Patent ID: 7409932

Claim:
A power output shaft assembly for use in a barrel-type internal combustion engine of the type having a plurality of cylinders disposed about the power output shaft assembly, the power output shaft assembly comprising: an elongated power output shaft defining a longitudinally extending rotational axis, the output shaft having an outer surface with a pair of spaced apart bearing surfaces defined thereon, the output shaft further having a plurality of radial splines defined thereon between the spaced apart bearing surfaces, the splines each extending longitudinally along the outer surface; and a cam plate having a central hub and a cam track extending therefrom, the central hub having a longitudinal bore defined therethru, the bore having an inner surface with a pair of spaced apart bearing surfaces defined thereon, the cam plate further having a plurality of radial splines defined thereon between the spaced apart bearing surfaces, the splines each extending longitudinally along the inner surface; wherein the elongated power shaft is received in the bore of the hub, the bearing surfaces of the shaft and hub are generally aligned and the splines of the shaft engage the splines of the hub such that the shaft and cam plate are coupled for rotation about the rotational axis of the shaft and the cam plate is longitudinally slidable on the shaft.