Internal combustion engine

Claim 1

An internal combustion engine, which comprises: a. an elongated engine housing, said housing being provided with a combustion chamber at each end thereof separated by a fuel induction and compression chamber therebetween; b. a power shaft centrally mounted for rotation in said housing and extending the length thereof through said chambers, at least one end of said power shaft being provided with extension means connecting said power shaft to any desired apparatus, the portions of said power shaft at either end of said induction and compression chamber being provided with identical grooves extending therearound, and the portion of said power shaft within each said combustion chamber being provided at each end thereof in each said chamber with at least one air and fuel mixture inlet and exhaust recess, said recesses being on opposite sides of said power shaft, said air and fuel mixture inlet and exhaust recesses on the portion of said power shaft in one of said combustion chambers being arranged with respect to each other in like manner to said air and fuel mixture inlet and exhaust recesses on that portion of said power shaft in the other one of said combustion chambers; c. opposed slidable piston means mounted around said power shaft in said engine housing, said piston means comprising: i. a pressure sealed power piston mounted around said power shaft for slidable movement therealong substantially the length of one of said combustion chambers; ii. a pressure sealed induction and compression piston mounted around said power shaft for slidable movement therealong in said induction and compression chamber; iii. a nonsealEd camming piston mounted around said power shaft between said power piston and said induction and compression piston, said camming piston being provided with lug means which is slidably received within one of said grooves on said power shaft; and iiii. means connecting said power piston, said induction and compression piston and said camming piston for movement together, whereby as said opposed piston means move toward and away from each other, said lug means of said camming pistons in said grooves of said power shaft cause said shaft to rotate; d. spark ignition means located at either end of each one of said combustion chambers; e. air and fuel mixture inlet means and exhaust means at either end of each one of said combustion chambers, said air and fuel mixture inlet means and said exhaust means communicating with said inlet and exhaust recesses on said power shaft as said power shaft rotates; f. carburetor means communicating with said induction and compression chamber, whereby when said power pistons fire away from each other, air and fuel mixture from said carburetor means is inducted into said induction and compression chamber; g. reservoir means communicating with said induction and compression chamber, whereby as said power pistons fire toward each other said air and fuel mixture in said induction and compression chamber is initially compressed by said pressure sealed induction and compression pistons and forced into said reservoir means, said reservoir means also communicating with said fuel, inlet means, whereby as each said inlet and exhaust recess on said power shaft communicates with said air and fuel mixture inlet means, initially compressed air and fuel mixture from said reservoir means enters said combustion chambers, where it is further compressed by said power pistons and where said spark ignition means causes ignition thereof, first on one side of each said power piston and then on the other side thereof; h. means for lubricating said internal combustion engine; and i. means for cooling said internal combustion engine.