Patent ID: 7777357

Claim:
An internal combustion engine, comprising: a first cylinder having a first closed end and a second closed end; a first piston slidably disposed in the first cylinder; a first port disposed proximate to the first closed end of the first cylinder; a second port disposed proximate to the second closed end of the cylinder; and a first converter operable with the first piston to convert mechanical energy of the first piston from and to electrical energy; wherein the first converter is configured to drive the first piston during a first intake stroke of an engine cycle in which the first piston moves away from the first closed end of the first cylinder and a first reactant is introduced into the first closed end of the first cylinder; a second intake stroke of the engine cycle in which the first piston moves away from the second closed end of the first cylinder and a second reactant is introduced into the second closed end of the first cylinder; a first compression stroke of the engine cycle in which the first reactant is compressed in the first closed end of the first cylinder; and a second compression stroke of the engine cycle in which the second reactant is compressed in the second closed end of the first cylinder; and wherein the first converter is configured to convert mechanical energy of the first piston to electrical energy during a first power/exhaust stroke of the engine cycle in which the first piston moves away from the first closed end of the first cylinder in response to a chemical reaction in the first closed end of the first cylinder, thereby at least partially exhausting a reaction product in the second closed end of the first cylinder; and a second power/exhaust stroke of the engine cycle in which the first piston moves away from the second closed end of the first cylinder in response to a chemical reaction in the second closed end of the first cylinder, thereby at least partially exhausting a reaction product in the first closed end of the first cylinder.