Abstract:
An improved rotary valve for a spherical rotary valve engine in which the intake spherical valve and the exhaust spherical valve have an aperture on the spherical periphery for communication with the inlet port and exhaust port of the cylinder, respectively, the aperture having longitudinal parallel edges spaced apart a distance equivalent to the diameter of the inlet port or the exhaust port of the cylinder head, the lateral ends of the aperture on the spherical periphery of the intake and exhaust valve being curvilinear and of a semi-circular design, the apertures being bifurcated by a rib member extending between the curvilinear semi-circular lateral end walls of the aperture, the rib members upper surface conforming to the spherical peripheral arcuate shape of the rotary valve.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to internal combustion engines utilizing spherical rotary valve assemblies, and in particular, to an improved rotary valve having a bifurcated aperture on the spherical periphery for communication with the inlet port and the exhaust port of the cylinder respectively, the aperture having longitudinal parallel edges spaced apart a distance equivalent to the diameter of the inlet port or the exhaust port of the cylinder head, the lateral ends of the aperture being curvilinear and of a semi-circular design, the aperture being bifurcated by a support rib between the curvilinear semi-circular ends of the aperture, the support rib matching the spherical periphery of the valve. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    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”. The aforementioned U.S. patents are incorporated herein as if set forth in length and in detail. 
         [0005]    The present invention relates to an improved spherical rotary valve, and in particular deals with the aperture in the spherical periphery of the valve, which comes into successive alignment with the inlet port and the exhaust port respectively. 
         [0006]    Applicant has adapted the spherical rotary valve assembly to high compression diesel engines which operate on natural gas and which in many instances operate on natural gas directly from the well head. Due to the high compression of the engine and the combustion of unrefined natural gas, significant force is affected against the valve seal and this force is transmitted to the spherical rotary valve which in rotation contacts the upper spherical complimentary surface of the valve seal, forming the seal. This additional force generated from the high compression and combustion of natural gas produces excessive friction and wear which is not required in order to form the seal between the spherical rotary valve and the valve seal. It was necessary to somehow eliminate this additional force and/or pressure or to equalize it in some manner such that it does not affect the rotation of the spherical rotary valve and its sealing contact with the upper surface of the valve seal. 
         [0007]    Applicant&#39;s Pressure Equalizing Valve Seal for Spherical Rotary Valve Engine, U.S. Pat. No. 7,647,909, addressed the aforesaid problem from the valve seal perspective. However, due to the force generated from the high compression, it was determined that when the apertures on the spherical periphery of the intake and exhaust valves, such apertures detailed in Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,814 entitled “Spherical Rotary Valve”, approached alignment with the inlet or exhaust port, a rocking motion with respect to the seal was affected. Applicant has solved this problem by bifurcating the aperture on the spherical periphery with a rib member conforming to the arcuate spherical periphery and eliminating the rocking motion of the valve seal. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel and improved spherical rotary valve for use in a rotary valve engine. 
         [0009]    A further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel and improved spherical rotary valve in which the aperture on the spherical periphery alignable with an inlet port or an exhaust port is bifurcated. 
         [0010]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel and improved spherical rotary valve in which the bifurcation of the aperture on the spherical periphery is accomplished with a rib member which is complimentary with the spherical periphery. 
         [0011]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel spherical rotary valve for use in a rotary valve engine in which the bifurcating rib member presents interaction between the periphery of the aperture in the spherical periphery of the valve and the underlying valve seal. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    An improved rotary valve for a spherical rotary valve engine in which the intake spherical valve and the exhaust spherical valve have an aperture on the spherical periphery for communication with the inlet port and exhaust port of the cylinder, respectively, the aperture having longitudinal parallel edges spaced apart a distance equivalent to the diameter of the inlet port or the exhaust port of the cylinder head, the lateral ends of the aperture on the spherical periphery of the intake and exhaust valve being curvilinear and of a semi-circular design, the apertures being bifurcated by a support rib member extending between said curvilinear semi-circular lateral end walls of said aperture, the rib members&#39; upper surface conforming to the spherical peripheral arcuate shape of the rotary valve. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    These and other advantages and improvements will be evident, especially when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of an intake spherical rotary valve having a single port for use on an internal combustion engine when the valve mechanism operates at one-half the speed of the crankshaft; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an end elevational view of an intake spherical rotary valve as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of an exhaust spherical rotary valve for use in an internal combustion engine in which the valve mechanism operates at one-half the speed of the crankshaft; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is an end elevational view of an exhaust spherical rotary valve as illustrated in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a side cross-sectional view of the intake spherical rotary valve mounted in a cylinder head. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a side elevational view and an end elevational view of an intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  for use in a spherical rotary valve internal combustion engine. Intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  is defined by an arcuate spherical circumferential periphery  12  and planar opposing side walls  14  and  16  thereby presenting a spherical section. Centrally disposed inwardly from planar side wall  16  is an annular U-shaped donut cavity  18  which extends from planar side wall  16  to a depth approximate to planar side wall  14 , the corners and edges of U-shaped cavity  18  are preferably machined such that they are rounded. 
