Patent ID: 6988470

Claim:
An internal combustion engine comprising: an engine housing; at least one cylinder positioned within the engine housing, the at least one cylinder having a longitudinal cylinder axis extending in a first direction; a reciprocatable piston positioned within the at least one cylinder for reciprocation therein; a rotatable output member coupled to the housing and rotatable about a first axis; at least first and second swash plate assemblies within the engine housing with each cylinder of the engine being positioned at the same side of the swash plate assemblies; the first swash plate assembly comprising a first member and a second member, the first member being rotatably coupled to the second member for rotation relative to the second member and about the first axis, the second member being coupled to the housing such that the second member is restrained against rotation; the first member being pivotally coupled to the output member for pivoting about a second axis which is transverse to the first axis; a piston rod pivotally coupled to the piston and pivotally coupled to the second member, the piston rod reciprocating with the reciprocal movement of the piston, wherein reciprocal movement of the piston results in reciprocal movement of the second member and rotation of the first rotatable member and the output member about the first axis; the second swash plate assembly comprising a third rotatable member and a fourth member, the third member being rotatably coupled to the fourth member for rotation relative to the fourth member and about the first axis, the fourth member being coupled to the housing such that the fourth member is restrained against rotation; and the third member being pivotally coupled to the output member for pivoting about a third axis which is transverse to the first axis, wherein the third member rotates with the rotation of the output member and with the rotation of the first member, rotational movement of the third member resulting in reciprocal movement of the fourth member; and wherein the first and second swash plate assemblies are positioned relative to one another such that the second and fourth members reciprocate relative to one another in opposite directions with the rotation of the first and third members.