US2332105A

US2332105A - Barrel engine

Info

Publication number: US2332105A
Application number: US387227A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfons H Neuland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-04-07
Filing date: 1941-04-07
Publication date: 1943-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 1960-10-19

Description

,tion of certain of its component parts.

going and other objects i and advantages will l- Patented Oct. 19, 1943 UNITED' STATES PATENT oFFl-CE Application April 7, 1941, Serial No. 387,227 4 l' A lv1s claims.

This invention relates to engines in general having laterally arranged cylinders, sometimes referred to as barrel engines, and relates particularly to internal combustion engines of" this type. Y

One object is to increase the powerA and improve the emciency of engines and to provide an engine capable of operating-with high cylinder pressures. and at high speed. Another object is to provide a compact and simple construction that lends itself to rapid production and easy assembly; and still another object is .to secure greater uniformity of temperature within the engine and particularly in operatively associated parts such as cylinders and pistons aswell as in other important Aassociated parts. l My invention residesvin novel features of con struction and in the arrangement and combina- The foreappear in the following. description andfrom the drawings showing one embodiment, and my invention will hereafter be more fullydeflned in the appended claims. y Fig. 1 is a verticalsection of bodying my invention having lower end portions cut away to show the pressure and circulating pumps.

Fig, 2 is an end elevation of the cylinder block with the bracket and crankshaft assembly at the right removed and ,with a portion cutaway to show the central portion of cylinders in section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View of the piston, showing itsconstruction and relation with associated parts.

The illustrated Vembodiment of my engine,

an engine emshown in the figures, consists of a stationary ena is made up of a pluralityof open ended cylinders'y I8, arranged with their axes about the rotational axis of the engine and extending laterally be.

tween crank chambers, tied together atftheirf ends by webs I9, I9' preferably cast integral with the cylinders and extending.V beyond the cylinder ends to form outer closuresfor the crank-'chainey bers and seats, as shown, forcentering thegbrack?,

.ets l2, l2'. It Should beamed-that the 'internal parts ln the left half of engine: are identical with 'thosein the right half and thatin 'orderl to avoid congestion of numeralsin thedrawingjthe prime mark has been applied to some of thenumerals to indicate that such numeral willbe found identifying a part' on the right side'fwhich is identicalwith a corresponding" part on'tlielft side of the engine. The msnawvcore'fojf` the Jerrgine block is'pro'vided -with'al sleeve 2l), supported by the webs I9, I9', and secured againstfrotation by a splined joint 'ZI'Qfoimed in 'the-sleeve and engineblock.y Eachv of ther crank chambers is provided with an inner*'sphericalfbearing"surface arranged concentric"with #respectto the cylinders, suchl as the convex?sphericalgbearing 22, preferably formed in the;end"-off-sleeveVZIl', and with an outer; concavespherical-bearingari rangedalso concentric withf'res'pectto the cylinl -ders4 and' inner bearing, such as the concave'sphericai thrustv bearing 23,' preferably formed directly in each bracket I2, I2' 4extending inwardly and formingapartial partition 24,' 24. betweenl crank and counterweight chambers. In4 instances where the thrust bearings 'are formed:separately` from the brackets I2, I2,'or when the thrust bearing does not extend inwardly to form the partitions 24,- 24', the end brackets I4, I4:need4 notybe formedseparately but mayfbe'formed .as `ap'art of brackets I2, I2'.r

Arranged within the crank chambers Iy provide a pair of non-rotating but'oscillatablev annular elements, `which will hereaftervalso-be 'referred to as oscillators, each element comprisingv an outer bowl shaped portion 25, havinga convexly spherical bearing journal operatively associated withthe thrust bearing `and an inner-portionl secured tothe outer portion 25 by bolts 21 and having an f inner spherical bearing operatively associated with the sleeve bearingZ. The oscillatoris thus laterally conned within ,the crank chamber but `is free within limits, to tilt or weave in Ialljdirectioxis. `An anti-friction bearing,v` in thepresent instance a ball bearing 28,:havingan inner andan outer race is-.locked centrally; be.-A tween inner andouter portions of the oscillator andf arranged axially concentric. with Vrespect to the spherical journal.` a Ifprovideseparate crankshafts' 29, 29'. andl providegeach crankshaftl with anin'clined crank element 30, to which the` inner race yof 'the -ball bearing 28 is. securedby locknuty 3If.. 'Thevcrank element may be of,.substantial diameter;V and takel the -form of an .eccentric24 but is preferably ,f. n1a1.1l diameter@ lform afcranke;

