Abstract:
The engine has at least one cylinder ( 2 ) each with at least one and preferably multiple air intake valves ( 25′, 1 ) into the cylinder, and at least one exhaust port ( 51 ) at a lower position above the bottom position of the piston ( 53 ). A blower ( 4 ) is arranged to force air into each cylinder via each intake valve as the piston moves around the bottom position, the blower not supplying enough pressure to keep each intake valve open during upward motion of the piston, such that during upward motion of the piston, compression occurs within each cylinder, and such that during downward motion of the piston the blower forces air into each cylinder via each intake valve once each exhaust port is uncovered by the downward motion, and out of each cylinder via each exhaust port. The air intake valves are positively actuated by controlled air pressure differentials, for example by each intake valve having a valve disk ( 85 ) to close against a valve seat ( 1 ), a valve shaft ( 86 ), and lower and upper guide disks ( 87, 88 ). The lower and upper guide disks run in guide bores ( 89 ) and act as actuating pneumatic pistons, the guide bores extending between an air supply chamber ( 3 ) receiving air from the blower and a vacuum plenum ( 84 ). The guide disks thereby respond to a pressure differential between the vacuum plenum and the air supply chamber to actuate the valve.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/699,401 filed Jul. 15, 2005. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a two-stroke internal combustion engine, and in particular to an air supply and exhaust gas discharge (scavenging) system. 
     The invention is an improvement based on existing U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,444 (“the prior invention”) by the same inventor. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A major problem in two-stroke engines is the process of purging exhaust gases and, during the same stroke, providing combustion air. The process of purging the exhaust gases is commonly referred to as “scavenging”. Although fuel injection systems mitigate this problem to some extent, proper scavenging is indispensable for achieving high efficiency and low exhaust emissions. 
     A problem with scavenging in conventional two-stroke engines has been to prevent these two gas masses from mixing, with all the well-known resulting drawbacks regarding fuel efficiency and emissions. This problem was addressed by the prior invention. 
     In the prior invention, scavenging was achieved by locating at least one and preferably a number of air intake valves in the head of each cylinder, and at least one and preferably a number of exhaust gas discharge openings in the lower cylinder walls. The air intake valves were controlled solely by air pressure differentials, generated by fluctuating pressure inside the cylinder on one side and in the air supply chamber on the other side. When the piston rim cleared the exhaust openings on its downstroke, pressure in the cylinder decreased below the pressure in the air supply chamber, causing the air intake valves to open and allow for the inflow of scavenging air. A scavenging blower was used to force air into the air supply chamber and thence through the valves, in order to more effectively purge the exhaust gases form the cylinder as the piston descended. This arrangement can operate in an internal combustion engine utilizing either the Diesel or Otto processes. 
     Test results with a prototype engine according to the prior invention are very encouraging. However, it has been realized that notwithstanding excellent results to date, further improvement is possible. 
     In particular it has been realized that it would be beneficial to assist the passive valve check bodies of the prior invention to close more promptly after the upward-moving piston has closed the exhaust ports. This would increase the crankshaft angle available to compression, and thus facilitate a higher effective compression ratio in the combustion chamber. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     In view of the above, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved scavenging system for two-stroke internal combustion engines, including particular system components and component configurations. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide certain improvements to the engine described in the prior invention, particularly in relation to scavenging, while maintaining most or all of the traditional advantages of two-stroke engines. 
     The inventor has recognized that controlling the timely closure of the check bodies will improve upon the prior invention, and enhance the fuel efficiency of the engine and increase its specific power output. It is of course desirable to do so without sacrificing the genuine advantages of two-stroke engines, e.g. simplicity, smaller size and mass, cost-effective production, etc. 
     Two-stroke engines using forms of uni-flow scavenging regimes are known, but the advantages are partially sacrificed by incorporating exhaust valves controlled by camshafts, as in four-stroke engines. 
     In engines according to the prior invention, mechanically actuated check bodies, although technically feasible, are generally out of the question due to lost simplicity and high costs. Although other methods of actuating the check bodies are conceivable, e.g. by individual solenoid coils, again there would be lost simplicity and high cost. 
     Therefore, in the invention, a pneumatic actuating system is employed, using the principles and certain features of the prior invention, e.g. the external generation of the scavenging air via a blower, with particular modifications to certain features of other components of the prior invention, including the check bodies and the cylinder head. 
