초록 ▼

A rotary valve assembly includes a housing for positioning on an engine of the piston and cylinder type. The housing includes an intake passage for conducting a working fluid to the cylinder and an exhaust passage for conducting the working fluid from the cylinder. The housing has an internal cavity

A rotary valve assembly includes a housing for positioning on an engine of the piston and cylinder type. The housing includes an intake passage for conducting a working fluid to the cylinder and an exhaust passage for conducting the working fluid from the cylinder. The housing has an internal cavity which intercepts the intake and exhaust passages, which cavity contains a rotary valve member having a window. The window is so positioned that when the member is rotated, it opens and closes the intake and exhaust passages in a periodic manner. The valve assembly may also include a throttle member mounted in the housing parallel to the rotary valve member. The throttle member has a hole which may be positioned opposite the intake passage. The throttle member is movable relative to the axis of the rotary valve member between a first position which places the hole in the throttle means opposite a first portion of the valve member and a second position which places that hole opposite a second portion of the valve member so that when the valve member is rotated, the open time of the intake passage can be controlled by the position of the throttle member. In some applications, the rotary valve member itself can function as the throttle member. A plurality of similar valve assemblies can be positioned adjacent to one another and concatenated so that they all operate in unison to control the working fluid flow to and from all the cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine. The assembly is particularly suitable for converting an internal combustion engine so that it operates under steam power. Other applications for the assembly are also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A rotary valve assembly comprisinga block defining a concave valve seat having cylindrical curvature about an axis, said valve seat defining a sector of 180.degree. or less;means defining a passage extending through said block to said valve seat;a cylindrical valve member

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A rotary valve assembly comprisinga block defining a concave valve seat having cylindrical curvature about an axis, said valve seat defining a sector of 180.degree. or less;means defining a passage extending through said block to said valve seat;a cylindrical valve member having a wall with an open window, the diameters of the valve seat and valve member being substantially the same;means for rotatably mounting the valve member on said axis so that when the valve member is rotated about said axis, the valve member occludes said passage except when the window overlaps said passage, andmeans for moving the valve member along said axis relative to said valve seat so as to control the amount of said overlap.