Patent ID: 6880501

Claim:
An internal combustion engine comprising: a cylinder block having a first cylinder and a second cylinder; a first piston disposed in the first cylinder, and adapted to reciprocate through a first swept volume for substantially completing an intake stroke and a first compression stroke within the first cylinder to form a homogeneous, gaseous air and fuel charge; a second piston disposed in the second cylinder, and adapted to reciprocate through a second swept volume for substantially completing at least a second compression stroke, a power stroke and an exhaust stroke within the second cylinder; a crankshaft rotatably mounted within the cylinder block about an axis of rotation; a first connecting rod having a first end operably coupled to the first piston and a second end operably coupled to the crankshaft such that the second end of the first connecting rod is adapted to rotate with the crankshaft in a circular orbit about the axis of rotation; a second connecting rod having a first end operably coupled to the second piston and a second end operably coupled to the crankshaft such that the second end of the second connecting rod is adapted to rotate with the crankshaft in a circular orbit about the axis of rotation; and a conduit in fluid communication between the first swept volume and the second swept volume for delivering the air and fuel charge from the first swept volume to the second swept volume, the conduit having a first portion opening into the first cylinder and a second portion opening into the second cylinder, the first portion including a first valve selectively closable for closing fluid communication between the first swept volume and the conduit, the second portion including a second valve selectively closable for closing fluid communication between the second swept volume and the conduit, the second valve adapted to open out of phase with the first valve.