A free piston engine is configured with a pair of opposed engine cylinders located
on opposite sides of a fluid pumping assembly. An inner piston assembly includes
a pair of inner pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the
engine cylinders, with a push rod connected between the inner pistons. The push
rod extends through an inner pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and
forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. An outer piston assembly includes a
pair of outer pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the
engine cylinders, with at least one pull rod connected between the outer pistons.
The pull rod extends through an outer pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly
and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. The movement of the inner and outer
piston assemblies during engine operation will cause the fluid plungers to pump
fluid from a low pressure container into a high pressure chamber as a means of
storing the energy output from the engine. Alternatively, the piston assemblies
may drive a linear alternator. Piston guide posts are fixed and guide the outer
pistons as they reciprocate within the engine cylinders.