Abstract: A variable displacement internal combustion engine having a series of at least three cylinders, each having a piston attached to a connecting rod which drives a crankshaft which is common to the three cylinders, wherein the cylinders include a first cylinder, a second cylinder having about twice the capacity of the first cylinder, and a third cylinder having about twice the capacity of the second cylinder, and in which each cylinder may be independently deactivated to allow selected cylinders to operate in an idle mode, whereby the power output of the engine may be widely varied. Preferably, the engine has its cylinders arranged in opposed pairs of first, second, and third cylinders, and also has a pair of fourth cylinders which are each twice the capacity of each third cylinder.

Abstract: A rotary type internal combustion engine including an outer housing in which a rotor is rotatably mounted, the rotor having at least one pocket formed in the periphery and in which combustion gases expand to drive the rotor. A oscillating member is mounted in an inner circumferential wall of the housing and engages the outer periphery of the rotor and enters the pocket as it passes, the oscillating member being hollow and co-operating with a stationary inner piston to form an expandable combustion chamber into which is admitted a fuel mixture for ignition by ignition means. The oscillating member has an outlet which permits most of the combustion gases to escape from the combustion chamber into the pocket of the rotor to provide a force between the reciprocating member and a leading surface of the pocket for driving the rotor.

Abstract: A system for the switching of guided vehicles vertically has a main guideway and a secondary guideway each having a pair of spaced guides. The guides of the main and secondary guideways branch at a switching region and diverge vertically. Each guide in the main guideway has a vertically disposed inwardly facing running surface extending upwardly from and outwardly of a horizontally disposed running surface. Each guide in the secondary guideway has a vertically disposed inwardly facing running surface, coextensive in the switching region with the vertical surfaces in the main guideway, extending downwardly from and inwardly of a horizontal running surface. The guided vehicle has a main support arrangement for coacting with or running on the horizontal surfaces of the main guides for supporting the vehicle and a guide apparatus for coacting with or running on the vertically disposed surfaces for providing lateral guidance.