Patent ID: 9453459
Filing Date: 2016-09-27
CPC Classification: F01B,F02B

Claim Text:
1. An internal combustion engine, comprising: a main housing; an axially elongated shaft assembly arranged in said housing for rotation about a fixed longitudinal axis, with said shaft assembly having first and second longitudinally spaced angular cranks; first and second swash plate mechanisms arranged in axially spaced relation relative to each other, with said first swash plate mechanism being operably associated with said first angular crank of said shaft assembly, and with said second swash plate mechanism being operably associated with the second angular crank of said shaft assembly, with each swash plate mechanism having a rotating surface which rotates with the respective angular crank upon rotation of said shaft assembly, a set of two bevel gears with intermeshing teeth, a set of annular conical surface bearings, and a non-rotating disc, with said non-rotating disc being in contact with said rotating surface through first and second rolling contact bearings, and with said non-rotating disc defining a plurality of spherical sockets arranged in a circular array for accepting and holding therewithin a first ball joint disposed toward a first end of a series of piston rod assemblies, with a center of said circular array being disposed on said longitudinal axis, and with a plane of the circular array being arranged parallel to the rotating surface of the respective swash plate mechanism; multiple axial cylinders arranged in a circular array within said housing, with said cylinders being radially and angularly spaced from said longitudinal axis and between said first and second swash plate mechanisms; a plurality of piston sets, with each piston set including first and second pistons arranged in each axial cylinder for reciprocal movements in opposed directions relative to each other, with the first piston of each piston set being operably connected to said first swash plate mechanism by one of said series of piston rod assemblies, and with said second piston in each piston set being operably connected to said second swash plate mechanism by one of said series of piston rod assemblies, with the pistons in each piston set defining a spherical socket which accepts and holds therewithin a second ball joint disposed toward a second end of the series of piston rod assemblies, and with the pistons in each piston set including a piston head forming part of a combustion chamber; with said shaft assembly operably maintaining a fixed angular index between said first and second swash plate mechanisms; a pair of end housings operably secured to said main housing, with each end housing rotatably supporting said shaft assembly; a mechanism for producing a forced stream of air;