Apparatuses and methods consistent with example embodiments relate to a head, for an internal combustion engine, using at least one plate to control the filling and emptying of the combustion chamber.
Four stroke internal combustion engines almost exclusively use poppet type, intake and exhaust, valves to fill and empty the combustion chamber. The timing of the opening and closing of the valves is normally controlled by a cam. The cam opens and closes the valves relative to the stroke/crank location.
While the use of a poppet valve is nearly universal in four stroke engines, there are several design limitations of this arrangement. The complexity of the valve train has long been a design challenge, and a poppet valve is a reciprocating part which must be controlled very precisely for the engine to perform properly and reliably.
The poppet valve itself it has been proven a very reliable design. However, as the rotations per minute (rpms) of engines increase, the total weight of reciprocating parts, including pieces of the valve train, become crucial. Loads increase with higher engine speeds, reducing reliability. This creates a need for lighter stronger materials, which increases costs.
A typical poppet valve is held closed by a spring, and it is pushed open by one of several methods depending on the engine design. Ultimately a cam is used to push the valve open and the spring must be strong enough to overcome the inertia of the valve and reciprocating pieces of the valve train, travelling in the opening direction, and follow the cam profile as it allows the valve to close. However, as engine speeds increase, the inertia increases and stronger springs are needed. This puts greater loads on the valves and the other components in the valve train necessitating heavier components to handle the loads. The energy used to overcome these increased loads reduces the usable power output from the engine.
Example embodiments may address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, example embodiments are not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and may not overcome any of the problems described above.
One or more example embodiments may provide an engine head, comprising: an attachment portion configured to be attached to an end of a cylinder, such that a combustion chamber is defined by walls of the cylinder and the attachment portion; an intake port extending from a first end in communication with the combustion chamber and a second end, opposite the combustion chamber; an exhaust port extending from a first end in communication with the combustion chamber and a second end, opposite the combustion chamber; a first plate comprising a solid portion and at least one opening, wherein the first plate is moveable between a first position in which the solid portion of the first plate closes the intake port between the first end of the intake port and the second end of the intake port, and a second position in which the opening in the first plate allows passage of gas between the first end of the intake port and the second end of the intake port; and a second plate comprising a solid portion and at least one opening, wherein the second plate is moveable between a first position in which the solid portion of the second plate closes the exhaust port between the first end of the exhaust port and the second end of the exhaust port, and a second position in which the opening in the second plate allows passage of gas between the first end of the exhaust port and the second end of the exhaust port.
The above and/or other aspects and advantages will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of example embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to example embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, the example embodiments may have different forms and may not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein.
It will be understood that the terms “include,” “including”, “comprise,” and/or “comprising.” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
It will be further understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections may not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section.
As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as ‘at least one of,’ when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. In addition, the terms such as “unit,” “-er (-or),” and “module” described in the specification refer to an element for performing at least one function or operation, and may be implemented in hardware, software, or the combination of hardware and software.
Various terms are used to refer to particular system components. Different companies may refer to a component by different names—this document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function.
Matters of these example embodiments that are obvious to those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which these example embodiments pertain may not be described here in detail.
One or more example embodiments provide a head for an internal combustion four-stroke engine using at least one reciprocating piston in a cylinder bore.
Contained within the head 200 are at least two ports: an intake port 220a and an exhaust port 220b. Both the intake and exhaust ports 220a and 220b are in communication with the combustion chamber 55 at one end and with atmosphere at an opposite end.
With reference to
The plate 250a/250b may be made of aluminum and coated with a hard surface plating such as Nikasil. Alternately, the plate 250a/250b may be made from one or more of a variety of other metals, carbon fiber, other composite materials, or other material, combination of materials, and/or surface treatment, as would be understood by one of skill in the art.
The plate 250a/250b may rotate on a shaft 255a/255b that is approximately parallel to the port 220a/220b at the point of intersection between the port 220a/220b and the plate 250a/250b. The shaft 255a/255b and the plate 250a/250b together may be one, single piece, or the plate 250a/250b may be fastened to the shaft 255a/255b. Any method of construction may be used to build the plate 250a/250b so that it has a shaft 255a/255b on which it can rotate. An opening 260a/260b in the plate may allow the port 220a/220b to open when the plate 250a/250b is rotated and the opening 260a/260b aligns with the port 220a/220b.
Bearings 256a/256b may be used to support the plate shaft 255a/255b and reduce friction and wear as the plate 250a/250b rotates, and may be radial and/or thrust bearings. The bearings may be ball bearings, roller bearings, bronze bearings, or any other type of bearing, as would be understood by one of skill in the art.
Oil, provided in an oil passage 257a/257b, as shown in
Seals 258a/258b, and 231 may be used to keep oil in areas designed to be exposed to oil, and out of the ports 220a/220b and/or combustion chamber 55.
