Abstract:
A valve seal for a rotary valve assembly for use in an internal combustion engine of the piston and cylinder type, wherein the cylinder head/combustion chamber is designed for high compression and of long stroke, such as a diesel engine, the rotary valves and the valve seals being positioned in relationship so as to permit charging of the cylinder with a fuel/air mixture and evacuation of spent gases, and to regulate the pressure within the valve seal and valve seat and hence regulate the pressure between the valve seal and the rotary valve.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine of the piston-cylinder type having a spherical rotary valve assembly for the introduction of the fuel/air mixture to the cylinder and the evacuation of the exhaust gases, and is particularly directed to the floating valve seals for such rotary valve assembly and means for regulating pressure therein, particularly in long stroke, high compression engines such as diesels. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The Applicant herein has directed considerable attention to the internal combustion engine of the piston-cylinder type and in particular to the replacement of the poppet valve system, including the poppet valve, springs, mountings and associated cam shaft, with a spherical rotary valve assembly for the introduction of the fuel air mixture into the cylinder and for the evacuation of the exhaust gases. Applicant is the named inventor in U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,576, “Internal Combustion Engine”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,261, “Spherical Rotary Valve Assembly for Internal Combustion Engine”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,527, “Spherical Rotary Valve Assembly for Internal Combustion Engine”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,232, “Valve Seal for Rotary Valve Engine”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,558, “Spherical Rotary Valve Assembly for Internal Combustion Engine”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,814, “Spherical Rotary Valve”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,739, “Spherical Rotary Valve Assembly for Use in a Rotary Valve Internal Combustion Engine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,676 B1, “Cooling System for Rotary Valve Engine”, and pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/280,293. The aforementioned U.S. Patents are incorporated herein as if set forth in length and in detail. 
   The valve seal as described in Applicant&#39;s prior patents is a floating valve seal within a valve seat. The valve seal is positioned in the lower half of the split head assembly proximate the intake port and exhaust port for the cylinder. A biasing means is positioned within the valve seat and the valve seal is positioned above the biasing means. The upper surface of the valve seal is arcuate in shape conforming to the periphery of the rotary intake or rotary exhaust valve of the spherical rotary intake or spherical rotary exhaust valve assembly. The underbody of the valve seal sitting within the valve seat would have one or more sealing rings positioned thereabout in an annular sealing contact with the outer wall of the valve seat. In this configuration the valve seal floats within the valve seat and there is a slight gap between the inner wall of the valve seat and the valve seal which allows for the compressed gases to enter the valve seat through this gap and pressurize the area between the valve seal and the valve seat during the compression stroke which further provides for tight sealing contact between the valve seal and the spherical rotary intake and spherical rotary exhaust valves. 
   In short stroke engines, the assembly works without modification because of the relatively short stroke of the piston and the resultant pressures developed. However in long stroke engines, such as diesels, in which the compression is significantly greater than in a conventional internal combustion engine, and which compression actually results in the detonation of the fuel/air mixture under signficantly higher pressure, the valve seal of a rotary valve assembly for a diesel engine requires a modified structure in that the compression gases would cause excessive pressure on the floating valve seal and its contact with the spherical rotary intake valve or spherical rotary exhaust valve. 
