Abstract: A valve assembly having a cylindrical valve chamber with radially directed inlet orifices and with a circular spring leaf which resiliently seals the orifices and which may be deflected by fluid pressure within the inlet orifices to open the orifices. The spring leaf is configured so that it may deflect to open the valve inlet without deviation from its essentially oval shape.

Abstract: In the disclosed internal combustion engine opposing identical pairs of pistons drive back and forth arm ends of a centrally pivoted beam which is symmetrical about its pivot. Torque is extracted from the beam through an eccentric mechanism which is located between the end of one arm and the pivot. The other arm is provided with a symmetrically located second eccentric mechanism symmetrically spaced from the pivot and substantially identical with the first as regards the dynamic balancing, but not connected to the same output shaft as is the first eccenter mechanism. Also disclosed are combinations in which two or more such engines are connected together as units so that one or more of the units may be completely decoupled from the output shaft and thus inactivated. A special controllable coupling connecting the main shafts of such multiple units permits selective disengagement of the units and synchronized reengagement with predetermined relative angular orientation.