     Accordingly, the engine has at least one cylinder with a piston mounted therein for reciprocal motion between a top position and a bottom position. Each cylinder has at least one and preferably multiple air intake valves into the cylinder, to allow air into the top of the cylinder, and at least one exhaust port at a lower position above the bottom position of the piston. A blower is arranged to force air into each cylinder via each intake valve as the piston moves around the bottom position, the blower not supplying enough pressure to keep each intake valve open during upward motion of the piston, such that during upward motion of the piston, compression occurs within each cylinder, and such that during downward motion of the piston the blower forces air into each cylinder via each intake valve once each exhaust port is uncovered by the downward motion, and out of each cylinder via each exhaust port. In the invention, the air intake valves are positively actuated by controlled air pressure differentials. 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention is aimed at providing an internal combustion engine with a potential power output of 100 HP to 300 HP, for example, using a modular engine design with, for example, 2, 3, 4, or 6 cylinders with displacements of 1.0 L to 3.0 L, as required. However, the invention is not limited to specific numbers or sizes of cylinders or specific power outputs. Ideally, the invention would allow two-stroke engines to perform comparably to similar four-cycle engines, while remaining lighter, simpler and more cost-effective than their four-cycle counterparts. 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention not only decreases the response time of the valve check bodies during the compression phase, but also allows for the creation of a cleaner combustion chamber, with a smooth surface of the cylinder head opposite to the piston, eliminating small cavities around the check bodies, which represent some undesired dead space. 
     Further details of the invention will be described or will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description and drawing of a specific embodiment of the invention, as an example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  (prior art) is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the prior invention; 
         FIG. 2  (prior art) is a perspective view showing the air supply chamber of the prior invention, with a multitude of air intake valves arranged in concentric circles in the cylinder head; 
         FIG. 3  (prior art) is a cut-away perspective view of the engine block of the prior invention, in the area above one of the cylinders; 
         FIG. 4  is a semi-schematic illustration of a cylinder head and auxiliaries in an engine according to the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of one of the valves according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The Prior Invention 
     The prior invention is fully described in the inventor&#39;s prior U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,444, which can be referred to for additional information. However, the prior invention is summarized below for convenience. 
       FIGS. 1-3  show an embodiment of the prior invention. 
     In the prior invention, air intake valves  1  provide passageways between each cylinder  2  and an air supply chamber  3 . The air intake valves are activated and controlled solely by air pressure differentials created by fluctuating pressure inside the cylinder on one side of the valves, and in the air supply chamber on the other side of the valves. 
     A scavenging blower  4  is provided to purge the exhaust gases and, at the same time, to charge the engine with air. Depending on the desired characteristics for the engine, the scavenging blower can be a low pressure type which is just able to overcome the resistances of the air and gas flow channels in order to provide proper scavenging only. Alternatively, a high pressure scavenging blower could be used to provide for pre-compression in the cylinder, for enhanced power output. This high pressure scavenging blower could be coupled with a conventional intercooler  5  to enhance the pre-charging effect. 
     Because the expansion phase must provide the working stroke in a two-stroke engine, it is desirable to leave the exhaust ports closed for as much of the downstroke as possible. The use of a blower for scavenging improves performance by permitting the opening of the exhaust ports to be delayed without resulting in ineffective scavenging. 
     The scavenging blower  4  is driven by an electrical servo motor  9  which allows the scavenging blower to immediately respond to changing operating conditions of the engine without being dependent on engine operating conditions such as the revolutions of the crankshaft or the energy content of the exhaust gas. Accordingly, the scavenging blower is driven by the servo motor and is controlled, for example, by a computer program designed to optimize the function of the scavenging blower. The servo motor provides the necessary electronic feedback to the computer program. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the air drawn into the scavenging blower preferably first passes through a conventional air filter  6  and a check valve  7 . Before the air reaches the three-way diverter valve  8 , the air may pass through a conventional intercooler  5  if increased power output from the engine is desired. 
     The three-way diverter valve  8  is located between the intercooler  5  and the air supply chamber  3 . Alternatively, if the engine does not include an intercooler, the three-way diverter valve will be located between the outlet of the blower  4  and the air supply chamber. The three-way diverter valve allows more efficient management of the interaction between the scavenging blower and the combustion engine. 
     The three-way diverter valve is linked to the accelerator  10 , such that when the accelerator is depressed and full power is called for, the three-way diverter valve offers unrestricted air flow to the air supply chamber, and when the engine is idling, the air flow is partially directed back to the suction side of the scavenging blower. Alternatively, transducers (not shown) for air pressure and air flow may be incorporated as part of the air supply system to provide feedback to the electronic control system. In an alternative embodiment, the variable position of the three-way diverter valve can be controlled by a second small servo motor (not shown). The control system for this second servo motor receives feedback from an electronic position encoder configured to detect the position of the accelerator. 
       FIG. 2  shows the air supply chamber  3  with a multitude of identical air intake valves  1  arranged in concentric circles around the top of each cylinder. The air intake valves penetrate the divider wall  15  in the cylinder head between the air supply chamber and the cylinders. As seen in  FIG. 3 , the air intake valves encircle the combustion chamber  20  located at the center of each cylinder. 
