In an internal combustion engine, first and second rotating members, one for the intake valve and one for the exhaust valve rotate next to the outside of an engine cylinder on opposite sides thereof when driven by a drive gear attached to the end of the engine's crankshaft. Each rotating member may include a ring gear having a valve port or aperture near its perimeter that cyclically aligns with a corresponding valve port formed through the cylinder wall near the top of the cylinder. A method of controlling valve timing comprises the steps of causing the rotating member containing the second valve port to periodically align in synchronism with the first port to control the passage of an air/fuel mixture and exhaust gases through the combustion cycles of the engine.

A cylinder head assembly for a cylinder of a four stroke internal combustion engine, including an intake rotor assembly that includes an intake rotor body, a first intake rotor shell portion, and a second intake rotor shell portion, and is operable to be rotatably received in at least one through bore of a cylinder head member. An exhaust rotor assembly includes an exhaust rotor body, a first exhaust rotor shell portion, and a second exhaust rotor shell portion, and is operable to be rotatably received in the at least one through bore of the cylinder head member. At least one of the first and second intake rotor shell portions or the first and second exhaust rotor shell portions are operable to be urged outwardly towards or against an interior surface of the at least one through bore of the cylinder head member so as to create a seal therebetween.

A cylinder head assembly for a cylinder of a four stroke internal combustion engine, including an intake rotor assembly that includes an intake rotor body, a first intake rotor shell portion, and a second intake rotor shell portion, and is operable to be rotatably received in at least one through bore of a cylinder head member. An exhaust rotor assembly includes an exhaust rotor body, a first exhaust rotor shell portion, and a second exhaust rotor shell portion, and is operable to be rotatably received in the at least one through bore of the cylinder head member. At least one of the first and second intake rotor shell portions or the first and second exhaust rotor shell portions are operable to be urged outwardly towards or against an interior surface of the at least one through bore of the cylinder head member so as to create a seal therebetween.

Aspiration and multi-section slide valves (24) for internal combustion engines (11). The slide valves (24) include a central, reduced diameter neck (103) connecting separate cylindrical valve sections (104, 105), which have multiple spaced-apart ring groove arrays seating multiple rings. Slide valves (24) utilize spaced apart, continuously pressurized, annular oil confinement zones (101) that are defined between the slide valve exterior and its sleeve (27) between groups of piston ring arrays. The oil zones are axially spaced along the length of the slide valve and continuously pressured by oil flow passageways (106). During slide valve movement these pressurized oil zones tend to stabilize the slide valve (24), preventing metal-to-metal contact such as that associated with rocking, tipping, chafing or scrubbing. When appropriately displaced, the slide valve neck (103) facilitates transverse fluid flow through the slide valve and its confining sleeve between cylinder gas pathways (139, 141).

Aspiration and multi-section slide valves (24) for internal combustion engines (11). The slide valves (24) include a central, reduced diameter neck (103) connecting separate cylindrical valve sections (104, 105), which have multiple spaced-apart ring groove arrays seating multiple rings. Slide valves (24) utilize spaced apart, continuously pressurized, annular oil confinement zones (101) that are defined between the slide valve exterior and its sleeve (27) between groups of piston ring arrays. The oil zones are axially spaced along the length of the slide valve and continuously pressured by oil flow passageways (106). During slide valve movement these pressurized oil zones tend to stabilize the slide valve (24), preventing metal-to-metal contact such as that associated with rocking, tipping, chafing or scrubbing. When appropriately displaced, the slide valve neck (103) facilitates transverse fluid flow through the slide valve and its confining sleeve between cylinder gas pathways (139, 141).

A split-cycle internal combustion engine includes a variable displacement compressor having two or more cylinders, an adjustment mechanism for varying the displacement volume of the compressor and possibly the phase between the compressor and the motor, and a rotary motor having two or more expansion chambers. A passage valve system located between the compressor and the motor transfers working fluid and combustion exhaust products, and, in addition, mechanically and thermally isolates the compressor from the high pressures and temperatures present in the motor.

A split-cycle internal combustion engine includes a variable displacement compressor having two or more cylinders, an adjustment mechanism for varying the displacement volume of the compressor and possibly the phase between the compressor and the motor, and a rotary motor having two or more expansion chambers. A passage valve system located between the compressor and the motor transfers working fluid and combustion exhaust products, and, in addition, mechanically and thermally isolates the compressor from the high pressures and temperatures present in the motor.

The distribution cylinder (CDM) is a simplified, efficient and rational concept for insertion, top sealing and gas evacuation, for a new transformation of the internal combustion engine. It enables the extraction of ninety percent of the components from the old standardized system, which is more than a century and a half old, and which, until now, have performed these vital functions with the known limitations described in this study. The CDM lightens the structure and functionality of the engine, allowing manufacturers to save materials, production time, maintenance and fuel. It allows for the creation of powerful, faster and less polluting engines. It recommends that the four-stroke engine be recalibrated, considerably improving its performance. Thus equipped, it would naturally run faster since it would be freed from the mechanical limitations of its more resistant valve cylinder version The adoption of the timing cylinder, combined with the modern techniques developed for powering today's internal combustion engine, lays the foundation for a new generation of competitive yet lighter and more compact engines. Their torque will not only be more available but also more flexible to serve all uses and all engine sizes.

A combustion engine comprises combustion chambers (1-4) with reciprocating pistons (5), intake ports (6) and exhaust ports (7). Overflow ports (11,12) are provided between adjacent combustion chambers to provide an overflow channel (15,16) that closes during a high load mode of operation of said engine and opens during a partial load mode of operation. The overflow ports (11,12) straddle a path of shortest distance between adjacent combustion chambers and said overflow channel (15) extends at least substantially along said path of shortest distance. In a further aspect of the invention, exhaust ports (1b+2a, 3b+4a) of adjacent combustion chambers are joined into a common exhaust channel (P2,P4) that communicates with an exhaust header (20) of the engine through valve means (V1,V2) that open during the high load mode of operation of said engine and close during a partial load mode of operation.

A combustion engine comprises combustion chambers (1-4) with reciprocating pistons (5), intake ports (6) and exhaust ports (7). Overflow ports (11,12) are provided between adjacent combustion chambers to provide an overflow channel (15,16) that closes during a high load mode of operation of said engine and opens during a partial load mode of operation. The overflow ports (11,12) straddle a path of shortest distance between adjacent combustion chambers and said overflow channel (15) extends at least substantially along said path of shortest distance. In a further aspect of the invention, exhaust ports (1b+2a, 3b+4a) of adjacent combustion chambers are joined into a common exhaust channel (P2,P4) that communicates with an exhaust header (20) of the engine through valve means (V1,V2) that open during the high load mode of operation of said engine and close during a partial load mode of operation.