Patents by Inventor Martin W. Dirker

Martin W. Dirker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8342204
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a rotary valve including a valve body having a curved portion and two side portions, wherein a line extending through the respective centers of the side portions defines an axis of rotation of the rotary valve. The valve body may include a first fluid connection arranged in the body to fluidly connect at least one of the side portions and the curved portion, via a first opening in at least one of the side portions and a second opening in the curved portion. The valve body may also include a second fluid connection arranged in the body to fluidly connect at least one of the side portions and the curved portion, via a third opening in at least one of the side portions and a fourth opening in the curved portion, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventor: Martin W. Dirker
  • Patent number: 8100144
    Abstract: A mounting arrangement for mounting at least one rotary valve to a drive shaft is provided, where the drive shaft includes at least one mounting hole at a predetermined position therein. The mounting arrangement may include at least one rotary valve having a curved portion and two side portions. The arrangement may also include a central passage passing through the two side portions that is shaped to allow the drive shaft to extend therethrough. The rotary valve may also include a mounting opening, opening towards the central passage at a predetermined position. The arrangement may include a mounting element extending through the mounting opening of the rotary valve into the mounting hole in the drive shaft, to mount the rotary valve to the drive shaft at a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventor: Martin W. Dirker
  • Patent number: 8100102
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventor: Martin W. Dirker
  • Patent number: 7926461
    Abstract: A system for controlling fluid flow to or from a cylinder of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The system includes a drive shaft having a rotary valve mounted thereon. The system also includes a cylinder head a cylinder head accommodating the rotary valve and at least part of the drive shaft therein, the rotary valve being arranged to selectively open or close a flow opening in the cylinder head. The system also includes a source of rotation and a mechanical drive train rotatably coupling the source of rotation to the drive shaft. The mechanical drive train has a non-circular element rotatably coupled to the source of rotation and a non-circular element rotatably coupled to the drive shaft. The non-circular elements are rotatably coupled to cause a speed variation in one of the non-circular elements upon a constant rotation of the other non-circular elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventor: Martin W. Dirker
  • Patent number: 7841324
    Abstract: In one aspect of the disclosure an internal combustion engine may be provided that may include a combustion chamber and a piston reciprocally moveable in the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber may have an intake port and a dual function port. The dual function port may be connected to an exhaust system and to an intake system. A method may be provided including opening a fluid connection between the intake system and the combustion chamber via the intake port as well as the dual function port during at least a part of an intake stroke of the piston. Instead of, or in addition, the method may include opening a fluid connection between the exhaust system and the combustion chamber via the dual function port during at least a part of the intake stroke of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Martin W. Dirker, James D. Wotherspoon
  • Patent number: 7802550
    Abstract: A cylinder head arrangement is provided. The arrangement may include a cylinder head having at least one valve chamber defined therein. The arrangement may also include at least one rotary valve, accommodated in the valve chamber, the rotary valve having a curved portion, two side portions and at least one flow passage intersecting the curved portion and at least one of the side portions, and thereby defining flow openings in the curved portion and two side portions. In addition, the arrangement may also include at least one deflector arranged adjacent at least one side portion of the rotary valve in which a flow opening is defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Martin W. Dirker
  • Patent number: 7802551
    Abstract: A cylinder head for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The cylinder head includes a one piece main body having at least one internal chamber shaped to accommodate at least one rotary valve. At least one first passage extends between the internal chamber and an underside of the main body. A second passage provides communication between the internal chamber and the exterior of the main body and is shaped to allow insertion of a rotary valve therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Ltd
    Inventor: Martin W. Dirker
  • Patent number: 7721689
    Abstract: A system for controlling fluid flow to or from at least one cylinder of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The system includes a rotary valve. A cylinder head having a valve chamber accommodates the rotary valve. The rotary valve is arranged to selectively open or close a flow opening in the cylinder head. A drive motor is coupled to the rotary valve to impart rotation thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventor: Martin W. Dirker
  • Patent number: 7591240
    Abstract: A method for providing a mixture of inlet air and exhaust gas in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. Fluid flow between the cylinder and a cylinder head associated therewith is controlled by at least one rotary valve accommodated in the cylinder head. The method includes rotating the at least one rotary valve to allow a fluid flow between the cylinder and the cylinder head in a first direction and to allow a fluid flow between the cylinder and the cylinder head in a second direction, opposite the first direction, wherein the fluid flow in the first direction and the fluid flow in the second direction are allowed during a single combustion cycle of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventor: Martin W. Dirker