   The present invention which is the subject to this application relates to the floating valve seal and means for regulating pressure therein. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel and improved valve seal for a rotary valve engine. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel and improved valve seal for a rotary valve engine in which the ceramic insert of the valve seal is positioned in a locking angle for improved life span. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel and improved valve seal for a rotary valve engine in which a gas tight seal is maintained by the pressure developed in the cylinder and combustion chamber. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for an improved and novel valve seal for a spherical rotary valve assembly which requires no external lubrication. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel and improved valve, valve seal and cylinder head/combustion chamber arrangement for a rotary valve engine. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel and improved floating valve seal arrangement for a rotary valve engine assembly which regulates the pressure within the valve seal. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A valve seal for a rotary valve assembly for use in an internal combustion engine of the piston and cylinder type, wherein the cylinder head/combustion chamber is designed for high compression and of long stroke, such as a diesel engine, the rotary valves and the valve seals being positioned in relationship so as to permit charging of the cylinder with a fuel/air mixture and evacuation of spent gases, and to regulate the pressure within the valve seal and valve seat and hence regulate the pressure between the valve seal and the rotary valve. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other advantages and improvements will be evident, especially when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an end cross-sectional view of the head of the spherical rotary valve assembly showing the relationship of the spherical rotary valve to the cylinder, piston and valve seal; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the improved valve seal of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a side cutaway view of the improved valve seal and valve seat of the present invention along plane  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the pressure regulating ring of the improved valve seal of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated an end cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the spherical rotary valve assembly of Applicant&#39;s prior patents detailing the relationship between a rotary intake valve  10  enclosed within an upper half  12  and a lower half  14  of a split head assembly. The split head assembly is secured to an engine block having cylinder  16  within which piston  18  reciprocates. 
   The split head assembly comprising upper half  12  and lower half  14  defines a drum accommodating cavity  20  within which rotary intake valve  10  is positioned. Rotary intake valve  10  is positioned on shaft  22  which passes through a centrally positioned aperture  24  on the rotary intake valve  10 . As discussed in detail in Applicant&#39;s prior patents heretofore set forth, rotary intake valve  10  provides for communication between fuel air inlet port  26  and cylinder  16  by means of an aperture  30  positioned on the spherical periphery  21  of the rotary valve  10  which comes into successive registration with inlet port  32  to cylinder  16 . 
   Rotary intake valve  10  rotating within drum accommodating cavity  20  on shaft  22  is in contact with valve seal  35 , annularly positioned in an annular groove or seat  38  about inlet port  321  to cylinder  16 . Valve seal  35  serves to provide a seal to insure that the fuel/air mixture passes from rotary intake valve  10  into cylinder  16  during the intake stroke and further provides a seal with rotary intake valve  10  during the compression stroke to insure that the ignition of the fuel/air mixture occurs within cylinder  16  and does not migrate into drum accommodating cavity  20 . Further, seal  35  provides a seal with rotary intake valve  10  during the exhaust stroke to insure that the exhaust gases exit through the rotary exhaust valve. 
   The description of valve seal as contained herein is made with respect to a rotary intake valve as shown and illustrated in FIG.  1 . Valve seal is of the same design and serves the same purpose and function with respect to its relationship to the rotary exhaust valve of the spherical rotary valve assembly as disclosed in Applicant&#39;s prior patents heretofore identified. It is further understood that each cylinder would have at least one rotary intake valve and one rotary exhaust valve and a valve seal associated with each. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which are a top view and cutaway view of an improved valve seal  36 , there is illustrated a valve seal body  37  and a ceramic carbon insert lubricating ring  52  as more fully described hereafter. Valve seal  36  has a centrally disposed aperture  40  alignable with inlet port  32  when valve seal  36  is seated in annular groove or seat  38 . The upper annular surface  42  of valve body  37  is curved inwardly towards the center of aperture  40 . This curvature corresponding to the spherical periphery curvature  23  of the rotary intake valve  10 . Upper surface  42  of valve body  37  is formed with an annular groove  44  which is defined by an inner side wall  46  and outer side wall  48 . The inner side wall  46  forms a 90 degree angle, while outer side wall  48  forms an angle of less than 90 degrees. Annular groove  44  is for receipt of a ceramic carbon insert lubricating ring  52 . The ceramic carbon insert lubricating ring  52  is positioned in the annular groove  44  such that its upper surface  54  corresponds with the curvature of the upper surface  42  of valve body  37 . In mating the carbon insert lubricating ring to the valve body  37 , valve body  37  would be heated so that it would undergo slight expansion. The ceramic carbon insert lubricating ring  52  would then be inserted into annular groove  44  during its heating process. The valve body  37  would then be allowed to cool. Since outer side wall  48  of the annular groove is slightly offset from 90 degrees in the direction of inner side wall  46 , the ceramic carbon insert lubricating ring  52  is locked in position by this “locking angle” and is assured of remaining in position regardless of how hot the valve seal  36  became during the combustion process of the internal combusion engine. This is particularly important when the internal combustion engine to which the valve seal is affixed is being powered by natural gas or diesel which generate substantially higher temperatures and pressure than conventional gasoline fuel. 