Pina-as shownv vin the drawing. Lgarranseathe crank elementso that its inclined axis substantialiy converges with the radial center 32 of the spherical journal and by this means secure cornplete freedom of movement of the oscillator between the spherical crank chamber bearings as the crankshaft rotates. Each crankshaft is rotatably supported on both sides` of the crank element. by an anti-friction bearing 33 within sleeve 2l, and by an anti-friction bearing 34 within end bracket I4, the bearings 33 and 34 being preferably slidably fitted within the sleeve and bracket, permitting the oscillator to float with respect to the spherical crank chamber bearings. Each crankshaft is further provided with a counterweight 35, arranged on the opposite side from the crank element and is proportioned to effectively counterbalance the crank element and oscillatlngrparts.

'I'he pistons 33, 33' in the cylinders are each provided with a spherical bearing while the outerly portions of the oscillators are also provided with spherical bearings formed in the bosses or arms 31, 31', extending from the inner side of the bowl, shown by the dotted lines in the drawing. 'I'he connecting rods 33 have spherical end portions 33, 43 which serve to connect the pistons with the oscillators. 'I'he centers. of the spherical bearings in the oscillator arms are preferably positioned to extend from the point 32 outwardly at right angles to the axis of the inclined crank element. Buch a positioning of the arm bearings causes only a slight deexion of the connecting rods from the cylinder axis, permits the arms to reach into the cylinders and the use of short connecting rods.

I provide fulcrum means for transferring torque between each oscillator and the engine body and for holding the arm bearings substantially in circumferential alignment with the cylinder axes. This means comprises a bevel gear nxedly associated with the stationary engine body and a bevel gear ilxedly associated withV the .oscillators meshing -with the nrst mentioned gear. In the present embodiment the bevel gears are formed by gear teeth 4I, cut directly in the face of sleeve 33, and by gear teeth 42 cut directly in the face of inner oscillator portion 2l, the pitch lines of the gears converging at the point 32 in the center of the spherical bearings.

With this construction and arrangement, rotation of the crankshaft causes the central portion of the spherical oscillator journal to weave with respect to the crankshaft axis; however the inclined axis of the crank element in combination with the gearing transforms rotations of `the crankshaft into substantially straight line lateral reciprocations of the outerly portions of the oscillator. During the compression stroke, the inclined crank element forces the central portion of journal 2l radially outward against thrust bearing 23, which because of its spherical curvature, deilects the thrust and directs it laterally against the pistons; and when during the combustion strokel the pistons move outwardly, the thrust bearing, in cooperation with the other elements changes the direction of the piston thrust into a weaving movement of the oscillator and rotation of the crankshaft. It will be seen that the crankshai'ts are not called upon to carry thrust and that the thrust from the pistons is exerted against the brackets, which are firmly bolted to the ends of the engine block and form a rigid assembly, substantially free' from distortion, and since the thrust bearings may have a relatively large bearing surface, my construction and arrangement are well suited for the production of high power. The surface of the spherical journal associated with outer portion 25 of the oscillator is preferably extended to include the arms 3l, so that the piston thrust due to inertia, when the pistons are in an outer position during high speed operation, may be transferred to an outer portion of the thrust bearing as shown in the lower half of Fig. 1. tc prevent distortion of the arms or journal surface.

