Radical Engine Redesign Would Reduce Pollution, Oil Consumption

[Russ]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070510093248.htm

In today's internal combustion engines, the pistons turn a crankshaft, which is linked to a camshaft that opens and closes the valves, directing the flow of air and exhaust into and out of the cylinders. The new method would eliminate the mechanism linking the crankshaft to the camshaft, providing an independent control system for the valves.

Because the valves' timing would no longer be restricted by the pistons' movement, they could be more finely tuned to allow more efficient combustion of diesel, gasoline and alternative fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, Shaver said.

Lots more at the link. Not really a radical redesign though is it?