piston driven connecting rod to a transmission comprising:
- an elongated hollow drive shaft and eccentric drive means coupling said drive shaft to the connecting rod of the engine for rotation of said drive shaft by said engine;
- a transmission shaft extending through said hollow drive shaft and coextensive with said drive shaft and means for supporting said transmission shaft in spaced relationship within said drive shaft;
- means for coupling a clutch to said drive shaft and to said transmission shaft at one end thereof; and
- housing means for coupling a transmission to said transmission shaft at an end remote from said one end whereby the clutch and transmission are located at opposite sides of said engine.
- 2. The drive means as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive shaft is rotatably mounted in the engine and includes bearing support means at opposite ends of the engine for rotatably supporting said transmission shaft in generally coaxial spaced relationship to said drive shaft.
- 3. The drive means as defined in claim 2 wherein said drive shaft includes an eccentric cam for rotation of said drive shaft by the engine and a pair of integral single piece bearings positioned on opposite sides of said eccentric cam for rotatably supporting said drive shaft in the engine.
- 4. The drive means as defined in claim 3 wherein said drive shaft includes a flywheel coupled to said drive shaft at said one end and said transmission shaft is splined at said one end for facilitating coupling of said transmission shaft to a clutch.
- 5. An internal combustion engine and drive means comprising:
- an engine housing;
- an elongated hollow drive shaft rotatably mounted to said housing and including eccentric drive means;
- a connecting rod having one end coupled to said eccentric drive means;
- a rocker arm having one end pivotally coupled to an end of said connecting rod remote from said eccentric drive means and coupling means extending between said engine housing and said rocker arm spaced from the connection of said rocker arm to said connecting rod for pivotally and slidably coupling said rocker arm to said housing;
- piston means including a piston rod pivotally coupled to an end of said rocker arm remote from said one end such that movement of said piston means is translated through said rocker arm, said connecting rod and said eccentric drive to rotate said drive shaft during engine operation;
- a transmission shaft extending through said hollow drive shaft and coextensive with said drive shaft and means for supporting said transmission shaft in spaced relationship within said drive shaft;
- means for coupling a clutch to said drive shaft and to said transmission shaft at one end thereof; and
- housing means for coupling a transmission to said transmission shaft at an end remote from said one end whereby the clutch and transmission are located at opposite sides of said engine.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION:
This is a division of application Ser. No. 582,242, filed May 30, 1975, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,999,523.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
582242 |
May 1975 |
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