Importance

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Abstract

A rotary valve for use in an internal combustion engine and capable of providing high volumetric efficiency is disclosed. The rotary valve generally includes a cylindrical tube having an outer wall that defines intake and exhaust ports positioned to communicate with the engine cylinder as the valve rotates. A divider plate in the cylindrical tube defines an intake passageway from the first end of the valve to the intake port and defines an exhaust passageway from the exhaust port to the second end of the valve. A first generally helically-shaped blade is disposed in the intake passageway for accelerating a flow of intake fluid or fuel/air mixture through the intake passageway and into the cylinder. Similarly, a second generally helically-shaped blade is disposed in the exhaust passageway for facilitating the removal of exhaust gasses from the engine cylinder. The intake end of the rotary valve may also be provided with a plurality of forwardly curved fan blades positioned adjacent to openings in the cylindrical wall for facilitating the intake of the fuel/air mixture into the valve. In other embodiments, the rotary valve may be provided with a T-shaped member between the intake and exhaust ports for automatically adjusting the overlap between those ports. The intake port may also be provided with a spring-loaded T-shaped flap for increasing the size of the intake port as the rotational speed of the rotary valve increases. The rotary valve of this invention may also be used in combination with a turbine.

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First Claim