Seal Patents (Class 123/190.17)
  • Patent number: 11421563
    Abstract: A cylinder head assembly for an internal combustion engine includes: a cylinder head defining a combustion chamber and having at least one opening communicating therewith; at least one port; at least one rotatable valve element disposed between the at least one opening and the at least one port; and at least one seal assembly disposed between the at least one rotatable valve element and the cylinder head, the seal assembly comprising a seal having a concave sealing face which conforms to a peripheral surface of the at least one valve element, a labyrinth seal disposed opposite the sealing face, and a resilient secondary seal disposed between the seal and the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: VAZTEC ENGINE VENTURE, LLC
    Inventor: Darrick Vaseleniuck
  • Patent number: 11149869
    Abstract: Valve seats include a flexible arm portion configured to seal against a portion of a valve body of a valve. A ball valve may include such valve seats. Methods of forming a seal in a ball valve include forcing a first metal valve scat into sealing contact with a first end cap and a ball valve member with a first metal flexible arm member and forcing a second metal valve seat into sealing contact with a second end cap and the ball valve member with a second metal flexible arm member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: Ricky England, David Boles
  • Patent number: 11098808
    Abstract: A control valve includes a casing, a valve body, and a seal cylinder member. The casing has an inlet and an outlet. The valve body is rotatably disposed inside the casing, and has a peripheral wall portion formed with a valve hole providing communicating between the inside and the outside. One end portion of the seal cylinder member communicates with a downstream side of the outlet, and a valve sliding contact surface is provided at the other end portion. A protruding height of the other end portion of the seal cylinder member continuously changes in a circumferential direction thereof to conform to a shape of an outer circumferential surface of the circumferential wall portion. A region of the other end portion of the seal cylinder member where the protruding height is lower is provided with a thick portion that is thicker than other portions and reaches the valve-sliding contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akifumi Ozeki, Toshihito Nagai
  • Patent number: 11079027
    Abstract: A control valve includes a casing, a valve body, and a seal cylinder member. The casing has an inlet and an outlet. The valve body is rotatably disposed inside the casing, and has a circumferential wall portion formed with a valve hole providing communication between the inside and the outside. One end portion of the seal cylinder member communicates with the outlet, and a valve sliding contact surface is provided at the other end portion. A flow rate control groove having a bottom surface which is recessed with respect to the outer circumferential surface of the circumferential wall portion and has one end portion continuous with the valve hole is provided on at least one of a front side and a rear side of an edge portion of the valve hole in the circumferential wall portion in a rotating direction of the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akifumi Ozeki
  • Patent number: 10794262
    Abstract: An integrated flow rate control valve assembly is provided between an engine and a radiator. The integrated flow rate control valve assembly includes a housing in which a plurality of valve rooms separated by partition walls are formed and a plurality of rotary valves provided in the plurality of valve rooms, respectively, and an engine cooling system including the same, and according to the present disclosure, a sealing between cooling water lines is fundamentally solved, thereby enabling cooling water leakage prevention and structural robustness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hyo-Jo Lee
  • Patent number: 10196991
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an engine having a cylinder head which is divided into multiple sections which each delimit a combustion chamber of a cylinder of the engine and which each comprise inlet and outlet ducts, inlet and outlet valves, and a spark device which is fastened in a through hole of the cylinder head section, for at least one cylinder head section a throttle flap being provided for completely closing the corresponding inlet duct in the event of a deactivation of the associated cylinder. In the at least one cylinder head section, a first gas flow duct is formed between the through hole and the outlet duct, and the spark device is in the form of a rotary slide valve with integrated spark electrodes and is configured to selectively either keep the first gas flow duct closed or connect said first gas flow duct to the associated combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hans Guenter Quix, Maziar Khosravi
  • Patent number: 9989152
    Abstract: A wiper-seal assembly for a cylinder with a cylinder wall and with a relative movable rod/piston rod with a piston wall is arranged for mounting in a ring-shaped groove in a cylinder wall or a rod/piston rod wall in front of a sealing or a steering. The wiper-seal assembly includes a ring-shaped wiper with one or more wiper sealing lip portions against the opposite relatively moving cylinder wall or the rod/piston rod wall. The wiper is further arranged for fluid transport from a gap between the cylinder wall and the rod/piston rod wall outside the ring shaped groove through pressure releasing flow conduits and further to the gap between the cylinder wall and the piston rod wall outside and at the opposite side of the ring shaped groove, and where the wiper-seal assembly further includes one or more filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: SEAL ENGINEERING AS
