Patent ID: 6991441
Filing Date: 2006-01-31
Classification: F01C

Abstract:
1. An internal combustion engine comprising: a housing defining a cylindrical working chamber having inlet ports and exhaust ports; first and second interdigitated piston assemblies rotatably movable in said cylindrical working chamber, each of the piston assemblies including at least one pair of diametrically opposed radial vanes forming pistons in the working chamber and dividing the working chamber into a plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed compartments; and, a braking mechanism for controlling the motion of the piston assemblies to cause intermittent rotation of the first and second piston assemblies in the same direction during recurrent periods of rotation with each of said first and second piston assemblies being stopped between said periods of rotation, the braking mechanism including a first and second set of cam surfaces on the first and second piston assemblies respectively, a set of movable members adapted to alternately move between first and second positions, in said first position the set of movable members engaging the first set of cam surfaces to stop the rotation of the first piston assembly while permitting the second piston assembly to rotate freely and in said second position the set of movable members engaging the second set of cam surfaces to stop the rotation of the second piston assembly while permitting the first piston assembly to rotate freely, said set of movable members being biased to return to a one of the first and second positions to prevent said set of movable members from contacting both said first and second set of cam surfaces while the piston assemblies are stopped.