Rotary distribution system internal combustion engine

An internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, comprising:

• a first movably mounted distribution element from a plurality of moveable mounted distribution elements,
• wherein, the first distribution element, in a first configuration, fluidly couples an intake port of a first one of the plurality of cylinders with a combustion chamber of the first cylinder,
• wherein, the first distribution element, in a second configuration, fluidly couples the combustion chamber of the first cylinder with an exhaust port of the first cylinder,
• wherein, the first distribution element, in a third configuration, diverts intake air flow from the intake port of the first cylinder to an intake port of a second one of the plurality of cylinders,
• wherein, at the conclusion of the intake phase of the first cylinder, the first distribution element is moved into the third configuration,
• wherein, the second cylinder fires immediately subsequent to the first cylinder in a firing order of the engine,
• wherein, each of the subsequent distribution elements from the plurality of moveably mounted distribution elements are associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of cylinders which fire after the first cylinder in the firing order,
• wherein, in a first configuration, each of the subsequent distribution elements fluidly couples an intake port of the corresponding cylinder with a combustion chamber of the corresponding cylinder and wherein, in a second configuration, each subsequent distribution element fluidly couples the combustion chamber of the corresponding cylinder with an exhaust port of the corresponding cylinder,
• wherein, in a third configuration each of the subsequent distribution elements diverts intake air flow from the intake port of the corresponding cylinder to an immediately subsequent cylinder which, in the firing order, fires immediately subsequent to the corresponding cylinder,
• wherein, the subsequent distribution element corresponding to the final cylinder is moved into the third configuration at the conclusion of the intake phase of the final cylinder and diverts intake air flow from the intake port of the final cylinder to the intake port of the first cylinder through the final passage;
• a first passage extending from the intake port of the first cylinder to the intake port of the second cylinder;
• and
• a final passage extending from an intake port of a last firing cylinder in the firing order to the intake port of the first cylinder.

An engine cylinder having a combustion chamber, an intake passage and an exhaust passage for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a cylinder head having an intake port and an exhaust port;
• a rotary distribution element having an opening port which rotates with respect to the cylinder head so that, in a first orientation, the distribution element is aligned with the intake port and, in a second orientation, the distribution element is aligned with the exhaust port;
• and
• a valve which, when closed, substantially seals the combustion chamber and which, when open, fluidly communicates the opening port with the combustion chamber so that, when the distribution element is in the first orientation and the valve is open, the combustion chamber is in fluid communication with the intake port and, when the distribution element is in the second orientation and the valve is open, the combustion chamber is in fluid communication with the exhaust port,
• wherein an indentation is formed in an outer surface of the distribution element and wherein intake air is redirected through an intake air bypass port of the engine cylinder head when the indentation is aligned with the intake port of the engine cylinder head.

An engine cylinder having a combustion chamber, an intake passage and an exhaust passage for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a cylinder head having an intake port and an exhaust port;
• a movable flap mounted inside the cylinder head, wherein movement of the flap affects a size of the intake port and the exhaust port;
• a rotary distribution element having an opening port which rotates with respect to the cylinder head so that, in a first orientation, the distribution element is aligned with the intake port and, in a second orientation, the distribution element is aligned with the exhaust port;
• and
• a valve which, when closed, substantially seals the combustion chamber and which, when open, fluidly communicates the opening port with the combustion chamber so that, when the distribution element is in the first orientation and the valve is open, the combustion chamber is in fluid communication with the intake port and, when the distribution element is in the second orientation and the valve is open, the combustion chamber is in fluid communication with the exhaust port.