    Inventors: Julian Putkowski, Hans Fredrik Sandberg
  • Patent number: 9644505
    Abstract: A rotary valve internal combustion engine has a piston connected to a crankshaft and reciprocatable in a cylinder, a combustion chamber being defined in part by the piston. The engine has a rotary valve rotatable in a valve housing fixed relative to the cylinder, the rotary valve having a valve body containing a volume defining, in part, the combustion chamber and further having a wall part thereof a port giving, during rotation of the valve, fluid communication successively to and from the combustion chamber via inlet and exhaust ports in the valve housing, wherein the rotary valve is rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the crankshaft, the valve being mounted in a bearing arrangement which restrains the valve from movement in the axial direction but permits movement in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: RCV ENGINES LIMITED
    Inventors: Keith Lawes, Brian Mason
  • Patent number: 8931452
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle valve stem seal having both durability and sliding properties at an extremely high level in addition to usual sealing performance. The present invention is a vehicle valve stem seal comprising an elastic member with a seal lip portion on an end of a valve stem guide, the seal lip portion slidably closely contacting with a valve stem of an engine, wherein the elastic member is formed of a composition containing a fluororubber and a fluororesin and has projecting portions at least on a surface of the seal lip portion, the projecting portions being substantially formed of the fluororesin contained in the composition, the fluororesin is a copolymer including a polymerization unit derived from ethylene and a polymerization unit derived from tetrafluoroethylene, and the fluororubber is a polymer including a polymerization unit derived from vinylidene fluoride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Ogishi, Tetsuya Mizone, Kouhei Takemura, Tomihiko Yanagiguchi
  • Patent number: 8839757
    Abstract: A rotary valve internal combustion engine has a piston connected to a crankshaft and reciprocatable in a cylinder, a combustion chamber being defined in part by the piston, and a rotary valve rotatable in a valve housing fixed relative to the cylinder, the rotary valve having a valve body containing a volume defining, in part, the combustion chamber and further having a port giving, during rotation of the valve, fluid communication successively to and from the combustion chamber via inlet and exhaust ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: RCV Engines Limited
    Inventor: Keith Lawes
  • Patent number: 8171909
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine of the two- or four-stroke petrol, diesel or gas-fueled type, comprising: an engine block which forms internally at least one cylinder; a head which contains a cylindrical rotary distributor which is adapted to connect, by means of two internal ports, a combustion chamber of the at least one cylinder alternately to the air intake and to the gas exhaust; a plate for closing the head in an upper region, in which intake and exhaust conveyance channels of the engine are provided; for each at least one cylinder being provided a single sealing element which is arranged between the at least one cylinder and the rotary distributor. The sealing element has a cradle which is shaped complementarily with respect to the rotary distributor and a cylindrical protrusion that has an open cavity which forms the combustion chamber of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Inventor: Giancarlo Brusutti
  • Publication number: 20100236514
    Abstract: A gas seal between a port (10, 12) of a rotary valve (7) and a port (8) in a combustion chamber (6) of a rotary valve engine, the seal comprising gas channel means (15) forming a turbo valve means (26) surrounding the port (8) in the combustion chamber and compression means (20, 21) for creating a pressure in the gas channel means greater than a pressure in the combustion chamber during a compression stroke and a power stroke of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventor: Gordon McNally
  • Patent number: 7685986
    Abstract: A disc valve system for a piston driven internal combustion engine. The disc valve system comprises at least one rotating disc valve and an intermediate seal member. The disc is mounted between a cylinder head manifold having exhaust and intake ports and an engine cylinder housing the piston and defining a combustion chamber. The disc comprising sequencing ports to be brought into periodic communication with the exhaust and intake ports at cyclic intervals of the rotating movement thereof, thereby providing for the exhaust and intake ports to be brought into periodic communication with the combustion chamber. The intermediate seal member is mounting between the disc and the cylinder so as to seal the combustion chamber at a junction of the disc and the cylinder. The intermediate seal member comprising a dynamic seal for contact with the disc and a stationary seal for sealing contact with the engine cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventors: Fotios Agapiades, Thomas Agapiades
  • Publication number: 20100018492
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine of the two- or four-stroke petrol, diesel or gas-fueled type, comprising: an engine block which forms internally at least one cylinder; a head which contains a cylindrical rotary distributor which is adapted to connect, by means of two internal ports, a combustion chamber of the at least one cylinder alternately to the air intake and to the gas exhaust; a plate for closing the head in an upper region, in which intake and exhaust conveyance channels of the engine are provided; for each at least one cylinder being provided a single sealing element which is arranged between the at least one cylinder and the rotary distributor. The sealing element has a cradle which is shaped complementarily with respect to the rotary distributor and a cylindrical protrusion that has an open cavity which forms the combustion chamber of the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventor: Giancarlo Brusutti
