A COUNTY Durham inventor is hoping his latest design will revolutionise the motor industry.

Edward Allen, 72, of Newton Aycliffe, has won the backing of German motor giant Audi to build a prototype of his innovative crankshaft design.

The company has pledged £3,000 and, having received a patent on the bicycle version of the design, Mr Allen is now awaiting similar recognition for his application of the shaft to a three-cylinder engine.

Based on the reduction of wasted exertion, the bicycle design uses two pedals which work in an up and down motion, rather than revolutions and, as well as cutting out pointless effort, the invention gives extra output, making it ideal for up-hill cycling.

Mr Allen, a member of the Institute of Patentees and Inventors, explained: "It eliminates the top and bottom dead centres happening at the same time."

In an internal combustion engine, when a piston reaches top or bottom dead centre, it has expended all its energy. It needs the explosive power of an igniting fuel/air mixture to begin the cycle again.

By staggering the moment when the pistons reach this point, Mr Allen's crank should produce more power with no increase in fuel consumption.

Instead of each full rotation of a traditional crankshaft providing 180 degrees of power, Mr Allen says his invention gives 270 degrees per cycle.

Having had a similar, but less effective, design patented many years ago, he began work on this latest version two years ago, starting with the engine, but putting that on hold because of the cost.

Now he plans to press ahead with an engine - thanks to help from the German car manufacturer.

"It's very exciting," he said. "I'm very grateful to Audi for showing such faith in my invention."