Abstract: A two-stroke internal combustion engine includes an oscillating member, two stator walls, two engine casing members, two engine casing end plates, and at least two generating assemblies, magnetically coupled to the oscillating internal combustion engine and converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. The two engine casing members are attached, with the two stator walls sandwiched in between, to form a cylinder bisected by the walls. Two engine casing end plates, having bearing surfaces adapted to allow the ends of the shaft of the oscillating member to pass therethrough, close the top and bottom of the cylindrical engine casing. The oscillating member has a hollow shaft with two outwardly extending opposing vanes. The oscillating member shaft is disposed within the cylindrical engine casing between the stator walls. The vanes rotate reciprocally between the two coplanar stator walls following a two-stroke cycle.

Abstract: A system of components for constructing a wall or other portion of a building from insulated masonry blocks, and method steps of using the same. The blocks are sandwiches having outer masonry wall sections surrounding a core of rigid insulating material. External surfaces of the blocks are flush. Top and bottom edges of the masonry sections have holes for accepting ties which join the outer masonry wall sections of each block to one another. Ties may also span adjacent blocks and courses of blocks. Ties are provided in two types. H-shaped ties span both adjacent blocks and adjacent courses. U-shaped ties cooperate with blocks laid on a slab or foundation surface. A joist anchor is provided which enables a joist to be fastened directly to an exterior wall. Variations of configuration of the blocks offer wall pieces, corner pieces, and reinforced lintels.