Patent ID: 6253717
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: F02B,Y02T

Abstract:
An internal combustion engine comprising:an outer housing having a first peripheral wall, a first rear endcap, and a first front endcap, said first front endcap having an output shaft opening,said first peripheral wall, said first rear endcap, and said first front endcap cooperatively defining a cylindrical enclosure, said outer housing having a first longitudinal axis, said outer housing having an intake port and an exhaust port;a combustion chamber fixed to said outer housing, said combustion chamber having a hollow interior and an ignition source receiving hole, said combustion chamber further having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet of said combustion chamber and said outlet of said combustion chamber being in communication with said hollow interior of said combustion chamber;an ignition source engaged to said ignition source receiving hole;means for supplying fuel to said internal combustion engine;a drum rotatably supported within said outer housing, said drum being substantially cylindrical in shape, said drum having a second peripheral wall, a second rear endcap, and a second front endcap, said second rear endcap having an eccentric shaft opening, said drum having a second longitudinal axis and being coaxial with said outer housing, said second peripheral wall having an outer surface;a first plurality of cylinders supported by said second peripheral wall, each of said first plurality of cylinders having a longitudinal axis, said first plurality of cylinders being arranged in a radial configuration such that said longitudinal axis of each of said first plurality of cylinders is coincident with a radius of said drum, said first plurality of cylinders being evenly distributed about said second longitudinal axis, each of said first plurality of cylinders intersecting said outer surface of said second peripheral wall so as to form an open top for each of said first plurality of cylinders, each of said first plurality of cylinders having a bore;a second plurality of cylinders supported by said second peripheral wall at a location axially spaced from said first plurality of cylinders, each of said second plurality of cylinders having a longitudinal axis, said second plurality of cylinders being arranged in a radial configuration such that said longitudinal axis of each of said second plurality of cylinders is coincident with a radius of said drum, said second plurality of cylinders being evenly distributed about said second longitudinal axis, each of said second plurality of cylinders intersecting said outer surface of said second peripheral wall so as to form an open top for each of said second plurality of cylinders, each of said second plurality of cylinders having a bore;a first plurality of pistons, each of said first plurality of pistons being slidably housed within a respective one of said first plurality of cylinders;a second plurality of pistons, each of said second plurality of pistons being slidably housed within a respective one of said second plurality of cylinders;an eccentric shaft fixedly attached to said first rear endcap and extending through said eccentric shaft opening, said eccentric shaft having a first eccentric portion, a second eccentric portion, and a coaxial portion, said first eccentric portion, said second eccentric portion, and said coaxial portion lying within said drum, said coaxial portion extending between said first eccentric portion and said second eccentric portion, said coaxial portion of said eccentric shaft being coaxial with said outer housing, while said first eccentric portion and said second eccentric portion are eccentric relative to said longitudinal axis of said outer housing;a first plurality of wrist pins, each of said first plurality of wrist pins being borne by a respective one of said first plurality of pistons;a second plurality of wrist pins, each of said second plurality of wrist pins being borne by a respective one of said second plurality of pistons;a first plurality of piston rods, each of said first plurality of piston rods having a first end and a second end, said first end of each of said first plurality of piston rods being pivotally supported by a respective one of said first plurality of wrist pins, said second end of each of said first plurality of piston rods being pivotally supported by said first eccentric portion of said eccentric shaft;a second plurality of piston rods, each of said second plurality of piston rods having a first end and a second end, said first end of each of said second plurality of piston rods being pivotally supported by a respective one of said second plurality of wrist pins, said second end of each of said second plurality of piston rods being pivotally supported by said second eccentric portion of said eccentric shaft;an output shaft fixedly attached to said second front endcap and extending through said output shaft opening.