Means for reducing starting torque in pour-cycle engines

Claim 1

A FOUR-STROKE CYCLE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE HAVING A CYLINDER IN WHICH A PISTON IS RECIPROCABLE AND HAVING INTAKE AND EXHAUST POPPET VALVES FOR RESPECTIVELY CONTROLLING ADMISSION OF COMBUSTIBLE GASES TO THE CYLINDER FROM AN INTAKE MANIFOLD AND DISCHARGE OF SPENT GASES FROM THE CYLINDER TO AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD, SAID ENGINE BEING CHARACTERIZED BY: MEANS FOR MOVING ONE OF THE VALVES TOWARD AND FROM ITS SEAT IN TIMED RELATION TO PISTON RECIPROCATION AND FOR LIMITING THE INSTANTANEOUS DISTANCE OF SAID ONE VALVE FROM ITS SEAT TO DIFFERENT VALUES IN DIFFERENT PREDETERMINED PORTIONS OF THE ENGINE''S CYCLE, SAID MEANS LEAVING THE VALVE SUBSTANTIALLY FREE TO MOVE THROUGH A PREDETERMINED SMALL DISTANCE TOWARD AND FROM ITS SEAT DURING A PREDETERMINED PORTION OF THE ENGINE CYCLE IN RESPONSE TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRESSURE IN ITS MANIFOLD AND PRESSURE IN THE CYLINDER.