US2117650A - Rotary sleeve valve for internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

y 7, 1938- J. D. CAMERON 2,117,650

ROTARY SLEEVE VALVE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Nov. 19, 1955 28 5o 5: 47 26 so 48 48 49 INVENTOK L/d-TTZGS Q Cameran Attc'r'ney Patented May 17, 1938 PATENT ()FFIQE ROTARY SLEEVE VALVE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES James D. Cameron,

Madawaska, Ontario,

Canada Application November 19, 1935, Serial No. 50,607 In Canada April 11, 1935 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a rotary sleeve valve for internal combustion engines. Its primary object being to devise and construct a rotating sleeve valve of improved design.

A further object of the invention is to devise a rotary valve positioned adjacent the head of an engine and surrounding the upper portion of the engine cylinder having means carried by and above the head to rotate the same, said means being operable from the main shaft of the engine to which the said means must be definitely related for purposes of timing the rotating position of the valve with respect to the position of the engine piston in the cylinder.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a rotary valve sleeve mounted in a channel surrounding the upper end of the engine cylinder, the valve sleeve and channel having coacting shoulders to establish a seal between the upper end of the valve sleeve and channel to prevent loss of compression and escape of gases into the cylinder head.

With these and other objects in view that may appear While the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of co -operating parts as hereinafter more specifically set forth, claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing forming part of this application and in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation through an internal combustion engine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross section, showing w the vertical packing keys for the valve sleeve,

and,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line A-A of Fig. 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawing in 40 which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views it will be seen the invention comprises in general a cylinder block 2|] having one or more cylinders 2| constructed therein and surrounded by a water jacket 22 having the usual circulation and radiation means in conjunction therewith. A piston 23 is reciprocally mounted within the cylinder and connected to the main shaft of the engine by the connecting rod 24.

The rotary valve comprises an annular sleeve 25 having an inner shoulder 26 and an outer shoulder 21 formed on the upper part thereof. Extending upward from the shoulder 21 is a gear ring 28 while on the inner side thereof is an annular channel 29. The sleeve 25 is rotatably mounted in a channel 30 formed in an annular ring 3| in the cylinder block and positioned between the cylinder wall 32 and the outer wall 33 and depending into the water jacket 22 in a manher to permit the water therein to surround the same and thereby maintain a uniform temperature and prevent the same from becoming overheated. Shoulders 34 and 35 are formed in the upper portion of the ring 3| to receive the corresponding shoulders formed on the sleeve. The shoulders in the ring form a seat for the sleeve supporting the upper portion of the sleeve so that the lower portion is free to rotate in the ring. The valve seat also establishes a seal between the upper end of the sleeve and ring preventing the leakage of gases into the cylinder head.

An intake port 36 and outlet port 31 are constructed in the outer cylinder structure adjacent each other and connect with the usual intake and exhaust manifolds of the engine. The said ports are continued in the inner cylinder wall structure as at 4c and 4|, while the said annular sleeve is positioned in the channel 3|] between the inner and outer ports. A single port 42 is constructed in the annular sleeve and positioned to register with the aforesaid intake and exhaust ports as the sleeve rotates.

The compression keys 43 are positioned in vertical keyways 44 out in the ring 3| and are arranged to engage the inside of the sleeve 25. U

Springs 45 are provided and are placed behind the keys in the key-ways in a manner to urge the same into contact with the said sleeve. These keys are placed on each side of the intake and exhaust ports and one may be placed in between the same as shown in Fig, 2. The keys act in the same capacity as the compression rings 46 on the piston and prevent loss of compression around the sleeve.

The cylinder head 4'! is secured on the cylinder block in the usual manner by bolts 48 and the water jacket is extended thereinto as shown at 49. An annular groove 50 is provided on the underneath side thereof to accommodate the gear ring 28 which projects upward into the same and an annular flange 5| is formed thereon and depends below the face thereof into the channel 29 in the top of the sleeve 25. A threaded boss 52 is provided on the top of the head to receive the spark plug 53.