'I'he crankshafts are rotationally connected to operate as a unit in fixed circumferential relationship with one another. 'I'his is accomplished by an axially slidable joint 43 formed by splines cut in the ends of the crankshafts which may be made to mesh with each other or preferably by providing an intermediate shaft 44, having splines adapted to mesh with those on the crankshafts as shown. This feature of my invention is broadly claimed in my co-pending application for Engine, Serial No. 403,190, filed July 19, 1941. The crankshafts are preferably connected so that one crank element is in the lead and operates to uncover the exhaust ducts 4l before the inlet ducts 43 are uncovered. With my construction and arrangement, assembly and disassembly of the engine can be quickly and easily effected. For instance, removal of the bolts I3' permits the withdrawal of the bracket i2' together with the crankshaft, oscillator and pistons, and facilitates rapid inspection or replacement of these or associated parts. it is also seen that my construction of the crankshaft and associated parts makes the use of anti-friction bearings possible, not only for the main shaft bearings but also for the crank bearing, because of the inclined position of the crank element, which permits the bearing and locknut to be slipped into position over the small end, although Pit should be understood that plain bearings may be used in instances where a lower bearing efficiency is not objectionable.

When the engine is operated with high cylinder pressure and at high speed, the spherical oscillator journal, the pistons connected to the oscillator, and the central portion of the cylinnders tend to overheat and to expand unevenly or excessively. As heretofore mentioned one of the objects of the invention is to secure greater uniformity of temperature between operatively associated parts. For this purpose I provide a cooling chamber 4l' in the head of each piston and a, pump 48' preferably arranged within the bracket I4 and driven by the worm gear 48 and the crankshaft for circulating a coolant through the chamber. Oil from the lower portion of bracket I2' ows into the reservoir 5I', past the radiator il', is drawn into the pump through the pipe 52 and through the ducts 53' is forced into the annular chamber or groove I4' in the spherical bearing surface of bracket I2', and as the oscillator journal weaves with respect to the groove, various portions of the journal surface are successively exposed to the coolant which also serves as a lubricant. The outer portion of the oscillator 25 is provided with ducts i5, the connecting rods with ducts 53 and the piston chambers with inlet ducts Il, Y

shown in Fig. 3, so that each time the pistons pass their intermediate position, duct registers with groove 54 and conducts the coolant into cooling chamber 41 and throughthe outlet duct 53 back into the bracket, reservoir and pump. For the sake of compactness and in order to avoid external plumbing each end of the engine is preferably provided with a separate circula-til ing system, insuring effective temperature equaltially uniform expansion of, and equalization oi? temperature inthe cylinder block. lIn, order to secure cylinder walls of uniform thickness and facilitate casting, the cylinder block is cast in one piece but without an o uter jacket wall, vand the cylinders are provided with outwardly extending open ended conduits 59, forming the exhaustyducts 45 and with open ended conduits 60 extending outwardly from the combustion chamber, for the spark plugs 6I, or the like, yand are further provided with an intermediate web or partition 62, forming with outer web I9 an annular space adjacent the intake ports or ducts 46. The webs B2 and I9'. and the ends of the to said spherical bearing; a pair of opposed 'pistons i'neach cylinder, each piston prot'ided'v with a cooling chamber; means including connecting rods for connecting the pistons with outer portions oLsaid oscillators; a pair of rotatable crankshaftsin said crank chambers, each crank,-

shaft provided .with an inclined crank element in loperative association with a. central oscillator fulcrum means including gearing associated with

conduits

59 and 60 are finished preferably to l the same diameter and a separate jacket or sleeve 63 is tightly fitted over these portions of the block to form a cooling chamber or jacket for the cylinders and

forthe conduits

59, 60. This feature of my invention is claimed broadly in my co-pending application for Engine, Serial No. 393,308, iiled May 14, 1941. A second sleeve or band 64 is tted over the webs I9 and 62 to form an induction chamber and is provided with an opening and an intake conduit 65 to which induction means, such asa compressor or carburetor may beV connected. The sleeveL 63 is likewise provided with openings and exhaust serve todispose ofthe excesSv engine heat. The l feature forgsecuringgreater uniformity of temperature in" the engine by, an' impelleri'arra'nged in substantially ,uniform yI )roxirnlty to-allthe cylinders,v Within the engine'jjacket is broadly claimedin my cov-pending application for Engine, serial No. 393,303, med May 14,1941.

