Rotary valve internal combustion engine

Claim 2

In a internal combusion engine: an engine body having a cylinder and valve casing means providing a valve bore extending transversely of the cylinder and connected with one end of the latter; a piston operable in said cylinder; antifriction bearings mounted in said casing means and spaced apart axially thereof; sleeve means disposed in said casing means and extending axially thereof between said bearings; port means in the walls of said casing means and sleeve means and connected with said cylinder; a rotary valve supported by said bearings for operation in said sleeve means and controlling the communication with said cylinder through said port means; said sleeve means being flexible and having beveled end portions; and contracting means engaging said end portions for contracting said sleeve means around said valve.

Claim 3

An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 1 wherein: said sleeve means is of shorter length than the axial spacing of said bearings; and wherein said contracting means comprises ring members having annular tapered portions in wedging engagement with said beveled portions, said ring members being disposed between portions of said bearings and the end portions of said sleeve means.

Claim 4

In an internal combustion engine: an engine body having a cylinder providing a combustion chamber, a receiving bore adjacent said cylinder and a passage connecting the combustion chamber with said receiving bore; a piston operable in said cylinder; a substantially rigid tubular valve casing mounted in said receiving bore; flexible sleeve means in said casing; said casing and sleeve means having substantially aligned radial openings in communication with said passage, and said casing also having an annular seat surrounding the radial opening thereof; a rotary valve having passage means therein; antifriction bearings in said casing and supporting said valve for rotation in said sleeve means; said sleeve means having beveled end portions; contracting members having tapered portions in wedging engagement with said end portions for contracting said sleeve means around paid valve; a sealing shoe having a concave surface slidably engaged by said valve, and a port connected with said passage and controlled by said valve; said shoe being received in said radial openings and engaged with said annular seat; the portion of said shoe engaged with said seat being a relatively reduced end portion defining with adjacent portions of said casing an annular packing recess extending around said port; and packing ring means in said packing recess, said casing, valve, bearings, sleeve means, shoe and packing ring means comprising a preformed valve assembly unIt disposed in said receiving bore and removable therefrom as such unit.

Claim 5

In an internal combustion engine: an engine body having a cylinder providing a combustion chamber, a receiving bore adjacent said cylinder and a passage connecting the combustion chamber with said receiving bore; a piston operable in said cylinder; a substantially rigid tubular valve casing mounted in said receiving bore; flexible sleeve means in said casing; said casing and sleeve means having substantially aligned radial openings in communication with said passage, and said casing also having an annular seat surrounding the radial opening thereof; a rotary valve having passage means therein; antifriction bearings in said casing and supporting said valve for rotation in said sleeve means; said sleeve means having beveled end portions; contracting members having tapered portions in wedging engagement with said end portions for contracting said sleeve means around paid valve; a sealing shoe having a concave surface slidably engaged by said valve, and a port connected with said passage and controlled by said valve; said shoe being received in said radial openings and engaged with said annular seat; the portion of said shoe engaged with said seat being a relatively reduced end portion defining with adjacent portions of said casing an annular packing recess extending around said port; and packing ring means in said packing recess, said casing, valve, bearings, sleeve means, shoe and packing ring means comprising a preformed valve assembly unIt disposed in said receiving bore and removable therefrom as such unit.

Claim 6

In an internal combustion engine: an engine body having a cylinder and valve casing means containing a valve bore and a passage for combustion fluid connecting said valve bore with said cylinder; a piston operable in said cylinder; a rotary valve operable in said valve bore and controlling said passage; supply passage means leading to said valve bore for supplying lubricant to the periphery of said valve; said casing means having a substantially radially disposed slot extending along said valve bore and located in the periphery thereof; lubricant scraper blade means in said slot and engaging said valve; lubricant discharge passage means leading from said slot; and check valve means in said slot alongside said blade means, said check valve means comprising a check valve seat formed by adjacent portions of said casing means and blade means, a check valve member cooperable with said check valve seat, and spring means urging said check valve member toward a normally-closed position in engagement with said check valve seat, said blade means being effective to remove excess lubricant from said valve and said check valve means being openable toward said discharge passage means by the removed lubricant.

