Patent attributes
In an embodiment, an internal combustion engine includes a first cylinder having a first piston and a second piston slidably disposed therein, an intake port arranged to admit a reactant into the first cylinder between the first and second pistons, and an exhaust port axially spaced from the intake port and arranged to exhaust a reaction product from the first cylinder. First and second converters are provided, which are operable with the corresponding first and second pistons, to convert mechanical energy of the first and second pistons to electrical energy and electrical energy to mechanical energy. A control system is provided that is coupled to the first and second converters. The control system is configured to control the application of electrical energy to the first and second converters to selectively position the first and second pistons during specific strokes of the engine cycle.
