Patent ID: 8360395
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: F01L,F16K

Abstract:
1. In an energy conversion engine, a sliding valve assembly for introducing and/or exhausting a fluid medium relative to a cylinder containing a reciprocating piston and pressure within the system, said sliding valve assembly comprising: a valve housing mounted to the energy conversion engine and comprising a first valve housing member with a first fluid conducting passage and a second valve housing member with a second fluid conducting passage, the first valve housing member and the second valve housing member forming a valve cavity; a valve body housed in the valve cavity of the valve housing and having a fluid conducting port adjacent to a fluid impervious surface; an actuator connected to the valve body for translating movements of the valve body within the valve cavity of the valve housing into a fluid conducting position where the fluid conducting port of the valve body allows a fluid conducting relation between the first fluid conducting passage and the second fluid conducting passage of the valve housing and into a fluid blocking position where the fluid impervious surface of the valve body obstructs a fluid conducting relation between the first fluid conducting passage and the second fluid conducting passage of the valve housing; wherein the valve housing and the valve body have cooperating surfaces for constraining the valve body during the translating movements of the valve body within the valve cavity of the valve housing between the fluid conducting position and the fluid blocking position of the valve body; at least a first sealing assembly carried by the valve body and located within and across the fluid impervious surface of the valve body and adjacent to the fluid conducting port of the valve body for forming a first sealing relationship between the valve body and the valve housing wherein the valve body includes a seal cavity and wherein the first sealing assembly includes a primary seal ring, a secondary seal ring surrounding the periphery of the primary seal ring, and a resilient member arranged to apply a resilient force between the primary seal ring and a wall of the seal cavity of the valve body for loading the primary seal ring against the wall of the seal cavity of the valve body of the sliding valve assembly; wherein the first sealing assembly has a shape selected from the group consisting of a cylindrical shape, a D-shape, an obloid shape, and variations of a circle shape; and wherein the secondary seal ring of the first sealing assembly is freely moveable relative to the seal cavity of the valve body.