  • Patent number: 7650869
    Abstract: Novel rotary valve assemblies and valve components for use with an internal combustion engine are disclosed. Valve seal assembly anchors are also described. Selected valve port geometries and axial adjustment for variable valve area for desired engine efficiency and performance are described. Novel seal assemblies and arrangements for sealing and heat transfer are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Inventor: David A. Slemp
  • Patent number: 7647909
    Abstract: A valve seal for a rotary valve assembly for use in an internal combustion engine of the piston and cylinder type, the valve seal having a valve seal body member having a curved annular upper surface conforming to the spherical periphery of a spherical rotary valve, the valve seal body member having a centrally disposed aperture there through defined by an inner circular side wall, the valve seal body member further having an outer circumferential side wall having a plurality of mounting ribs for the positioning of lateral sealing rings, the valve seal body member further having a plurality of vertical axial throughbores formed between the inner circular side wall and the outer circumferential side wall for pressure equalization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: George J. Coates
  • Patent number: 7621249
    Abstract: An axial flow rotary valve (1) for an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder head (10) having a bore in which an axial flow rotary valve (1) rotates. The valve having a cylindrical centre portion (4), and an inlet and an exhaust port (2, 3) terminating as openings (7, 8) in the centre portion, the openings periodically communicating with a combustion chamber (23) through a window (15) in the bore. The clearance between the centre portion and the bore being sealed by an array of floating seals comprising at least two axial seals (16a, 16b) spaced apart on opposite sides of the window. The assembly further comprising at least one floating axially extending masking seal (5) being disposed outside the window and circumferentially remote from the axial seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Bishop Innovation Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Bruce Wallis, Andrew Donald Thomas
  • Publication number: 20090165742
    Abstract: A valve seal for a rotary valve assembly for use in an internal combustion engine of the piston and cylinder type, the valve seal having a valve seal body member having a curved annular upper surface conforming to the spherical periphery of a spherical rotary valve, the valve seal body member having a centrally disposed aperture there through defined by an inner circular side wall, the valve seal body member further having an outer circumferential side wall having a plurality of mounting ribs for the positioning of lateral sealing rings, the valve seal body member further having a plurality of vertical axial throughbores formed between the inner circular side wall and the outer circumferential side wall for pressure equalization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: George J. Coates
  • Patent number: 7484490
    Abstract: A switching drum seal (1) for a switching drum (11) for sealing an intake pipe in an intake manifold system of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, having two spaced-apart, circumferentially extending circumferential sealing sections (2) with circumferential sealing surfaces (3) and two spaced-apart, axially extending axial sealing sections (4) with axial sealing surfaces (5) and having at least one resilient element (7) to impart resilience to at least one circumferential sealing section (2) perpendicular to its circumferential sealing surface. The resilient element (7) extends in a region between the switching drum (11) and one of the circumferential sections (2) and is supported on the switching drum (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Teschner, Arthur Klotz, Mathias Endress
  • Patent number: 7458357
    Abstract: A gas sealing element of an array of floating seals for a rotary valve internal combustion engine. The engine comprising a cylinder head (6) having a bore (8), a rotary valve (1) within the bore with a predetermined clearance, and a window (12) in the bore communicating with a combustion chamber. The sealing element (15) having an elongate form and having a sealing face (23), an underside (24) opposite said sealing face, and first and second side faces (25,26) opposite each other, the sealing element being adapted to be located in a slot (20) in the cylinder head bore. The side face (25) of the sealing element facing the window having at least one channel (17) extending from the sealing face to the underside of the sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Bishop Innovation Limited
    Inventor: Anthony Bruce Wallis
  • Publication number: 20080210192
    Abstract: A cylinder head for an internal combustion engine is provided. The cylinder head includes a valve chamber shaped to accommodate at least two rotary valves therein. The cylinder head also includes at least two first passages extending between the valve chamber and an underside of the cylinder head. The cylinder head further includes a flow passage for providing fluid communication between the valve chamber and the exterior of the cylinder head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: Martin W. Dirker
