Master and slave pullrods

摘要

Master and slave pullrods are disclosed in which a master pullrod is coupled to a journal of a crankshaft. The slave pullrod indirectly couples to the crankshaft by coupling to the master pullrod. Such a configuration allows two connecting rods to be coupled to the journal of the crankshaft inline with each other.

主权项

1. An opposed-piston, opposed-cylinder engine, comprising:
a first cylinder having a first inner piston and a first outer piston disposed therein; a second cylinder having a second inner piston and a second outer piston disposed therein with a central axis of the first cylinder being substantially collinear with a central axis of the second cylinder; a crankshaft disposed between the first and second cylinders, the crankshaft having first and second crankpins; a first master pullrod coupled between the first outer piston and the first crankpin; and a first slave pullrod coupled between the second outer piston and the first master pullrod with the connection of the first slave pullrod to the first master pullrod located between the second outer piston and the first crankpin, the first slave pullrod indirectly coupled to the crankshaft via connection to the first master pullrod.