         [0020]    There is centrally disposed through intake spherical rotary drum  10  a central aperture  20  extending from planar side wall  16  through planar side wall  14 , aperture  20  being centrally disposed through intake spherical rotary drum  10  so as to provide a means for mounting intake spherical rotary drum  10  on a centrally-disposed shaft  22  to provide for rotational disposition of intake spherical rotary drum  10  as further described hereafter. 
         [0021]    Passing through arcuate spherical circumferential periphery  12  and providing communication with annular U-shaped or donut cavity  18  is an intake aperture  24 . Intake aperture  24  is elongated having parallel disposed side walls  26  and  28  and opposing arcuate end walls  30  and  32 . Arcuate end walls  30  and  32  are defined by the arc of a circle, the radius of arcuate end walls  30  and  32  being substantially equal to the radius of the inlet port to cylinder as discussed hereafter. 
         [0022]    The intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  contains one aperture  24  in its periphery, communicating with U-shaped donut cavity  18 . This configuration is utilized in internal combustion engines in which the valve mechanism of the engine rotates in one half the speed of the crankshaft. Therefore, the aperture  24  in the spherical circumferential periphery of intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  will come into communication with the inlet port of the cylinder once every revolution of intake spherical rotary valve drum  10 . It will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that an intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  designed to rotate at one quarter the speed of the engine crankshaft would require a second, opposing aperture  24  (not shown). 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there is illustrated an end elevational view and a side elevational view of an exhaust spherical rotary valve drum  50 . Exhaust spherical rotary valve drum  50  is defined by an arcuate spherical circumferential periphery  52  and planar opposing side walls  54  and  56 , thereby presenting a spherical section identical to the spherical section of the intake spherical rotary valve drum  10 . Disposed on a planar side wall  56  is an aperture  58  which in the embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 3  is kidney-shaped. 
         [0024]    There is centrally disposed through exhaust spherical rotary valve drum  50  the central aperture  60  extending from planar side wall  56  through planar side wall  54 , aperture  60  being centrally disposed through exhaust spherical rotary drum  50  so as to provide a means for mounting exhaust spherical rotary drum  50  on a centrally disposed shaft  62  to provide for the rotational disposition of exhaust spherical rotary drum  50  as further described hereafter. 
         [0025]    Passing through arcuate spherical circumferential periphery  52  and providing communication with kidney-shaped opening  58  is an exhaust aperture  64 . Exhaust aperture  64  is elongated having parallel disposed side walls  66  and  68  and opposing arcuate end walls  70  and  72 . Arcuate end walls  70  and  72  are defined by the arc of the circle, the radius of the arcuate end walls  70  and  72  being substantially equal to the radius of the exhaust port of the cylinder as discussed hereafter. 
         [0026]    The exhaust spherical rotary valve drum  50  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  contains one aperture  64  in its spherical periphery  52  communicating with one kidney-shaped opening  58  in side wall  56 . This configuration is utilized in internal combustion engines in which the valve mechanism of the engine rotates at one half the speed of the crankshaft. Therefore, the aperture  64  on spherical circumferential periphery of exhaust rotary valve drum  50  will come into communication with the exhaust port of the cylinder once every revolution of the exhaust spherical rotary valve drum  50 . It will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that an exhaust spherical rotary valve drum designed to rotate at one quarter the speed of the engine crankshaft would require a second opposing aperture  64  on the spherical periphery  52  of exhaust spherical rotary valve drum  50 , said second aperture being in communication with a second kidney-shaped opening  58 . 