Claim 7

In an internal combustion engine: an engine body having a cylinder and valve casing means containing a valve bore and a passage for combustion fluid connecting said valve bore with said cylinder; a piston operable in said cylinder; a rotary valve operable in said valve bore and controlling said passage; supply passage means leading to said valve bore for supplying lubricant to the periphery of said valve; said casing means having a substantially radially disposed slot extending along said valve bore and located in the periphery thereof; lubricant scraper blade means in said slot and engaging said valve; lubricant discharge passage means leading from said slot; and check valve means in said slot alongside said blade means, said check valve means comprising a check valve seat formed by adjacent portions of said casing means and blade means, a check valve member cooperable with said check valve seat, and spring means urging said check valve member toward a normally-closed position in engagement with said check valve seat, said blade means being effective to remove excess lubricant from said valve and said check valve means being openable toward said discharge passage means by the removed lubricant.

Claim 8

An internal combustion engine comprising: an engine body having a cylinder and valve casing means containing a valve bore and a passage for combustion fluid connecting said valve bore with said cylinder; a piston operable in said cylinder; a rotary valve operable in said valve bore and controlling said passage; supply passage means leading to said valve bore for supplying lubricant to the periphery of said valve; said casing means having substantially radially disposed slot extending along said valve bore and located in the periphery thereof; lubricant scraper blade means in said slot and engaging said valve; lubricant discharge passage means leading from said slot; check valve means in said slot alongside said blade means being effective to remove excess lubricant from said valve and said check valve means being openable toward said discharge passage means by the removed lubricant; said valve casing means includes sleeve means comprising curved segments disposed between said valve and the wall of said valve bore; said slot being formed at least in part by an intervening space between a pair of adjacent edge portions of said curved segments; and wherein said check valve means comprises a check valve seat formed at least in part by one of said edge portions, and a check valve member normally engaged with said check valve seat.

Claim 9

An internal combustion engine comprising: an engine body having a cylinder and valve casing means containing a valve bore and a passage for combustion fluid connecting said valve bore with said cylinder; a piston operable in said cylinder; a rotary valve operable in said valve bore and controlling said passage; supply passage means leading to said valve bore for supplying lubricant to the periphery of said valve; said casing means having substantially radially disposed slot extending along said valve bore and located in the periphery thereof; lubricant scraper blade means in said slot and engaging said valve; lubricant discharge passage means leading from said slot; check valve means in said slot alongside said blade means being effective to remove excess lubricant from said valve and said check valve means being openable toward said discharge passage means by the removed lubricant; said valve casing means includes sleeve means comprising curved segments disposed between said valve and the wall of said valve bore; said slot being formed at least in part by an intervening space between a pair of adjacent edge portions of said curved segments; and wherein said check valve means comprises a check valve seat formed at least in part by one of said edge portions, and a check valve member normally engaged with said check valve seat.

Claim 10

An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 5 wherein: said one edge portion is a beveled edge portion, and said check valve member has an inclined side face normally seated against said beveled edge portion.

Claim 11

An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 5 wherein one of said edge portions is a beveled edge portion and the other is a radially disposed edge portion; including a blade means having one side thereof presented to said radially disposed edge portion; and wherein said check valve member has a tapered cross-sectional shape formed by inwardly converging said faces and is disposed with one of said side faces lying against said blade means and the other being normally in engagement with said beveled edge portion.

Claim 12

In an internal combustion engine: an engine body containing a cylinder, a valve bore and a passage connecting said cylinder with said valve bore; a piston operable in said cylinder, curved wall means extending around said valve bore; a rotary valve operable in said valve bore for controlling said passage; lubricant supply means including delivery opening means in said wall means for supplying lubricant to said valve; and gas pressure supply means adjacent said valve and operable to deliver gaS under pressure during the rotation of said valve, said gas pressure supply means being connected with said delivery opening means for discharging gas into the latter in a contra-flow direction to the supply flow of the lubricant.

