Patent ID: 8464670

Claim:
An internal combustion engine, comprising: an engine housing ( 900 ) with a cylinder ( 500 ) defined therein, a first pair of opposed, linear sliding surfaces ( 804 , 806 ), and a second pair of opposed, linear sliding surfaces ( 808 , 810 ); a piston ( 510 ) disposed in the cylinder ( 500 ) and adapted to reciprocate within the cylinder ( 500 ); a crankshaft ( 700 ) disposed in the engine housing ( 900 ); a first pullrod ( 515 a ) having a first end and a second end with the first end of the first pullrod ( 515 a ) coupled to the crankshaft ( 700 ); a second pullrod ( 515 b ) having a first end and a second end with the first end of the second pullrod ( 515 b ) coupled to the crankshaft ( 700 ); a bridge ( 800 ) having: a nose ( 802 ) that contacts a socket ( 315 ) in the piston ( 510 ) on one end of the bridge; and a base ( 801 ) on the other end of the bridge ( 800 ), the base ( 801 ) having: a first pair of guide surfaces ( 904 , 906 ) that ride on the first pair of linear sliding surfaces ( 804 , 806 ) during reciprocation of the piston ( 510 ); a second pair of guide surfaces ( 908 , 910 ) that ride on the second pair of linear surfaces ( 808 , 810 ) during reciprocation of the piston ( 510 ); a first boss ( 803 a ) extending outwardly from a first end of the base ( 801 ) that couples with the second end of the first pullrod ( 515 a ); and a second boss ( 803 b ) extending outwardly from a second end of the base ( 801 ) that couples with the second end of the second pullrod ( 515 b ).