Patent ID: 7600493
Filing Date: 2009-10-13
Classification: F01B

Abstract:
1. A barrel internal combustion engine comprising: an engine block having a plurality of cylinders; a plurality of pistons slidably coupled to the plurality of cylinders for reciprocal movement along axes generally parallel with a central axis; a drive shaft extending longitudinally between opposite first and second ends for rotation about the central axis; a cam plate coupled to the drive shaft for rotation therewith, the cam plate being operatively coupled to the pistons to cause rotation of the drive shaft about the central axis in response to the reciprocal movement of the pistons; and a cam shaft having cam lobes for actuating intake and exhaust valves of the engine, the cam shaft being coupled in a spine arrangement with one of the first and second ends of the drive shaft for rotation therewith about the rotational axis, the spline arrangement allowing a single rotational orientation of the cam shaft relative to the drive shaft.