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US 7,134,416 B2Granted
Rotary valve seal
AssigneeRcv Engines Limited
InventorKeith T. Lawes
Life of this patent
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AssigneeRcv Engines Limited
InventorKeith T. Lawes
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to a valve seal mechanism for a rotatable valve assembly that provides a sealing function between a rotating first valve element and a fixed second valve element as used in a rotary cylinder valve engine. In one embodiment the seal mechansim comprises a substantially rigid sealing frame which surrounds and sealingly engages the periphery of the valve port of one of the cyclindrical valve elements and also sealingly engages a surface of the other cylindrical valve element. In another embodiment, the seal mechanism comprises a resiliently deflectable tubular element of variable diameter, the tubular element being mounted around a first valve element with an aperture of the tubular element being radially aligned with a valve port of the first valve element, the tubular element being biased radially outward of the first valve element.
A valve seal mechanism for a rotary valve comprising a first cylindrical valve element and a second cylindrical valve element each formed with a respective valve port, the first cylindrical valve element being rotatable relative to the second cylindrical valve element to a position in which the ports in each cylindrical valve element are aligned, the seal mechanism comprising a substantially rigid sealing frame adapted to substantially surround the periphery of the valve port of the first cylindrical valve element to rotate with the first cylindrical valve element, the arrangement being such that, in use, an outer curved surface of the sealing frame sealingly engages a radially inner surface of the second cylindrical valve element, a sealing element being provided to effect a seal between the sealing frame and the first cylindrical valve element, a predetermined surface area of the sealing frame being exposed to an internal chamber of the first cylindrical valve element such that the pressure within the internal chamber acts on a predetermined surface area of the sealing frame to bias the sealing frame into sealing engagement with the second cylindrical valve element.
A valve seal mechanism for a rotary valve element comprising a first and a second cylindrical valve element each formed with a respective valve port, the first cylindrical valve element being rotatable relative to the second cylindrical valve element to a position in which the ports in each cylindrical valve element are aligned, the seal mechanism comprising a sealing frame adapted to substantially surround the periphery of the valve port of the first cylindrical valve element, a radially outer curved surface of the sealing frame sealingly engaging a radially inner surface of a tubular element, a sealing element being provided to effect a seal between the sealing frame and the first cylindrical valve element, the tubular element being formed with an aperture, and being adapted to be mounted on the first cylindrical valve element to extend substantially around the first cylindrical valve element such that the aperture of the tubular element is radially aligned with the valve port of the first cylindrical valve element, the tubular element being resiliently biased radially outwardly of said first cylindrical valve element, such that a part of the tubular element that surrounds the aperture sealingly engages the second cylindrical valve element.
A valve seal mechanism for a rotary valve, the rotary valve comprising a first and a second cylindrical valve element each formed with a respective valve port, at least one of the valve elements being rotatable relative to the other to a position in which the ports in each cylindrical valve element are aligned, the sealing mechanism comprising a sealing frame and biasing means comprising a first portion adapted to sealingly engage with the first cylindrical valve element and a second portion adapted to sealingly engage with the sealing frame, the biasing means being such that, in use, the biasing means biases the sealing frame in a radial direction from the first cylindrical valve element, wherein the sealing frame and biasing means are separate components and the biasing means comprises a spring, a portion of which is disposed between the sealing frame and the first cylindrical valve element, the spring comprising a cantilevered element, an outer periphery of which is adapted to be secured to the first cylindrical valve element so as to be constrained relative to the first cylindrical valve element, and an inner portion of which is spaced from the outer peripheral portion in a direction generally towards a longitudinal axis of the valve port of the first cylindrical valve element, the arrangement being such that, in use, the inner portion of the spring is movable radially relative to the first cylindrical valve element and the inner portion is in contact with part of the sealing frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.