Internal-combustion engines – Four-cycle – Single poppet valve
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-19
2001-08-14
McMahon, Marguerite (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Four-cycle
Single poppet valve
C123S07900R, C123S184580
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273038
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INFORMATION
A conventional internal combustion engine has for each cylinder, one or two intake valves and one or two exhaust valves. In the normal combustion cycle, the intake valves open during the intake phase, the exhaust valves open during the exhaust phase and both sets of valves remain closed during the compression and combustion phases.
During the intake phase when the intake valve opens, the negative pressure in the combustion chamber created by the downward motion of the piston draws intake air from the intake manifold into the combustion chamber. Ideally, when the pressure in the intake manifold and the combustion chamber equalizes, the intake valves close to keep the maximum charge in the combustion chamber. However, after the intake valve for a particular cylinder closes the air in the intake manifold becomes stagnant until the beginning of the intake cycle for the next cylinder. In the initial stages of the intake cycle for the next cylinder, the intake valve opens and the stagnant air is initially drawn into the combustion chamber by exhaust scavenging during a brief time in the intake phase during which both the intake and exhaust valves are open. Then, after the exhaust valve is closed, the negative pressure effect takes over to bring the remainder of the charge into the combustion chamber via the intake valve. This overlap feature which is designed to create more volumetric efficiency at higher RPMs allows some raw fuel to escape into the exhaust manifold creating unwanted exhaust emissions.
Additionally, the combustion cycle in a conventional engine causes severe heating to the intake and exhaust valves causing undesirable hot spots in the combustion chamber. As a result, a conventional engine is required to use a richer fuel to air ratio to control combustion temperatures within the fuel's flash point. Thus fuel is used not only as an energy source, but also to cool the combustion chamber.
Moreover, the rapid opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves in a conventional engine leads to vibration and noise in the engine head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, comprising a movably mounted distribution element, wherein the distribution element in a first configuration fluidly couples an intake portion of a first cylinder of the plurality of cylinders with a combustion chamber of the first cylinder, and wherein the distribution element in a second configuration fluidly couples the combustion chamber of the first cylinder with an exhaust portion of the first cylinder.
An intake system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders that fire in a predetermined order, comprising a first intake passage extending to an intake portion of a first cylinder of the plurality of cylinders, wherein the first cylinder fires first in the predetermined order a second intake passage extending from the intake portion of the first cylinder to an intake portion of a second cylinder of the plurality of cylinders, wherein the second cylinder fires immediately subsequent to the first cylinder in the predetermined firing order and a final intake passage extending from an intake portion of a final cylinder to the intake portion of the first cylinder, wherein the final cylinder fires last in the predetermined firing order.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3071123 (1963-01-01), Gromme
patent: 3505983 (1970-04-01), Hartel
patent: 4262639 (1981-04-01), Motosugi et al.
patent: 4441464 (1984-04-01), Toyoda et al.
patent: 4450793 (1984-05-01), Sumiyoshi et al.
patent: 4674450 (1987-06-01), Krajacich
patent: 4827882 (1989-05-01), Paul et al.
patent: 5503124 (1996-04-01), Wallis
patent: 5941206 (1999-08-01), Smith et al.
patent: 719 510 (1942-04-01), None
patent: 31 08 813 (1982-09-01), None
patent: 31 42 891 (1983-05-01), None
patent: 2 223 800 (1990-04-01), None
patent: 98/36158 (1998-08-01), None
Valkenburgh, “Electric Valves,”Road&Track, Jun. 1998, pp. 170-174.
Kutlucinar Iskender V.
Saul Andrew M.
Benton Jason
Hycomp, Inc.
Kenyon & Kenyon
McMahon Marguerite
LandOfFree
Rotary distribution system internal combustion engine does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Rotary distribution system internal combustion engine, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Rotary distribution system internal combustion engine will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2468768