Patent ID: 8474363

Claim:
A fluid engine comprising: a cylinder having a fluid chamber, an inlet port couplable to a fluid source for porting fluid into the fluid chamber, and an outlet port for porting fluid out of the fluid chamber; a power shaft configured for reciprocal movement with respect to the cylinder; a piston fixedly coupled to the power shaft and slidable in the cylinder; an intake valve slidably coupled to the power shaft within the cylinder, the intake valve being movable between a first position wherein a passage is formed between the inlet port and the fluid chamber to permit the flow of fluid from the inlet port into the fluid chamber, and a second position wherein the intake valve closes the passage to prevent the flow of fluid from the inlet port into the fluid chamber; a first valve driver coupled to the power shaft on a first side of the intake valve, the first valve driver being configured to move the intake valve from the first position into the second position in response to movement of the power shaft; and a second valve driver coupled to the power shaft on a second side of the intake valve opposite the first side, the second valve driver being configured to move the intake valve from the second position into the first position in response to movement of the power shaft.