       FIG. 3  also shows that an air intake valve consists of an inlet bore  21  with rounded bore edges  22  and an outlet bore  24 . In the preferred embodiment, the inlet bore has a diameter of 7 mm and the outlet bore has a diameter of 11 mm. A ring-shaped seat  23  is located in the outlet bore adjacent to the inlet bore. A check body  25  floats freely in the outlet bore and is retained by the seat ring  23  in the up direction and by concentric retainer rings  26  in the downward direction. The check body is allowed freedom to move axially away from the ring-shaped seat by a sufficient distance to open a channel to permit air flow. In the closed position, the check body abuts against the ring-shaped seat, essentially eliminating air flow. The retainer rings concentric to the cylinder axis have a trapezoidal cross-section, and are fitted within grooves of a complementary trapezoidal shape in the lower plain of the cylinder head. Two bores  27  and  28  penetrate the dividing wall between the air supply chamber and the cylinder to accommodate a spark plug and fuel injection nozzle, respectively. 
     The check body  25  in the prior invention has a mushroom shape, with a semi-spherical head facing the inlet bore, attached to a conical stem. 
     In addition to locating the air intake valves in the cylinder head, as described above, exhaust gas openings must be located near the bottom of the cylinder in order to achieve the straight flow scavenging system. As depicted schematically in  FIG. 1 , exhaust ports  51  are located through the lower cylinder walls near the lowest position of the upper rim  54  of the piston  53 , when the crankshaft  52  is around the bottom dead center. The exhaust ports preferably are in the shape of radial slots, although that is not specifically illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     When the upper piston rim clears these exhaust ports on the down-stroke, the pressure in the cylinder will decrease below the pressure in the air supply chamber, causing the air intake valves to open and allow the scavenging air to enter the cylinder. The scavenging air will drive the exhaust gases out of the cylinder via the exhaust ports. Because at least 50% of a cylinder&#39;s circumference remains available for scavenging even in an engine with more than one cylinder, the height of the exhaust ports can be quite small so that, unlike a conventional two-stroke engine, little of the crankshaft angle has to be sacrificed to scavenging. This, in turn, contributes to improved overall engine performance. 
     As mentioned above, the inventor&#39;s prior patent provides additional details. 
     The Present Invention 
     In the prior invention, there are multiple valve check bodies in the cylinder head of the engine. In a one-cylinder test engine produced in accordance with the prior invention, there are sixteen check valve bodies, for example. Given their locations, and their arrangement in two concentric circles, it would be quite complicated and expensive to actuate them mechanically. In the present invention, it has been recognized that a boost provided by vacuum is sufficient to assist in closing the valves at the optimal time in the cycle. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the vacuum boost is provided by modifying some components of the prior invention, to make additional use of its blower for generating vacuum as well. Of course, the addition of a separate vacuum pump, although more expensive, would be a viable alternative to making use of the blower. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the modifications brought about by this invention relative to the prior invention. The principal parts are listed below:
         intake filter  6     scavenging blower  4     Venturi nozzle  70     pressure chamber of Venturi nozzle  71     ring chamber of Venturi nozzle  72     diffuser of Venturi nozzle  73     dark arrows  75 , denoting the flow of pressurized air   light arrows  76 , denoting the flow direction of “vacuum”   vacuum duct  77     air supply duct  78     switch valve  8     solenoid coil  80     electronic control unit  81     multi-valve module, partial cross section; “replaceable unit”  40     cover lid  83     vacuum plenum  84     air supply chamber  3     valve bore and seat  1     check bodies  25 ′   valve disk  85     valve shaft  86     lower and upper guide disks  87 ,  88     guide bore  89     locator pins  90         
     The functions of the air intake filter  6  and the scavenging blower  4  are apparent. 
     A variety of blower types can be used, e.g. high speed radial fans as in turbochargers, but powered by a DC electrical motor, as originally suggested in the prior invention, or electrically-powered side channel blowers. Other options are standard exhaust driven turbo chargers or Roots-type blowers, etc. 
     The latter have been around for more than 100 years and have come a long way in terms of available sizes, reliability, efficiency and last but not least, price. Further, two specific properties make the Roots-type blower the preferred choice: first, it has no built-in compression ratio but pressurizes the air “on demand”, which means that it automatically adjusts to the resistance built up in the engine; second, it can be powered by the engine itself via simple means, e.g. a belt drive. 
     The ducts for pressurized air are denoted by dark arrows  75 , indicating the flow direction. 
     The ducts for “vacuum”, actually air with pressure below atmosphere, are denoted by light arrows  76 , also indicating flow direction. 
     The Venturi type nozzle  70  is a simple, cost-effective way for generating the vacuum. In its narrowest section after its pressure chamber  71 , it features the ring chamber  72  which the vacuum duct  77  connects to. 