   The outer side wall  54  of valve seal  36  is stepped and formed with a spaced apart annular rib  56  for the receipt and positioning of at least one sealing or blast ring  58  which function much like a piston ring establishing a seal between valve seal  36  side wall  54  and the periphery of annular groove or seat  38  about inlet port  32 . In the present embodiment there is illustrated one rib  56  and one sealing or blast ring  58 . However, if the depth of sidewall  54  were increased, the number of blast rings may be increased. 
   Contact between the valve body and the peripheral surface of rotary intake valve  10  is maintained by an annular beveled spring  60  positioned in the annular receiving groove of the valve seat. The pressure to be maintained upwardly on valve seal body is in the range of between 1 to 4 ounces as a result of the use of beveled spring  6 . 
   Additionally, the inner wall  62  of valve seat  38  has positioned therein a pressure regulating ring  64 . In Applicant&#39;s prior embodiments, the increased gas pressure within the cylinder during the compression and power strokes was utilized to augment the sealing of the valve body with the peripheral surface of the rotary valve by means of annular passageway  66 . It has been found that in short stroke engines the increase compression within the valve seat during the compression and power strokes did not have to be regulated. However, in long stroke and high compression engines, such as diesels, the amount of pressure within the valve seat which increases the contact of the valve body with the peripheral surface of the rotary valve must be regulated or the seal will generate a braking effect with respect to the rotation of the rotary valve. Therefore, pressure regulating ring  64  is positioned in an annular groove  65  on the inner wall of the valve seat  38  in the path of the compressed gases from the cylinder during the compression and power stroke. Pressure regulating ring  64  is in contact with the inner annular surface of the valve body  36  and pressure regulating ring  64  has a plurality of apertures  68  formed on its outer circumference which allows the compressed gases from the cylinder to pass through apertures  68  and into the valve seat  38  beneath the valve body  36  to allow for increased pressure on the valve body with the peripheral surface of the rotary valve.  FIG. 4  is a top view of the pressure regulating ring of the present invention. The apertures  66  are in the form of semi circular apertures formed on the outer circumference or blast ring  64 . 
   Heretofore, Applicant&#39;s “floating” valve seal body allowed the compressed gases during the compression and power stroke to bleed into the valve seat by means of an annular gap  66  between the inner circumferential wall of the valve body and the inner wall circumferential  66  of the valve seat  38 . The pressure regulating ring  68  serves to limit the passage of the compressed gases via this route by blocking the route and only having a plurality of apertures  68  available for the introduction of the compressed gases into the valve seat  38  beneath the valve body  36 . The number of apertures  68  can be varied depending upon the stroke and compression of the engine as measured by suitable measuring techniques. 
   The valve seal and the valve seat of prior prototypes of the Applicant/Inventor called for the valve seat to be friction fit within an annular groove within the lower head of the split head assembly. The valve and valve seat of the present invention may also be friction mounted in such an annular groove. However, since the valve and valve seat of the present invention are directed to high compression long stroke engines of significantly higher compression than a normal internal combustion engine found in an automobile, the valve seat could be externally threaded on its external circumference  70  so as to be threadedly secured to the annular groove in the lower head of the split head assembly which would similarly be threaded for receipt of the valve seat. 
   While the present invention has been described with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications or changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the equivalence thereof.