' It should be noted that variouschanges may be made inthe details oiconstruction'and ,com bination of the various parts, of.A my devicel and one o rniore of the features disclosedherein may be us'et'iy in `the illustrated 'or other `einbodirnents Without V departing yfrofr'iithe 'spirit ot/linx inven.

tion;".a1ic l r,I desire toV cover by f my claims such, changes aridy other embodiments which may reaf sonably'be' 'included Withinthe scope of my in-` Ventron.k f y 1'clainias my invention;` 1."In,afbarrelenginej the `coinbi'naton of a stationary 1 e'ng'ine bodyf havingl a, pair of y.crank chambers, a plurality of iateraiiyiextending cylin'ders connecting vsaid crank l chambers,v any outer wall adapted to forni a' cooling 4jackety for said cylinders ,and a spherical@thrustV bearing associated with neach crank f chamber arrangedl con-l centric with respect yto vsaidf c :yliiiders; an' rannu-l lar oscillator iin' kea'ch criankgcham'ber, each' oscila" with a'jsphericalfbearing l"operay ing in sani;

l spherical liear the oscillatorsy and stationary body for transferring torque therebetween; means including a slidable joint for rotatably connecting the crank-v shafts with each other; means for cooling the' pistons and the spherical bearings yincluding a coolant and lducts in said pistons, piston rodsand oscillators forvconducting the coolant through the cooling chambers in the pistons; and means for cooling the cylinders including acoolantin said jacket, an impeller connected to one of the crankshafts for agitating the coolant within the jacket, a radiator connected with the jacket to form a circuit, and a pump connectedin said circuit for circulating the coolant between the jacket and radiator.

2. In a barrel engine: the combination of-a stationary cylinder block having a hollow core and a plurality of cylinders arrangedv around ,the

core extending laterally` through. the blockp a sleeve disposed within said core in clrcumiere en tially ilxeclv association with the. cylinder'block and provided at each end vwitha spherical bearing; la bracket secured to one` end of v,the block provided with a concavely spherical thrust bearing arranged concentric `vwith one ofr said sleeve bearings to form therewith a pair of concentric bearings; "abracket l secured tothe other end of the block also. proyided with a concavely spherical 'thirust bearing arranged .concentric with th other sleeve bearing and forming therewith: a 'second pair vof ,"co'ncentric be aring"s;'fan annular oscillator havinginner andi-outer spher ical bearings operatively associated with one pair` of concentric bearings and lhavingacentral anti` friction-bearing 'arranged.concentric frwith,` 're-5 spect to the spherical bearingsand fa :second annular oscillator having inner and outer spher. ical bearings operatively associated with said second pair of concentric bearings .and also provided With ar'central antiefriction,bearing,ar ranged axiall' oncentric .('withalre/spect',@ofthe ,o s; Aa .pairl. of opposed pistons kin each cylinder'landhmeans vfor 'f :onnecting`-` the. pistons'witlimouter portionsl ofthe oscillators; a pair of rotatable cral'iksh'atfi-ss,v each :crankshaft provided. with an''inclined` crank 4elernentgin op-` It ral., aring arranged" vaxially'con'c'eantric` withv respect 75' erative association with a central oscillatorbearing and adapted .to vhold said oscillator in an inclined position; anti-friction bearing means for means for rotatably vconnecting i'.he 1cranksliaffts.

" with oney another including an axially` slidable joint; and fulcruin means for ,transferringA torque. between the oscillators and cylinderblock in cluding a bevel sleeve gear associated with eachend of'said sleeve .and abevel oscillator gear associated with each oscillator andmeshing with@ the sleeve gears, saidgears having pitchlines converging with the radial 4 center vof ,adjacent spherical bearings.