         [0027]    The shape of apertures  24  and  64  on the intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  and the exhaust spherical rotary valve drum  50  are designed to permit the early opening of the inlet port exhaust port and the delayed closing of the inlet port and the exhaust port for optimum engine function. The design performs as desired with respect to normal internal combustion engines. However, when graduating to higher compression engines, such as diesels or the like, and in particularly, higher compression engines which are operating on exotic fuels, a certain wobble, vibration, or rocking motion is introduced into the valve seal upon which the spherical rotary valve drum rotates as apertures  24  and  64  align with the inlet port. This problem is addressed by an additional structural element introduced into the intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  and the exhaust spherical rotary valve drum  50 . It consists of a bifurcating rib  25  and  65  respectively which bifurcates apertures  24  and  64  and which extends between the arcuate end walls  30  and  32  of intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  and the arcuate end walls  70  and  72  of the exhaust spherical rotary valve drum  50 . Bifurcating ribs  25  and  65  have the same spherical circumferential peripheral outer surface  27  and  67  as the arcuate spherical circumferential periphery of the intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  or the exhaust spherical rotary valve drum  50 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side cross-sectional view of an intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  positioned in an engine block  100  having disposed therein a cylinder cavity  102 , there being positioned within cylinder cavity  102  a reciprocating piston  104  secured to a crankshaft arm  103  which reciprocates within cylinder cavity  102 . Applicant&#39;s intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  is secured within a split head comprising a first lower section  110  which is secured to engine block  100 , and which has position therein an intake port  108  in communication with cylinder cavity  102 . The upper portion  112  of the split head when secured to the lower portion  110  defines a drum accommodating cavity  113  for intake spherical rotary valve drum  10 . When upper half  112  and lower half  110  of the split head are secured to the engine block, intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  is rotationally encapsulated within the cavity defined by the two halves of the split head assembly. 
         [0029]    U-shaped or donut cavity  18  on the intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  is continuously charged with a fuel/air mixture through inlet port  114  and this fuel/air mixture is introduced into cylinder cavity  102  through inlet port  108  when the intake aperture  24  comes into rotational alignment with the inlet port  108 . A sealing mechanism in the form of a valve seal  116  is positioned about inlet port  108  and cooperates with the arcuate circumferential periphery  12  of the intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  to provide an effective gas tight seal. The upper surface of the valve seal  116  is arcuate and cooperative with the spherical periphery of the intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  in that it is the only surface within the drum accommodating cavity  113  which is in contact with the intake spherical rotary valve drum  10 . The contact between valve seal  116  and the spherical periphery of intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  occurs across the entire periphery from side wall  14  to side wall  16  during the intake spherical rotary valve drum  10 &#39;s rotation. When the aperture  24  on the spherical periphery of intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  commences rotational alignment with inlet port  108 , the surface contact is limited to the spherical circumferential periphery between side walls  14  and  16  respectively and elongated parallel disposed side walls  26  and  28  of intake aperture  24 . 
         [0030]    Bifurcating rib  25  with respect to intake aperture  24  provides an additional extended contact surface which spans the length of intake aperture  24  during rotation of intake spherical rotary valve drum  10 . Spanning the length of intake aperture  24  between arcuate end walls  30  and  32  provides additional surface contact during the rotation of the intake spherical rotary valve drum  10 , particularly when aperture  24  commences alignment with the inlet port and through the closure of the inlet port. This is particularly useful in high compression engines wherein the valve seal  116  under high pressure may have a tendency to wobble or rock and introduce a clicking sound evidencing an unwanted frictional contact indicative of potential contact wear problems. The bifurcated rib addresses and solves this problem by spanning the inlet port opening in valve seal  116  as the rotary valve comes into registration with it. 
         [0031]    The engine block and the relationship between the intake spherical rotary valve drum  10  and valve seal  116  has been described. The same description is applicable to the exhaust spherical rotary valve drum  50  and a more detailed explanation with respect to the exhaust spherical rotary valve drum  50  can be found in Applicant&#39;s prior incorporated patents. 
         [0032]    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.