A sealing device may provide a seal between the plate 250c, where it is exposed to the port 220a/220b on the combustion chamber side of the plate 250c, and the head surrounding the port, when the port is closed. The sealing device may effectively seal the combustion chamber 55 within the cylinder 50 from the port 220a/220b at the appropriate time during the compression and power stroke. As shown in
Multiple rings may be used to achieve a seal at each port. The rings may be round and each fit into a round ring groove. However, the shape of the ring(s) and groove(s) may be any shape to allow for differently-shaped ports. The material used for construction of the ring may be cast iron, carbon, graphite, steel, alloy, or any of a variety of other materials appropriate for use in piston compression rings, as would be understood by one of skill in the art.
Returning to the example embodiment of
High combustion chamber pressures during the power stroke may cause extreme pressure on the portion of the plate 250a/250b in communication with the combustion chamber 55. The pressure may cause the plate 220a/220b to deflect away from the head 200 and sealing device, e.g. rings 273 and ring grooves 274. A scaling device may be used to effectively seal an area between the side of the plate 220a/220b, opposite the side in communication with the combustion chamber 55, and a valve cover enclosing the plate 220a/220b. A passage may be in communication with the combustion chamber on one end and the effectively-sealed area on the opposite side of the plate 250a/250b. The side load on the plate 250a/250b may thereby be reduced because as the pressure in the combustion chamber 55 increases the passage allows the pressure to equalize in the sealed areas on opposite sides of the plate 250a/250b.
Alternately, a bearing may be placed so that it supports the plate 250a/250b, in the area of the port 220a/220b, against the pressure in the combustion chamber 55. This may be a ball or roller bearing, a Teflon bearing surface, or any other design or material that may come in contact with the plate 250a/250b to stop or limit deflection of the plate 250a/250b due to pressure in the combustion chamber 55.
As shown in
The shaft 255a/255b of the plate 250a/250b may be substantially perpendicular to a flat scaling face of the plate 250a/250b. A scaling face of the plate 250a/250b may be plated with a hard surfacing material. The plating may be Nikasil or another material. The plate 250a/250b may rotate in a counterbore 291a/291b, in the head 200, with the sealing surface facing the head 200.
The shaft 255a/255b may extend beyond the scaling surface and may have a bearing area that rotates within an axial bearing 231 in a base of a counterbore 291a/291b. An oil supply passage may supply oil under pressure to a bearing. A seal 232 may be placed on either side of a bearing to contain oil within dedicated oil passages. The seal may be Teflon or another suitable material to endure the heat. The seal may be, but is not limited to, a Viton lip seal.
The plate 250a/250b may have a stiffening structure on a side of the plate opposite the scaling surface. A thrust roller bearing 233 (see
A thrust plate may be fastened to the rotor shaft, above a rotor cover, to provide a bearing surface for a roller thrust bearing, to bear any thrust load in a direction toward the head.
A seal may be disposed on either side of a bearing, or combination of bearings, to contain oil within dedicated oil passages. Such a seal may be Teflon or another material, and may be, for example, a Viton lip seal. A seal may contact a rotor shaft directly or may contact a sleeve placed on a rotor shaft. An o-ring may be used to seal between a sleeve and a rotor shaft.
The head 200 may include one or more sparkplugs (not shown) therein, such that the sparking electrode communicates with the combustion chamber 55 to ignite the air/fuel mixture to begin the power stroke.
The head 200 may have cooling fins 296 about the exterior surface. The heat generated in the combustion chamber 55 may be conducted through the material of the head 200 and dissipated through fins 296 that are cooled by air flowing over them. Alternately, there may be passages (not shown), in and/or around the head and/or a valve cover, containing a liquid coolant that circulates within a radiator/cooling system. The plate 250a/250b may contain a passage 256 in a shaft 255 allowing a liquid coolant to be in contact with the plate 250a/250b. Alternately, a fan or another method as would be understood by one of skill in the art may be used to cool the head 200.
The head 200 may be made of aluminum and cast or may be machined from solid stock. However, this description of aluminum is not limiting, and any material, construction, or manufacturing process appropriate for a four stroke head may be used.
A rotor cover 251, as shown in
The rotor cover 251 may include cooling fins (not shown) about an exterior surface thereof. The heat generated in the combustion chamber 55 may be conducted through the material of the head 200 and valve cover and dissipated through the cooling fins that are cooled by air flowing over them. Alternately, there may be passages, in and/or around the head 200 and/or rotor cover, and may be in communication with a radiator/cooling system (not shown) that may contain a liquid coolant that circulates within the radiator/cooling system. Alternately, a fan or another method as would be understood by one of skill in the art may be used to cool the rotor cover.
According to an example embodiment, the rotation of the driveshaft 430 is used to drive and time rotation of the plates 250a/250b.
According to an example embodiment, a chain and sprocket 410 may be used to transfer a rotating motion of a crankshaft to a set of miter gears 420, which may change the axis of rotation to one that is perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to an axis of the crankshaft.
The plates 250a/250b may be made to turn at half the crankshaft speed to provide a proper port timing.