`3. In" a barrel ellgngw'th/ coin in'at o stationary bodyincluding a cylind'er block hav-m 'provided with a concavely spherical thrust beart ing; an annular oscillator in; eachcrank chamber, each oscillator provided with a spherical `Journal operatively associated with the thrust bearing in said crank chamber and provided with a central bearing arranged axially concentric with respect to said spherical Journal; a pair of Vopposed pistons in each cylinder and .means for connecting the pistons withouter portions of the oscillators; a pair of rotatable crankshafts in said'crank chambers, each crankshaft provided Y with an inclined crank element in operative association with the central oscillator .bearing and adapted to .hold said oscillator in an inclined position: bearing means vi'or supporting one portion of the crankshai'ts by the brackets and another portion by the cylinder block; means for rotatably connecting the` crankshafts with one another including an axially slidable lioint: and fulcrum means associated with the oscillators and stationarybody for transmitting torque therebetween.

4. In a barrel engine: the combination of a stationary engine body having a crank chember, a plurality of laterally extending cylinders extending into said crank chamber, an outer wall adapted to form a cooling Jacket for said cylinders and a spherical thrust bearing associated with the crank chamber arranged concentric with respect to said cylinders; an annular oscillator in said crank chamber having a spherical bearing operatively associated with the thrust bearing in said crank chamber and having a central bearing arranged axially concentric with respect to said spherical oscillator bearing; a piston in each cylinder provided with a cooling chamber; means including connecting rods for connecting the pistons with outer portions of said oscillator; a rotatable crankshaft in said crank chamber having an inclined crank element in operative association with said central bearing adapted to hold the oscillator in an inclined position: bearing' means for supporting the crankshaft by the stationary engine body; fulcrum means including gearing., associated with the oscillator and stationary body for transferring torque therebetween;v means for.

cooling the pistons and the spherical bearings including a coolant and ducts in said pistons, piston rods in said oscillator for conducting the coolant through the cooling chambers in the pistons; and means for cooling the cylinders in- Y stationary cylinder block having a plurality of laterally extending cylinders and provided with an inner spherical bearing surface arranged concentric with respect to -said cylinders; a bracket secured to the cylinder blockl adapted to form therewith a crank chamber and provided with a concavely spherical thrust bearing arranged concentric with respect to said inner spherical bearing; a non-rotating oscillator arranged within the crank chamber having an inner portion provided with a spherical bearing surface operatively associated with said inner lator is-held in an inclined position; anti-friction bearing means for supporting the crankshaft by the cylinder block and by the bracket;

pistons in said cylinders; means for connecting the pistonsl with said oscillator; and fulcrum means fortransierring torque between the oscillator and cylinder block including bevel gear teeth in said inner oscillator portion and bevel gear teeth iixedly associated with the cylinder lblock meshing with the oscillator gear teeth, said gear teeth having pitch lines converging with the center of `said spherical bearings.

6. In a barrel engine: the combination of a stationary cylinder block havingv a plurality of laterally extending cylinders and provided with f an inner spherical bearing surface' arranged concentric with' respect to said cylinders; a bracket secured to the cylinder block adapted to form therewith a crank chamber and provided with a concavely spherical thrust bearing arranged concentric with respect to said inner spherical bearing; a non-rotating oscillator arranged within the crank chamber having an lnner portion provided with a spherical bearing surface operatively associated with said inner bearing, an outer portion provided with a convex spherical Journal operatively associated with said thrust bearing,4 an anti-friction bearing having an outer race and an inner race and means associated with saidoscillator portions for locking the oscillator portions rmly together and for securing said outer bearing race centrally within the oscillator; a crankshaft having an inclined crank element and means for locking said inner bearing race ilrmly to the crank element whereby the oscillator is held in an inclined position; bearing means for supporting the crankshaft by the cylinder block and the bracket; pistons in said cylinders; means for connecting the pistons with said oscillator; and fulcrum means for transferring torque between the oscillator and cylinder block.

7.- In a barrel engine: the combination of a stationary cylinder block having a plurality of laterally extending cylinders; a bracket secured to the block forming therewith a crank chamber having an outer concavely spherical thrust bearing arranged to face the cylinders and an inner spherical hearing arranged concentric with annular oscillator having a pair of concentric spherical bearings operatively associated with the crank chamber bearings and provided with a central bearing arranged axially concentric with respect to the spherical oscillator bearings; a crankshaft having an inclined crank element rotatably associated with said central bearing and adapted .to hold the oscillator in an inclined position; bearing means associated with the cylinder block and bracket for rotatably supporting the crankshaft near both ends of said crank element; pistons in saidcylinders and connecting means for reciprocably connecting the pistons with 'outer portions of the estimator; and

`iulcruxn means for transferring torque between the oscillator and cylinder block including a pair of `meshing bevel gears, one gear being fixedly associated with the oscillator and the other gear being fixedly associated; with the engine block.

