초록 ▼

A variable roller valve system for use in an internal combustion engine. A Sliding IrisTMfeature provides separate, independent, and continuous control over the aperture sizes of the intake and exhaust valve ports while the engine is running. The valve apertures are constricted and enlarged in a rec

A variable roller valve system for use in an internal combustion engine. A Sliding IrisTMfeature provides separate, independent, and continuous control over the aperture sizes of the intake and exhaust valve ports while the engine is running. The valve apertures are constricted and enlarged in a reciprocating motion along the longitudinal axis of the valve rollers so as not to disrupt valve duration. At the same time, and also while the engine is running, hydraulic mechanisms provide separate, independent and continuous control over the relative timing phases of the intake valve train and the exhaust valve train with respect to the crankshaft. As a result, combustion efficiency can be optimized and noxious exhaust emissions can be minimized over a wide range of engine operating speeds and power demands.

대표청구항 ▼

In an internal combustion engine having a fuel intake manifold, an exhaust manifold, and at least one combustion chamber whose piston is connected to a crankshaft, a variable roller valve assembly, comprising: an inner roller received slidably inside an outer roller, the inner roller and the outer r

In an internal combustion engine having a fuel intake manifold, an exhaust manifold, and at least one combustion chamber whose piston is connected to a crankshaft, a variable roller valve assembly, comprising: an inner roller received slidably inside an outer roller, the inner roller and the outer roller each being substantially cylindrical and substantially hollow, the inner roller and the outer roller each also having an outer circumference, the hollow interior of the inner roller either (1) in fuel flow communication with the fuel intake manifold or (2) in exhaust flow communication with the exhaust manifold; a linkage means rotatably connecting the outer roller to the engine crankshaft, the linkage means rotating the outer roller with torque from the crankshaft while simultaneously synchronizing the rotation of the outer roller with the rotation of the crankshaft; at least one inner gas port provided in the inner roller and at least one outer gas port provided in the outer roller, the at least one inner gas port and the at least one outer gas port provided in corresponding pairs, one pair provided for and assigned to each combustion chamber in the engine, each pair of inner gas ports and outer gas ports located on the inner roller and the outer roller respectively such that all pairs of inner gas ports and outer gas ports may be simultaneously co-located when the inner roller is in a predetermined position with respect to the outer roller, the outer roller allowing each outer gas port to be in gas flow communication with its assigned combustion chamber at least once during one complete revolution of the outer roller; at least one roller locating slot, the at least one roller locating slot provided in the outer roller, the at least one roller locating slot being straight and extending longitudinally along the outer roller; at least one pin, the at least one pin and the at least one roller locating slot provided in corresponding pairs, each pin connected rigidly to the outside of the inner roller and received slidably within its paired roller locating slot in the outer roller, the pins when received in their roller locating slots preventing relative rotational displacement of the inner roller with respect to the outer roller but nonetheless permitting relative reciprocating longitudinal displacement thereof, said reciprocating longitudinal displacement consisting of reciprocating movement of the inner roller with respect to the outer roller in opposite longitudinal directions, said reciprocating movement arrested by a first limit in one direction and a second limit in the opposite direction, the pins as received within their roller locating slots modulating said reciprocating movement between the first limit and second limit according to the sliding travel of the pins within their roller locating slots, the pairs of pins and roller locating slots located on the inner and outer rollers relative to the pairs of inner gas ports and outer gas ports so that each pair of inner gas ports and outer gas ports become co-located when the reciprocating movement reaches a predetermined choice of either the first limit or the second limit; a chamber divider received into the outer roller, the chamber divider providing a cylindrical recess in one end, a circular pressure plate received into the cylindrical recess, the pressure plate in contact with an aperture control return spring, the pressure plate also rigidly connected to the inner roller; a first hydraulic fluid intake means, the first hydraulic fluid intake means available to introduce hydraulic fluid into the cylindrical recess so as to displace the pressure plate and compress the aperture control return spring; a substantially cylindrical phase control casing received into the outer roller, the phase control casing having an outer circumference and a first end, a thrust ring means located between the phase control casing and the outer roller at their points of contact; a splined member received into the phase control casing, the splined member having a first end, the splined member providing splines, the splines being straight and extending longitudinally along the splined member at the first end thereof; an annular piston slidably received over the splined member, the annular piston in communication with a phase control return spring, the annular piston and the phase control return spring being separated by a sliding collar, the sliding collar also slidably received over the splined member, the sliding collar having an inside cylindrical surface and an outside cylindrical surface, the inside cylindrical surface having internal grooves, the internal grooves slidably engaging the splines on the splined member; a second hydraulic fluid intake means, the second hydraulic fluid intake means available to introduce hydraulic fluid into the phase control casing so as to displace the annular piston against the phase control return spring, the displacement of the annular piston also causing the internal grooves of the sliding collar to slide over the splines; at least one longitudinal phase slot provided in the outer circumference of the phase control casing and at least one helical phase slot provided in the outer roller, the at least one longitudinal phase slot and the at least one helical phase slot provided in corresponding pairs; each longitudinal phase slot extending straight between a first end thereof and a second end thereof, each longitudinal phase slot also extending longitudinally along the phase control casing; each helical phase slot extending arcuately between a first end thereof and a second end thereof according to an identical predetermined arc; the first ends of all longitudinal phase slots and the first ends of all helical phase slots being oriented towards the first end of the phase control casing, each pair of longitudinal phase slots and helical phase slots located on the phase control casing and the outer roller respectively such that the first end of the longitudinal phase slot and the first end of the horizontal phase slot in all corresponding pairs thereof may be simultaneously co-located when the phase control casing is in a predetermined position with respect to the outer roller; at least one fastener means, the at least one fastener means rigidly connected to the outside cylindrical surface of the sliding collar, one fastener means being provided for each pair of longitudinal phase slots and helical phase slots, the at least one fastener means located on a pitch around the outside cylindrical surface of the sliding collar to match the pitch of the longitudinal phase slots around the outer circumference of the phase control casing, each fastener means rotatably retaining an inner bearing and an outer bearing, each inner bearing being received into one longitudinal phase slot in the phase control casing, each outer beating being simultaneously received into one helical phase slot in the outer roller; whereby activation of the first hydraulic intake means causes longitudinal reciprocating displacement between the inner and outer gas ports to constrict or enlarge combined gas port aperture, and activation of the second hydraulic intake means causes rotational displacement of the entire valve roller assembly with respect to the crankshaft, all such displacement available independently and continuously while the crankshaft is rotating the entire valve roller assembly.