Split-cycle engine with disc valve
AssigneeScuderi Group, LLC
InventorSalvatore C. Scuderi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A split-cycle engine with disc valve includes a crankshaft, a power cylinder and a compression cylinder. A gas crossover passage interconnects the compression cylinder and the power cylinder. An air intake port circumscribes a periphery of the compression cylinder and defines an outer valve seat. An annular ring having a generally central opening is disposed between the compression cylinder and the air intake port and forms a washer valve for opening and closing the air intake port. A disc valve member is concentrically mounted over the central opening of the annular ring. The disc valve member includes a piston portion having a sidewall biased into engagement with the outer valve seat for controlling flow between the compression cylinder and the gas crossover passage.
Claims19
A disc valve assembly for a split-cycle engine, the disc valve assembly comprising:
- a generally circular air inlet having a central axis;
- an axially flexible washer-shaped annular ring having a generally central opening, the annular ring being adjacent said air inlet and forming a washer valve for opening and closing said air inlet;
- a generally circular outer valve seat adjacent said air inlet;
- a housing including a sleeve having an open end, a flow channel through said sleeve, and a control chamber;
- a disc valve member including a stem portion received in said sleeve through said sleeve open end and a piston portion connected to the stem portion, the piston portion having a sloped outer sidewall biased into engagement with said outer valve seat and a generally central opening defined by a sloped inner sidewall that forms an inner valve seat concentric with the central opening in said washer valve;
- and
- an unloading valve member disposed in said housing, the unloading valve member including a piston disposed in said control chamber, a stem extending from the piston through said control chamber and into said flow channel, and a disc-shaped valve portion connected to the stem opposite the piston, the disc-shaped valve portion having a sloped outer surface cooperable with said inner valve seat;
- said unloading valve member being biased into engagement with said inner valve seat.
A split-cycle engine comprising:
- a crankshaft rotatable about a crankshaft axis;
- a cylinder bank including a power cylinder and a compression cylinder;
- a power piston slidably received within the power cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the power piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke during a single rotation of the crankshaft;
- a compression piston slidably received within the compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke during a single rotation of the crankshaft;
- a gas crossover passage interconnecting the compression cylinder and the power cylinder;
- an air intake port having an open end circumscribing a periphery of the compression cylinder and an outer surface adjacent the open end that defines an outer valve seat;
- an annular ring having a generally central opening, the annular ring being disposed between the compression cylinder and the air intake port adjacent the open end of the air intake port forming a washer valve for opening and closing the air intake port;
- and
- a disc valve member concentrically mounted over the central opening of the annular ring, the disc valve member including a piston portion having a sidewall biased into engagement with the outer valve seat for controlling flow between the compression cylinder and the gas crossover passage;
- whereby during the intake stroke of the compression piston, the washer valve opens to allow intake air to be drawn into the compression cylinder, and during the compression stroke, the washer valve closes and the disc valve member opens to allow compressed intake air to enter the gas crossover passage from the compression cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.