The valve or sleeve rotating mechanism comprises a shaft 54 rotatably mounted in bearing boxes 55 secured on the top of the cylinder head. Said shaft is centrally disposed with respect to the cylinder and is provided with drive means on the end thereof connected with the engine shaft. A series of gear wheels 58 are mounted on the shaft 54 in relation to each cylinder. These gears extend downward through slots in the cylinder head to engage the gear ring 28 and thereby rotate the sleeve.

Special means may be devised for lubricating the rotating sleeve. In Fig. 1, I have shown one form of such which comprises an orifice Si in the cylinder head into which the lubricant is to be fed. A feed pipe may be threaded therein and oil supplied under pressure or in any other suitable manner. The said orifice terminates at the bottom of the annular flange 51 and a number of small vertical orifices or ducts 52 are drilled in the sleeve 25 extending to the bottom thereof and lateral ducts 63 connecttherewith to deliver the lubricant on the wall of the channel 30.

As previously stated the rotation of the shaft 54 bears a direct relation to the rotation of the main shaft of the engine, and the gearing must be designed to produce a ratio of precisely one revolution of the rotating sleeve 25 to four revolutions of the main shaft. The sleeve rotates one quarter revolution on the downward and the port is open for the exhaust stroke. The sleeve continues to rotate and passes the closed position from exhaust to intake when the piston reaches approximately the top of the exhaust stroke. The intake stroke then commences as the port or the sleeve comes into correspondence with the intake port. By the time the bottom of the intake stroke is reached the port is again closed and the compression stroke commences and develops into the power stroke during which time the ports remain closed due to the relative positions of the same and the co-related rotation of the rotary valve or sleeve.

It is believed that the advantages and construction of the device may be apparent from the foregoing paragraphs taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, without further detailed description.

' While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed it is understood that minor changes in the construction and arrangement of co-operating parts may be resorted to within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:-

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a rotating sleeve valve mounted in an annular channel surrounding the upper end of the engine cylinder in concentric relation thereto, a

valve seat formed in the upper portion of said channel comprising opposed shoulders in the side walls thereof, corresponding shoulders on the opposed sides of said sleeve valve adapted to engage and rest upon said valve seat to establish a seal between the upper end of the valve sleeve and channel, a ring gear formed integral with the upper end of said sleeve valve and extending into the cylinder head, an annular depending flange formed integral with said cylinder head in concentric relation thereto adapted to seat in an annular recess formed in the upper end of said sleeve valve inside of said ring gear, intake and exhaust ports through the walls of said cylinder and channel below said valve seat, a port in said sleeve valve adapted to alternately register with said intake and exhaust ports and means for rotating said ring gear.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a rotating sleeve valve mounted in an annular channel surrounding the upper end of the engine cylinder in concentric relation thereto, a valve seat formed in the upper portion of said channel comprising opposed shoulders in the side walls thereof, corresponding shoulders on the opposed sides of said sleeve valve adapted to engage and rest upon said valve seat, compression rings disposed between the upper end of said valve sleeve and the cylinder head for holding said valve sleeve in engagement with its seat to establish a seal between the upper end of said sleeve and channel, intake and exhaust ports through the walls of said cylinder and channel below said valve seat, a port in said sleeve valve adapted to alternately register with said intake and exhaust ports and means for rotating said sleeve valve.

3. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a rotating sleeve valve mounted in an annular channel surrounding the upper end of the engine cylinder in concentric relation thereto, intake and exhaust ports in the walls of said cylinder and channel, a port in said sleeve valve adapted to alternately register with said intake and exhaust ports, a valve seat formed in said channel above said ports comprising opposed shoulders in the side walls of the channel, corresponding shoulders on opposite sides of said sleeve valve adapted to engage and rest upon said valve seat to establish a seal between the upper end of the valve sleeve and channel and means for rotating said sleeve valve.

JAMES D. CAMERON.

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