Rotary valve for internal combustion engine

In an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber with a given diameter and which mounts a piston for movement through successive intake, compression, expansion and exhaust phases in a cycle of operation, the combination of a valve mounted at the head end of the combustion chamber, said valve having a circular outer periphery at least a portion of which extends across substantially the entire given diameter of the combustion chamber to completely define the head end thereof, said valve being formed at one side thereof with a concaval recess defining a passage which extends across a chord of said periphery, means forming an intake port and an exhaust port above the chamber head end, said ports being in juxtaposition to opposite sides of said valve periphery, means for moving said valve in timed relationship with movement of said piston for turning said passage into simultaneous register with the intake port and chamber for inducting a charge during the intake phase, for thereafter turning the passage out of register with the combustion chamber for the expansion phase whereby the valve serves to confine the charge within the upper end of the cylinder, and for thereafter turning the passage into simultaneous register with said exhaust port and chamber for exhausting waste gases during the exhaust phase, and means to ignite a combustible charge within the chamber for the expansion phase.