Rotary valve assembly having rotatable throttle and intake assemblies

An engine comprising:

• a rotary valve assembly comprising:
• a valve housing defining a cylindrical bore, an inlet, and an outlet;
• an intake assembly configured to be at least partially received within the cylindrical bore of the valve housing, wherein the intake assembly comprises an intake body defining a cylindrical bore and having at least one intake inlet port and at least one intake chamber port;
• and
• a throttle assembly configured to be at least partially received within the cylindrical bore of the intake assembly, wherein the throttle assembly comprises a throttle body defining at least one throttle inlet port and at least one throttle chamber port;
• wherein the throttle assembly and the intake assembly are concentric with respect to a longitudinal axis,
• wherein the throttle assembly and the intake assembly are configured to rotate independently of one another about the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the at least one intake chamber port and the at least one throttle chamber port at least partially overlap in a longitudinal direction,
• wherein the at least one intake inlet port and the at least one throttle inlet port at least partially overlap in the longitudinal direction, and
• a chamber housing comprising a chamber therein,
• wherein the valve housing is rigidly attached to the chamber housing, and
• wherein the rotary valve assembly is in fluid communication with the chamber via an intake housing outlet chamber port,
• wherein, during operation of the engine, the valve housing is configured to permit fluid to enter the cylindrical bore of the valve housing via the inlet, the intake assembly is configured to rotate to permit the fluid to flow through the at least one intake inlet port and the at least one throttle inlet port into the throttle body, and the intake assembly is configured to permit the fluid to flow to the outlet and into the chamber from the throttle body through the at least one throttle chamber port and the at least one intake chamber port, and
• wherein the at least one intake chamber port comprises a greater number of ports than the at least one throttle chamber port.

A method for controlling flow of a working fluid into an engine chamber using a rotary valve assembly, the rotary valve assembly comprising a valve housing defining a cylindrical bore, an inlet, and an outlet;

• an intake assembly configured to be at least partially received within the cylindrical bore of the valve housing, wherein the intake assembly comprises an intake body defining a cylindrical bore and having at least one intake inlet port and at least one intake chamber port;
• and a throttle assembly configured to be at least partially received within the cylindrical bore of the intake assembly, wherein the throttle assembly comprises a throttle body defining at least one throttle inlet port and at least one throttle chamber port;
• wherein the throttle assembly and the intake assembly are concentric with respect to a longitudinal axis, wherein the throttle assembly and the intake assembly are configured to rotate independently of one another about the longitudinal axis, wherein the at least one intake inlet port and the at least one throttle inlet port at least partially overlap in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the at least one intake chamber port and the at least one throttle chamber port at least partially overlap in a longitudinal direction;
• the method comprising:
• receiving working fluid into the bore of the valve housing through the inlet, wherein the intake assembly is disposed in the bore;
• rotating the intake body of the rotary valve in the bore such that the at least one intake inlet port of the inlet assembly at least partially aligns with the inlet of the valve housing and the at least one throttle inlet port to receive the working fluid within the throttle body;
• wherein during the rotation of the intake body of the intake assembly, the at least one intake chamber port at least partially aligns with the at least one throttle chamber port and the outlet of the valve housing,
• wherein when the at least one intake chamber port, the at least one throttle chamber port, and the outlet of the valve housing at least partially align, the working fluid is directed into the engine chamber, and
• wherein the at least one intake chamber port comprises a greater number of ports than the at least one throttle chamber port.