8. In a barrel engine: the combination of'a Y stationary body havingV a cylinder block provided` with a plurality of laterally vextending cylinders,

an'intermediatebracket secured to the engine block, an Datei-,bracket secured to the intermediate bracketand a partition shaped to form a concave spherical thrust bearing and a crank chamber on one side of the partition and a counterweight chamber on the other side; a non-rotating. oscillator -disposed within said crank chamber having a spherical journal operatively associated with said thrust bearing and having a central bearing arranged axially concentric with respect tothe spherical journal; acrankshaft having an inclined crank element rotatably associated with said `central bearing adapted to hold the oscillator in an yinclined position and provided with a counterweight disposed within said counterweightl chamber; bearing means for supportingvone portion ofthe crankshaft bythe cylinder block and another portion-by the outer bracket; pistonsir'i said cylinders andy means for connecting the pist tonsjwithouter. portions of the oscillator.

9. 'In a barrel -engine adapted to'be cooled by a liquid:A the'. combination of a stationary engine body having afcrank chambena' plurality of laterally extending cylinders opening into said-crank chamber and a spherical concave thrust bearing associated -with said crank chamber arranged to face one end of the cylinders; a non-rotating oscillator arranged withinsaid crank chamber having a spherical journal operatively associated withv saidv thrust bearing and having a central bearing arranged axially concentric with-respect to said spherical journal; a crankshaft having an inclined crank element rotatably associated with said centralbearing adapted to hold the oscillator in an'inclined position; bearing means for supporting the crankshaft by said engine body; pistons in said cylinders and means including connecting rods for connecting the pistons with outer portions of said oscillator; and means for cooling the pistons and oscillator bearing and journal including a cooling chamber in each piston head, an inlet duct and an outlet duct associated with each piston cooling chamber, a duct in each connecting rod communicating with aninlet duct, a plurality of ducts in said oscillator communicating with the connecting rod ducts, a vliquid coolant and means for conducting the cool.- ant to the oscillator ducts.

l0. In an engine of the class wherein a double ended cylinder block provides laterally extending cylinders having axes arranged about the rotational axis of the engine,- each cylinder being prowith said engine body and with said inclined crank elements having outer portions connected with said pistons, each oscillator'being provided with afconvex spherical bearing surface operatively engaginga corresponding thrust surface for the transmission of power between the pistons and a shaft. y o

11. In an engine ofthe class wherein a double ended cylinder block provides laterally extending cylinders having axes arranged about the rotational axisof the engine, each cylinder provided with a pair of oppositely arranged reciprocable pistons andthe ends of the engine provided with a pair of power shafts, each having an inclined crankelement adapted to provide reciprocation of the pistons with respect to the cylinders: the combination with said cylinder block .of a pair of thrust brackets secured thereto forming therewith an engine body and a crank chamber at each end thereof, each bracket providing a concentric n surface, with respect to a shaft, concavely spherical thrust surfaces arranged to face the ends and to be intersected .by the axes of said "cylinders: a pair of oscillators operatively asociated with said engine body and with said inclinedcranks having p chambers and al power shaft having an inclined vided with a pair of oppositely arranged recipl rocable pistons and a pair of separately formed but interconnected power shafts having inclined crank elements providing reciprocation of the pistons with respect to the cylinders: the combination with said cylinder block of a pair of thrust brackets secured thereto forming therewith an engine body and a crank chamber at each end thereof, each bracket providing a concentric surface, with` respect to a shaft, concavely spherical thrust surfaces arranged to face the ends and to be intersected by the axes of said cylinders; and a pair of oscillators operatively associated surface, with respect to said shaft, forming acrank element providing reciprocation of the pistons with respect to the cylinders: the combinationwith saidy cylinder block of a thrust bracket secured l thereto forming therewith an engine body and, a crank chamber at'one 'end thereof, said bracket providing a concentric, with respect to said shaft, concavely spherical thrust bearing surface facing the ends of said cylinders; an oscillator operatively associated with said engine body and with said inclined crank element having an outer portion connected with said pistons. said oscillator being provided with a convex spherica1 bearing surface operatively engaging said thrust surface for the transmission of power between the pistons and said shaft; and means for cooling and lubricating said pistons and said spherical thrust bearing, said means including a liquid and ducts in said pistons, oscillator and bracket for conducting said liquid through the' cooling chambers in said pistons.

