Patent ID: 8739758

Claim:
An internal combustion engine, comprising: a first subunit including a first crankshaft part and a first rotary axis; a second subunit including a second crankshaft part and a second rotary axis; at least one respective piston being accommodated on a respective crank of each said first and second crankshaft parts by means of a first and second connecting rod, respectively; and, an eccentric arm non-rotatably connected to said first crankshaft part, wherein: said first subunit is permanently operated while said internal combustion engine is operating; said second subunit can be switched off; in a first position, said eccentric arm rotationally connects said first and second crankshaft parts; and, said eccentric arm is arranged to be displaced in a direction orthogonal to said first and second rotary axes from said first position to rotationally disconnect said first and second crankshaft parts.