  • Patent number: 7401587
    Abstract: A sealing system for an axial flow rotary valve internal combustion engine comprising an array of floating gas seals and an optional oil sealing system. The array of floating seals surrounding a window (15) in the bore (11) of the cylinder head (10) through which the ports (2, 3) of the valve (1) communicate with a combustion chamber (31). The array of floating seals comprising axial seals (16) and circumferential seals (17) housed in slots (18, 19) in the bore of the cylinder head wherein the circumferential seals are disposed axially between the ends of the axial seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Bishop Innovation Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Donald Thomas, Anthony Bruce Wallis
  • Patent number: 7380532
    Abstract: Between the cylinder head and combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, an intermediate sealing ring. The sealing ring is in sliding contact at its top circular surface with a disc valve rotatively mounted in said cylinder head and at its outer periphery in fixed sealing contact with the inner surface of the engine cylinder of said engine combustion chamber. The purpose of the intermediate seal is to confine the working fluids, being acted upon by the reciprocating motion of the engine piston, across the stationary interface of the engine cylinder and rotative surface of the disc valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Inventors: Fotios Agapiades, Thomas Agapiades
  • Patent number: 7134416
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve seal mechanism for a rotatable valve assembly that provides a sealing function between a rotating first valve element and a fixed second valve element as used in a rotary cylinder valve engine. In one embodiment the seal mechansim comprises a substantially rigid sealing frame which surrounds and sealingly engages the periphery of the valve port of one of the cyclindrical valve elements and also sealingly engages a surface of the other cylindrical valve element. In another embodiment, the seal mechanism comprises a resiliently deflectable tubular element of variable diameter, the tubular element being mounted around a first valve element with an aperture of the tubular element being radially aligned with a valve port of the first valve element, the tubular element being biased radially outward of the first valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: RCV Engines Limited
    Inventor: Keith T. Lawes
  • Patent number: 7004119
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic face seal 100 for sealing between the cylinder head 300 and rotating sleeve 200 of a rotating liner engine. The face of the face seal provides a sealing zone 130 for maintaining a lubricant layer of about 2 micrometers between the face seal and the sleeve; and a loading zone 132. The loading zone includes hydrodynamic lift features such as inclined pads 150 or recessed step pads 152. Oil is supplied to annular oil supply passage 142 between the sealing zone and the loading zone, and flows from the annular oil supply passage to radial passages 144 located between the step pads. A spring pre-load is provided to the seal. An outer secondary seal 190 is provided to contain the lubricant. One or more inner secondary seals is provided to contain lubricant and combustion gases. Spiral oil pumping grooves may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Inventor: Dimitrios Dardalis
  • Patent number: 6976465
    Abstract: Between the cylinder head and combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, an intermediate sealing ring. The sealing ring is in sliding contact at its top circular surface with a disc valve rotatively mounted in said cylinder head and at its outer periphery in fixed sealing contact with the inner surface of the engine cylinder of said engine combustion chamber. The purpose of the intermediate seal is to confine the working fluids, being acted upon by the reciprocating motion of the engine piston, across the stationary interface of the engine cylinder and rotative surface of the disc valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Thomas Agapiades
  • Patent number: 6880511
    Abstract: A valve seal for a rotary valve assembly for use in an internal combustion engine of the piston and cylinder type, wherein the cylinder head/combustion chamber is designed for high compression and of long stroke, such as a diesel engine, the rotary valves and the valve seals being positioned in relationship so as to permit charging of the cylinder with a fuel/air mixture and evacuation of spent gases, and to regulate the pressure within the valve seal and valve seat and hence regulate the pressure between the valve seal and the rotary valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: George J. Coates
  • Patent number: 6877719
    Abstract: A valve shaft seal includes a reinforcing ring having a cylindrical section extending over a certain axial length and possessing an outer diameter, a sealing element disposed on the reinforcing ring, and a valve spring supported on a radially extending end section of the reinforcing ring. To support the valve spring on the radially extending end section of the reinforcing ring, the radially extending end section extends radially farther inward in the direction of the axis of the valve shaft seal than the outer diameter of the cylindrical section of the reinforcing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: AB SKF
    Inventor: Werner Heinl
  • Publication number: 20040261747
