Patent ID: 7387093

Claim:
A cyclic internal combustion engine comprising: a. a cylindrical chamber, and b. a main piston capable of moving in a reciprocating motion in said cylindrical chamber and where said main piston is connected to a crankshaft by a connecting rod, and c. a second piston also capable of moving in a reciprocating motion in said cylindrical chamber mounted to act in opposition to, but able to follow said main piston for a distance in said cylindrical chamber so a combustion chamber with minimal volume can be temporarily made between the heads of said main piston and said second piston, and d. a constant-volume combustion chamber separated from, but fluidly attached by a first channel to said cylindrical chamber at a first point for receiving a mixture of non-ignited fuel and air from said cylindrical chamber when said first channel is not closed, and where said constant-volume combustion chamber is also fluidly attached by a second channel at a second point to said cylindrical chamber for reintroducing a mixture of ignited fuel and air into temporary said combustion chamber made between said heads of moving said main piston and stationary said second piston in said cylindrical chamber when said second channel is not closed, and e. means for opening or closing said first channel and said second channel, and f. means for adding fuel to said cylindrical chamber or said constant-volume combustion chamber, and g. means for moving and controlling said second piston as it moves in a reciprocating motion in said cylindrical chamber, and h. means for intaking, adding, or drawing in air or other gases into said cylindrical chamber or said constant-volume combustion chamber, and i. means for exhausting or forcing out burnt fuel and air or other gases from said cylindrical chamber or said constant-volume combustion chamber, and j. means for igniting said mixture of fuel and air in said cylindrical chamber or said constant-volume combustion chamber, and k. means for converting rotary motion of said crankshaft connected to said main piston by said connecting rod into useful work, whereby ignition of said mixture of fuel and air is delayed until said crankshaft and said connecting rod are at an optimum rotational angle or position for receiving and converting energy released from the combustion of said mixture of fuel and air into useful work.