초록 ▼

A rotary valve internal combustion engine comprising a crankshaft, a throttle (23), a throttle actuator, a cylinder head (7), a combustion chamber (8), and at least one rotary valve (1). The rotary valve (1) having at least two ports (2, 3) terminating as openings (4, 5) in its periphery, the cylind

A rotary valve internal combustion engine comprising a crankshaft, a throttle (23), a throttle actuator, a cylinder head (7), a combustion chamber (8), and at least one rotary valve (1). The rotary valve (1) having at least two ports (2, 3) terminating as openings (4, 5) in its periphery, the cylinder head (7) having a bore (11) in which the rotary valve (1) rotates, a window (6) in the bore (11) communicating with the combustion chamber (8), the openings (4, 5) successively aligning with the window (6) by virtue of the rotation, a drive mechanism comprising a phase change means (18), the drive mechanism driving the rotary valve (1). The at least two ports (2, 3) comprise an inlet port (2) and an exhaust port (3), and the phase change means (18) applies a phase change in response to changes in the operating conditions of the engine over at least one engine cycle.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A rotary valve internal combustion engine, said engine comprising a crankshaft, a cylinder head, a combustion chamber, and at least one rotary valve, said rotary valve having an inlet port and an exhaust port, each terminating as an opening on the periphery of said rotary val

What is claimed is: 1. A rotary valve internal combustion engine, said engine comprising a crankshaft, a cylinder head, a combustion chamber, and at least one rotary valve, said rotary valve having an inlet port and an exhaust port, each terminating as an opening on the periphery of said rotary valve, said cylinder head having a bore in which said rotary valve rotates, a window in said bore communicating with said combustion chamber, said openings successively aligning with said window by virtue of said rotation, and a drive mechanism comprising a phase change means, said drive mechanism driving said rotary valve, said phase change means applying a phase change in response to change in the operating conditions of said engine, said phase change occurring over at least one cycle of said engine, characterized in that the magnitude of said phase change over the range of operating conditions of said engine is greater than 15째. 2. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnitude of said phase change over the range of operating conditions of said engine is greater than 25째. 3. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the the magnitude of said phase change over the range of operating conditions of said engine is at least 45째. 4. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein when said engine is operating at or near full load, said phase change is negative as the speed of said engine decreases and said phase change is positive as the speed of said engine increases. 5. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said phase change is negative when said engine is cold and said phase change is positive when said engine has reached its operating temperature. 6. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive mechanism is driven from said crankshaft. 7. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive mechanism is an electric motor. 8. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said phase change means also applies said phase change in response to change in at least one demand value sent to said engine. 9. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 8, wherein said engine further comprises a throttle and a throttle actuator, and under certain engine operating conditions said phase change means applies said phase change in response to said change in said demand value sent to said engine whilst said throttle actuator maintains the position of said throttle unchanged. 10. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 9, wherein said position of said throttle is fully open. 11. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 9, wherein said change in said demand value requires said engine to operate at part or low load. 12. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 9, wherein said phase change is positive when said change in said demand value requires a reduction in load of said engine, and said phase change is negative when said change in said demand value requires an increase in load of said engine. 13. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 8, wherein said engine further comprises a throttle and a throttle actuator, said phase change means applying the maximum allowable phase change for said change in said demand value whilst said throttle actuator sets the position of said throttle to achieve said demand value. 14. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 13, wherein said phase change and said position of said throttle are calculated by an electronic control unit. 15. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 14 wherein said electronic control unit calculates said maximum allowable phase change to achieve the maximum allowable internal gas recirculation at said change in said demand value. 16. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said phase change means comprises a source of hydraulic pressure, a hydraulic piston incorporating first and second splines, a first drive member driven by said crankshaft and slidingly meshing with said first spline and a second drive member driving said rotary valve and slidingly meshing with said second spline, at least one of said first and second splines being helical, said hydraulic piston moving axially in response to supply of pressure from said source of hydraulic pressure thereby rotating said first drive member relative to said second drive member. 17. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said phase change means comprises a source of hydraulic pressure, a first drive member incorporating a first set of radially extending vanes, a second drive member incorporating a second set of radially extending vanes, said second drive member mounted concentrically to said first drive member, said first set of radially extending vanes slidingly sealing against said second drive member, said second set of radially extending vanes slidingly sealing against first drive member such that a series of sealed hydraulic cavities are formed between said first set of radially extending vanes and said second set of radially extending vanes, said sealed hydraulic cavities connected to said source of hydraulic pressure, said first drive member driven by said crankshaft, said second drive member driving said rotary valve, said first drive member rotating relative to said second drive member in response to the application of hydraulic pressure from said source of hydraulic pressure to alternate said series of sealed hydraulic cavities. 18. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said phase change means is operably connected to an electronic control unit which controls said phase. 19. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive mechanism comprises a primary drive means for transmitting motion between said crankshaft and said rotary valve, said primary drive means having at least one epicyclic gear set, and said phase change means comprises a secondary drive means driving a sun gear of said epicyclic gear set. 20. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 19, wherein said secondary drive means is an electric motor. 21. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive mechanism comprises an electric motor directly coupled to said rotary valve. 22. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive mechanism comprises an electric motor driving at least one intermediate drive member operably engaged with said rotary valve. 23. A rotary valve internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 22, wherein said at least one intermediate drive member comprises any one of a gear, gear train, chain drive assembly or belt drive assembly. 24. A rotary valve internal combustion engine of as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotary valve is an axial flow rotary valve.