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a semi-rotating valve assembly that may be used in conjunction with an internal combustion engine. The semi-rotating valve of the present invention comprises a valve shaft disposed substantially within a valve housing, wherein the valve shaft is configured to rotate less than 360 degrees with respect to the valve housing to selectively open and close the valve. The reduced rotation of the valve shaft reduces friction, heat and wear. A sealing mechanism that may be used in conjunction with the semi-rotating valve of the present invention, along with means for cooling the valve, also are disclosed. Further, means for varying an aperture size associated with the valve also are provided, wherein the means for varying is configured to compensate for differences in engine speed to further improve efficiency and reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Craig W. Crall
  • Patent number: 6830025
    Abstract: A dual spring valve stem seal module utilizes an inner retention spring to incorporate a valve stem seal assembly, a valve spring and a spring retainer. The dual spring valve stem seal module reduces the inventory and simplifies the assembly required for the valve stem seal assembly, the valve spring and the spring retainer, thereby reducing the costs associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Mark A. Leimer
  • Publication number: 20040200451
    Abstract: A dual spring valve stem seal module utilizes an inner retention spring to incorporate a valve stem seal assembly, a valve spring and a spring retainer. The dual spring valve stem seal module reduces the inventory and simplifies the assembly required for the valve stem seal assembly, the valve spring and the spring retainer, thereby reducing the costs associated therewith. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: Mark A. Leimer
  • Patent number: 6755171
    Abstract: A rotary valve that includes three sealing blades and four sealing rings. Two on each end. The valve assembly rotates at one half of crank speed, for a (single cylinder four-cycle engine.) This aligns timing of the port in the valve with the port of the cylinder head. This enables intake/exhaust functions. Within the open end of the valve are stationary impeller fins, (rotating at the same speed) provides improved fuel/air mixture and flow characteristics with less polution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventors: Travis D. Brawner, Jan Michael Brawner
  • Patent number: 6718933
    Abstract: A valve seal for a rotary valve assembly for use in an internal combustion engine of the piston and cylinder type, the valve seal having a valve body member having a curved annular upper surface conforming to the spherical periphery of a spherical rotary valve, the valve seal having a centrally disposed aperture therethrough defined by an inner circular side wall, the valve body member having an annular receiving groove formed on its curved upper surface for receipt of a lubricating insert ring, the valve body member further having an outer circumferential side wall having a plurality of mounting ribs for the positioning of lateral sealing rings, the valve body member further having a plurality of radial throughbores formed between the inner circular side wall and the outer circumferential side wall, the throughbores being in the same plane as one of the sealing rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: George J. Coates
  • Patent number: 6691664
    Abstract: Disclosed is a variably timed rotary valve mechanism for controlling the air/fuel intake into and exhaust gases out of an internal combustion engine. There are two rotary valve shafts, one intake and one exhaust, that contain two intake and two exhaust valve ports per engine cylinder. These rotary valve shafts are driven by and synchronized with the engine crankshaft via a conventional timing belt. The timing of each of these rotary valve shafts relative to the crankshaft can be varied individually through hydraulic servomotors under control of a computerized engine management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventors: Joseph Samuel Pisano, Joseph Michael Pisano
  • Patent number: 6651605
    Abstract: A rotary valve assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a rotatable tubular valve body having a pair of diametrically opposed fluid flow holes that are intermittently aligned with the intake and inlet port of the cylinder as the body rotates. The valve assembly is consequently closed and generally blocks fluid flow to the cylinder when the holes of the valve body are not aligned with the intake and inlet port. The valve assembly includes a valve timing adjuster for permitting selective adjustment of the time during which the valve is open. The timing adjuster includes an inner cylindrical core and an intermediate sleeve positioned concentrically between the core and valve body. The core has a diametrically extending flow-through opening and the intermediate sleeve has a pair of diametrically opposed apertures. The engine is preferably provided with a similar rotary valve assembly in the exhaust. A unique rotary valve seal is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: O. Paul Trentham
  • Publication number: 20030213456
    Abstract: A valve, particularly a switching cylinder, for opening and closing a pipe, especially for use in an intake manifold for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having an air distribution chamber and individual intake pipes positioned next to one another which terminate in a flange, in which the valve is positioned in an individual intake pipe to close or open the respective intake pipe, and the valve has at least one sealing system mounted in a radially movable manner such that, in the closed position, it presses against the pipe inner wall to form a seal, and in the open position and in the pivot range from the closed position to the open position, it forms a gap between the valve and the pipe inner wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Arthur Klotz, Helmut Neuschwander
  • Patent number: 6647943