Claim 13

In an internal combustion engine: an engine body containing a cylinder, a valve bore and a passage connecting said cylinder with said valve bore; a piston operable in said cylinder, curved wall means extending around said valve bore; a rotary valve operable in said valve bore for controlling said passage; lubricant supply means including delivery opening means in said wall means for supplying lubricant to said valve; and gas pressure supply means adjacent said valve and operable to deliver gaS under pressure during the rotation of said valve, said gas pressure supply means being connected with said delivery opening means for discharging gas into the latter in a contra-flow direction to the supply flow of the lubricant.

Claim 14

An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 8 wherein: said gas pressure supply means is a pump means comprising co-operating portions of said wall means and valve.

Claim 15

An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 9 wherein: the one of said co-operating portions which is located on said wall means comprises an eccentric peripheral groove in the latter.

Claim 16

In an internal combustion engine: an engine body containing a cylinder, a valve bore and a passage connecting said cylinder with said valve bore; a piston operable in said cylinder; curved wall means extending around said valve bore and having an opening therein at one point of its periphery and a slot therein at another point of its periphery; a rotary valve operable in said valve bore for controlling said passage; lubricant supply means including an orifice member in said opening and having a delivery orifice for supplying lubricant to the periphery of said valve; gas pressure supply means operable during the rotation of said valve and comprising cooperating portions of said wall means and valve; said gas pressure supply means having discharge means connected with said lubricant supply means to discharge gas into the latter through said orifice member for controlling the delivery of lubricant to said valve; and scraper means in said slot and engaging the periphery of said valve.

Claim 17

In an internal combustion engine: an engine body containing a cylinder, a valve bore and a passage connecting said cylinder with said valve bore; a piston operable in said cylinder; curved wall means extending around said valve bore and having an opening therein at one point of its periphery and a slot therein at another point of its periphery; a rotary valve operable in said valve bore for controlling said passage; lubricant supply means including an orifice member in said opening and having a delivery orifice for supplying lubricant to the periphery of said valve; gas pressure supply means operable during the rotation of said valve and comprising cooperating portions of said wall means and valve; said gas pressure supply means having discharge means connected with said lubricant supply means to discharge gas into the latter through said orifice member for controlling the delivery of lubricant to said valve; and scraper means in said slot and engaging the periphery of said valve.

Claim 18

An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 11 wherein: said scraper means comprises a blade for spreading lubricant on the valve periphery and removing excess lubricant therefrom; and a check valve member adjacent said blade and openable by the scraped-off excess lubricant.

Claim 19

In an internal combustion engine: an engine body containing a cylinder, a valve bore and a passage between said cylinder and bore; a piston operable in said cylinder; valve casing means in said bore including a substantially rigid tubular casing member and sleeve means in said casing member; said casing means having a recess therein; a sealing shoe received in said recess and having a port connected with said passage; a rotary valve operable in said sleeve means and controlling said port; means for supplying lubricant under pressure including delivery opening means in said sleeve means for supplying lubricant to said valve; and gas pressure supply means formed by co-operating portions of said sleeve means and valve and connected with said delivery opening means for discharging gas pressure into the latter for controlling the delivery of lubricant therefrom.

Claim 20

In an internal combustion engine: an engine body containing a cylinder, a valve bore and a passage between said cylinder and bore; a piston operable in said cylinder; valve casing means in said bore including a substantially rigid tubular casing member and sleeve means in said casing member; said casing means having a recess therein; a sealing shoe received in said recess and having a port connected with said passage; a rotary valve operable in said sleeve means and controlling said port; means for supplying lubricant under pressure including delivery opening means in said sleeve means for supplying lubricant to said valve; and gas pressure supply means formed by co-operating portions of said sleeve means and valve and connected with said delivery opening means for discharging gas pressure into the latter for controlling the delivery of lubricant therefrom.

