Internal Combustion Engine

An internal combustion engine (1, 1a) comprising:

• a plurality of combustion cylinders each of which having an associated fuel injection device (120), each of the plurality of combustion cylinders being provided with its own pilot unit (10, 10a-10g) having a fuel accumulator (20) integrated therein, each fuel accumulator (20) being connected by one of a plurality of first fuel lines (110) to the fuel injection device (120) associated with the respective combustion cylinder for supplying fuel to the respective combustion cylinder;
• and
• a fuel pump (50) configured to be connectable to a fuel source for supplying a predetermined fuel pressure, the fuel pump (50) being integrated in at least one of the pilot units (10d),
• wherein the fuel accumulator (20) of each pilot unit (10, 10a-10g) is configured to ensure that fuel delivered by the fuel pump (50) is supplied to the respective associated fuel injection device (120) in a pressure-stable manner, and
• wherein the respective fuel accumulators (20) of the pilot units (10, 10a-10g) are connected to one another via a plurality of second fuel lines (100).