     The diffuser  73  partially re-establishes the overpressure of the air flowing through and continuing on via air supply duct  78  towards the air supply chamber  3 , a part of the multi-valve module  40 . 
     The multi-valve module  40  further accommodates the check bodies  25 ′ (corresponding to but differently configured from the check bodies  25  in the prior invention), the valve bores and seats  1 , the guide bores  89 , the locator pins  90 , the cover lid  83 , which establishes the vacuum plenum  84 . 
     Not shown in  FIG. 4 , the multi-valve module  40  features also the threaded bores  27 ,  28  for the spark plug and the fuel injection nozzle. However, the fuel injector could also be positioned to reach the combustion chamber from the side at the top of the cylinder, thereby not passing through the valve module. 
     For purposes of illustration, the check bodies  25 ′ are depicted in two positions in  FIG. 4 , though in operation all check bodies associated with a given cylinder of course would be in the same position at any given time. Two are shown closed, and the other open, with arrows  75  indicating the air flow during the scavenging phase.  FIG. 5  illustrates a single check body  25 ′. 
     The essential component assisting with these position changes is the switch valve  8 . It is a three-way two-position valve, actuated by the solenoid coil  80 , which in turn is controlled by the electronic control unit (ECU)  81 . The three-way configuration makes it possible to manipulate the valve opening as well in a controlled and even programmable manner. 
     According to the invention, the preferred check bodies have the shape of mini poppet valves with a spherical segment as the valve disk  85 , the valve shaft  86  and the lower and upper guide disks  87  and  88  respectively, the guide disks acting in pairs also as actuating pneumatic pistons. The guide bores  89  act as pneumatic cylinders. The clearance between a pair of guide disks  87 ,  88  and the guide bore  89  can be made quite generous due to the self-aligning effect of the valve disks  85 , allowing for some minor air leakage between the air supply chamber  3  and the vacuum plenum  84 . This in turn provides for lubrication by air of the guide disks  87 ,  88 , allowing for their simple and low cost design. 
     The operation of the invention can be described as follows: 
     The scavenging blower  4  runs all the time with the engine, generating the scavenging air flow. If directly driven, its delivery is governed by the engine; if indirectly driven, e.g. by a DC motor, it is speed controlled by the ECU  81 . 
     The Venturi nozzle  70 , with its ring chamber  72 , generates the required vacuum. 
     The diffuser  73  partially restores the overpressure of the air and delivers it, via duct  7  to the air supply chamber  3 . 
     When a check body  25  is open, scavenging air flows into the cylinder as indicated by arrows  75 . Of course, the sequence of events is controlled by the ECU  81 , with particular events, parameters or set points programmable. Thus for instance, the timing for the valves to open and close, and the times for fuel injection and ignition can be optimized so that power output, fuel economy and emissions will be optimized. 
     With the valve disks  85  of the check bodies  25 ′ shaped like spherical segments, a self-aligning effect will be achieved, which allows for the low cost design already mentioned. At the same time a perfectly smooth surface of the cylinder head is achieved, contributing to a “clean” combustion chamber when the valves are closed. 
     The locator pins  90  limit the down travel of the check bodies  25 ′, when they are hit by the upper guide disks  88 . The uppermost position of the check bodies  25 ′ is defined by the valve disks  85  settling into their seats  1 , with the valve shaft  86  providing the necessary firm connection. 
     In a one-cylinder engine there is only one of each item as listed above, except for the multitude of check bodies  25 ′. In engines with X number of cylinders, there will be X number of each item on the above list, except the intake filter  6 , blower  4 , Venturi nozzle  70  and ECU  81 . 
     Further variations may be apparent or become apparent to those knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and are within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims which follow. 
     The invention will facilitate the creation of a two-stroke engine which should be able to compete with the most modern four-stroke engines in terms of performance, emission standards, specific fuel consumption and other relevant parameters, while retaining the traditional advantages of the two-stroke engine: smaller, lighter, simpler, more cost-effective. The addition of a controlled and programmable valve activating system to the prior invention, according to this invention, will facilitate variable valve timing and partial selective cylinder cut-off. The engine, with very flexible valve timing, will also be able to operate with variable displacement according to load conditions further improving overall fuel economy. To save fuel during extreme low load application, it could also switch from two-stroke to four-stroke mode operation with great advantages over the individual cylinder shut-off methods currently developed/implemented by manufacturers of large displacement four-stroke engines. The programmable check valve activation will provide for outstanding engine flexibility. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The invention allows a two-stroke engine to arrive at a level of efficiency, fuel economy, and emission quality of a comparable four-cycle engine, but with a smaller, simpler, lighter, and more economical power plant.