A method of operating an exhaust valve of a two-stroke internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine has a cylinder and a piston movably disposed within the cylinder. The cylinder defines at least one exhaust port for discharging exhaust fluid from the cylinder. The exhaust valve is configured to cyclically obstruct the exhaust port. The method includes: rotating the exhaust valve in a first direction for clearing the exhaust port before the piston uncovers the exhaust port during a downstroke of the piston, the first direction being opposite a direction of rotation of a crankshaft of the engine; and rotating the exhaust valve in the first direction for at least partially closing the exhaust port before the piston fully covers the exhaust port during an upstroke of the piston, said rotating of the exhaust valve relative to the rotation of the crankshaft at least partially counterbalancing the crankshaft.

A tubular roller valve for an internal combustion engine, which includes a hollow tube having at least one hole, the at least one hole being configured to access an air inlet or an exhaust of a cylinder in an engine block, a tubular outer insulator outside of the hollow tube, the outer insulator being fixed to a cylinder head, and a tubular inner insulator inside of the hollow tube. An additional tube between the hollow tube and the outer insulator can serve to operate as a compression release brake.

A tubular roller valve for an internal combustion engine, which includes a hollow tube having at least one hole, the at least one hole being configured to access an air inlet or an exhaust of a cylinder in an engine block, a tubular outer insulator outside of the hollow tube, the outer insulator being fixed to a cylinder head, and a tubular inner insulator inside of the hollow tube. An additional tube between the hollow tube and the outer insulator can serve to operate as a compression release brake.

An internal combustion engine (10) with variable valve timing has one or more valve shafts (38, 44) connected to stepper motors (54) for angularly positioning the one or more valve shafts (38, 44) relative to an engine block (12). Flow passages (50, 52) are formed into the one or more valve shafts (38, 44) for passing intake air and exhaust gases into and from the engine (10). Sensors (58, 60 and 62) are located adjacent a crankshaft (28) and the one or more valve shafts (38, 44) for determining crankshaft positions and valve shaft positions relative to the engine block (12). An engine control unit (56) receives crank shaft and valve shaft position signals and emits control signals to the stepper motors (54) to selectively operate the engine in two stroke, four stroke, six stroke, eight stroke, and ten stroke modes. Electrically controlled clutches (74 and 76) are mounted to respective ones of the crankshaft (28) and the valve shafts (38, 44), and connected by a timing chain (72) for actuating to provide backup valve shaft.

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 valve comprising a rotor, the rotor comprising two passageways and two or more sealing faces. The valve allowing for controlling air flow between four directions. The valve can be capable of operating in a number of operation modes depending on a position of the rotor. The valve design can include a valve-housing with three ports in plane with a first plane and one port normal to the first plane. A rotary valve provides a plurality of predetermined flow modes between four ports. The valve comprises an outer layer and a rotatable inner layer. The inner layer allows for a number of different flow configurations between four ports.

A valve comprising a rotor, the rotor comprising two passageways and two or more sealing faces. The valve allowing for controlling air flow between four directions. The valve can be capable of operating in a number of operation modes depending on a position of the rotor. The valve design can include a valve-housing with three ports in plane with a first plane and one port normal to the first plane. A rotary valve provides a plurality of predetermined flow modes between four ports. The valve comprises an outer layer and a rotatable inner layer. The inner layer allows for a number of different flow configurations between four ports.

An engine with a rotating valve assembly is disclosed. The valve assembly including a housing having an internal cavity, an open top, and an open bottom, the open top and open bottom being in fluid communication with the internal cavity; a valve barrel positioned in the internal cavity and adapted for rotation therein, the valve barrel having an annular peripheral surface and an aperture extending transversely therethrough communicating with the peripheral surface on opposite sides; a first seal assembly positioned in the open top and a second seal assembly positioned in the open bottom, the first and second seal assemblies each include a seal having a sealing surface in mating engagement with the peripheral surface and an aperture extending therethrough.

A split-cycle engine includes: a first cylinder housing a first piston, wherein the first piston performs an intake stroke and a compression stroke, but does not perform an exhaust stroke; a second cylinder housing a second piston, wherein the second piston performs an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke, but does not perform an intake stroke; and a valve chamber housing a valve, the valve comprising an internal chamber that selectively fluidly couples to the first and second cylinders, wherein the valve and internal chamber move within the valve chamber and relative to the first and second cylinders.

A split-cycle engine includes: a first cylinder housing a first piston, wherein the first piston performs an intake stroke and a compression stroke, but does not perform an exhaust stroke; a second cylinder housing a second piston, wherein the second piston performs an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke, but does not perform an intake stroke; and a valve chamber housing a valve, the valve comprising an internal chamber that selectively fluidly couples to the first and second cylinders, wherein the valve and internal chamber move within the valve chamber and relative to the first and second cylinders.