    Abstract: A valve stem seal component overcomes potential orientation misplacement, particularly in cases where no valve stem seal is to be used on an adjacent valve. The component includes an integral locator feature for assuring proper installation atop a valve guide of an internal combustion engine. A plurality of such seal components are employed per engine, each component designed for insertion over at least the intake valve guide of each cylinder. Each component includes a valve stem seal module adapted to be installed over the intake valve guide. A locator is attached to the module via a radial connection portion that extends between the module and locator. The radial connection portion includes an arcuate edge that fits in only one orientation against a curvilinear edge of a boss on the cylinder head. In one described embodiment, the locator is a circular ring adapted to be installed over an exhaust guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Leimer, Mark A. Stamback, Robert W. Lehmann
  • Patent number: 6578538
    Abstract: A rotary valve assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a rotatable tubular valve body having a pair of diametrically opposed fluid flow holes that are intermittently aligned with the intake and inlet port of the cylinder as the body rotates. The valve assembly is consequently closed and generally blocks fluid flow to the cylinder when the holes of the valve body are not aligned with the intake and inlet port. The valve assembly includes a valve timing adjuster for permitting selective adjustment of the time during which the valve is open. The timing adjuster includes an inner cylindrical core and an intermediate sleeve positioned concentrically between the core and valve body. The core has a diametrically extending flow-through opening and the intermediate sleeve has a pair of diametrically opposed apertures. The engine is preferably provided with a similar rotary valve assembly in the exhaust. A unique rotary valve seal is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Inventor: O. Paul Trentham
  • Patent number: 6497226
    Abstract: An improved modular, radially-compliant, redundantly-sealing journal-type bearing assembly comprising two bearing elements retained in a housing and positively loaded in opposing directions by a compression spring disposed therebetween. A shaft to be supported and sealed against leakage by the bearing, such as a valve pintle shaft, is disposed in an axial bore in each of the bearing elements, which bores are fitted as closely to the diameter of the shaft as is possible without causing the shaft to bind in the bores. Each of the radial bearing faces opposite the spring forms a seal with a corresponding internal surface of the housing, defining thereby a redundant sealing system. The bearings are radially compliant within the housing by a predetermined small distance to allow the shaft to be operatively self-centered, such as by an attached valve head mating into a valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Raul A. Bircann, Dwight O. Palmer
  • Publication number: 20020148428
    Abstract: Disclosed is a variably timed rotary valve mechanism for controlling the air/fuel intake into and exhaust gases out of an internal combustion engine. There are two rotary valve shafts, one intake and one exhaust, that contain two intake and two exhaust valve ports per engine cylinder. These rotary valve shafts are driven by and synchronized with the engine crankshaft via a conventional timing belt. The timing of each of these rotary valve shafts relative to the crankshaft can be varied individually through hydraulic servomotors under control of a computerized engine management system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Joseph Samuel Pisano, Joseph Michael Pisano
  • Patent number: 6390048
    Abstract: A gas valve apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber. The gas valve apparatus includes a rotary intake valve located between an outer intake port and inner intake port at the combustion chamber and a rotary exhaust valve located between an outer exhaust and an inner exhaust port at the combustion chamber. Selectively actuatable gates are located at an outer intake and exhaust ports for controlling the opening, closing, and duration of opening of the outer intake and exhaust ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Inventor: Kevin M. Luchansky
  • Patent number: 6230679
    Abstract: A valve stem seal assembly includes a resilient seal member mounted to a shell body having a downwardly extending skirt. At least one alignment pad or tang is provided in the skirt of the shell body for improved gripping of an outside diameter of a valve guide. In one embodiment, the alignment pad includes an inwardly projecting ramp portion connected to a generally longitudinally extending land portion and terminates in an inwardly projecting tang adjacent the land portion. In another embodiment, a valve stem seal assembly includes at least one tang having a generally arcuate end portion with a pair of spaced apart upwardly extending shoulders for gripping a valve guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Hegernier, Mark A. Stamback, Robert W. Lehmann
  • Patent number: 6205960
    Abstract: Disclosed is a self-sealing valve and cylinder configuration, an internal combustion rotary engine, or pump or compressor, with a rotating central housing which includes at least one cylinder aperture, a non-rotating timing pulley mount concentrically positioned within the central housing, a crank shaft eccentrically mounted within the central housing, a valve housing attached to the central housing and which retains a cylinder between it and the central housing, a piston within each cylinder, the piston rod is eccentrically mounted to the crank shaft, and a rotating valve within each valve housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Inventor: Tony Vallejos