US 5,706,775 AGranted

Rotary valve apparatus for internal combustion engines and methods of operating same

AssigneeNew Avenue Development Corp.

InventorsTimothy S. Schweter, Joseph F. Buehner, David M. Lane

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Abstract

A rotary valve system mounted to an internal combustion engines and method of operating the system primarily comprises a rotary valve mounted within a valve sleeve, which is in turn mounted within a longitudinal bore extending through an intake and exhaust manifold. Controllers vary the rotational and axial position of the valve sleeve, which provides the capability of adjusting the amount of fuel mixture entering the combustion chambers of the engine and the timing of the intake of such mixture. The method of operation includes in taking fuel mixture into, and evacuating exhaust gas from, an internal combustion engine, wherein fuel mixture flows into the manifold, is directed across the valve sleeve, through the rotary valve, across the sleeve, and into a combustion chamber. After combustion of the fuel mixture, the exhaust gases are directed from the combustion chamber through the sleeve, through the rotary valve and into an exhaust chamber. Then the exhaust gases flow through the sleeve and into an associated manifold exhaust passage. An alternative embodiment of a rotary valve system primarily comprises a rotary valve body mounted within an intake and exhaust manifold, with the valve body and manifold constructed substantially identical to the first embodiment, but without a valve sleeve. This embodiment operates in a manner similar to the first embodiment, the ability to adjust the amount of fuel-air mixture or the timing of the intake of such mixture is limited.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A rotary valve system for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising:

an intake and exhaust manifold having a cylindrical throughbore extending between opposing endwalls of said manifold, at least two manifold fuel intake passages and at least two manifold exhaust passages extending through a sidewall of said manifold to said throughbore, and at least two combustion cavities extending through a bottom wall of said manifold to said throughbore;
a tubular valve sleeve disposed within said cylindrical throughbore of said manifold, said tubular valve sleeve having a tubular sidewall with at least two sleeve fuel intake ports each in flow communication with one of said at least two manifold fuel intake passages, at least two sleeve fuel outlet ports each in flow communication with one of said at least two combustion cavities, at least two sleeve exhaust inlet ports each in flow communication with one of said at least two combustion cavities, and at least two sleeve exhaust outlet ports each in flow communication with one of said at least two manifold exhaust passages, extending through said tubular sidewall;
and
a rotary valve body disposed within said tubular valve sleeve, said rotary valve body having a tubular valve cylinder forming a fuel intake chamber and having at least two rotary valve fuel intake ports adapted for flow communication with said at least two sleeve fuel intake ports and said at least two sleeve fuel outlet ports, at least two valve exhaust inlet ports adapted for flow communication with said at least two sleeve exhaust inlet ports, and at least two valve exhaust outlet ports adapted for flow communication with said at least two sleeve exhaust outlet ports, extending through a sidewall of said tubular valve cylinder.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.