Otto held numerous patents that virtually eliminated all competition. To avoid infringement, Atkinson was forced to create a completely new approach to internal combustion. We have found that wherever we show this engine, people are amazed and fascinated by it. We smile and explain that the secret lies in the unusual design of the crank linkage which, believe it or not, allows the exhaust, intake, compression and power strokes to be completed in one revolution of the crankshaft. The cams are located on the crankshaft eliminating the need for timing gears and cam shaft.
Simplicity adds elegance to innovation.
Castings are suggested for the base, flywheel, cylinder head and crank linkage, but none of these parts are so complex that they could not be made from stock material. Other parts are readily available, and suppliers names and addresses are provided to make it even easier. A lathe, milling machine or milling attachment and other tools one would expect to need in a project of this type are required. You will discover that nothing quite compares with the satisfaction of machining inert pieces of metal into engine parts, assembling them, and then watching a living, fire-breathing internal combustion engine come to life. You can be sure that very few people have a running version of an Atkinson engine, let alone one they can claim they built themselves.