Retractable seat valve and method for selective gas flow control in a combustion chamber

A retractable seat valve for use in a cylinder head in an internal combustion engine, said retractable seat valve comprising:

• a retractable seat;
• a stationary seat;
• a retractable seat actuator member;
• a pin connector for cooperatively coupling the retractable seat to the retractable seat actuator member and stationary seat;
• and
• a valve actuator assembly able to selectively actuate and position the retractable seat actuator member;
• whereby the retractable seat is actuated by the valve actuator assembly to selectively control gas flow in a combustion chamber.

A retractable seat for cooperative use with a stationary seat in a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, said retractable seat comprising:

• a top retractable seat end having a seat valve connector section for cooperative connection to a retractable seat actuator member and a stem guide section of a stationary seat;
• a bottom seating end comprising a retractable seat seating face able to seal an opening passage in cooperation with a valve seating surface;
• and
• a retractable seat rib support section defining a plurality of flow passages between the top retractable seat end and the retractable seat seating surface;
• whereby the retractable seat can be selectively actuated and positioned in the cylinder head, via controlled movement of the retractable seat actuator member, thereby allowing controlled gas flow in a combustion chamber.

A stationary seat for cooperative use with a retractable seat in a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, the valve seat comprising:

• a stationary seat head portion having a stationary valve seating surface able to seal an opening passage in cooperation with a retractable seat seating face;
• an upper tube portion configured to accept a retractable seat actuator member;
• a stem guide section, in the upper tube section, able to allow movement therein of the retractable seat actuator member and a pin connector;
• and
• a valve stem top able to cooperate with a valve seat retainer whereby the valve seat is stationary relative to the cylinder head.

A retractable seat valve for controlling gas flow in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine having a cylinder head, a gas port, and a gas port opening into said combustion chamber, the retractable seat valve comprising:

• a stationary seat disposed adjacent said gas port opening to the combustion chamber, the stationary seat comprising a stationary seat head portion extending across the gas port opening and having a peripheral valve seating surface;
• and
• a retractable seat moveably disposed in the gas port for selectively controlled movement therein;
• whereby the retractable seat is disposed in a cooperative relationship to the valve seating surface of the stationary seat to thereby control gas flow in the combustion chamber.

A retractable seat valve for use in an internal combustion engine, said retractable seat valve comprising:

• at least one retractable seat;
• at least one stationary seat;
• a retractable seat actuator member;
• and
• a valve bridge for cooperatively coupling the retractable seat actuator member, the at least one retractable seat and the at least one stationary seat;
• whereby the at least one retractable seat are selectively and simultaneously actuated and positioned in a cylinder head to control gas flow in a combustion chamber.

A method of controlling gas flow in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising the steps of:

• actuating a retractable seat valve to thereby selectively position a retractable seat actuator member in an upper tube portion;
• translating the retractable seat actuator member movement to a retractable seat;
• positioning the retractable seat to a desired position;
• and
• forming a gas passage.

A method of controlling gas flow in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating a command to actuate a retractable seat valve from an electronic control module;
• operating a valve actuator assembly;
• moving a retractable seat actuator member in an upper tube portion;
• translating the retractable seat actuator member movement to a retractable seat via a pin connector;
• moving the retractable seat to a desired position;
• and
• forming thereby a gas passage between a retractable seat seating face and a stationary valve seating surface;
• whereby gas can flow in a controlled manner to or from the combustion chamber.