Claim 21

An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 13 wherein: said co-operating portions comprise an air pump means having a pump chamber and an air intake passage means connected with said pump chamber.

Claim 22

An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 13 wherein: said delivery opening means comprises an orifice member in the wall of said sleeve means; and wherein said casing member, sleeve means, orifice member, sealing shoe and rotary valve comprise a performed valve assembly unit removably received in said bore.

Claim 23

In a rotary-valve internal combustion engine: an engine body containing cylinders in a longitudinal row, and valve bores in a longitudinal row with individual bores extending transversely of the respective cylinders at one end of the latter; said body having outer and inner walls and intervening space for liquid coolant; the inner walls being curved walls extending around said valve bores and provided with openings; pistons operable in said cylinders; a valve shaft rotatably supported by said body and extending longitudinally of the cylinder row on one side thereof; valve casing means in said valve bores and comprising substantially rigid tubular casing members having portions thereof exposed to contact by said coolant through said openings; said casing members having recesses therein on the side thereof adjacent said cylinders; sealing shoes received in said recesses and having ports in communication with said cylinders; spaced antifriction bearings mounted in said casing members; flexible sleeves in said casing members between said spaced bearings; rotary valves operable in said sleeves and controlling said ports; contracting means effective on said sleeves for contracting the same around said valves; and cooperating gear members on said shaft and valves for driving the latter, the casing member, sleeve, contracting means, bearings, sealing shoe and rotary valve associated with each cylinder comprising a preformed valve assembly unit disposed in one of said valve bores and being removable therefrom as such unit.

Claim 24

In a rotary-valve internal combustion engine: an engine body containing cylinders in a longitudinal row, and valve bores in a longitudinal row with individual bores extending transversely of the respective cylinders at one end of the latter; said body having outer and inner walls and intervening space for liquid coolant; the inner walls being curved walls extending around said valve bores and provided with openings; pistons operable in said cylinders; a valve shaft rotatably supported by said body and extending longitudinally of the cylinder row on one side thereof; valve casing means in said valve bores and comprising substantially rigid tubular casing members having portions thereof exposed to contact by said coolant through said openings; said casing members having recesses therein on the side thereof adjacent said cylinders; sealing shoes received in said recesses and having ports in communication with said cylinders; spaced antifriction bearings mounted in said casing members; flexible sleeves in said casing members between said spaced bearings; rotary valves operable in said sleeves and controlling said ports; contracting means effective on said sleeves for contracting the same around said valves; and cooperating gear members on said shaft and valves for driving the latter, the casing member, sleeve, contracting means, bearings, sealing shoe and rotary valve associated with each cylinder comprising a preformed valve assembly unit disposed in one of said valve bores and being removable therefrom as such unit.

Claim 25

A rotary-valve internal combustion engine as defined in claim 16 and comprising lubricant supply means including feeder openings in the walls of said sleeves; and gas pressure supply means comprising co-operating portions of said valves and sleeves and having discharge means connected with said feeder openings for supplying gas pressure thereto to control the feeding of the lubricant.

Claim 26

A rotary-valve internal combustion engine as defined in claim 16 wherein: said valves have tubular portions containing exhaust gas passages, and the gear members of the valves are mounted on said tubular portions and spaced from the antifriction bearings next adjacent thereto; and wherein said lubricant supply means comprises other lubricant feeders located at points between the last-mentioned gear members and bearings.

Claim 27

A rotary-valve internal combustion engine as defined in claim 16 and comprising lubricant supply means including feeder openings in the walls of said sleeves; said valves having peripheral portions thereof in running contact with the sleeve walls, and lubricant pick-up pockets in said peripheral portions for intermittent lubricant-receiving communication with said feeder openings during the rotation of the valves.

