Asymmetrical internal combustion engine

An internal combustion engine adapted to be powered by a burnable gas fuel, comprising in combination:

• at least one cylinder,
• at least first and second pistons reciprocally movable in said cylinder substantially in opposite directions, each piston having a maximum velocity range, and a maximum acceleration range therein,
• inlet and outlet valves for controlling the flow of the gaseous fuel into said cylinder, and the exhaust of the burnt fuel therefrom, respectively, and
• linkage means connected to said pistons for converting the reciprocating movement thereof into a rotary movement, and including change-of-rate-of displacement and velocity means increasing the rate of velocity in the maximum acceleration range, and for reducing the rate of displacement in the maximum velocity range of one piston with respect to the other piston, at least first and second piston rods pivotably connected to said first and second pistons, respectively, first and second crankshafts pivotably connected to said first and second piston rods, rotatable about first and second axes disposed substantially parallel to, and displaced by a predetermined angle from one another, respectively, and gear means coupling said first and second crankshafts to one another, said gear means including
• first and second fixedly mounted gearwheels,
• first and second eccentrically mounted gearwheels, and
• at least partially position-shiftable coupling means for coupling said first gear wheels and said second gear wheels to one another, respectively, said coupling means including engaging means for meshing said eccentrically mounted gear wheels to one another.