US 4,073,216 A · Valve control apparatus for rotary engines

Abstract

Valve control apparatus adapted for use in a rotary engine or pump having a cylinder block rotatable about an axis and including a plurality of cylinders and corresponding pistons radially arranged about the axis, a plurality of valves each disposed in a different one of the cylinders, and a plurality of tappet mechanisms each of which when actuated operates to alternately open and close a different one of the valves. The valve control apparatus includes a cam ring having first and second generally circular cam tracks defined therein for contacting and actuating certain ones of the tappet mechanisms. The cam tracks are disposed in substantially parallel planes and each includes a pair of lobes positioned diametrically opposite in the cam ring. The cam ring is adapted to rotate about the axis in the same direction as the cylinder block but at a speed different therefrom to provide for coaction between the cam tracks and the various tappet mechanisms. With this configuration, the valves for six radially arranged cylinders can be controlled to alternately open and close with each rotation of the cylinder block.

Claims8

Dependent claims

Valve actuating apparatus for use in a rotary engine or pump which includes a cylinder unit rotatable about an axis and having at least three cylinders radially arranged about the axis and at least three valve means, each associated with a different cylinder, said apparatus comprising

means defining a generally circular cam track having a pair of lobes disposed substantially diametrically opposite one another, each of said lobes extending circumferentially through an angle of substantially 90.degree., said cam track means including an annular flange disposed at one side of said cam track and extending radially outwardly therebeyond,
means for causing said cam track means to rotate relative to said cylinder unit, and at least three tappet means carried by said cylinder unit and each coupled to a different valve means for coacting with said cam track to operate the corresponding valve means alternately to open and closed positions with each rotation of the cylinder unit and as the cam track is rotated, each tappet means including a generally elongate member one end of which has a generally flat side face disposed in close proximity with one side of said flange, said tappet means thereby being prevented from rotating.

In a rotary engine or pump having a cylinder block rotatable about an axis and including at least six cylinders circumferentially spaced about the axis, and at least six valves each disposed in a different one of said cylinders, valve control apparatus comprising

at least six tappet means carried by the cylinder block, each of which when actuated alternately opens and closes a different one of the valves,
a cam ring having a first generally circular cam track defined therein for contacting and actuating at least three of the tappet means, and a second generally circular cam track defined in the cam ring in a plane generally parallel with the plane of the first cam track for contacting and actuating at least three of the other tappet means not actuated by the first cam track, said first and second cam tracks each including a pair of lobes positioned diametrically opposite in the ring, said lobes extending circumferentially about the cam ring through an angle of substantially 90.degree., the gaps between the corresponding pairs of lobes thereby also extending circumferentially about the cam ring through an angle of substantially 90.degree., said lobes of the first cam track being circumferentially displaced from the lobes of the second cam track by an angle of substantially 45.degree., and
wherein the first cam track is disposed to actuate tappet means which operate the valves of every other cylinder, and wherein the second cam track is disposed to actuate the tappet means which operate the remaining valves, and
means for rotating the cam track about said axis in the same direction in which the cylinder block is rotated at a speed different from the speed of rotation of the cylinder block to cause the cam tracks to actuate said tappet means.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Valve control apparatus for rotary engines

Life of this patent

Valve control apparatus for rotary engines

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8