13. In an engine of the class wherein a cylinder block provides laterally extending cylinders having axes arranged .about the rotational axis of the engine, the cylinders provided with reciprocable pistons and a power shaft having an inclined crank element on one side and a counterweight on the opposite side providing reciprocation of the pistons with respect to the cylinder: the combination with said cylinder block of a thrust bracket secured thereto providing on 'its inner side a crank chamber and a concentric concavely spherica1 thrust bearing surfaces arranged to face the ends and to be intersected by the axes of said cylinders and providing on its outer side achamber4 for housing said counterweight; andan oscillator operatively associated. with said engine body and with said inclined crankelement having an outer portion connected with said pistons,l lsaidoscillator being provided with a convex spherical bearing surfaceoperativeLv engaging saidthrust bearing surface forA the transmission ot power between the `pistons and ma shan.

Velement adapted to provide the rotational axis for the engine and relative reciprocation'between pistons and cylinders: the combination with said cylinder block of a bracket secured thereto forming therewith an engine body and a 'crank chamber at one end thereof, saidv bracket providing a concentric with respect to the shaft concavely spherical thrust bearing surface arranged to face the open ends and to be intersected by the axes of said cylinders; and a relatively movable oscillator Vassociated with said inclined crank'element Vhaving Joints arranged within the radius of said spherical thrust bearing and providing beyond the radius of said joints a convex spherical bearing surface operatively engaging said thrust bearing surface whereby linear thrust between engine body and pistons is made to exert a torsional thrust upon said shaft.

15. In an engine of the class wherein an engine 4body provides a crankcase and open ended cylinders. having axes arranged about the rotational axis of the engine, extend laterally into the crankcase. the cylinders provided with pistons. a shaft providing the rotational axis for the engine and an inclined crank element associated with said shaft arranged on an axis intersecting the rotational axis of the engine substantially at the vertex and adapted to provide relative reciprocation between the pistons and cylinders: the combination with said engine body of an inner spherical bearing surface arranged concentric with said vertex and an outer concavely spherical 45 thrust bearing surface arranged concentric with the .inner lbearing surface to face the open ends and to be intersected by the axes of said cylinders; and a relatively movable oscillator associated wlth said inclinedv crank element providing spherically concentric inner and outer bearing surfaces operatively engaging the inner and outer spherical bearing surfaces of the engine body and "cylinders having axes arranged about the rotational axis of the engine, the cylinders provided with pistons, a shaft providing the rotational axis l for the engine and an inclined crank element associated with said shaft provides reciprocatlon between the pistons and cylinders: the combination with said cylinder block of a bracket secured thereto forming therewith an engine body and a crank chamber 'at one end thereof, said bracket providing a concentricwith respect to the shaft concave spherical thrust bearing surface ar- "ranged to face the open ends and to be intersected by the axes of said cylinders; a bevel fulcrum gear arranged concentric with an radially between the cylinders and said shaft; and a relatively movable. oscillator associatcd with said inclined crank element comprising an inner portion having a bevel gear in mesh with said fulcrum gear. an outer portion providing a convex spherical bearing surface operatively engaging said thrust bearing surface radially beyond the outer circle of said cylinder axes and further comprising Joints connecting the pistons with the oscillator intermediate the bevel gear and the outer periphery of said convexLv spherical bearing surface whereby linear thrust between engine b0dy and pistons is made to exert a torsional thrust upon the shaft.

ALFONS H. NEULAND.