In-line six internal combustion engine

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• a frame,
• six piston and cylinder assemblies mounted in line in said frame,
• a crankshaft,
• a connecting rod between said crankshaft and a piston of each of said six assemblies constructed and arranged so that the pistons of two inner adjacent assemblies, two outer assemblies and two intermediate assemblies move through repetitive cycles of reciprocating movement offset with respect to one another by 120° of crankshaft rotation and in which each cycle has four strokes of piston movement alternately in opposite directions which take place during four successive 180° rotational movements of said crankshaft,
• inlet and outlet valves for each assembly movable between opening and closing relation with respect to a cylinder of an associated assembly,
• a camshaft for controlling the movements of said inlet and outlet valves in successive cycles corresponding with the successive cycles of said pistons so that (1) during each cycle of said pistons air is taken into a cylinder of each assembly during an intake stroke and compressed within a combustion chamber therein to a compression pressure during an immediately following compression stroke, and (2) the compression strokes of the pistons of the two inner assemblies occur simultaneously,
• a passage communicating the combustion chambers of the two inner piston and cylinder assemblies, and
• a controlled fuel injecting and firing system including an injector for each assembly for injecting fuel into a cylinder during a stroke of an associated piston therein so that a mixture of fuel and compressed air in the combustion chamber thereof can be ignited to affect a power stroke of the assembly immediately following the compression stroke thereof,
• said controlled fuel injecting and firing system being operable to selectively control the injectors associated with said inner piston and cylinder assemblies (1) in a normal mode wherein fuel is injected into both cylinders of said inner assemblies during a stroke of both pistons of the inner assemblies so that a mixture of fuel and compressed air in the combustion chambers thereof can be ignited to affect simultaneous internally fired power drive strokes of both pistons or (2) in a fuel saving mode wherein fuel is injected into one of the cylinders of said inner assemblies during a stroke of the associated piston so that a mixture of fuel and compressed air in the combustion chamber of the one inner assembly can be ignited with the resultant increase in pressure therein being shared by said passage with the compressed air in the combustion chamber of the other inner assembly to affect the simultaneous internally fired and shared power drive strokes of the pistons of both said inner assemblies.