A rotating speed of the crankshaft may be reduced to half by a gear ratio of sprockets, e.g. sprocket 410, mounted on a crankshaft and an input shaft 412 driving a set of miter gears 420. There may be a device to adjust the tension of the chain.
The miter gear ratio may be 1 to 1. A rotor drive shaft 430 may rotate perpendicular to or nearly perpendicular to the cylinder 50. The rotor drive shaft 430 may have a toothed pulley 440 mounted on it. A key 442 and keyway may be used to prevent rotation of the pulley 440 with respect to the rotor drive shaft 430. Alternately, a spline (not shown) or other method may be used to prevent the pulley 440 from rotating with respect to the rotor drive shaft 430. The toothed timing belt 441 may be used to time and drive the pulleys 340a and 340b connected to the rotating plates 250a and 250b.
Alternately, the miter gears 420 may be driven by the crankshaft directly and may have a ratio that reduces a rotation of the rotor driveshaft 430 to half that of the crankshaft. Alternately, the rotor drive shaft 430 may have miter gears 420 driven directly off the crankshaft and turning at the same speed as the crankshaft, and one or more pulleys and the timing belt 441, or other suitable method, may be used reduce the plates 250a and 250b at half of the crankshaft speed.
Alternately, plates 250a and 250b may be timed and driven by a chain or chains and sprockets (not shown) fastened to the plates 250a and 250b
It should be understood that many combinations of gear ratios and drive methods could be used to rotate and time a plate at half the crankshaft speed.
Engine performance is dependent, in part, on the timing of events, such as the opening and closing of the ports 220a and 220b by the openings 260a and 260b in the plates 250a and 250b. Optimum timing varies with engine rpm.
According to an aspect of an example embodiment, a belt tensioner, comprising two idler pulleys, adjustable arms, and adjusting mechanism, may be used to adjust the tension in the timing belt 441 (see
When the belt tension is correct, the angle between the arms 446a and 446b may be locked. This locked adjuster, along with the idler pulleys 445a and 445b and arms 446a and 446b, thus function as a variable timing unit that may rotate on the same axis as one of the pulleys 440, 340a and 340b. Rotation of the variable timing unit increases deflection of one leg of the belt 441 while decreasing deflection of an opposing leg of the belt 441. The relation of the pulley 440, 340a, or 340b, sharing the axis with the variable timing unit, to the other pulleys 440, 340a, and 340b is advanced or retarded depending on the direction of movement.
The variable timing unit may be rotated by an adjustable rod fastened to a variable timing unit and a fixed mount and adjusted manually.
According to an aspect of an example embodiment, the variable timing unit may be held by a spring (not shown) in an advanced or retarded position. As engine rpm increases, centrifugal force on rotating weights may be used to move the variable timing unit against a spring to advance or retard the position of the pulley 440, 340a, or 340b, sharing the axis of the variable timing unit, compared to the other pulleys 440, 340a, or 340b, driven by the same belt 441.
Yet another example of a variable timing unit control may use an electromagnetic actuator, controlled by the engine control unit (ECU), to accurately advance or retard the timing of the valve events for a particular rpm.
The head 200 may be mounted to the end of the 50 cylinder, to form the combustion chamber 55, and may be held in place by head bolts. The interface between the head 200 and cylinder 50 may be sealed by a head gasket.
The cylinder 50, head 200, rotor cover 251, and plates 250a and 250b may be cooled by liquid coolant being pumped through them by an engine-driven pump (not shown).
Coolant may circulate through cooling passages (not shown) that surround the wall of the bore of the cylinder 50. A head gasket may have holes therein that allow communication among cooling passages that surround the wall of the bore of the cylinder 50 and cooling passages in and/or surrounding the head and or portions of the head 200.
The shafts 255a and 255b may each have a shaft 255a/255b, containing a cooling passage 256a/256b. The cooling passage 256a/256b may be in communication, at one end, with the cooling passages in the cylinder, and also in communication with a passage (not shown) that may return the coolant to a cooling radiator.
A rotor cover 251 may contain cooling passages therein that are in communication with cooling passages in and/or surrounding the head and/or portions of the head at one end and also in communication with a passage that may return the coolant to a cooling radiator.
It should be understood that any means may be used to supply and circulate coolant through coolant passages in and/or around the head, rotor covers, and rotors. Coolant may, but does not have to, pass through the cylinder first.
A head gasket may have a hole that allows communication between a pressurized oil supply passage, in the cylinder 50, and an oil passage in the head 200. An oil passage in the head 200 may supply oil under pressure to bearings in the head 200.
There may be more than one intake and more than one exhaust rotor plates.
A one-way reed valve may be installed in the intake port to prevent gases from the combustion chamber 55 from reentering the intake port 220a, in the event that pressure in the cylinder 50 is greater than pressure in the intake port 220a, before the rotor plate closes.
It may be understood that the example embodiments described herein may be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each example embodiment may be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other example embodiments.
While example embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by the following claims.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/856,402, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Jun. 3, 3019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2020/035877 | 6/3/2020 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62856402 | Jun 2019 | US |