  • Publication number: 20090145410
    Abstract: In one aspect of the disclosure an internal combustion engine may be provided that may include a combustion chamber and a piston reciprocally moveable in the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber may have an intake port and a dual function port. The dual function port may be connected to an exhaust system and to an intake system. A method may be provided including opening a fluid connection between the intake system and the combustion chamber via the intake port as well as the dual function port during at least a part of an intake stroke of the piston. Instead of, or in addition, the method may include opening a fluid connection between the exhaust system and the combustion chamber via the dual function port during at least a part of the intake stroke of the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Martin W. Dirker, James D. Wotherspoon
  • Publication number: 20080210311
    Abstract: A mounting arrangement for mounting at least one rotary valve to a drive shaft is provided, where the drive shaft includes at least one mounting hole at a predetermined position therein. The mounting arrangement may include at least one rotary valve having a curved portion and two side portions. The arrangement may also include a central passage passing through the two side portions that is shaped to allow the drive shaft to extend therethrough. The rotary valve may also include a mounting opening, opening towards the central passage at a predetermined position. The arrangement may include a mounting element extending through the mounting opening of the rotary valve into the mounting hole in the drive shaft, to mount the rotary valve to the drive shaft at a predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: Martin W. Dirker
  • Publication number: 20080210191
    Abstract: A cylinder head arrangement is provided. The arrangement may include a cylinder head having at least one valve chamber defined therein. The arrangement may also include at least one rotary valve, accommodated in the valve chamber, the rotary valve having a curved portion, two side portions and at least one flow passage intersecting the curved portion and at least one of the side portions, and thereby defining flow openings in the curved portion and two side portions. In addition, the arrangement may also include at least one deflector arranged adjacent at least one side portion of the rotary valve in which a flow opening is defined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: Martin W. Dirker
  • Publication number: 20080210190
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a rotary valve including a valve body having a curved portion and two side portions, wherein a line extending through the respective centers of the side portions defines an axis of rotation of the rotary valve. The valve body may include a first fluid connection arranged in the body to fluidly connect at least one of the side portions and the curved portion, via a first opening in at least one of the side portions and a second opening in the curved portion. The valve body may also include a second fluid connection arranged in the body to fluidly connect at least one of the side portions and the curved portion, via a third opening in at least one of the side portions and a fourth opening in the curved portion, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: Martin W. Dirker
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20080163845
    Abstract: A method for providing a mixture of inlet air and exhaust gas in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. Fluid flow between the cylinder and a cylinder head associated therewith is controlled by at least one rotary valve accommodated in the cylinder head. The method includes rotating the at least one rotary valve to allow a fluid flow between the cylinder and the cylinder head in a first direction and to allow a fluid flow between the cylinder and the cylinder head in a second direction, opposite the first direction, wherein the fluid flow in the first direction and the fluid flow in the second direction are allowed during a single combustion cycle of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Martin W. Dirker
  • Publication number: 20080156286
    Abstract: A system for controlling fluid flow to or from at least one cylinder of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The system includes a rotary valve. A cylinder head having a valve chamber accommodates the rotary valve. The rotary valve is arranged to selectively open or close a flow opening in the cylinder head. A drive motor is coupled to the rotary valve to impart rotation thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Martin W. Dirker
  • Publication number: 20080156287
    Abstract: A system for controlling fluid flow to or from a cylinder of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The system includes a drive shaft having a rotary valve mounted thereon. The system also includes a cylinder head a cylinder head accommodating the rotary valve and at least part of the drive shaft therein, the rotary valve being arranged to selectively open or close a flow opening in the cylinder head. The system also includes a source of rotation and a mechanical drive train rotatably coupling the source of rotation to the drive shaft. The mechanical drive train has a non-circular element rotatably coupled to the source of rotation and a non-circular element rotatably coupled to the drive shaft. The non-circular elements are rotatably coupled to cause a speed variation in one of the non-circular elements upon a constant rotation of the other non-circular elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Martin W. Dirker
  • Publication number: 20080156289
    Abstract: A cylinder head for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The cylinder head includes a one piece main body having at least one internal chamber shaped to accommodate at least one rotary valve. At least one first passage extends between the internal chamber and an underside of the main body. A second passage provides communication between the internal chamber and the exterior of the main body and is shaped to allow insertion of a rotary valve therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Martin W. Dirker