Claim 28

In a rotary-valve internal combustion engine: an engine body having a cylinder, and valve casing means providing a valve bore at one end of the cylinder; a piston operable in said cylinder; bearing means associated with said valve bore; flexible sleeve means in said valve bore; a rotary valve supported by said bearing means and operable in said sleeve means for controlling intake and exhaust communication with said cylinder; said sleeve means having beveled end portions being supported in a floating relation between the wall of said bore and said valve for expanding and contracting movements relative to the latter; contracting means effective on said sleeve means for contracting the same around the valve, said contracting means comprising ring members adjacent the ends of said sleeves and having tapered portions presented toward said beveled portions; and spring means urging said tapered portions into engagement with said beveled portions for normally contracting said sleeve means around said valve.

Claim 29

In a rotary-valve internal combustion engine: an engine body having a cylinder, and valve casing means providing a valve bore at one end of the cylinder; a piston operable in said cylinder; bearing means associated with said valve bore; flexible sleeve means in said valve bore; a rotary valve supported by said bearing means and operable in said sleeve means for controlling intake and exhaust communication with said cylinder; said sleeve means having beveled end portions being supported in a floating relation between the wall of said bore and said valve for expanding and contracting movements relative to the latter; contracting means effective on said sleeve means for contracting the same around the valve, said contracting means comprising ring members adjacent the ends of said sleeves and having tapered portions presented toward said beveled portions; and spring means urging said tapered portions into engagement with said beveled portions for normally contracting said sleeve means around said valve.

Claim 30

A rotary-valve engine as defined in claim 20 wherein: said ring members are shiftable in said casing means to provide for the floating relation of said sleeve means and comprise heat-conducting rings effective to conduct heat from said sleeve means to said casing means.

Claim 31

An internal combustion engine comprising: an engine body having a cylinder, and valve casing means providing a valve bore at one end of the cylinder; a piston operable in said cylinder; bearing means associated with said valve bore; flexible sleeve means in said valve bore; a rotary valve supported by said bearing means and operable in said sleeve means for controlling intake and exhaust communication with said cylinder; said sleeve means having beveled end portions being supported in a floating relation between the wall of said bore and said valve for expanding and contracting movements relative to the latter; contracting means effective on said sleeve means for contracting the same around the valve, said contracting means comprising ring members adjacent the ends of said sleeves and having tapered portions presented toward said beveled portions; and spring means urging said tapered portions into engagement with said beveled portions for normally contracting said sleeve means around said valve; said sleeve means is split longitudinally at one point thereof and has relatively stationary and relatively free segment portions on opposite sides of the split; anchor means engaged by the stationary segment portion; said sleeve means being self-expanding in opposition to said contracting means by circumferential shifting of said free segment portion; and the expanding of said sleeve means being in response to an unwrapping tendency thereof in relation to said valve during the rotation of the latter.

Claim 32

An internal combustion engine comprising: an engine body having a cylinder, and valve casing means providing a valve bore at one end of the cylinder; a piston operable in said cylinder; bearing means associated with said valve bore; flexible sleeve means in said valve bore; a rotary valve supported by said bearing means and operable in said sleeve means for controlling intake and exhaust communication with said cylinder; said sleeve means having beveled end portions being supported in a floating relation between the wall of said bore and said valve for expanding and contracting movements relative to the latter; contracting means effective on said sleeve means for contracting the same around the valve, said contracting means comprising ring members adjacent the ends of said sleeves and having tapered portions presented toward said beveled portions; and spring means urging said tapered portions into engagement with said beveled portions for normally contracting said sleeve means around said valve; said sleeve means is split longitudinally at one point thereof and has relatively stationary and relatively free segment portions on opposite sides of the split; anchor means engaged by the stationary segment portion; said sleeve means being self-expanding in opposition to said contracting means by circumferential shifting of said free segment portion; and the expanding of said sleeve means being in response to an unwrapping tendency thereof in relation to said valve during the rotation of the latter.

