Abstract: The bearing arrangement includes an annular flange provided with a groove, a holder disposed on a fixed axis opposite the groove and a hollow shell-shaped sphere mounted between the holder and the groove in the annular flange. The sphere is elastically deformable so that loads imposed on the bearing arrangement, for example, by a reciprocating piston rod of an internal combustion engine, can be spread over a large area as the sphere elastically deforms.

Abstract: The piston is provided with a hollow space in which a head member for a piston rod is mounted. A disc is provided within the piston for seating of the head member via mating concave/convex surfaces and a separate support ring is disposed under a flange of the head member with mating concave/convex surfaces therebetween. An annular clamping member serves to secure the disc ring and head member together and also abuts against an internal shoulder within the piston. Eccentric loadings on the piston are compensated by tilting movements between the head member and piston in a self-adjusting manner.

Abstract: The internal combustion engine has a plurality of cylinders which are arranged in an annular series about a common central drive shaft. Each cylinder includes a pair of opposed pistons which are movable towards and away from each other while defining a combustion chamber therebetween. Each piston is connected to a piston rod which causes rotation of a cam guide device secured to the drive shaft. At least one cam guide device is provided with an annular flange which subdivides a pressure oil chamber at the end of the drive shaft into two sub-chambers. Pressure oil can be delivered to one or the other of the sub-chambers in order to move the cam guide device axially thereby changing the compression ratio in the combustion chamber between the two pistons.