Patent ID: 7124716

Claim:
An internal combustion engine, comprising: an engine block having a pair of end portions; at least two combustion cylinders disposed within the engine block, each combustion cylinder defining opposing end portions and having a piston reciprocally secured within each end portion of the cylinder, the pistons within each combustion cylinder defining a combustion chamber therebetween; a piston rod extending from each of the pistons; a bearing pack secured to each of the piston rods, each bearing pack comprising a power bearing and a retractor bearing, the power bearing and retractor bearing being substantially coaxial; a rotatably mounted cam corresponding to each end portion of the engine, each cam defining a power track corresponding to the power bearing, and a return track corresponding to the return bearing; whereby reciprocating movement of the pistons rotates each cam; and a linkage comprising: at least one bearing defining a central portion and a pair of opposing ends, the central portion of the bearing being mounted substantially coaxially with the bearings of the bearing pack; and a pair of links associated with each at least one bearing, each link defining a pair of ends, one end of each of the links being pivotally secured to one of the opposing ends of its associated bearing, and the other end of the link being pivotally secured to a fixed location within the engine.