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder forming a combustion chamber therewithin and having an intake and an exhaust port associated therewith,
• a plurality of valves, wherein each valve is associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of cylinders so that, when a respective one of the valves is closed, the combustion chamber of a corresponding one of the cylinders is substantially sealed;
• a plurality of distribution elements, each distribution element being movably mounted adjacent to a corresponding one of the valves,
• wherein each distribution element has at least one opening extending therethrough,
• wherein, when the at least one opening of a respective one of the distribution elements is aligned with the corresponding intake port and the corresponding valve is open, the corresponding combustion chamber is fluidly coupled with the corresponding intake port,
• wherein, when the at least one opening of the respective one of the distribution elements is aligned with the corresponding exhaust port, the corresponding combustion chamber is fluidly coupled with the corresponding exhaust port,
• wherein the plurality of cylinders fire in a predetermined firing order, and further include,
• a first passage extending from the intake port of the first one of the cylinders to an intake port of a second one of the cylinders wherein, at the completion of an intake phase of the first cylinder, intake air is diverted through the first passage to the intake port of the second cylinder, wherein the first cylinder fires first in the predetermined firing order and the second cylinder fires immediately subsequent to the first cylinder in the predetermined firing order;
• and
• a final passage extending from the intake port of a last one of the cylinders to the intake port of the first cylinder wherein, at the completion of an intake phase of the last cylinder, intake air is diverted through the final passage to the intake port of the first cylinder, wherein the final cylinder fires last in the predetermined firing order.

A method for operating the intake system of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders that fire in a predetermined firing order, comprising the steps of:

• admitting, through a first individual intake passage, an intake air flow into a first one of the plurality of cylinders during an intake phase of the first cylinder, wherein the first cylinder fires first in the predetermined firing order;
• when the intake phase of the first cylinder has ended, redirecting the intake air flow, through a second individual intake passage, to an intake port of a second one of the plurality of cylinders, wherein the second cylinder fires immediately subsequent to the first cylinder in the predetermined firing order;
• and
• at the conclusion of an intake phase of a final one of the plurality of cylinders, redirecting the intake flow, through a final individual intake passage, to the intake port of the first cylinder, wherein the final cylinder fires last in the predetermined firing order.

A method for operating the intake system of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders that fire in a predetermined firing order, comprising the steps of:

• admitting, through a first intake passage, an intake air flow into a first one of the plurality of cylinders during an intake phase of the first cylinder, wherein the first cylinder fires first in the predetermined firing order;
• and
• when the intake phase of the first cylinder has ended, redirecting the intake air flow, through a second intake passage, to an intake port of a second one of the plurality of cylinders, wherein the second cylinder fires immediately subsequent to the first cylinder in the predetermined firing order
• wherein the intake air flow is redirected at the conclusion of an intake phase of a respective one of the cylinders by aligning a rotatably mounted distribution element in a predetermined position relative to the intake flow.

A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, comprising the steps of:

• moving a first distribution element mounted adjacent to a first one of the cylinders, into a first configuration to fluidly couple an intake port of the first cylinder with a first combustion chamber thereof;
• moving the first distribution element into a second configuration to fluidly couple the first combustion chamber with an exhaust port of the first cylinder;
• and
• moving the first distribution element into a third configuration that positions an indentation on the first distribution element to divert an intake air flow from the intake port of the first cylinder to an intake port of a second one of the plurality of cylinders.

A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, comprising the steps of:

• moving a first distribution element mounted adjacent to a first one of the cylinders, into a first configuration to fluidly couple an intake port of the first cylinder with a first combustion chamber thereof;
• and
• moving the first distribution element into a second configuration to fluidly couple the first combustion chamber with an exhaust port of the first cylinder,
• wherein the first distribution element is in the first configuration during an intake phase of the first cylinder, and
• wherein the first distribution element is in the second configuration during an exhaust phase of the first cylinder.

An intake system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders that fire in a predetermined order, comprising:

• a first separate intake passage fluidly connecting a first intake port of a first one of the plurality of cylinders and a second intake port of a second one of the plurality of cylinders,
• wherein the first cylinder fires first in the predetermined order and the second cylinder fires second in the predetermined order,
• wherein air is blown through the first separate intake passage fluidly connecting the first intake port of the first one of the plurality cylinders and the second intake port of the second one of the plurality of cylinders;
• and
• a final separate intake passage fluidly connecting an intake port of a final one of the plurality of cylinders to the first intake port, wherein the final cylinder fires last in the predetermined firing order.