A modular rotary valve apparatus includes: a plurality of separate valve barrels coupled to each other and arranged end-to-end along an axis so as to define a valve shaft, each valve barrel having an annular peripheral surface extending between forward and aft end faces, and an aperture extending transversely therethrough communicating with the peripheral surface on opposite sides.

A modular rotary valve apparatus includes: a plurality of separate valve barrels coupled to each other and arranged end-to-end along an axis so as to define a valve shaft, each valve barrel having an annular peripheral surface extending between forward and aft end faces, and an aperture extending transversely therethrough communicating with the peripheral surface on opposite sides.

An engine system and method of operation therefor are provided. The system is a two-stroke internal combustion engine having an exhaust valve assembly that controls the exhaust cycle relative to crankshaft timing. The exhaust valve assembly is positioned between exhaust port and an exhaust pipe. The exhaust valve assembly comprises a rotary exhaust valve and valve phasing assembly. The rotary exhaust valve comprises a valve body defining a valve void therethrough. The use of the rotary exhaust valve allows for alteration or calibration of the fixed time and location at which the intake port and exhaust port are opened and closed by the piston with respect to the respective engine cycle. Notably, while still uncovered by the piston, the exhaust port may be closed due to full misalignment of the valve void and the exhaust port, while the intake port remains open, allowing for cylinder charging.

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.

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.

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.

Tophead Rotary Valve is used in internal combustion engines. Each valve would replace the two or more reciprocating popet valves currently use in each cylinder, thereby saving energy now wasted by reciprocating parts and the compression of the heavy springs used with popet valves. The rotating valve is a self-sealing valve which incorporates the combustion pressure itself to seal in that pressure. Prior designs of rotating valves had inherent problems with the expansion and contraction of metal caused by the heating and cooling of the valve and is housing, which then caused leakage of combustion pressure past the minute clearances necessary to maintain both lubrication and combustion gasses. The Tophead Rotary Valve can expand and contract vertically and horizontally while maintaining the same contact clearances with the cylinder head, thus overcoming that inherent problem. The engine itself will run much quieter and should be capable of higher RPMs. One Rotary valve per cylinder should also reduce the total number of parts needed. The Tophead Rotary Valve should increase engine efficiency by close to 10%, increasing gas mileage by the same percentage.

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.

An engine system and method of operation therefor are provided. The system is a two-stroke internal combustion engine having an exhaust valve assembly that controls the exhaust cycle relative to crankshaft timing. The exhaust valve assembly is positioned between exhaust port and an exhaust pipe. The exhaust valve assembly comprises a rotary exhaust valve and valve phasing assembly. The rotary exhaust valve comprises a valve body defining a valve void therethrough. The use of the rotary exhaust valve allows for alteration or calibration of the fixed time and location at which the intake port and exhaust port are opened and closed by the piston with respect to the respective engine cycle. Notably, while still uncovered by the piston, the exhaust port may be closed due to full misalignment of the valve void and the exhaust port, while the intake port remains open, allowing for cylinder charging.