Energy transfer device utilizing driveshaft having continuously variable inclined track

An engine for producing rotational motion, said engine comprising in combination:

• (a) a driveshaft having a longitudinal axis;
• (b) a cylinder having a longitudinal axis and having first and second ends;
• (c) bearing means for rotatably supporting said driveshaft with the longitudinal axis of said driveshaft being coincident to the longitudinal axis of said cylinder and wherein each of said first and second pistons includes a hole through which said driveshaft passes;
• (d) a first piston slidably mounted for axial movement within said cylinder proximate the first end thereof;
• (e) a second piston slidably mounted for axial movement within said cylinder proximate the second end thereof;
• (f) valve means for creating pressure differentials within the first and second ends of said cylinder in order to effect reciprocal sliding movement of said first and second pistons;
• and
• (g) cam means coupled to said first and second pistons and coupled to said driveshaft for converting reciprocating movement of said first and second pistons into unidirectional rotational movement of said driveshaft, said cam means including a helical track and follower adapted to engage the helical track, said helical track being a continuous track comprising a plurality of portions defining an axial vector parallel to the driveshaft axis and a rotational vector perpendicular to and extending circumferentially about said driveshaft axis, the ratio of the rotational vector to the axial vector for succeeding segments varying along said generally helical track for permitting said first and second pistons to exert a substantially constant torque upon the driveshaft during said axial movement with the cylinder;
• (h) means for substantially preventing rotational motion of said first and second pistons comprising at least one linear track formed within said cylinder and cam follower means coupled to at least one of said first and second pistons and captively engaged by said linear track;
• and
• (i) wherein said valve means admits a fluid alternately into the first and second ends of said cylinder in order to alternately pressurize the first and second ends of said cylinder and to force the first and second pistons, respectively, to move toward the second and first ends of said cylinder, respectively, and wherein said valve means exhausts fluid alternately from the first and second ends of said cylinder for allowing the first and second pistons, respectively to freely move toward the first and second ends of said cylinder, respectively, and wherein said valve means is responsive to the angular position of said driveshaft for controlling the admission and exhaust of fluid to and from, respectively, the first and second ends of said cylinder, and a cam member rigidly attached to said driveshaft with said cam member including a cam face which is inclined relative to said driveshaft axis and said cam face abutting against said valve means for actuating said valve means depending upon the angular position of said driveshaft.