Claim 33

An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 22 wherein: said rotary valve has radially-opening intake and discharge passes therein for intake and exhaust communication; and a pick-up pocket, said pick-up pocket being located on the valve on the trailing side only of the intake passage opening.

Claim 34

In a rotary-valve internal combustion engine: an engine body having a cylinder, and valve casing means providing a valve bore at one end of the cylinder; a piston operable in said cylinder; a rotary valve controlling intake and exhaust communication with said cylinder and operable in said valve casing means with a peripheral portion of the valve in running contact with the wall of said valve bore; lubricant supply means including delivery opening means in said wall; gas pressure supply means comprising recess means in said wall on one circumferential side of said opening means; and said peripheral portion having a pick-up pocket therein located for communication with said opening means and recess means in succession during the rotation of said valve.

Claim 35

In a rotary-valve internal combustion engine: an engine body having a cylinder, and valve casing means providing a valve bore at one end of the cylinder; a piston operable in said cylinder; a rotary valve controlling intake and exhaust communication with said cylinder and operable in said valve casing means with a peripheral portion of the valve in running contact with the wall of said valve bore; lubricant supply means including delivery opening means in said wall; gas pressure supply means comprising recess means in said wall on one circumferential side of said opening means; and said peripheral portion having a pick-up pocket therein located for communication with said opening means and recess means in succession during the rotation of said valve.

Claim 36

An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 24 wherein: said recess means comprises an arcuately extending pump chamber having an air intake connection; the rotation of said valve being effective to pressurize air in said pump chamber; said pocket being effective to carry a quantity of lubricant away from said delivery opening means for spreading on said peripheral portion; and being also effective to transfer pressurized air from said pump chamber to said delivery opening means for controlling the delivery of oil through the latter.

Claim 37

An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 25 wherein: said wall has a slot therein on the other circumferential side of said opening means and spaced from the latter; and scraper means located in said slot and engaging said peripheral portion.

Claim 38

An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 25 wherein: said wall has a slot therein on the other circumferential side of said opening means and spaced from the latter; and scraper means and an adjacent check valve means located in said slot, said scraper means being in engagement with said peripheral portion for spreading lubricant thereon and removing excess lubricant therefrom, and said check valve means being openable by the scraped-off excess lubricant.

Claim 39

In an internal combustion engine: an engine body having a cylinder, a valve bore and a connecting passage between said cylinder and bore; a piston operable in said cylinder; tubular valve casing means in said bore and having a side opening substantially opposite said passage, and an annular recess surrounding said opening and including an annular seat at the bottom of said recess; a sealing shoe reCeived in said recess and having a port connected with said passage; a rotary valve engaged by said shoe and operable in said casing means for controlling intake and exhaust communication with said cylinder through said port; said shoe having a relatively reduced portion in cooperative relation to said seat and defining with adjacent portions of said casing means an annular packing recess extending around said reduced portion; and packing ring means confined in said packing recess and comprising at least two expansible and contractible sealing and heat-conducting metal rings, and a spring ring interposed between said seat and said metal rings, said metal rings having beveled-annular surfaces thereon maintained in cooperative wedging engagement by the action of said spring ring.

Claim 40

In an internal combustion engine: an engine body having a cylinder, a valve bore and a connecting passage between said cylinder and bore; a piston operable in said cylinder; tubular valve casing means in said bore and having a side opening substantially opposite said passage, and an annular recess surrounding said opening and including an annular seat at the bottom of said recess; a sealing shoe reCeived in said recess and having a port connected with said passage; a rotary valve engaged by said shoe and operable in said casing means for controlling intake and exhaust communication with said cylinder through said port; said shoe having a relatively reduced portion in cooperative relation to said seat and defining with adjacent portions of said casing means an annular packing recess extending around said reduced portion; and packing ring means confined in said packing recess and comprising at least two expansible and contractible sealing and heat-conducting metal rings, and a spring ring interposed between said seat and said metal rings, said metal rings having beveled-annular surfaces thereon maintained in cooperative wedging engagement by the action of said spring ring.