Reciprocating engine with improved feed and exhaust valve means

Claim 1

In a fluid driven reciprocating engine which comprises an engine block containing at least two parallel cylinders, a piston located in each of said cylinders for parallel reciprocating movement therein, piston rods rigidly connected at one end to each of said pistons extending out of said cylinders along the cylinder centerlines into a housing containing first connecting means operatively connecting the other end of each of said piston rods to a single crank pin on a rotary output shaft, and valve means within said block for selectively supplying fluid to and exhausting fluid from said cylinders above and below said pistons, the improvement wherein said valve means comprise cylinder means within said block each containing a spool valve attached to a first end of a valve operating rod extending out of said block for reciprocation along paths substantially parallel to said piston rods, second connecting means connecting the second ends of the operating rods to vavle timing means, said valve timing means comprising a first and second plate means, said first plate means attached to said single crank pin by attachment means, said second plate means connected to said first plate means in a manner for allowing selected relative positioning therebetween, locking means carried by said second plate means for locking together said first and second plate means at a selected relative position and said second plate means is rotatably connected through a bearing means to said second connecting means at a location offset from said crank pin, said second connecting means having an approximately isosceles triangular configuration with an opening surrounding said bearing means at the apex of said triangle and means pivotably connecting said second ends of said operating rods to the other corners of said triangle, whereby said valve spools reciprocate as said piston rods reciprocate.